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I have one car that I drive in the summer months (April - October) and another from November through March. This summer I did a bad job hooking my "winter" car up to the battery tender so the battery is shot - actually it was likely due to be replaced but I could have done better. But another issue came up - the drive belt has to be replaced due to dry rot - it is only a 2012 with 75k miles on it. Even with a battery tender on it all summer, how often should I actually drive it to keep everything in running shape?
Also, for my summer car, is the advice the same? It's harder for me to get it out and drive it because it does badly in low temps and drives terrible with any snow.
Once a month, starting it up and letting it run until the engine heats up is good. Driving it is better. Careful though to check for nests in the engine compartment as this can start a fire. Myself, I haven't really had any issues with serpentine belts or v belts rotting prematurely. They seem to last really well.
It seemed 75k miles was a little early to need to replace but I've had the car for 3 years where I've only driven it in winters so maybe that's shortened the life a bit.
I'll check youtube for some videos on how to apply the dressing - hopefully there's nothing specific about a Mazda 6 that makes it hard to do. I should say, it never squeaked or squealed that I noticed.
Once a month, starting it up and letting it run until the engine heats up is good. .
Bad advice.
Worst thing you can do is start the car and just let it idle up to temp for a while. Unless you can take the car out for a spin and really get everything up to temp nice and hot, it's best to NOT start a car that's sitting over the winter. Just idling it up to temp doesn't get all of the moisture out of the engine crankcase or even the exhaust. The condensation you create from idling it up will collect in the exhaust and begin rusting it out. The condensation that collects in the engine is ever worse.
So unless you can take the car for an extended drive, just let it sit on a battery tender and not start it
As to the OP's question, I've never paid attention to my accessory belt on my car that sits from Nov to April. Belt is maybe 10 years old with no signs of deterioration or rot from just sitting in my garage over the winter. If I suspected an issue with it, I would just replace it. Its $10 and 5 min of work.
Last edited by BostonMike7; 09-11-2018 at 08:12 AM..
Worst thing you can do is start the car and just let it idle up to temp for a while. Unless you can take the car out for a spin and really get everything up to temp nice and hot, it's best to NOT start a car that's sitting over the winter. Just idling it up to temp doesn't get all of the moisture out of the engine crankcase or even the exhaust. The condensation you create from idling it up will collect in the exhaust and begin rusting it out. The condensation that collects in the engine is ever worse.
So unless you can take the car for an extended drive, just let it sit on a battery tender and not start it
As to the OP's question, I've never paid attention to my accessory belt on my car that sits from Nov to April. Belt is maybe 10 years old with no signs of deterioration or rot from just sitting in my garage over the winter. If I suspected an issue with it, I would just replace it. Its $10 and 5 min of work.
Not for a Serpentine Belts most vehicles only have a Serpentine Belts to run everything easy to replace but more than $10.
Not for a Serpentine Belts most vehicles only have a Serpentine Belts to run everything easy to replace but more than $10.
Just pulling up Rockauto.com and searching for a belt for my 2014 Taurus, I can get a new Ford Motorcraft belt for $15, or a cheapo belt for $5.36.
My other two cars with serpentine belts are equally as cheap. $10.85 for one car, and $7.70 for the other. If I wanted to splurge I could get the higher end belts for $15-20.
Last edited by BostonMike7; 09-11-2018 at 09:27 AM..
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