I started and idled my 02 ranger fx4 off road for 30 minutes after 2 months

[Gary DuBois]

How often and how long do you recommend me start and idle my ranger for ?

My battery is holding its charge on its own when not connected to the battery cables.

 

[Bgunner]

15 mins every two weeks but it is better to take it on a 10-15 mile drive. The reasons for this are numerus but a few are: idling will create more carbon build up in the cylinders, it cleans off the surface of the rotors and or drums of rust, gets other parts of the truck moving to lubricate things like gears and bearings, helps keep the tires from flat spotting.

It's not good for vehicles to sit motionless for extended periods of time as things like to seize up if not used.

 

[Gary DuBois]

15 mins every two weeks but it is better to take it on a 10-15 mile drive. The reasons for this are numerus but a few are: idling will create more carbon build up in the cylinders, it cleans off the surface of the rotors and or drums of rust, gets other parts of the truck moving to lubricate things like gears and bearings, helps keep the tires from flat spotting.

It's not good for vehicles to sit motionless for extended periods of time as things like to seize up if not used.

I turned on all my lights and i also put my ranger into 4x4 high and 4x4 low and went forwards and backwards for like 7 times at 4-5 feet each way. In your opion is it bad to start my ranger every 2 months and let my ranger idle for 30 minutes ?? I heard from another member that 30 minutes is not long and will not cause any harm for idle time.

 

[Bgunner]

It is good that you do those things but it is not enough to clean the rotors and or drums, keep the tires from flat spotting or lube the axle bearings.

If you idle for 30 mins every two months then over a year that is 3 hours of just idling with no load on the engine or trans. This can cause excessive carbon buildup over time leading to a loss in power and efficiency of the engine. It is also recommended that once in a while that you wind out the engine, I like to do it for 2 gears this way I'm not doing 70 mph in a 50 mph zone which is the fastest near me, so that it can help blow out carbon build up that happens when driving normally.

I don't drive my truck for usually 2 weeks at a time and I can feel the flat spots in my tires when I do drive it but over a few miles they round themselves out again but one of these days I'll need new tires due to flat spots again. Yes again. I've owned my truck for 6 years now and I have had to change the tires twice due to how infrequently it moves and it not sitting on jack stands while it sits.

Turning on the lights actually doesn't do anything to help the battery stay charged. In fact it can actually slow its charge rate. Driving the truck is the best way to charge the battery especially if it has sat for 2 months. Turning on the lights actually just puts more of a load on the alternator which powers everything once the engine has started.

 

[sgtsandman]

I turned on all my lights and i also put my ranger into 4x4 high and 4x4 low and went forwards and backwards for like 7 times at 4-5 feet each way. In your opion is it bad to start my ranger every 2 months and let my ranger idle for 30 minutes ?? I heard from another member that 30 minutes is not long and will not cause any harm for idle time.

You keep fishing for a different answer than the one you are getting. Just letting the truck idle and moving it a bit back and forth every two months or so isn't enough. You need to drive it and get the engine up to full operating temperature, get the lubricants into the various moving bits, and keep the rust build up on the brake rotors and drum to a minimum. The only way to do that is to drive it. At least once a month for a minimum for 30 minutes. More often would be better and driving it for longer even better still.

The only reason I only idled the engine for a while with the girlfriend's car was because a lot of things needed fixed and it wasn't legal to be on the road. But that is not good for any vehicle and begs for rodents to setup home in it. A moving vehicle that is being used tends to avoid that from happening. Because it sat for so long, it even more things needed to be fixed but it couldn't be helped.

Drive it. It will save you money in the long run.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I try to drive mine at least once a month for at least long enough to get everything up to operating temp. Last month it took pole position on daily driver duty as my Buick took a huge crap. Just this week I got the Buick up and running. Ranger sat for over 2 months before that. Needs brake lines and a mastercylinder, got the parts but am waiting for warmer weather to do the repairs.

AJ