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You’re not the only one who struggles with a lockdown. As well as your family and friends and all your loved ones, your vehicle isn’t equipped. To look at a car, you’d think it would happily sit on the street for months on end without a peep. In reality, there’s plenty going on under the hood that might cause problems in the future.
The worst part is, motorists are ignorant of what they can’t see. If you don’t spot it, it doesn’t exist until it does when you’re doing 60kph on the freeway. Ouch! Vehicle maintenance during the Coronavirus pandemic is as essential as taking care of your physical and mental health. In some ways, it helps you physically and mentally. For example, a long drive can blow away the cobwebs if you’re bored.
However, it’s tough to know what to do and when to do it in such an unprecedented period. You could be an enthusiast or a complete beginner, yet it doesn’t make a difference. Nobody has been here before, so not many people know how to react. Thankfully, this post has got your back.
Here are five ways to ensure your car will be in tip-top condition after lockdown.
Go For A Drive
Petrolheads will love this tip because it means you can indulge in your favorite hobby – driving. There are awesome pastimes for enthusiasts, from racing to off-roading and rebuilding an old classic, yet none compare to hitting the open road. A silver lining of the health crisis is the clearer roads due to a lack of traffic. Whether you’re in a city or the countryside, you probably won’t see another car for miles.
Going for a drive is important as it keeps the engine ticking over. The reason periods of non-use are problematic is that the car’s mechanical elements begin to collect dust. The longer the starter motor or the engine sits idle, the higher the chance they won’t work when you put the key in the ignition.
Don’t forget about the battery, either. Car batteries require a steady flow of electricity, and when they don’t receive it, they go flat (like any battery). Without the engine running, there is no spark, which means the life and soul of your vehicle will die. You can jump-start it or use starter cables, but the best option is to drive your car at least once a week.
That way, it’ll benefit from being lightly used without all the major components rusting and falling off!
Change The Oil
Driving is the best remedy as it prevents the car’s parts from drying out. The engine is a prime example, yet so is the oil. After a while, the oil will settle, and it could begin to separate from the other fluids. Once this happens, there’s a good chance that the vehicle’s internal components won’t be properly lubricated, which can result in rubbing and erosion.
However, depending on the state you live in or your approach to the pandemic, you might not be comfortable taking your car for a drive once a week. Even once every two weeks is a bit of a push. There’s no reason to worry if this is the case because all it takes to ensure your vehicle remains road-worthy is extra maintenance.
The key is to replace the oil after prolonged periods of no use. Up to three weeks is okay, yet anything after one month is pushing the envelope. Experts recommend changing the oil within a month to six weeks if the car isn’t going to be in use. The same applies to the other liquids, such as transmission and brake fluids, as they’ll also become stagnant.
Please don’t overload your vehicle with fluid as you’ll cause more harm. The car make and model dictates how much and what kind of liquid to put in – it’s usually between 12 to 16 quarts – so make sure you check the manual.
Pump Up The Suspension
The suspension is something that seems fine. Let’s face it – you’re not going to be doing much off-roading in the near future! Still, the impact of doing nothing on a car is surprising. For instance, do you use the parking brake when leaving your vehicle in a long-term parking spot? Many drivers will answer yes to this question since the park function is an extra layer of protection.
Unfortunately, extended use of the parking brake can lead to suspension problems, especially brake pads and rotor fuse or stick together. With the extra weight, the rear of the chassis crumbles, and you’ll have two punctured tires at best. At worst, you could need replacements for the brake pads, rotor, and tires.
Performance suspension parts are designed to take the extra pressure and hold tight. Of course, this is only an option if you must put the car in park, such as if you live on a hill. The simplest solution is not to use the parking brake for long periods, which you can do if you have a flat drive with no risk of the vehicle moving.
Alternatively, you can try and dry out the internal parts if there is moisture in the air. This is because water is what causes the pads and rotor to stick.
Pick A Perfect Parking Spot
It can be challenging for those who have on-street parking to find a spot, so you aren’t picky. Any will do since you won’t use the vehicle for long periods, and you don’t want to worry about it. There’s too much to fret about without waking up in the middle of the night trying to figure out if you topped up the parking meter!
Yet, small features can make parking spots unsuitable, which is why it’s with scouting the area first. Most people know about birds, particularly pigeons, but if you’re unsure why they’re hazardous, it’s due to their poop. Bird poo is corrosive and strips the paint off cars after hours of exposure.
Trees are similar, although the sap takes longer to affect a paint job. Still, it’s as bad to fix, thanks to the sticky texture and gloopy consistency. In short, you want to park away from leaky trees and areas where birds are known to flock, i.e., telephone poles.
Just because you have a drive of a garage doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods. Because cutting a tree down or removing pigeons is a lot of effort, you can place a sheet over your vehicle to protect its exterior.
Fill Up
As you don’t plan on going anywhere, you’re probably not concerned about the fuel tank. But, the problem with low levels of gas for extended periods is that the tank accumulates condensation. When this happens, the water will sink to the bottom, and the fuel will go to the top, leading to circulation issues.
Essentially, the engine won’t receive the gas it requires to run smoothly, and mechanical parts will begin to rub. Filling up at the pumps is an easy way to stop this from occurring when you use your vehicle for the first time.
Also, you shouldn’t underestimate the fact that this is a health crisis. Therefore, you never know when you will need to respond to an emergency. It’s better to be safe than sorry, which is why having a full tank of gas is the right call. That way, you’ll be ready to respond instantly.
Remember that maintaining your car now will save you money in the long-term.
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