Junk Car Removal: Car Sat Too Long, Might Need This

What Makes a Car a “Junk” Car? 

Typically, when people think of a junk car, they think of an older model car sitting out in a field that nature has completely overrun. Busted out windows, missing parts, severe rust, rotted out seats and tires, that sort of thing. At that point, it serves better as lawn decoration than a drivable vehicle and even junk car removal services won’t touch it at this point. A junk car is when a car will not start, is starting to fall apart, or is too dangerous to drive. If you have a car that has been in an accident, one thing that can make a bad situation worse is letting a car sit for too long. A junk car that had still had other functioning parts can become a heap of scrap in as little as six months. You can learn everything you need to know about junk cars here!

 

How Long Can You Let a Car Sit and What Happens? 

When a car isn’t driven for an extended period, sometimes as little as six months, the car begins to breakdown. This can turn a car from a valuable junk car into valueless scrap metal quickly. That’s why it is best to get rid of it before the forces of nature start to tear your junk car apart. 

Rust 

An obvious natural chemical reaction that means certain doom for cars. Entire automakers have gone out of business, or at least significantly out of favor because they couldn’t win the fight against rust. Any bare, exposed metal will begin to oxidize in a matter of days. While surface rust is manageable, deep, damaging, orange rust can completely cripple a car and make it valueless. 

Car Batteries Dying 

Car batteries are very important to modern cars and if you’ve ever had a dead battery, you know how much of a pain they are to remedy. How long do car batteries last without driving? Most batteries will last two months but after their charge is gone, you run the risk of the battery completely dying, and not even jumper cables can save it. 

Tire Rot 

Tire rot is something that everyone may experience at one point or another. UV rays from the sun and uneven pressure from sitting stagnant for so long can cause the rubber from tires to begin cracking. This can destroy even the most expensive tires if they are not driven on over an extended period. 

The Worst is Still Yet to Come 

While the things above may not seem particularly scary, there are worse things that could happen when your car sits for far too long. 

Oil Sludge 

Oil sludge is when water condenses in the engine and mixes with the oil in the oil pan. This can result in a list of complications in the engine. This can wreck a perfectly good engine if not taken care of as soon as possible. 

Water in Gas Tank 

Another common issue that comes up when letting a vehicle sit for too long is water in the gas tank. In case you didn’t know, water isn’t combustible. It does the opposite of combust which can destroy an engine if the water-gas mixture in the cylinder doesn’t combust. This can lead to costly repairs and can total a vehicle. 

Stale Gas 

One thing that people might forget about is the shelf life of gasoline. Gasoline is very volatile, which in most cases is a bad thing, but the combustion engine depends on this volatility. Gas can become less-and-less effective over time until it no longer combusts and can ruin engines or cause them to run very poorly. 

How to Prepare for Long Term Car Storage 

Preparation is key when you need to store a vehicle for a long period. No matter what condition the car is in, letting it sit for too long will cause severe damage. Follow these few steps and you should be able to store your vehicle for a long time. 

1. Use a battery maintainer to keep the battery charged if storing a car for six months or less. Remove the battery completely if storing for longer than six months and store at room temperature.
2. Change tires to cheap tires or put the entire car on blocks or jack stands and deflate your tires to a lower PSI while storing them. 
3. Change oil before storing it to keep as fresh as possible.
4. Use a gas stabilizer to ensure your gas stays fresh for longer.
5. If storing your car for a year or more, drain all the fluids from the car and remove the tires to minimize damage to the car.

Storing cars for long periods can be expensive, challenging, and time-consuming. It will all be worth it though when you are ready to sell your car or drive it again and the car is still in drivable condition. 

What If You Already Let Your Car Sit Too Long? 

If you didn’t know how to prepare your car for long-term storage or that you were supposed to at all; it’s time to find companies that pick up junk cars. As difficult as it will be to part with your vehicle, the only way to have it removed is by enlisting the help of a junk car removal business. More than likely, it won’t roll because its flat tires, it won’t start any longer, and the best thing to do is just start over with a new car. Having an experienced towing company that buys junk cars will get you some extra cash from your junk vehicle and do all the dirty work for you. 

Junk Cars and the Costs You Don’t Think About 

When you have a junk car, it’s important that you try to sell your car fast or find a junk car removal service fast. Why is this? Because the longer you hold onto a junk car, the more money you’ll have to spend to keep it. The costs, fees, and tickets that are associated with junk cars can far exceed the amount of money that you could get for the car in a matter of days. That’s why it’s important to dispose of or sell your junk car fast to avoid accumulating these costs. 

HOA Fines 

If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, expect knocks on your door, passive-aggressive letters left on your porch, or emails stating that your house is not in compliance with the HOA guidelines. What is an HOA? An HOA is a legal entity created by volunteers that live within a certain locale or area, typically neighborhoods. These volunteers will create the HOA CCR, or Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, that everyone within the neighborhood must follow. And you guessed it, junk cars sitting in front yards isn’t typically on that list. Also, if you do not respond to the HOA within a certain amount of time, they are legally allowed to tow your junk car to whatever junkyard they please. This is another reason why getting rid of your junk car as quickly as possible is important. 

Your City’s Junk Vehicle Ordinance 

If you don’t have an HOA in your area, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear to hold onto your junk car. The city you live in may also be cracking down on junk vehicles sitting in publicly viewable areas. If you live in the city, you can expect a letter from the city about your junk car and may be expected to pay fines if it is not removed. City ordinance violation fees can cost more than how much your junk car is worth. At the very least, attempt to cover your car to hide it from public view. The longer it sits, the higher your fees from the city. Find a junk car removal service quick to avoid these fines and stay on your city’s good side. 

Car Fluids and Car Pollution 

You should be aware of the danger you could be putting pets, wildlife, and fauna in by keeping a junk car. Cars that have been a severe accident could be leaking all kinds of oils, fluids, and other damaging liquids that can, not only attract animals, but kill them if these fluids are ingested. 

Coolant and Brake Fluid Leak 

Coolant and brake fluid are one of the most dangerous leaks because of their sweet smell and taste. The smell can attract birds, dogs, cats, and other local wildlife that could lick the fluids and cause them to become sick and die. The sweet smell and color are added to identify which fluid is which in the event of a leak. Damaged vehicles can leak much more significantly depending on the extent of damage done to radiator or brake lines. 

Oil Leak 

When your car’s engine oil leaks, it’s usually on the road or in such small amounts that it is negligible as far as being a danger to wildlife. Severe oil leaks after an accident can kill plants, and potentially poison groundwater. It is important to take precautions by placing a bucket or a container underneath the leaking oil to keep it from running off into a drainage ditch or into the grass. 

Gas Leak 

One of the most dangerous and volatile fluids in your car is gasoline. A gas tank leak can be incredibly dangerous for you, your family, neighbors, and wildlife. All it takes is one rogue spark, cigarette, or the smallest flame to ignite and cause serious damage, and possibly death, to your house and the people around you. Junk car removal is essential to have done quickly to avoid damage and possible death due to the negligence of the owner of a junk car. 

Rust Is Your Enemy 

If your car has been in an accident that has caused enough damage to expose the bare metal of your car, rust will take hold quick. One of the worst things that can happen is when you have rusted car frame. Severe rust can cause a car frame to completely crumple and make moving a junk car in one piece nearly impossible. If you have a rust bucket car, it’s best to find a junk car removal service to get it off your property before severe rust starts to set in. 

Do You Need a Junk Car Removal Service that Picks Up for Free and Gives You Cash?

CashForCars.com will pick up your junk car and give you cash! Our pickup is always free and getting rid of your junk car couldn’t be easier. Just give us a call, set up your time and place for pick up, and in 24 hours or less, your junk car will be gone, and you’ll have a check in-hand. We have over 35 years of car buying experience and thousands of positive customer reviews. Don’t wait around to sell your junk car, use CashForCars.com!