What's everyone doing with their cars?

[ScarfLadysBag]

Just idly wondering this. We haven't been using ours at all. Both WFH and we've had food delivered. DH has been taking them both out once a week for a spin up and down the dual carriageway as he doesn't want the brakes seizing, etc. but I was thinking that's probably not an 'essential journey'. But given he just goes from house to driveway to car and back, I can't imagine it'll upset anyone.

Or will it?

How hot the engine gets won't affect the amount of electricity generated. If you run a petrol or Diesel engine just for a few minutes you are probably doing more harm than good in many ways. It takes a lot of electricity to start the engine and it's unlikely that would be replaced, never mind added to if the engine is only run for a few minutes. Engine wear and pollution generated is also worse until the engine is at full running temperature. That could take ages if it is sat on the drive idling and isn't working hard.

A battery charger is the best thing for the car... and the environment.

We had the flat battery/car alarm problem. Couldn’t be turned off with the key so had to disconnect the battery. My poor neighbours - I’m so glad it wasn’t the middle of the night

I use to have a diesel and was told to take it for a decent drive every 3-6 weeks as I had a year were I worked from home. So I just found two supermarkets off a dual carriageway I use to drive to so I would do about a 30-40 mile round trip.

I now have a new petrol car and it's the second time I haven't driven it for months. If the battery goes flat this time I will just have to buy a new battery.

Well I have been shopping ,and on the way there/back go a bit further so it gets a chance for the battery to charge up .Not miles and miles but about 20 mins or so .Battery went flat before Lockdown and the mechanic said about 25 mins or so to recharge .

I have to drive to the hospital every two weeks (pregnant and need a lot of extra tests) so that’s the only time our car is getting used.

Yes I get the 'maybe I've forgotten how to drive' fear, which is clearly ridiculous! But maybe I'll take them out this weekend just to test

Unfortunately, ours if being well used with three people going out to work and at least trying to limit contact and not using the bus. Also, shopping and driving to Mum's house to drop hers off.

If the battery goes flat this time I will just have to buy a new battery

A battery charger would be a better first attempt. About once a month should be enough. Men with sheds often have one you can borrow.

Leaving it flat for a long period will make it degrade.

Yesterday I posted how we are both taking our cars out once a week after the one car got a flat batterry.

Even a week isn't enough - we have a flat battery today despite taking it out last Fri for a good run!

Mine's being used at least 5 days out of 7 for work.
Dh's went into the garage to be repaired the day before lockdown started. It's still there as the garage has closed..

Even a week isn't enough - we have a flat battery today despite taking it out last Fri for a good run!

Buy a battery charger.

Have not driven mine since lockdown. Bought a charger.

Our two cars had flat batteries last week and we had to get the AA out!

Our closest supermarket is 2 miles away. The pharmacist is 1.5 miles away. I go to the supermarket twice a week and the pharmacist once. I also tend to have my walk in the village so drive down. DH does similar. I last put petrol in on 15th March and still have half a tank.

DH has booked a mobile valet to come tomorrow for both cars. The neighbours have had them twice.

I last put petrol in on 15th March and still have half a tank.

I last filled up on the 12th March, and I have 3/4 of a tank left.

Not bad considering my car only does 23 to the gallon.

This is my main “bending of the rules” to be honest. When lockdown happened I looked up how to keep your car roadworthy on Which?, and on one of the breakdown service websites (can’t remember which one). So I initially tried to do the right thing. The sites suggested running a Diesel engine on the driveway wasn’t good for it (but didn’t suggest an alternative method of keeping the battery healthy), and that I should physically push the car up and down the drive to stop the brakes seizing. You must be joking! How many people do you want in A&E with slipped discs, torn ligaments etc!

So I take it every few days for a run. Try and tie it in with one of the “four reasons to leave home”. It’s a bit hairy as we seem to have quite a police presence here checking people leaving town and asking where we are going (this is a rural market town!). So I try and opt for really rural routes if possible to avoid this.

I just can’t see that I’m doing the nhs any favours, by possibly needing an ambulance instead of the ability to drive anyone to hospital if necessary (covid or non covid reasons). Just because the car doesn’t start.

I don’t think the rule is really to stop people having a short run to keep the car roadworthy. Surely it’s more to stop people driving an hour to a beauty spot with the excuse “the car needs a run”?

I drive every 2 weeks or so to a bigger supermarket 10 miles away. I would need to go anyway as I can't get a huge range locally l

@catsears1 it's not bending of the rules if you are going good shopping.

When I use to do my round trip I timed it and found it took the same time as going to a nearer in distance branch of the same sized supermarket due to the traffic and other obstacles at the same time.

In fact last time I went to a nearer branch it took longer and I regretted not going to the branch down the dual carriageway.

@Goatymcgoaty but didn’t suggest an alternative method of keeping the battery healthy

The best way to keep a car battery charged without running the engine is to connect it to a battery charger plugged into the 240v mains.

Even a week isn't enough - we have a flat battery today despite taking it out last Fri for a good run!

Buy a battery charger.

it's on charge as I type