Nowadays the whole world is struggling with a deadly disease COVID-19 due to which we are facing lockdown. Due to lockdown, we all are supposed to maintain social distancing from people and places as much as we can. As a result of this, we are not able to use many things, one of which is a car.
The coronavirus lockdown may mean your car isn’t driven for three weeks or more. Just like us humans, due to no movement in our machines, their efficiency can be reduced. So, here we bring you the top tips on how you can keep your beloved car safe during this period without doing much effort.
#1 Keep your car clean
This should be your priority. Do not let dirt accumulate on your car so wash your car properly. Since due to lockdown your cleaner might not be available, so you should take yourself an initiative and clean your car before putting it in storage.
Not only from outside, but you also need to clean your car deeply from inside. There are surfaces you touch more frequently, such as the steering wheel, knobs, switches, screen, buttons, and more. Make sure you clean these by using a car interior cleaner. If you don’t have one, you can make an ammonia-based solution (by diluting a glass and window cleaner with water in a 1:1 ratio).
Also, clean your car cabin thoroughly so that there is not junk food left inside to avoid any unpleasant smell and prevent the growth of bacteria. Also, keep the windows of your car closed at all times during this lockdown.
#2 Parking at a safe place
This is also one of the important things to be remembered for protecting your car. During this lockdown, park your car safely at a covered place. If you do not have a covered place, then cover it with some cloth. This will protect your car from direct sunlight and bird pops and dirt.
#3 Disconnect the battery
Since your vehicle has been parked for a long time, it is important to prevent your battery from getting discharged. In order to do this you need to disconnect the battery of your vehicle by removing the connections. If you do not want to do so, you can also start your vehicle every 4 to 5 days and keep the engine idling for a few minutes to ensure that your battery functions properly and prevent it from being disconnected. During this coronavirus spread it is highly recommended to wear gloves and face masks in order to be safe. Once you are done wash your hands properly with an alcohol-based hand wash.
#4 Avoid using handbrake while parking
It is another important point. While parking your car avoid using hand brakes for a long period of time. As your car will not be in motion for a long period of time the handbrake can get jammed which is a very big problem. Instead of this you can leave your car in gear. You can use the traditional way of parking your car. Park the vehicle in the required spot and put a piece of wood or brick just behind the tyres to prevent it from rolling
#5 Keep your fuel tank always full
Before parking your car keep in mind to full your fuel tank. It is necessary in order to prevent moisture from developing in the fuel tank which will prevent rusting.
#6 Check your tyre pressures
Your vehicle’s tyre should have prescribed air in it. To maintain the adequate pressure, you should move your vehicle once in a while. Another thing that you should keep in your mind is that you should unblock the exhaust port of your car.
#7 Keep your vehicle lubricated
As your two-wheeler needs to be parked for a long time, it is necessary to keep parts like chain, suspension, clutch/brake lever pivot points, folding pegs, keyhole and fasteners properly lubricated. You can check if your vehicle needs lubrication at least once every 10 days. Lubrication prevents the vital parts of a vehicle from rusting and hence, doing so will not only make their life longer but will also ensure smoother functioning whenever you take your vehicle out once the lockdown lifts.
Also, it is very important to check for renewal of your car insurance before it expires. Remember, car insurance renewal is as important as buying a new one.
We can understand how hard it must be for you to stay indoors and completely away from riding/driving, staying indoors will certainly prevent this deadly virus from spreading in India any further. That said, the only wise option at the moment is to respect and follow this lockdown. So there you have it, some tips to take care of your car when it stays out of action for so long. Having said that, social distancing is important and don’t leave your house just for your car as it can be fixed later on as well.