It’s essential to care for your car during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that it remains in top form. Here’s how you can do so with ease all by yourself.
Countries around the world have announced wide-spread lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many states across the U.S. still have
These factors combined with the fear of being infected or passing the virus on have led to numerous people staying indoors. This has led to a massive reduction in the number of times people are stepping out of their homes.
So, what does this mean for your cars?
When left unused for long periods, the reliability and safety of the vehicles can get compromised. In such unpredictable times, it’s of the utmost importance to ensure that your cars are up and running for any emergency.
Most garages and car repair shops, too, maybe shut currently so the responsibility is on you to maintain your car and keep it running.
So, how can you care for your car during the COVID-19 pandemic? Let’s find out.
1. Tires
Tires are essential to keep your car running and the most common and pressing issue with them can be the flat-spotting problem. This is when the weight of the vehicle leads a part of the vehicle’s tires to flatten when left in the same position for a prolonged duration.
Additionally, cold weather and low tire pressure can speed up this process. This can pose a major problem for the running of the car.
So, what can you do to resolve it?
You should check the tire pressure regularly and keep it inflated to the specification mentioned by the manufacturer. Along with this, you should keep changing the position of the car so that the same spot isn’t under pressure all the time.
2. Battery
Batteries are meant to be used and if you don’t use them for long, they might get discharged. This would mean that you’d need to jump-start your car every time you want to start it, or possibly end up needing to replace the battery.
To avoid this issue, you should start your car every 2-3 days for a few minutes to charge your battery. If you have a digital multimeter, you can use this device to check the battery’s voltage, charge it as needed.
If you know that your car won’t be moving for a long time, then you should consider disconnecting the battery to keep it from discharging.
3. Brakes
Brakes are lifesavers, to say the least. They play a crucial role in preventing accidents and thus you must ensure that they’re in the best condition possible.
If your car remains idle for long periods of time, the chances are that the brake rotors may end up becoming rusted.
Similarly, the brake pads might bind to the rotors if the parking brake remains engaged for a prolonged period of time. While this may not happen in a matter of a few weeks, it’s always better to be prepared.
If you’re going to keep your car parked for over a month, you should consider disengaging your parking brake. It goes unsaid that you should only do so if you have parked the car on a flat surface. The last thing you’d want is a runaway car!
4. Vehicle Fluids
When you’re leaving the vehicle idle for the long term, it can be a challenge to store the vehicle fluids. Your fuel could separate, and water vapor might end up accumulating in your gas tank.
What’s more?
Gaskets and hoses can become dry and brittle if they’re not lubricated well. This can cause major issues. However, the bright side is that these issues may only occur if you’re leaving your car unused for a couple of months.
To avoid the chances of such a situation arising, you should consider taking your car for a short drive every now and then.
5. Paint
Paint may not be the biggest of your concerns, but it helps to care for that as well, especially if your local car wash isn’t open. If your car isn’t parked in a garage and is parked outside, then it’s likely that it’ll accumulate dust, tree sap, water spots, sun damage, or even bird droppings.
These may damage your car’s paint if left unattended for a long time. To avoid such a thing from occurring, you should consider parking the car under a shaded area. If that’s not possible, you should cover the vehicle using a weatherproof car cover.
If you do spot any contaminants on the car’s surface, you can use a wet cloth to clean it up.
6. Pests
Yet another issue for your car may be pests. If your car is left untouched for a long duration, the chances are that some pests may have entered or caused damage to the vehicle.
These pests may end up chewing and damaging your cables or belts, and if not dealt with, the damage could be catastrophic. To avoid this from happening, you should routinely check under the hood to see if any cables or belts are damaged.
It’s also a good idea to check the engine compartment and the top of the tires to see if any animals have ended up there.
Final Thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread stay at home orders, gathering restrictions, and work from home policies. As a result, vehicles around the country aren’t traveling as much on the roads anymore. Regular care and maintenance will ensure that your car runs and remains at its best.
Check up on the tires and keep refilling them regularly to avoid flat spots. Unplug the battery if you’re not going to be using your car for a long duration. Additionally, you should disengage the brakes to avoid them from jamming.
Keep taking your car for a short drive regularly to avoid the vehicle fluids from separating or drying up. You should also cover your car and park it under a shaded area. Keep washing it regularly to avoid any damage to its paint.
Lastly, keep checking under the car’s hood to see if any pests have caused damage to the cables, and before going for a drive, don’t forget to check your tires.