# Spare car in garage **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 9, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090 "2008-06-09T23:59:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jaccammo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jaccammo/32/827_2.png) [@jaccammo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaccammo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/1 "2008-06-09T23:59:28Z")
I have a 1998 Toyota 4-runner that I would like to leave at my second house in North Carolina. I of course live most of the year in Florida. The car has a 2.7 liter, four cylinder engine and around 173k miles, but is running ok. It burns some oil etc. How would the vehicle be affected by not being started more than once every 1-2 months (other than when I am there)? ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/2 "2008-06-10T00:09:52Z")
My father has a 1990 4runner with 150k miles. It is only runs 2-3 times per year for 2-3 week periods and otherwise sits. It has not had a single mechanical problem and has been doing this since 1997. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/3 "2008-06-10T00:37:33Z")
One thing you’d want to do is physically remove the battery everytime you’re done driving it. This will help prevent someone from driving off with it. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/4 "2008-06-10T00:39:31Z")
If it sits for several months in one place you will eventually get flat spots on the tires. Consider having a trusted neighbor take it out for a spin every couple of weeks. Run it for 15 to 20 minutes and that should cure any of the other idle car issues. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/5 "2008-06-10T01:09:07Z")
Running it once every 1-2 months is all it needs. Other than theft prevention, you need take no extra precautions or preventative measures. ---
**Author:** ![mconn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mconn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mconn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/6 "2008-06-10T01:16:52Z")
If you’re a little paranoid, you could disconnect the ground on the battery… ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/7 "2008-06-10T11:23:27Z")
Flat spots are possible, but with modern tyres it is a very minor or non-existent problem. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-car-in-garage/15090/8 "2008-06-10T23:50:52Z")
My temporary vehicle is a 79 chevy short stepside with a grand total mileage of 69,861 on it. While it waits patiently in the back yard to haul a board or two I always put STA-BIL in the tanks and I have a solar battery trickle charger laying on the dash plugged to the cig lighter to keep up the battery. Works evey time.