After following all the flack that Sandy got for periodically starting his Sixty Special instead of driving it, I can well understand the benefits of driving the car rather than just starting it, but it got me to thinking: how often, how far, or how long?

Weather permitting, I take my Fleetwood coupe out approximately once a week, for a round trip of about 30 miles, practically all freeway. Is this enough to keep everything healthy? I'm sure outside temperature is a factor, but assuming it's above freezing, roughly how often, and for how many miles should a car be "exercised" to keep the mechanicals clean and in top shape?

You want to drive it if you start it, period. If you drive it 30 miles, particularily with some expressway mileage, that is plenty. You really want to warm up all the fluids in the engine, trans, power steering, etc., give the HVAC time to warm up the interior to dry out moisture, etc. 30 miles is plenty to get the oil warmed up and for the PCV system to pull any excess water vapor and/or fuel out of the oil.

Drive it the miles, get in a couple of heavy accels to load the engine and get the RPM up once it is warmed up. If the drive has to be cut short, you can cruise in manual 3 on the expressway to get the RPM up to add heat to the oil and make sure all systems are warmed up thoroughly.

Once everything is warmed up, cycle thru all the features and options. If you don't use it, you loose it....LOL. Even things like power mirrors and such tend to like to be cycled occasionally so working all the controls and such actually helps keep them operational over long periods of time.

I also like to lightly burnish the brakes on an occasional drive like that. Brakes corrode during periods of inactivity and that is the main source of eventual brake roughness. It is easy to rationalize that taking it easy on the brakes is "good" but that is not necessarily the cause. Brakes like to be used....if a car is parked for storage and driven infrequently for maintenance you should pick the spot and do 4 or 5 moderately heavy brake snubs from 40 or so down to nearly stopped one after the other. Enough to clean the brakes of any corrosion or other buildup and to heat them up to dry them off. Normal easy braking, especially the kind that most stored cars get, is not really enough to adequately clean the brakes and dry them. They need some heat and pressure and 4 or 5 hard snubs (don't lock the tires but firm, steady pedal pressure to maintain aggressive stopping from 40 or so) during the drive at some point will serve the purpose.

bbobynski / many thanks for your comments. They, and your exchange with Blaze, pretty much clarified everything for me, and I think they should be required reading for any enthusiast.

Hogwash. I had a 1987 RWD Olds Cutlass until 1996 (when it was stolen - 40,000 miles). I only drove that car in the Spring/Summer. I stored it in the Winter months. I started it at least monthly and let it run until warm at least once a month throughout the Winter. That car never had an engine knock, electronic problem, brake problem, oil leak problem - or any other leak problem for that matter. I wish I could say the same for a CADILLAC that cost 3x as much!

Start it and warm it up as you please.

Hogwash. I had a 1987 RWD Olds Cutlass until 1996 (when it was stolen - 40,000 miles). I only drove that car in the Spring/Summer. I stored it in the Winter months. I started it at least monthly and let it run until warm at least once a month throughout the Winter. That car never had an engine knock, electronic problem, brake problem, oil leak problem - or any other leak problem for that matter. I wish I could say the same for a CADILLAC that cost 3x as much!

Start it and warm it up as you please.

You are going to have to tell us teh story on your DTS.