There’s absolutely no doubt that 2020 has been a weird and rough year. The COVID-19 global pandemic has forced everyone to shift to a stay-at-home life. This means that nobody is driving with the same frequency and cars are being locked in garages. However, we must not forget that cars need to be attended on a regular basis, and even more so if they are sitting for an extended period of time. This information will give you more insight on maintaining your vehicle during this period of social distancing.
Maintaining Your Vehicle in Good Shape
It can be difficult to do anything while keeping a safe distance from others. Nevertheless, not checking your vehicle can lead to unnecessary damages and overcosts. There are many things you can check yourself without going to a mechanic. You can also keep track of other things and let the mechanic know once you can go in for a regular visit. Take a look at how you can avoid a bad surprise when using your car after a long time.
Learn Everything About Your Car
One of the positive outlooks about this global pandemic is that many people have dedicated their time to learn about new things. We’ve seen people learning a new language, a new instrument, or even learning how to cook and bake. Well, you can also use this time to read the owner’s manual of your car. This will help you identify what needs attention on a regular basis and the maintenance schedule.
It will definitely not hurt you to take a look at the manual and make a list of the different things that you can check on your own. For example, take a look at the lights on your dashboard and learn about what they indicate. This will save you from an unnecessary visit to your mechanic.
Further Reading
- Used Ford Car for Sale: How to Choose the Right One
- Maintaining Your Car: Five Key Things To Consider When Servicing Your Car
- Everything You Need to Know about Buying Used Cars
- 30 Used Cars Under 30 MPG
Keep Your Car Clean and Tidy
We’re all looking for more new activities while social distancing at home. So, if you’ve already watched your favorite shows and baked banana bread, you might as well use some spare time to clean your car. Especially if your car is sitting outdoors. Not cleaning your car may lead to finding animals like squirrels or rats inside the vehicle. Squirrels are particularly dangerous as they can make a mess under the hood or chew through wires.
Ultimately, not only should you clean and wash your car exterior, but also vacuum and clean inside the car. Make sure you keep your garage clean and your car away from any food. Invest some time in doing this as it will help with maintaining your vehicle in good condition.
Help Out the Engine and Transmission
Usually, you can keep a car parked for weeks without any problem. However, there’s no certainty on when we’ll be back to our normal routine. This is why it’s recommended that you take your car for a short drive once in a while. Moving your car will warm it up and get the fluid moving through the engine and transmission. This will be very helpful to maintain the health of your engine and avoid mechanical problems.
Check on Your Battery and Tires
The battery is often overlooked and it is very much affected by leaving a car still for a long period of time. When not driven, the battery starts to lose charge and can die on you at any moment. We recommend you drive your car for a while and let the battery charge. Make sure you also check your tire pressure. You can do this when you go to the gas station to fill the tank once in a while.
Ultimately, maintaining your vehicle is not a difficult task, and you can easily keep up with it while social distancing.
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