Tips for Maintaining Your Car During Lockdown

Cars are lifesavers in this fast-paced world. But with all the help that your car provides to you, the real question is how good you are at taking care of your car. Cars are complex machines with a lot of parts interlinked with each other that work in sync. Regular car maintenance is what you need to keep the car constantly running at its full potential.

But maintaining a car during a pandemic is a tricky task to deal with. As lockdown has halted the lives of billions of people across the globe, it has also boosted the culture of work from home. Because of this, we aren’t going outside as we used to, and thus, our cars are stuck in our driveways.

Car service is important and in such restricted times, you have to take certain measures to keep your car in a roadworthy condition.

Why is car maintenance important during a lockdown? 

For starters, your car batteries will lose their charge. Furthermore, tyres can lose air pressure and develop flat spots. Also, your oils and lubricants need to circulate in order tofunction properly. All of these factors need to be considered if you’re not using your car for a significant period of time. 

Car Maintenance Tips During Lockdown:

1. Run the Engine from Time to Time
   The best way to keep your car up and running is by driving it regularly. But due to uncertainty in COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, it isn’t possible to go for a drive regularly. The best thing you can do is to drive your car for 30 minutes every few weeks. By driving every few weeks, you will be able to keep your car brakes, suspension, gearbox and other key components up and running. If you can’t drive outside, then you can start the engine and rev it for 1000rpm to 1500rpm for 4-5 minutes.
   
   
2. Check Tyre Pressure
   Inspect your car tyres to check for wear and tear. Car tyres are often ignored. I would highly recommend that you do your best to take care of your tyres as much as possible. Rotate your tyres regularly. Also, car tyres can get damaged if the car is not moved from its place for a long time. Keep inspecting the tyre inflation pressure every week or two. Adequately inflated tyres increase the fuel economy of your car and also helps to reduce instances of flat tyres. Also, invest in tyre pressure gauges; it will help to check the tyre pressure more accurately. You can buy it from any nearby motor accessory store.
   
   
3. Ensure Fuel Level Stays Above ¼ Full
   Although fuel only evaporates over time and doesn’t cause any issue with the car engine, you should still keep an eye on it. During the lockdown, when you are uncertain about the car driving frequency, you should keep your car fuel level to above ¼ full mark. By doing this, you are keeping your car in decent condition to kickstart it whenever you want. For diesel cars, make sure that you keep the fuel tank filled up to avoid any moisture build-up. A hibernation period above six weeks and a half-filled fuel tank can aggravate this process in diesel cars.
   
   
4. Use A Battery Charger or Battery Saver
   Because of lockdown, your car is sitting idly in the parking area, and it can create problems with your car battery. As we all know, the car battery performs the most important task of starting the engines. And if you ignore it, you might have to call a mechanic for help. Driving your car for 30 minutes daily will keep your car engine as well as car battery in check. But, with current restrictions, that isn’t possible. The best way to tackle this situation is by using a battery charger. Charge your car batteries every two weeks as it will restore its performance and reduce the chances of any breakdown.
   
   
5. Check All Fluid Levels
   Checking fluid levels is a crucial part of regular car maintenance. The car has brake fluids, engine oil, wiper fluids and coolant fluids. All these need to be refilled or changed after a duration of time regularly. So, keep a vigilant eye on all these fluid levels to know when you need to get them refilled. In most cases, the fluid tanks are clearly marked with low levels. Do not hesitate to open the car hood and check these levels and even refill the fluid. Maintaining the car fluid levels is the best preventive car maintenance needed during the lockdown.

The tips above will keep your car in a decent condition during the lockdown. It will help you to avoid any major expenses on car repairs and will keep your car running. So, make sure you follow them and keep your car in working condition even during the lockdown.