Which wears battery down faster: car sitting for 4 days, or driving 2 miles twice per week?

Asked by GuruBPFC9 Jan 14, 2019 at 04:38 PM about the 1990 Acura Integra RS Coupe FWD

Question type: General

Does driving a car only a few miles, twice a week cause more wear on the
battery than letting the car sit for 4 days in a row?

4 Answers

Many factors can affect the life of a car battery. To answer your question correctly - If you drive your car 2xs a week for an avg trip of 1.5 hours you can be rest assured that the battery is being well maintained by the alternator barring any negative factors. Negative factors can include extreme heat, extreme cold, faulty charging system, a bad cell, or a draw on the battery when vehicle not in use just to name a few. As a CSA for a National Auto Center, I always recommend using a battery tender when your not going to use your car frequently. A good battery tender costs on avg $45.00 (with automatic features) and will maintain your battery at optimal performance while the vehicle is not in use, and essentially will extend the life of the battery.

Neither is significant unless the battery is drained from sitting for 4 days.

Thank you. I was just wondering if there's a bigger drain on the battery from a very short drive (2 miles) twice a week vs. letting the car sit for 4 days (and then driving it for a few miles). Or is a 10-mile drive once per week better than a 2-mile drive twice per week?

Your Answer:

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