Looking after your car during lockdown
Beautiful weather, almost empty roads, plenty of time on your hands. It sounds like a drivers dream, doesn't it? Instead, though, most people would agree that the situation – thanks to COVID-19 – is nearer to a nightmare. And, unlike most nightmares, which last a single night, this one could go on for weeks, if not months.
It’s a period during which you'll want to use your car as little as possible. In fact, many won't use it at all until the dangers due to the virus subsides and the restrictions are lifted. While this is a sensible, even advisable, course of action, it can also cause problems, because leaving a car unused for a long time can have a negative effect. And this raises the obvious question: What can you do to minimise the effects on your car of lying idle for extended periods of time? And the answer is quite a bit, actually. Here are a few words to the wise.
Keep it secure and dry
No matter where you intend to keep your car, you should think about two questions. First, is it secure? If not, you should consider a security device – such as a steering lock, for example. The second question is: is it dry? If not, don’t panic - a device such as a dehumidifier should help, or, if the car is outside, a durable all-weather cover. Of course, sourcing such products in the current situation may not be easy, but online suppliers should be able to help.
Keep it clean
It’s just common sense. After all, the last thing you want, when you finally climb into your beloved BMW 3 Series, in a couple of months or so, is to be overwhelmed by films of rust and a smelly, mouldy interior. To avoid this, make sure to give your car a thorough clean – inside and out – before putting it away. An extra layer of wax and ACF50 will prevent new corrosion forming.
Look after its tyres
After a long period of time unused, tyre pressures are likely to drop. And tyres which are flat for a prolonged period can become structurally damaged. So, before you leave the vehicle, ensure its tyres are fully inflated, and occasionally check pressures and top up as required. If you think you’ll be unable to do this, you could consider putting jacks under the car to take the weight off the tyres.
Take care of its brakes
A handbrake left on for a significant amount of time can result in the mechanical components fusing together. As a precaution against this, it’s advisable to occasionally release the handbrake and move the vehicle slightly backwards and forwards. Alternatively (if the vehicle is kept on secure, private land), you could consider putting chocks under the tyres rather than leaving the handbrake on.
Maintain its battery
Most healthy car batteries will start a car after a couple of weeks of inactivity. Still, to be sure, it may be worth investing in a trickle charger, to keep the battery topped up. You could also start the car occasionally, and let the engine to run for a while, to recharge the battery (but remember that exhaust fumes are toxic, so don’t do this in a closed environment). Bear in mind that old batteries can leak acid, which can corrode your engine. So if you’re battery is a bit of an old-timer, it may be best to disconnect and remove the battery.
Protect its engine
There are several things worth considering to protect your car’s engine. First, before tucking it away, it's a good idea to do an oil and filter change, to prevent dirty oil thickening in the engine and fouling it up. Also, if you don't expect to leave your car for all that long, leave it with a full tank of fuel. This will avoid condensation building up in the empty space and contaminating the fuel or rusting the tank. If you’re planning to leave your car for a longer period, it’s worth using oil and fuel additives to prevent internal damage.
Look on the bright side
One of these days, of course, this nightmarish scenario will be over, and we’ll be free to enjoy our cars again. When that time comes, you may feel you want to invest in a different vehicle. And the perfect place to look is the Desperateseller.co.uk used car section – you’ll find a superb range of great deals, from a Vauxhall Corsa to an Audi A8. In fact, why not start looking right now!
