Infrequently Used Car, How to Maintain Battery Health?

Llyon on 07/04/2020 - 11:33
Last edited 07/04/2020 - 13:07

I've googled a lot and read advices but wondering what you guys think. I have a Hyundai i30 2014 that I rarely use. The battery just went completely dead and RACV replaced it with a new one.

What's the best way to keep the battery charged and healthy?

[1] Friends told me to drive the car around once a while
- Is once a week enough? How long to drive and what speed?
- If I just let the engine idle for 20 minutes in the garage, will it be good enough?
- I assume going to grab my coffee with a 2 minute drive every morning is not enough

[2] Get a battery charger (prefer not to)
- Is it necessary? Will this one be good enough? Not a techie person in terms of car.. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-12v-2.5-amp-3-st…
- Or will it be more economical to just drive a car once a week or something like that

Thanks!

Automotive

Comments

  • Porker on 07/04/2020 - 11:48

    From my experience and issues with earlier model cars, I would propose to a) let the engine run for 20mins or b) get a battery charger.

    Option A is what the RACV guy told me when I had my older Mazda, and Option B is what my sister does to maintain her battery for her car.

  • pegaxs on 07/04/2020 - 11:53
    +5
    • 1a(1): Is once a week enough? Yes, if you drive the car around for a while, ie: more than 2 min. to end of street and back.
    • 1a(2): How long to drive and what speed? Drive at normal road speeds, around town is fine, doesn't need to be highway speeds and 10 mins. should be ample.
    • 1b: Just let the engine idle for 20 minutes? Idle engine speeds may or may not ramp up the alternator enough to charge the battery. Also, just letting an engine idle for long periods is not good for them long term (not to mention the risks associated with running a car in a garage.)

    • 1c: Going to grab my coffee with a 2 minute drive is not enough? Depends on how you define "2 mins." literally 2 mins? Probably not. 10 min round trip actual time, that would do it.

    • 2a: Get a battery charger? What you ideally want is a battery tender/minder/trickle charger. It's probably the easier option. Just plug it in and leave it there till you need the car.

    • 2b: Will it be more economical to just drive a car once a week? Depends on how long the car is laid up and how much you pay for your battery tender.
    • dcep on 07/04/2020 - 11:57
      -1

      1a contradicts 1c

      • pegaxs on 07/04/2020 - 12:02
        +3

        It all depends on how OP defines "2 mins". Literally or figuratively…

        in 1a, I said;

        for a while, ie: more than 2 min.
        and 10 mins. should be ample.

        in 1c, I said;

        10 min round trip actual time, that would do it.

        I don't see how any of that is contradicting.

        • dcep on 07/04/2020 - 12:08
          +4

          this isolation has somehow impaired my ability to read

    • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:34

      Oh? So driving for 10 mins around the town once a week is enough? I read that you have to drive more than an hour at highway speed and stuffs, which is why I get confused. I didn't remember when the article was written though, might be a really old article

      • Euphemistic on 07/04/2020 - 12:44
        +1

        Depending on the vehicle driving at highways speed may disable the alternator to save fuel. Modern smart alternators only activate the alternator when the battery is low (first little while after starting) or when decelerating.

  • Architectonic on 07/04/2020 - 11:54

    I've found driving for 20 minutes once a fortnight is not enough, still needs a trickle charge every 2 months or so. My car has a slow drain due to an alarm though.

    That battery charger is enough for trickle charging, but will take a while (12+ hours) to achieve a full charge.

    • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:56

      How old is your car? My car has a built-in alarm I think but I'm not sure how fast it's draining the battery.

      Don't really mind the 12+ hours though I prefer not having to buy a battery charger if unnecessary. With battery charger, I can just plug the + and - to the car battery? I'm quite scared doing these things as I'm not a technical person with cars

      • Architectonic on 09/04/2020 - 18:52

        My alarm is aftermarket, factory security is likely to drain the battery less. Still worth doing a trickle charge every few months though.

  • kolorijo on 07/04/2020 - 11:55
    +3

    Or maybe sell the car? and just rent one as needed?

    • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:30

      Alas, my parents gave me the car so I don't really want to say to them "hey, can I sell the car that you gave as a present?" :)

      • kolorijo on 07/04/2020 - 12:59

        Lucky you. I wish my parents would give me a car lol. Jokes aside, maybe take the car for your weekly grocery shopping?

        • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 13:02
          +1

          I'm actually "luckier"… parents in law got us a Tesla - hence why I rarely use my ICE car anymore. Didn't want to mention it on the post (i.e didn't want to brag about it). Problem with the grocery shopping is that the town centre is 2 minutes away driving…

          • Euphemistic on 07/04/2020 - 13:39
            +2

            @lyon: Just goes to show that gifting something like a car is not as simple as it seems. It appears you don’t even need the car and yet your parents bought you one. They might have been better to gift you something else.

            • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 15:14

              @Euphemistic: Well I got it in 2014 when I was still single and all :) Loved that car for 4-5 years and would grab another newer i30 if I ever need a new car

              • Euphemistic on 07/04/2020 - 18:05

                @lyon: So it’s 6yo. I’m sure your parents would understand if you decided to sell. Circumstances have changed, there is no point. Having a car you don’t use unless it’s some kind of special car.

          • kolorijo on 07/04/2020 - 15:10
            +2

            @lyon: Awesome :D
            It is a good problem to have :)

  • dcep on 07/04/2020 - 11:55

    [1] Friends told me to drive the car around once a while

    No, idling or 2min drive will just lower the battery charge as starting it depletes the charge further
    Just disconnect the battery and don't drive unless you need to drive it

    [2] Get a battery charger

    Yes, get ctek mxs5.0

    • Euphemistic on 07/04/2020 - 12:46

      Disconnecting the battery may cause issues with modern electronics. Ie lose you radio settings, reset all the ‘learned’ engine management etc.

      • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:52

        Yeah, preferred not to take it out + I'm also not a mechanic/technical person

    • mini2 on 07/04/2020 - 13:40

      If it's purely to top it up OP shouldn't need the 5.0 or wanting to spend that much on a charger.

  • Eeples on 07/04/2020 - 12:06
    +1

    You should check with Hyundai, or your mechanic, (maybe the charger documentation), if you can trickle charge without disconnecting the battery terminals.

    Disconnecting and connecting over and over; is no way to live.

  • holdenmg on 07/04/2020 - 12:06
    +2

    You battery went flat and RACV gave you a new Car.

    Cool story! lol

    • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:31
      +1

      I guess saying "RACV replaced it with a new one" is ambiguous to some lol

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2020 - 12:12
    +2

    The battery is one side of the maintenance.
    You still need to drive it to get the moving bits moving.
    The simplest explanation is the fact the tyres are sitting on the same bit of rubber while the battery charges.

    This is one of the challenges for the aviation industry with COVID-19 grounding most of their planes.

    • lyon on 07/04/2020 - 12:35

      Fair enough. In your opinion, how long and how often should I drive the car around? With the situation, I guess I'm pretty much free Saturday and Sunday. And I'm assuming this will be under the category of "Essential" thing to do…

    • dcep on 07/04/2020 - 12:55

      maybe turning them into cargo plane

  • Bid Sniper on 07/04/2020 - 12:18
    +1

    Just disconnect the battery, what I use to do on my old WRX. Lasted years doing that. I try to run it (as in drive at least 30min) every 4 to 6 weeks, then disconnect again after a driving it. Keeps battery, engine and fluids good that way.

  • JIMB0 on 07/04/2020 - 12:21

    I'd get a trickle charger and drive the car at least once a month for 20 minutes.

  • slknv on 07/04/2020 - 12:22
    +1

    if you go with a battery maintainer, ctek are great.

  • NotaSpender on 07/04/2020 - 12:57
    +1

    just disconnect the negative side of your battery will do the trick

  • Mechz on 07/04/2020 - 13:37
    +2

    Put your car for rent on carnextdoor. Then it's driven as often as you want it to be and you make a few bucks.

  • brad1-8tsi on 07/04/2020 - 14:43

    Is your car in agarage or parked near easily available mains power?
    Get a Ctek battery maintenance charger. The CTEK 5 amp model should do the job.

    Driving around for 20 minutes is rarely enough, idling even less so.

    • Euphemistic on 07/04/2020 - 18:07

      If the battery is still good 20min will be long enough. If it’s flat you’ll need longer.

      Alternatively, if it receives sunlight get a little solar panel and leave it hooked up.

      • brad1-8tsi on 07/04/2020 - 20:41

        Have you used those solar panels with success? I tried one when I had my rarely used motorbike and it was rubbish. It would discharge the battery at night. I assume they have improved since then (it was a long time back).

        I disagree with what you say about running them. A smart battery tender is much better for the overall life of the battery.

        • ymmf on 09/04/2020 - 07:12

          If the battery is still good, solar panel works. I had one in UK (and imagine the sunlight there) from AA that plugs directly into OBD2 and it had maintained my battery.

      • lyon on 08/04/2020 - 11:15

        It's a new battery, just replaced by RACV a month ago and was driven a few times last week, should be good!

  • RotundPolarBear on 07/04/2020 - 20:38

    I used to have the same dead battery issue as I rarely drove.

    After replacing my battery I began starting the car up for 10 mins once a week sitting in my garage (with garage door open) and never had the issue again.

    • lyon on 08/04/2020 - 11:16
      +1

      Oh? Even 10 mins a week is enough? That's great. I was being advised to drive it around though, good for the tyres + other things.. but at least I know 10 mins is enough now, cheers!

      • brad1-8tsi on 09/04/2020 - 12:20

        You realise that all cars have different alternators, different idle speeds (which affects the alternator output), different electrical draw at idle, etc.

        I started my car for the first time since early January on Monday (yes, around 10 weeks as my employer gives me a hire car for my current project) and it started like a champ. Is this applicable to your circumstance? Probably not.

      • outlander on 09/04/2020 - 12:29

        10 minutes is definitely not enough. It will charge the battery, but the engine won't reach operating temperatures. As a result, a lot of moisture will be created from burning the fuel, and your exhaust lines will rust out.

  • gbarlett on 08/04/2020 - 07:36
    +2

    Letting the engine idle for 20 minutes might be good for the battery however not the engine.
    You risk contaminating the engine oil, fouling spark plugs and so on.
    Car engines were not designed to idle for extended periods.
    Get a battery charger, its the most cost effective way long term with no risk to maintain your battery. Ensure that it has the trickle charger feature, that is, it maintains the charge in your battery so you can hook it up to the battery whilst it is charged and prevents the battery from discharging. A discharging battery eventually causes irreversible internal damage to the battery. Second best option is drive the car, just make sure the engine reaches operating temperature for a few minutes. So plan to drive for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

    • brad1-8tsi on 09/04/2020 - 12:25

      yep. next post: "my inlets are carboned"; "I'm using oil due to gummed piston rings"

      I used to buy V12 & V16 Cummins stationery engines for my old job. Part of the smart programming we had in them was that after 5 minutes of idling they would bump to 1300rpm to stop diesel plugging due to running too cold.

  • atrolgehapis on 08/04/2020 - 08:04

    Disconnect the battery.

    • Is once a week enough? How long to drive and what speed? - Yes, but you'll need to be driving at highway speeds for a good charge.
    • If I just let the engine idle for 20 minutes in the garage, will it be good enough? No
    • I assume going to grab my coffee with a 2 minute drive every morning is not enough No

    See this:

    https://jalopnik.com/heres-the-deal-with-idling-your-coronav…

    • Euphemistic on 08/04/2020 - 09:57

      but you'll need to be driving at highway speeds for a good charge.

      Not necessary, driving at 60-80 is sufficient. Actually many modern alternators will shut off at highway speeds to save fuel.

  • blwnhr on 08/04/2020 - 08:13

    Battery charger is the best solution. You need to be driving to charge the battery, just starting the car and letting it idle will not allow the alternator to output full current to charge the battery. Add to that you're wasting fuel.

    Buy one of these - https://www.projecta.com.au/battery-charger-products/12v-aut… - they use a proper transformer, not the tiny power supplies like CTEC or that Supercheap one you posted. They are cheap, robust, last forever and the circuitry does a great job of protecting the battery, fluctuating the power level to maintain battery health etc.

    They were recommended to my by an auto electrician, I bought mine about 10 years ago after a CTEC cooked itself and took $800 of sealed batteries with it. I have a "weekend" car that I broke and too 5 years to fix. The battery was on constant charge with one of these. Once the car was going again I took the battery to be tested and still load tested at as-new amperage.

    Added bonus, if you can find one at a Supercheap they are $11 on clearance (new model coming out maybe). That is ridiculous. I think I paid $50 for mine.
    https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/projecta-projecta-12v-4.…

  • HeWhoKnows on 08/04/2020 - 09:17
    +2

    Just get rid of the car
    Obviously you dont need it.

    Replacing the battery is a miniscule cost compared with registration, insurance and depreciation (biggest cost) for a car that just sits around.

    Suggest OP uses a car share service when a car is needed or indeed public transport

    • lyon on 08/04/2020 - 11:27

      Problem is that I have a Tesla (from parents in law) that I use now more frequently. The Hyundai i30 is a present from my parents from 4 years ago so I didn't want to say to them "Hey, can I sell the car now?"

      • Euphemistic on 08/04/2020 - 11:45

        Just sell it. 4 years is long enough and as your situation has changed you could tell your parents you’ll put the proceeds into some form of investment to gain cash and not have it lose value every day.

  • holdenmg on 08/04/2020 - 10:36

    Remember the crazy days when a 2014 i30 in Melbourne would have been listed on Domain or RealEstate.com.au as:

    1BR onsite Fully Furnished w/Carpet & Aircon close to Transport (sic) @ $600PW+Bond.

  • OzHunterNSW on 08/04/2020 - 17:21

    It should be ok if frequently used….

    however, after a while… you may need to place it on the charger

  • outlander on 09/04/2020 - 12:30

    For the battery, a solar trickle charger is the best thing if the car is outside. They cost $20 or so

    Rest of the car is a different matter.

  • kiitos on 09/04/2020 - 12:36

    Are the battery chargers that charge via the cigarette lighter socket any good? Maybe that would be a good option for op of their concerned about hooking it up incorrectly.

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