With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to stay indoors, the traffic on roads is almost negligible. On one hand, the environment is recovering from years of pollution, while on the other hand, the lockdown may result in significant damage to the vehicles.
When your car does not move and sit idle for several days, the state takes a toll on its health as well. Several parts of your car may need rehauling once the situation returns to normal. However, there are certain ways to minimize the damage and keep your vehicle in working condition.
Battery Health Is The Most Important
The most vulnerable of all is the battery in your car. Batteries are prone to leak charge even when sitting idle. Although a moving vehicle keeps the flow of charge under check, a vehicle at rest will only lose charge in time. The best way to avoid troubles with batteries is to remove them and charge them before reinstalling. Removing the battery will prevent excessive charge loss, while force charging it will restore any charge that it may have lost during the lockdown.
Next Is Your Tire Conditions
When a car stands idle at one spot, the tires experience all the load on the contact surface only. In other words, the tires may deform when a constant load is applied to a specific area of the tire. Moving your car once a week to change its position may be a good option. But, you can also use jacks or wooden blocks to lift your car and avoid any loading on the tires. In addition to this, you may also need to keep a check on tire pressure regularly.
Engine & Transmission May Also Need Attention
Another major trouble that may come up during the lockdown period is jamming of the moving parts of your car. Most of all, the moving parts in the engine and transmission may jam due to days of inactivity. According to the experts at Denvertransmissionrepair.net, a wise solution to this problem could be taking your car out for a short drive, of say a mile or two. This would not only prevent any damage to the moving parts but would also avoid settling of the lubricants.
Fuel Tank Needs Protection Against Corrosion
It is quite important to top-up your fuel tank before parking your car for days. The fuel tank may develop rust due to moisture that seeps in from minuscule gaps in the tank lid. Topping up the tank with fuel will prevent any moisture from coming into contact with the tank walls. And thus, prevent corrosion.
Remove Rubber Gaskets And Serpent Belts
Rubber lures in pests and is a great meal for mice and other rodents. Most of the gaskets and belts in the car are made out of rubber. When you’re not using your car for several days, the pests and rodents may make it a temporary abode. And with a lot of organic food, such as rubber gaskets and belts available to fill up their tummies, they may cause havoc. Moreover, even if somehow, the rubber parts survive from pest attacks, weatherly impacts can also damage them. For instance, temperature differences during day and night can cause these parts to expand and contract. As a result, they may develop cracks and break when you once again start using your car. So, the best you can do to prevent any such trouble is removing them before parking and then reinstalling them when you wish to reuse your car.
Sealing Paint With Wax To Prevent Rusting
Of course, the weather can also damage the paint of your car over several days. Simply, when you’re regularly using your car, the exterior surface of your car is also washed and cleaned regularly. But, it won’t be happening very soon when you’re not using it during the lockdown. So, you must wash your car properly, wax the surface, and seal the paint. Usually, a wax coat can prevent your car’s paint for up to two weeks when your vehicle is operational. But, since your car won’t be operational for a long time, the coat may last over a few more weeks.
Check Filters And Fuel Lines For Any Wear & Tear
Lastly, weeks of inactivity can clog filters and fuel and air delivery lines. The best is to clean them before parking your car. Additionally, you must cover the pipes and filters with plastic sheets to keep away the dirt and debris from entering and clogging the filters.
All of the aforementioned tricks can help keep your car in the top-notch condition through this tough time. So that when you need to use your car once everything sets back to normal, you don’t need to take your car to the mechanic right away, for other than regular maintenance checks.