It doesn’t matter if you are moving out or going for an extended vacation; it has happened to all of us far too many times. Since you cannot take your car with you, more often than not, we leave it uncared for a long time. However, once you restart it after some time, you can encounter more issues than before, making you regret going to Hawaii in the first place. Therefore, here are some tips and tricks that you can have up your sleeve to maintain your vehicle when you are not driving it much.
- Park your vehicle in a garage or use a car cover
Yes, nobody likes a dirty car with the dust settling thickly on it. Once you park it indoors, you can keep it cleaner and safer. You can also use a car cover customized to your vehicle’s model and design. Buying a one-size-fits-all cover can leave the edges exposed, with dust accumulating on it in the long run. For more information on how to maintain your vehicle, visit FabAuto.
- Change the oil and car filters.
Used oil contains several elements that can harm the inner functioning of your car in the long run, including metal filings, sludge, moisture, and other abrasive elements. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals change the engine oil before leaving their car in a garage. However, please drive the car around a few blocks to help circulate the oil inside the engine.
- Check each tyre’s pressure.
Check each tyre’s pressure and ensure that the car’s tyres are properly inflated. Accurately inflated tyres do not crack at the sidewall or develop flat spots in the long run. Also, make sure that you check the valve cap for leaks. However, if there is an issue, replace it with one that fits perfectly.
- Jack your car up
Yes, you heard it right. Once a car is parked in the garage for a long time, it may develop flat spots in tyres in the long run. However, to avoid such a disaster from occurring, use four jacks, bricks, or blocks of wood (depending on the availability) to lift the car up.
Doing this will ensure that your car is not resting on the tyres, therefore curbing the disaster and leaving you with a perfectly maintained car. However, if you own a sports car with low profile tyres, you can leave it without support for as long as two months without damaging the tyres.
- It is time to protect the paint.
Your vehicle’s paint can chip if you leave it outdoors (even without a car cover) for a long time. If your car is parked outdoors, the paint is most likely to develop cracks thanks to the moisture, dust, and grime that can settle on it in the long run. However, to prevent such an atrocity from occurring, clean the exterior thoroughly and wipe out any dust, you see settling. Once you are through removing dust, dirt, and grime, apply a coat of polish or wax to keep the moisture away. After that, surround the car with a protective vehicle for complete protection.
- Battery maintenance is crucial.
Every car owner had lived through the day when their vehicle’s battery ran out of charge, and they had to push it for some time to start the engine. However, it is advised that you remove the battery if you know you won’t be using your car for a long time. Please smear some petroleum jelly or grease on the battery terminals and the wire ends to prevent it from rusting. Make sure that the battery is at its full charge when you are removing it and top up the water level. Store your car’s battery somewhere cool and dry and avoid a place that gets direct sunlight.
- Clean your car’s interiors
Nobody likes to get back to a messy car after a long time. Obviously, you would want it to look perfect without any cookie crumbs or biscuit wrappers violating the leather of your car’s seats. The worst part is, all of this can rot to make your vehicle smell and to make matters worse, it could also attract rodents that can damage your car’s floor mats, seat covers, and even internal wiring.
Therefore, clean your car thoroughly before parking it in the garage. You could even spray a little room freshener for it to smell nice once you get back. However, please do not overdo the freshener as it might eventually stink in the closed confines of your vehicle.
- Top up the fuel tank
One of the most widespread problems people encounter after leaving the car unused for a long time is the rusting of the fuel tank from the inside. However, you can avoid it by topping up the fuel tank up to its maximum capacity. The fuel will keep the inside of your fuel tank from interacting with moisture in the air, thus protecting it from rust in the long run, and protecting the cylinder sleeve that enables the engine to perform smoothly.
The Bottom Line
So, here are the most apparent eight tips you can employ to maintain your car when you are not driving it much.