The Coronavirus forced us to change our habits. These include the daily use of the car. The family vehicle will for the most part remain stationary in the garage for several weeks. For this reason it will be necessary to do a minimum of maintenance on the car to avoid unpleasant surprises when returning to the wheel. You can also get mobile tires home service.
Here’s how to prevent certain elements of the car from deteriorating in weeks off:
BATTERY
Even if the car is stationary and not started, the battery suffers from a slight consumption of energy, minimal but still a consumption. In fact, it continues to power some devices in the car, even if it is turned off. The best solution to give the car battery more life is to disconnect the terminals. If there was also the possibility of connecting it to a maintenance charger it would be the ideal solution. But be careful, not all cars do well to disconnect the battery, so it is always best to consult the car manual before carrying out this operation.
TIRES
Tires are a fundamental element of the car as they guarantee grip when cornering and the ability to accelerate and brake safely. A good condition of the tires is therefore essential, which is why in this quarantine period we should take some care of them too. The ideal would be to park the car indoors. In addition, the car should be moved slightly from time to time to change the support point and avoid deformations. Also for this reason it is also good to inflate the tires to a pressure slightly higher than normal.
LIQUID CONTROL
Before leaving the ‘ car for the quarantine of Coronavirus it is important to fill all liquids at appropriate level. It is the only way to know, once back in the car, if there have been any leaks. In addition to being in good condition, the oil, coolant, wiper fluid, steering oil and brake fluid must remain at the levels recommended by the manufacturer. Furthermore, in the case of oil, since it loses its properties over time, it should be replaced together with the filter after many days of stop.
CAR COVER
Humidity and direct exposure to the sun can in the long run become enemies of the integrity of our car. Whether we leave the car on the street or in a garage, it would be good to protect it with a copied sheet. To protect paint and plastics it is very important that the blanket meets two minimum requirements: it must be waterproof and breathable. and the cloth also protects against UV rays, even better.
SUN VISOR
If you do not have a car cover, it is still important to protect the interior of the car from the sun’s rays. The plastics of the interior tend to deteriorate more quickly under prolonged exposure to the sun. For this it is good to use sunshades on all windows and on the windshield of the car.
DEHUMIDIFIER
Humidity is the enemy not only of the car body but also of the passenger compartment to protect the interior materials, just place a small dehumidifier inside the passenger compartment. It costs a few euros and is a very recommendable solution.
TANK
The interior of the fuel tank can deteriorate. To prevent this, just leave it half full. The important thing is not to leave the deposit practically empty to avoid corrosion due to the contact of oxygen and the gases of the evaporation of the fuel. It is not recommended to leave it full as in this case more gas than necessary can accumulate.
