# Recommended Maintenance on a car not Driven Much **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [May 14, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276 "2025-05-14T01:19:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokemonyouandme123_193319)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/1 "2025-05-14T01:19:44Z")
I have a 2005 Camry that I don’t plan on driving much. First time I have had to consider time recommendations over mileage. Should all time constrained maintenance, such as changing your oil once every 6 months (even if you don’t go 5000 miles in that time) be strictly followed? Opinions seem to vary from person to person. I can see how if you just let your car sit, that it could cause some problems. But I figured if I start it monthly and get up to operating temperature, I should be ok? Moisture can find it’s way into the engine and transmission, bringing it up to operating temperature might help remove some of the moisture, so don’t have to worry about oxidization? Not entirely sure. Even if I take the stance that time doesn’t matter, I see the argument that it would likely matter, if we are talking years upon years. Perhaps 20 year old sitting in a car is likely not a good idea, even if it has only driven less than 100 miles on it in 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/2 "2025-05-14T01:26:57Z")
> **[How to Maintain a Car That Isn’t Driven Much - Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/how-to-maintain-a-car-that-isnt-driven-much-a6412749580/)** > > Consumer Reports’ expert tells you how to maintain a car that isn't driven much, perhaps because your daily commute is shorter or even nonexistent. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/3 "2025-05-14T01:51:24Z")
If you drive ypur car only once a month it likely won’t start on month 2 unless you use a battery maintainer clipped to the battery and plugged in. I suggest using synthetic oil and changing it once a year no matter the miles. Brake fluid flush every 3 years, coolant every 5 years and drive it twice a month for.30 minutes. Or sell it and take a cab or Uber instead. ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/4 "2025-05-14T04:05:39Z")
When I’m not driving my car much, whether due to illness or on vacation, I have the oil changed every 6 months ( twice a year ) regardlessly. Lexus and the guys on CarTalk recommend changing the oil once a year but I choose to do twice a year for personal preference. Mustang is right on the brake liquid — every 3 years service. I don’t know about the transmission oil in your case but I’d change that too every 5 years. Toyota charges $120 for an oil change using synthetic oil. $240 per year isn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokemonyouandme123_193319)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/5 "2025-09-29T21:10:34Z")
Hi, So if I stow a car for six months to keep it out from winter driving. Do I still need to change the oil? I know it’s suggested to change oil even if you drive it low miles. But what if you drive it no miles? Example, I want to store a car for six months. I change the oil and filter before storage. Use a fuel stabalizer. It now has brand new oil in it. When I take it out of storage do I still need to change the oil, even though it has zero miles on it? I understand that driving for at least 20-30 minutes is required to keep moisture out of the oil, and to change it once every six months to a year depending on who you ask. But if it’s not driven at all, zero miles, do you still need to change it every six months? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/6 "2025-09-29T21:17:05Z")
If this is the 2005 Toyota why do you even have it since you said you hardly ever drive it. Your schedule most likely is XXXX miles or 6 months so what is the problem ? If it was mine I would change the oil once a year . ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/7 "2025-09-29T21:17:45Z")
The oil/filter are changed before storage to remove any moisture/acid in the oil. If the vehicle being stored for only six months, the oil/filter don’t need to be changed when it’s taken out of storage. Tester ---
**Author:** ![JoeTro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JoeTro](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeTro)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/8 "2025-09-29T21:36:32Z")
I think your biggest challenge will be the gasoline decomposing chemically. Keep in mind that fuel “stabilizers” cannot change rotten fuel back into good fuel. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/9 "2025-09-29T21:54:46Z")
+1 for Tester, if not driving it, no need to change the oil and filter again… ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/recommended-maintenance-on-a-car-not-driven-much/200276/10 "2025-09-29T22:28:58Z")
And the most neglected and care-least-for maintenance task: Check air pressure in those tires! Tires, even brand new ones, seep air slowly over months of time, and you don’t want to come back to a saggy-sidewall-surprise.