Tips
Tips On How To Maintain You Car During CoronaVirus Lockdown
It’s no news that the world is on total lockdown. Nigeria is not spare in this regard as well. It will be recalled that some states have closed borders with some neighboring states. Locked down however means that cars, motorcycles will be made to rest awhile and this can cause damages to the engine.
Crucial times they say calls for crucial and adequate measures and there is no denying that. With the COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus pandemic gripping the nation in lockdown, we must stay in the confines of our homes, and frankly, it is for our good as mandated by the federal government of Nigeria. This is the only way we can contain this deadly virus from spreading. However, this hibernation period could take a toll your car from not being used for such a long period. So, here are some important tips and tricks to take care of your car during the lockdown.
Tips for Cars
1. Make sure your car is parked in a safe covered area.
If you do not have covered parking, then keep the car covered. This will protect it from bird droppings or excessive sunlight that could damage the paint. It’s also important to remove leaves and flowers if your car is in open parking as flowers and leaves are a breeding ground for bacteria. Also, make sure that you thoroughly clean the cabin. Do not leave any kind of junk items in the car that might leave a bad stench and might even attract rodents.
2. It is wise to maintain a full tank during such times.
If there is less fuel, then overtime the air above the fuel would cause condensation which is not good for your vehicles. In the long run, it could even cause rusting.
3. Avoid engaging the parking brake/handbrake when you leave the car idle for a long time as it could get jammed.
It’s always better to leave the car in gear or parking mode if your car has that feature. For additional safety, you could also go old school and use wheel chocks, like using a big piece of wood or brick to keep the car from rolling.
4. Disconnect your car’s battery if it is not in use for a long time.
This will ensure that the battery does not get discharged while staying idle. You can also start the car once every 3-4 days and let it idle for some time, this too will keep your battery from depleting. Also, run the air conditioner with the blower on while you are doing this so that any dust or foreign particles get thrown out.
5. Make sure that your tyres are properly inflated and are at the correct pressure.
When kept idle for a long time the tyres could lose air pressure and keeping them inflated helps prevent cracking of the sidewalls and flat spots. If you get a chance to move the car forward and backward to avoid flat spots.