this used car im looking at has pretty low miles but the person who drove it works about a mile away, which accounts for the low miles

so what potential dangers can driving like this have on the engine?

 

If you do that type of driving, you are supposed to take it out for 20 minutes a month at highway speeds. When the engine doesnt get warm enough to burn off all the deposits, they just sit, and end up building up.

 

More engine wear happens when an engine isn't up to temp. Oil doesn't like to flow when it's cold.

 

So much of the engine wear happens when you first start up. Its almost like they should have a counter for how many times the engine's been started. That would be just as important as the odometer.

So if it only goes 1 mile each trip, and a reasonable average(???) is what, 10 or 15 for most people? Than take the mileage of that car, multiply by 10 or 15 for a gross wild-@$$ guess for how worn the engine might be.

 

it will probably have carbon deposits out the ass.