Dry start ? how often do you need to start your car

dkinghl · 07-21-2014, 03:11 AM

i Bought a used AT with 9k miles (dang with that money + 1k i should get a brand new MT

). After 6 months it got 9500 miles

.

Sometimes i leave it for 2 weeks just because i always thought the less you start the engine, the longer and newer the car look. Recently i read this

Quote:

by DEpointfive0
If you're running any sort of synthetic, you can leave it in the engine for well over a year.
The issue I think you'll have with THAT low of mileage is you'll have a LOT of dry starts, meaning you'll start the car, and since you haven't started the car in let's say a week, all your oil will be in the bottom of the pan. And your valves/camshafts will run metal to metal without any lubrication.

On newly installed engines Nissan recommends you forcefully pump one quart of oil into the filling hole, then turn the car on ASAP.

Some of us are psychotic , and crank our car every day regardless of if we drive it that day. At the last place I lived we had valet service and I paid one of the valets to start my car every day while I was on vacation.

There is a guy recommend me to use 5w-40, i dont know what is it for. I always heard folk about leaving car too long make battery dead (trust me that battery is only 150 bucks

, it worth nothing). This month i start the car everyday since i discover that fact. Is it neccesary to start everyday, is the oil that bad that after a day they all go to the bottom ?

Quote:

i just scared that if leave more than 2-3 days-week-2 week, the oil will mostly go down to bottom(even that thin oil have enough time to go away) while of you start every day, the more oil still stick to cylinder. yet reduce the risk of metal-to-metal

The new car at dealer ship dry start for sometimes, but 4-5 dry start then it is picked up is acceptable. On my case, 5 months x 3 times a months=15 times. plus in the next 1-2 years cause i keep car as a collection

Dirk McGurck · 07-21-2014, 06:18 AM

Just start the car once a week and get it to warm up.

Or, you know, drive it.

synolimit · 07-21-2014, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk McGurck

Just start the car once a week and get it to warm up.

Or, you know, drive it.

Only if you drive it. Starting a car just to start it is bad. Condensation builds within everything. You have to drive long enough and hard enough to burn off the water or else your oil will become contaminated and things will rust out. That's why you do long term storage instead of just running it here and there.

onzedge · 07-21-2014, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk McGurck

Just start the car once a week and get it to warm up.

Or, you know, drive it.

Zoren 370 · 07-21-2014, 07:23 AM

Yeah once in awhile is fine no need to be OCD about it.
It wont hurt either if you crank it daily your just wasting gas and fuming your garage with Co2. Not good if you have kids around better yet drive it around few miles.

SouthArk370Z · 07-21-2014, 07:31 AM

Start the engine every 2-4 weeks and let run until fully warmed up. Do not use 5W40 oil, it is too thick. If you are worried about the battery, get a tender.

IDZRVIT · 07-21-2014, 07:59 AM

Every time you start your car there is wear. When you start your car, regardless of what type of oil you use, you only have boundary lubrication i.e. metal-to-metal contact between the bearings and the journals. The very thin oil before start up isn't enough to prevent this wear, even though it's very, very minimal but it's still wear. Once the engine is started and pressure has built up in the first few seconds, you have hydrodynamic lubrication i.e. no metal-to-metal contact between the journals and bearings. So, you decide how often you want to start your car.

OldFart · 07-21-2014, 08:05 AM

Ya think they worry about this at a car dealership? Car is started to move in the lots or for test drives after that sit for weeks.

Shotta · 07-21-2014, 08:19 AM

I would think your putting more wear on your engine (as stated above) every time you start your engine. I do not see the need to start the car when you don't plan on using it. I'm getting up there in years and keep most of my cars for 10 plus years. My summer cars sit all winter and I don't start them until the day I plan on driving them, never had a problem.

Ubetit · 07-21-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shotta

I would think your putting more wear on your engine (as stated above) every time you start your engine. I do not see the need to start the car when you don't plan on using it. I'm getting up there in years and keep most of my cars for 10 plus years. My summer cars sit all winter and I don't start them until the day I plan on driving them, never had a problem.

I wouldn't start a car just to start it either.

I don't understand why the OP just isn't driving his car

ajc1884 · 07-21-2014, 09:04 AM

During my Z's hibernation last winter I started her up about once a month. Everything worked out fine. Started every time and battery never died.

Zoren 370 · 07-21-2014, 09:04 AM

I think with the current technology with engines this wear and tear issue upon starting is thing of the past. If there is any at all...the engine is solid!

MacCool · 07-21-2014, 09:15 AM

Heh. The latest oil-related thing to obsess about based on old, no-longer-applicable lubrication technology and engine design/manufacturing.

"My pappy used to tell me...."

SouthArk370Z · 07-21-2014, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoren 370

I think with the current technology with engines this wear and tear issue upon starting is thing of the past. If there is any at all...the engine is solid!

With modern engines, I don't think frequent (several times per day) starts are a problem but every start does create a little extra wear & tear. IMNSHO not something to worry about but not exactly a thing of the past either. I'd put it in the same category as downshifting the 7AT in manual mode - as long as you are reasonable about it, the amount of damage is minimal and can be ignored. I'd be more concerned with wear & tear on the starter and battery but, once again, not a big deal unless you are starting the engine a lot.

My biggest worry would be oil draining from lubed parts due to infrequent running during storage. Going by what I've seen/read, there will be a sufficient film of oil for 2-3 months or more. I'd still start my stored vehicle every 2-4 weeks or so if it were me. Starting it every day is overkill.

Zoren 370 · 07-21-2014, 09:31 AM

Hey I even know someone who invented an engine that runs without oil and is currently being tested by one company. I'll try to find the link but its called " detonation" kind of stuff.

07-21-2014, 06:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dirk McGurck Track Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 715 Drives: 09 MB 370Z Touring Rep Power: 21	Just start the car once a week and get it to warm up. Or, you know, drive it. onzedge, jpkirk and Haboob like this. __________________ 2009 370Z Touring with Sport

07-21-2014, 07:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	Start the engine every 2-4 weeks and let run until fully warmed up. Do not use 5W40 oil, it is too thick. If you are worried about the battery, get a tender. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

07-21-2014, 07:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 27	Every time you start your car there is wear. When you start your car, regardless of what type of oil you use, you only have boundary lubrication i.e. metal-to-metal contact between the bearings and the journals. The very thin oil before start up isn't enough to prevent this wear, even though it's very, very minimal but it's still wear. Once the engine is started and pressure has built up in the first few seconds, you have hydrodynamic lubrication i.e. no metal-to-metal contact between the journals and bearings. So, you decide how often you want to start your car. __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

07-21-2014, 08:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
Shotta Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Niagara Posts: 316 Drives: 2010 370z black M6 Rep Power: 13	I would think your putting more wear on your engine (as stated above) every time you start your engine. I do not see the need to start the car when you don't plan on using it. I'm getting up there in years and keep most of my cars for 10 plus years. My summer cars sit all winter and I don't start them until the day I plan on driving them, never had a problem. __________________ 6MT - designed for perfectionists 7AT - designed for enthusiasts

07-21-2014, 09:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
ajc1884 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central, pennsylvania Posts: 191 Drives: 2012 370z Touring Rep Power: 12	During my Z's hibernation last winter I started her up about once a month. Everything worked out fine. Started every time and battery never died. __________________ 2009 370z w/ sport package - manual tranny 2012 370z Touring - automatic tranny

07-21-2014, 07:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Zoren 370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: FL Posts: 11,018 Drives: 11 Nissan 370 M6 Rep Power: 1913653	Yeah once in awhile is fine no need to be OCD about it. It wont hurt either if you crank it daily your just wasting gas and fuming your garage with Co2. Not good if you have kids around better yet drive it around few miles.

07-21-2014, 08:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
OldFart Track Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Carlisle, PA Age: 62 Posts: 682 Drives: 2011 Wannabe Nismo Rep Power: 960	Ya think they worry about this at a car dealership? Car is started to move in the lots or for test drives after that sit for weeks.

07-21-2014, 09:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
Zoren 370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: FL Posts: 11,018 Drives: 11 Nissan 370 M6 Rep Power: 1913653	I think with the current technology with engines this wear and tear issue upon starting is thing of the past. If there is any at all...the engine is solid! SouthArk370Z and MacCool like this.

07-21-2014, 09:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
MacCool A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,349 Drives: 370Z PW 2014 Rep Power: 16	Heh. The latest oil-related thing to obsess about based on old, no-longer-applicable lubrication technology and engine design/manufacturing. "My pappy used to tell me...." Zoren 370 likes this.

07-21-2014, 09:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
Zoren 370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: FL Posts: 11,018 Drives: 11 Nissan 370 M6 Rep Power: 1913653	Hey I even know someone who invented an engine that runs without oil and is currently being tested by one company. I'll try to find the link but its called " detonation" kind of stuff.

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