How often to turn a car engine over?

FOX_HOUND

Hello, How often should you turn a car engine over and for how long?

Sometimes I don't go anywhere for a week. Go once a few miles, then repeat. Problems with this?

Citroen saxo 1.0 03


Thanks

Hammyman

Yes. You are not replacing the charge taken out of the battery to start the car so it'll eventually not start unless you take it on a run every so often. Also as you are doing mostly short journeys and low mileage, you need to get it serviced every year regardless of how little mileage it has done.

forgotmyname

Most wear and tear on an engine is done during cold starting and the 1st few miles until the engine
has warmed up.

It pushes extra fuel in to help start and warm up this washes the oil from the bores, Which causes
faster wear.

Also as mentioned the battery wont like it either, At tickover speed it could take 30 - 40+ minutes to put the charge
back into the battery that you took out to start it.

If you cant start it and drive for at least 20 minutes then dont bother. Keep the battery charged up using a mains charger.
If left to go fully flat they dont recover 100% and if left flat they can be ruined.

Lots of short journeys means it should get serviced more often, Rather funny when people assume a low mileage car has less
wear than a high mileage one.
But when the cars for a 200 yard drive to the papershop everyday time does take its toll.

The only time ive bought low mileage cars has been from people who couldnt sell them because they did journey's like that
and as soon as the warranty expired they assumed it wont need another service for 12,000 miles or 12 years+ because
they do less than 1000 miles a year.

Usually i have had to fit a new engine. Worn and choked up with congealed oil.