Cars - Diesel/Petrol need to be run?

[AmIAStone]

So say your car has sat bit moving for 4 weeks, does it need to be run to keep the battery going? We’re not allowed to drive them for the sake of keeping them going so how long does it need to churn over in the driveway and how often? Or do we need a trickle battery charger? Or it’s a myth and not driving it for a month is fine?

[RingtheBells]

Our 6 year old diesel had a flat battery after about 2 or 3 weeks of a couple of very short journeys but I suspect it needs a new one anyway, luckily we had a decent battery charger because we needed for the caravan battery. We will get a new battery when we start going out again properly. DH did say about taking it for a run and hopefully if the lockdown eases a bit in May and they open garden centres and diy shops then we will have an excuse to do a longer journey

My petrol Fiesta is quite happy not being run much and short journeys though as that is all it gets anyway

A battery charger is handy to have anyway

[AmIAStone]

Any charger recommendations? Also jump leads require another car/interaction with others, hard when shielding. We only have the one car and need to keep it running for emergency hospital trips, so don’t want to have to wait for the AA overnight etc.

[Lexilooo]

Another forum I am on someone asked their local force about whether they could take their HGV horsebox for a weekly run to keep it ticking over, they were told this was fine.

It seems unlikely that the police will have an issue with you going for a drive to keep your car battery charged, in fact I took our diesel for a run the other day, I did an essential journey but went a longer route including a good stretch of 50mph speed limit to ensure it had been able to run it's regen programme.

[RingtheBells]

Ours is this one but we bought it primarily for the caravan battery, you probably don't need one that expensive as long as is compatible with the car
www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/battery-chargers/ctek-multi-mxs-7.0-battery-charger-280326.html

[Elieza]

OP why would you not let someone back in your house if they had been out in the car? It’s only if they get out the car that they would be potentially infected?

They can’t catch any bugs sitting in a car alone provided they just drive it around for 20mins once a week to charge the battery - near home in case of breakdowns, preferably on a dual carriageway or somesuch to give it a good run?
If you get stopped by the police say you’re going to the shop as the local one has run out of wipes/bread/milk or whatever.

[mum11970]

Don’t be daft. Do people think garages take their whole stock out for a trip round the block every couple of weeks? Petrol/diesel cars are fine left idle.

[Queenofpi]

Mine died after only 2 weeks sat still. I think (hope) its the battery. Luckily my husband's car is still going. They're both diesel. Now every time I go to the supermarket in his car I take a 20 minute detour on a 50mph road. Fingers crossed it stays moving!

[ifonly4]

I know of two people in the last couple of days who've had problems with their car. One wouldn't start due to battery (they had to get someone out as needed it for a family funeral), the other had problems getting hers to start, when she did she drove around for a few minutes. Ours is ok as I need it for work once a week, to drop my Mum's shopping off (and giving it a 50mph blast up the hill on the way back) and take DD to work rather than use the bus.

[RingtheBells]

Elieza
I think OP is worried that an over zealous policeman will pop his head through the car window if she gets stopped and asked where she is going, fair enough reason to be worried about this judging by some of the pictures that have been in the news recently, social distancing does not seem to apply to all.

[Meckity1]

Can I ask about petrol cars please?

I passed my test last year and going out for groceries last night after a few weeks without driving was terrifying as I felt I had lost a lot of judgement, but the car definitely felt sluggish. How often should I drive it and for how long? I plan to go out when the roads are quieter as the supermarket is open until late.

[Xylophonics]

I'm taking my petrol car out for a weekly drive of about 30 mins , to keep the battery going.

[AmIAStone]

@RingtheBells that's exactly it. Have seen that taking the car for a drive just to keep the battery going isn't essential travel, and having the car stopped and being exposed to people isn't worth it, although having no emergency transport to get to hospital isn't an option either. When the lockdown is eased enough to allow people to move around again and we can go for a drive once a week without fear of being stopped it will be good for the car and our mental health.