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Given the fact that there is a pandemic going on, you may not be driving your vehicle due to the stay at home order and the practice of proper social distancing. Driving less, or not driving your vehicle at all, does not mean you should ignore your vehicle’s maintenance. The longer your car sits, the more risk there is of causing permanent damage or an unwelcome repair bill. Proper vehicle maintenance is still necessary even when your vehicle is left idle for long periods. Making sure that you protect the exterior, battery, and engine will preserve your vehicle and ensure that it is ready to run when you need it to.
Cars are meant to be driven, so keeping it parked for long periods is not healthy. Preventive measures can be taken to help ensure your car is in top condition the next time you start it. Drivers can take a few simple steps to ensure their car stays in good running condition over the next weeks or months of coronavirus quarantine.
Start your vehicle and move it around at least once every other week. Leaving your engine ideling and moving your vehicle will keep fluids circulating and ensures all the moving parts such as the transmission and brakes are kept well lubricated. Getting the engine to operating temperature helps to circulate fluids in the car and prevent fluids from going bad and gaskets and rubber parts from drying out and failing.
Letting your vehicle run for at least 20 minutes will also help prevent battery discharge by recharging the energy used to start your vehicle.
Car batteries lose charge overtime, and the easiest way to prevent a dead battery is to drive your car at regular intervals. Keeping your battery charged and your car moving regularly are the most important measures to take if you are driving less frequently than usual. A short drive can keep the battery topped up and the oil in good shape.
If your vehicle is not being driven for a long period of time, you can also choose to disconnect the battery to prevent corrosion and discharge.
Even though you may be driving less, keeping up with your preventative maintenance schedule is still crucial. Oil changes at the proper time intervals, regularly brake service, air conditioning service, wheel alignment, tire rotations, and other services are still needed periodically for optimum performance.
This will also save you time and money when you get back to driving your vehicle regularly.
Tires lose pressure over time, check the tire pressure regularly and make sure it is the recommended tire pressure. When your car sits for too long, the weight of the vehicle can cause flat spots to develop where the rubber meets the road. Older tires that are kept idle will be more prone to deterioration of the rubber, causing cracking, flaking, bulging, or discoloration. Carefully inspect the tires before taking the car out on the road.
Tires with flat spots or deterioration may need to be swapped for new tires. Periodically moving your vehicle can help avoid potential flat spots.
Caring for your vehicle will ensure that it is ready to use when you need it and that it will run reliably for years to come. With your car parked and not in use, it can accumulate gunk and debris on the exterior which can have lasting effects on your vehicles paint. There can also be damage to the interior such as the dash and seats due to prolonged sun exposure. Use protectants on your interior and keep the exterior clean by washing it yourself or visiting a car wash.
Using a car cover or storing your vehicle in a garage will protect the paint and interior to keep your vehicle looking great.
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