Those of us with cars parked during this lock down period now need to be seriously addressing how to look after your vehicles, and to ensure it is ready to go off when you are ready.
Here are some helpful tips on how to maintain a car if it is parked for a long period of time with very little use.
1.TOP UP YOUR CARS FUEL
Before you parking your car for a long period of time it is a good idea to full up your tank (I know, that is hard is this country!) A full tank will prevent condensation forming inside, which could cause issues if allowed to build up over a period of time. On top of that, a full tank ensures that if you do need to go anywhere in an emergency, you are ready to go.
2. CHECK THE TYRE PRESSURE
Check the tired are fully inflated to the recommended level. Sitting tires tend to slowly deflate.
3. STORING YOUR CAR
Clean your car thoroughly inside and out before storing. If possible make sure it is parked in a shady spot.
4. DISENGAGING THE BRAKE PADS
it can be beneficial to leave the car with the parking brake disengaged to prevent the brakes from binding, but only do this if you are certain the car is on a 0 ground level and isn’t going to move. Ensure the transmission is set to P for Park and if you have a manual car put it into first gear and places wedges under the wheels.
5. START THE CAR REGULARLY
Run your engine for about 20 minutes to put back into the battery what you remove on start-up, so to maintain the battery. Running the engine at least once a week is advised.
6. FINAL CHECKS
Ensure that everything in your engine is topped up and checked. This includes the coolant levels in your radiator. Make sure you have enough coolant to keep a smooth running car. Keeping a healthy radiator is extremely essential.