i heard that frequent short-distance drives is bad for cars. for me, i make 3 - 6 mile drives about 6 to 10 times a day. i'm a bit worried that i'm starting up the car too many times and not driving long enough distances.

how bad is it for the Z or am i just paranoid?

 

Thats news to me. I deliver in my Z, and make short trips all the time. On Fridays and Saturdays I work 12 hour shifts and can do about 35-40 deliveries. I have had my car for about 1 year now, and have had no drivetrain problems with it yet. My stupid window motor is another story though!

 

its bad for the battery... also the car probably isn't fully warmed up when you take short drives like that.

 

Short drives are typically bad for any car. Nothing to worry about in your case though. Quit worrying about the small stuff, enjoy life, rent a stripper, ect

 

it eats up gas everytime u start it. warns out the car faster imo.

 

short trips build up carbon in your cylinders, i believe? and due to this being so, it also raises the compression ratio as well. raising the possibility of knocking and pinging but highly unlikely.

 

I know it's bad for the exhaust system. The moisture from condensation does not get dissipated by the exhaust heat, and just stays inside the exhaust....Eventually it will rust through...

 

5 short drives is no worse than 5 long drives.

 

It's a car, drive it! If you think the short trips are bad for it, go buy a beater at the junk yard for $500 and drive that. Otherwise, enjoy your car and drive it (isn't that why you buy a car, to drive it?).

How many posts have there been like this over the last month? I'm sorry to burst everyone's bubbles but the last time I checked, this isn't some low production, super exotic car...

 

Agree.

This is one of the most demanding situations for motors: driving short distances, then shutting the motor before it reaches operating temperature. Your owners manual describes this as extreme conditions, and recommends more frequent oil changes. Follow the instructions.

 

According to your post, you drive an average 5 times pers day with an average distance of 5 miles over 7 trips for an approximate total of 35 miles per day. If you compare this style of commute to an individual who is driving the same distance per day, but doing it in two trips (say, 17.5 miles to and from work) then yes, you will wear your car out faster.

There are a variety of things to consider. For example, in the comparison above, you will have more wear and tear on your starter, your battery, your parking brake, and your seats (getting in and out) simply because you are using them over twice as much as the commuter who only makes two trips. From an engine standpoint, one of the harshest things it endures is the initial startup, as it takes the a few seconds after startup for the oil to circulate through the engine properly.

That all being said, your Z is a well built car with a wonderful engine, and as long as you give it regular maintenance and a little respect, it will last you as long as you want it to, regardless of your daily commute.

 

+1

 

ive heard of this in the older cars. before the days of ECU, it used to happen in the high compression motors. just like it wasnt good to rev your engine a lot and then turn the car off.

i dont know if any of it is true or not, but im pretty sure nissan wouldnt produce an everday driving car without the ability to make short around-town trips.

like someone else said, we are not talking about some exotic super high-end sports car. its still a Z.

 

Battery and spark plugs should be the only things you watch more closely.

 

1) Starting a cold engine increases wear because clearances are at minimum, and lubrication is at minimum.

2) Everytime you shut off the engine, condensate forms in the crankcase and the exhaust. This causes acidic compounds and sludge to form in the crankcase, and shortens the life of the exhaust system.

Allowing the engine to come to full temp, and then driving an additional 20-30 minutes will help boil off any condensate.

Since you do "...frequent short-distance drives", you need to follow the severe service maintenance schedule, as specified in your Owner's Manual/Maintenance Guide.

bill



bill

 

I drove short trips (3-4miles) for few days and I left my Z untouched for a few days.. When I started the car up, engine was cranking really slow and car was shaking violently & exaust smelled bad..it went back to normal after
few minutes but I thought my car was gonna explode. Maybe a carbon build-ups?

 

Nah, she was just pissed off because you didn't give her any attention

 

My trip to work is 8 miles up I-95, then 8 miles back... if the battery dies I'll replace it. If the car breaks I'll fix it. DONT CRY ABOUT THE WHAT IF"S!!!!!!!!! get the car, drive it how you want to, and enjoy it to the fullest that you possibly can.

 

keep it under 3000rpm while the engine is cold (the oil pressure will drop to around 2 after about 5 minutes) and any cold driving damage will be negligible.

 

Instead of rehashing the exact same things that have already been said, the posts I agree with most, in no particular order.... davidv, torpicalypso, and baily bill. Good posts fellas.