HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR DURING THE LOCKDOWN
Car enthusiasts are itching to go out on the empty roads outside. It's not every day that you get a traffic-free road to drive, especially in a city.
Simply washing your car to keep it virus-free will not be enough because there are more steps you need to take to ensure that your car is ready for when the lockdown ends.
Here are some quick steps to help you ensure that your car is ready for a spin again:
Battery
If you try to start your car after a long layover, the chances are that the battery will die down. It is necessary to turn the ignition and check the battery at least once every week to keep it running. Just turn on the car, the AC and any other features that run on your car-battery to make sure everything is fine. Do check the battery indicator for any hint that your battery needs attention.
Run your engine
There are number of reasons to start up your engine regularly. Modern engines are hardier than older ones but no internal combustion engines was designed for five-minute trips to the shops once a week.
Ideally they need to be brought up to an ideal full operating temperature, and if you’re only popping to the local supermarket, yours is not getting to that. Engine oils are designed to have consistent viscosity at different temperatures but when cold, they’re thicker, so in simple terms an engine is healthier when it’s given a chance to warm up properly.
Fuel tank
While you may not be taking your car out daily, keep the fuel tank sufficiently filled for any emergency. This is just to avoid situation where you are left high and dry on the road during a lockdown. If the fuel is less, then the air above the fuel might condense and store moisture inside the tank over a period of time which could cause rusting.
In case you do not have your tanks filled up, no need to go out now. Make sure your fuel tank is checked and cleaned when you head out after the lockdown ends.
Brake Calipers
Brake calipers are prone to rust when they are out of function for a long time. If you are keeping the handbrake of your car engaged, it might be another factor that leads to rusting. It is a good chance that when you start your car after the lockdown ends, you will be facing funny noises on applying the brakes, or even worst low friction in breaks than what you are used to and hence inconvenience in driving. In order to check this, try not to engage the hand brake. If your car stands on a plane surface, it might be an easy option. You can also use keep your car gear engaged and not leave in on neutral, tyre stoppers or bricks could also be used to keep the car from moving from its stationary position.
Tyre Pressure
Your car is prone to losing tyre pressure while it stands in a stationary position for a long time. Over a period of time, this could lead to a flat tyre. To check this make sure that the tyre pressure in your car is kept at an optimum range. Moving your car a couple of feet every week is also a good solution to this problem.
Interiors
Normally when we drive the car the interiors usually get good air ventilation, be it from the air conditioner or the open windows. When the car is stationary for a long period of time, any smelly particle inside the car is bound to get aggravated and create a foul smell in the car. To avoid this, make sure that the interiors of the car are cleaned properly. You can also leave a small part of the window open for ventilation. This will also keep your car cool if it is not standing in the shed and is exposed to the sun.