Keeping your car healthy in Lockdown

B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
Today marks 30 days since I last touched my car..

To be fair its safely stored in the garage but how do we keep it healthy during these unprecedented times?

My parents EV starter battery (12v) died the other day after non-use, its only 3 years old whereas my X4s battery is original and my car was built in Sept 2014 almost twice as old..

I dont have a battery conditioner / trickle charger

Any ideas?
 
bluestreak56 said:
Today marks 30 days since I last touched my car..

To be fair its safely stored in the garage but how do we keep it healthy during these unprecedented times?

My parents EV starter battery (12v) died the other day after non-use, its only 3 years old whereas my X4s battery is original and my car was built in Sept 2014 almost twice as old..

I dont have a battery conditioner / trickle charger

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

A solar charger would be better than nothing.
Rob
 
A CTEK charger/conditioner is your best friend so long as you have power or a solar charger if not. I've got both cars on chargers at the moment although started the Hyundai Kona up yesterday after 10 days.

My M140i has been in storage since last Sept and got it out at Easter although didn't drive any distance and it's absolutely fine, just checked the tyres and fluid levels and nipped to the chemists and back for a short run and now back in storage in the garage. Just leave the handbrake off and chock the wheels and ensure it's dry and keep it covered with cotton sheets. Depending where a car is stored it's a good idea to get some rodent poison pellets which I put around the car and under it, they will quite easily build a nest and ruin wiring looms.

Unless you're planning on storing a car for months on end a battery conditioner will suffice.

Tim.
 
warmasice said:
I'd highly recommend purchasing a trickle charger.

IMG_20200422_221732.jpg

IMG_20200422_221718.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one of these. £13 from Aldi and it does the job perfectly. Simply connect to the terminals under the bonnet, switch it on and you're done.

You do also have to press the button once to select car battery or twice for car battery in freezing conditions. The default (no button press) is bike which is the only negative thing I can say about it. But we really are talking 1st world problems!

https://www.aldi.co.uk/auto-xs-car-battery-charger/p/090030347442700

Appreciate I'm fortunate in having a garage with power that I keep my car in. Solar charger a good alternative for those who don't.
 
JamieZ4C said:
warmasice said:
I'd highly recommend purchasing a trickle charger.

IMG_20200422_221732.jpg

IMG_20200422_221718.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one of these. £13 from Aldi and it does the job perfectly. Simply connect to the terminals under the bonnet, switch it on and you're done.

You do also have to press the button once to select car battery or twice for car battery in freezing conditions. The default (no button press) is bike which is the only negative thing I can say about it. But we really are talking 1st world problems!

https://www.aldi.co.uk/auto-xs-car-battery-charger/p/090030347442700

Appreciate I'm fortunate in having a garage with power that I keep my car in. Solar charger a good alternative for those who don't.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the linky :thumbsup: might get one as my one charger has a dodgy mode select button. As the Aldi charger has overheating protection I'm guessing it's ok for AGM batteries 8) decent price.

Tim.
 
dr_john said:
I take mine out for a blast of 20 miles or so once a week, I need to do it today.
Click to expand...
Along these lines would work, though my Z4 is tucked away in the garage and I pop the charger on for 24 hours every couple of weeks.

My wife is still commuting normally, so that is her car sorted.

Our daughter's car and my daily, are being used for any essential shopping trips, so that is keeping them healthy.

Just our sons car that is an issue. I have thus far taken it far one gentle run out to the super market and back, were I did not even get out of the car. It probably needs another run to be honest.
 
TitanTim said:
Thanks for the linky :thumbsup: might get one as my one charger has a dodgy mode select button. As the Aldi charger has overheating protection I'm guessing it's ok for AGM batteries 8) decent price.

Tim.
Click to expand...
Indeed, it should be fine.

I know there are some advantages to the cteks and so on, but it's that old 80/20 again. Aldi one does 80% the expensive ctek can do and for 20% of the price. I think your requirements would have to be very specific to necessitate spending the extra. For the vast majority, just get the one from Aldi and put the savings towards petrol :driving:
 
JamieZ4C said:
TitanTim said:
Thanks for the linky :thumbsup: might get one as my one charger has a dodgy mode select button. As the Aldi charger has overheating protection I'm guessing it's ok for AGM batteries 8) decent price.

Tim.
Click to expand...
Indeed, it should be fine.

I know there are some advantages to the cteks and so on, but it's that old 80/20 again. Aldi one does 80% the expensive ctek can do and for 20% of the price. I think your requirements would have to be very specific to necessitate spending the extra. For the vast majority, just get the one from Aldi and put the savings towards petrol :driving:
Click to expand...

Thanks Jamie, :thumbsup: I'll get one ordered.

Tim.
 
Yep, the Aldi was is fine. 3 year warranty too which gives me piece of mind for my £9.99 investment :rofl:

I've kept the receipt in the box in case I do need to use it. :lol:
 
Harry Metcalfe did an interesting video on this on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cImhs_uwrAU

Both of my cars are now permanently on a CTEK MXS 5.0 and I have enough room in my garage to occasionally roll them, so they don't sit on the same part of the tyres for too long. Each gets used for an essential shopping trip about once a fortnight and I drive them just far enough to warm them up properly.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I'm looking into a ctek mxs 5.0

In the meantime I took it for a 40 mile round trip run to my rental property that is currently empty.

Started first time both times although to stop start didn't kick in as naturally the battery needed a top up but no other issues.
 
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