A common misconception in Australia is that lower mileage makes for lower maintenance costs, but research and data tell a different story. As cars sit idle for long stretches, age-related wear and tear starts to set in even if they’re travelled hardly any km’s. This phenomenon is becoming more and more relevant as more Australians work from home, have a second set of wheels, or ride public transport every day.
Battery Degradation Hits Hard When You’re Not Driving
The vehicle battery takes the biggest hit first. Oddly enough, batteries don’t just deteriorate because they’re being used, but also because they’re not being used. Lead-acid batteries naturally lose their charge even when they’re just sitting there disconnected from the car. According to the study, a standard lead-acid car battery loses about 3 5% of its charge every month, and with high temperatures it gets even worse. To make matters worse, a lot of the new cars we drive are loaded with gadgets that just suck power. Alarms, clocks, keyless entry and all those onboard electronics just make it worse.
Now we’re seeing some pretty interesting data on roadside breakdowns in Australia. It’s pretty clear that dead batteries are a major problem. It turns out that in almost half of all breakdowns where we get called out, the problem is a flat battery. A lot of owners are surprised to discover that their car has had a dead battery requiring a car service Joondalup even though it’s only done a few km’s.
Tyres Take a Beating When You Park Your Car for a Long Time
Tyres are designed to handle the weight of the car and take the bumps, but all that weight resting on a tiny bit of tyre at a time is a real problem when you park for weeks or months on end. The result is a flat spot. It gets worse in hot weather where the rubber gets older and loses its pressure faster.
Tire Flat Spots Begin to Form Long Before You Realise It
Flat spots can start to form on the tyres even before you know it. The longer the car sits the worse it gets, especially in warm weather where the rubber ages and loses air pressure faster. Research has shown that this is a big issue and not just for drivers who only drive a few hundred km a year.
Engine Oil & Other Fluids Go Bad Even If You Never Drive Your Car
Lots of car owners think that fluid degradation is all about mileage, but the truth is chemicals break down regardless of how much you drive. Engine oil gradually gets all oxidised and gobbles up all the dirt and grime that’s lying around, even when it’s just sitting there doing nothing. If you only drive your car every so often, the oil is never going to get hot enough to dry out all the water that accumulates inside it. This means you’re more likely to get sludge building up and corrosion eating away at your engine.
Brake fluid is another thing to worry about, because it’s got a tendency to soak up water from the air. As it gets more and more waterlogged, the boiling point goes down and the risk of corrosion inside your brakes goes up. Coolant loses its oomph over time too, which means it doesn’t work as well at keeping corrosion and extreme temperatures at bay.
Fuel System Problems Start When Petrol Just Sits Around for Too Long
Fuel systems are designed so you use up the petrol and get some fresh in every now and then. When petrol just sits around for ages, it starts breaking down through oxidation and evaporation. As it ages, it starts forming all these gummy deposits that can clog up your injectors, fuel lines and other important bits. Those deposits then start messing with your fuel efficiency, engine performance and economy. If you’re really unlucky, you might need a fuel system clean or a new injector, which can be a pretty pricey job.
Low Mileage Doesn’t Always Mean Lower Ownership Costs
When you compare cars that get driven all the time to ones that sit in the garage most of the time, you find out that low mileage doesn’t necessarily mean lower maintenance costs. Yes, high-mileage cars get worn out by all the driving, but low-mileage cars often get eaten away by all the inactivity. Your seals dry out, corrosion sets in in all the damp bits, batteries go flat, tyres deform and your fluids get all useless.
