The exceptional emergency situation we are experiencing requires us to stay home out of social responsibility, resulting in our vehicles being shut down. Although we hope the shutdown will be as short as necessary, at Help Flash we want to review some simple recommendations for maintaining your vehicle during the quarantine to help prevent future damage.
Before we begin, we want to emphasize the importance of these recommendations, but even more so the importance of following the instructions set by the Government regarding the state of emergency. Therefore, follow these 7 vehicle maintenance tips only if you have the opportunity to access your vehicle in your garage or parking lot without violating the lockdown rules.
1. Avoid exposing your vehicle to environmental agentsIdeally, keep your car in a garage or parking lot to avoid direct sunlight. This will protect the plastics and paintwork, as well as the tires and interior rubber.
If this is not possible, it may be a good idea to cover the vehicle with a waterproof cover , if you have one, or at least a sunshade to protect the interior elements of the vehicle.
A breathable fabric cover can also help protect your vehicle from external damage, even if it's parked in a garage.
3. Move the car slightly from time to timeTo maintain the condition of your tires, it is advisable to move the vehicle, even if it is only half a meter , so that the tire's support point changes position, avoiding deformations due to higher pressure.
If you can't move it frequently, you can also increase its pressure up to 2.8 bar , minimizing its deformation.
3. Avoid running the fuel tank empty
If possible, don't let the tank reach its minimum capacity . This will prevent corrosion due to the presence of oxygen and polluting gases.4. Start the vehicle every 10 days and let it idle for a few minutes.
Lack of use can cause deposits to form in the fuel, oil, and coolant circuits. Even if you can't move your car, simply start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes.
During the same procedure, turning on the air conditioning can also help prevent blockages in your ducts.
5. Continue monitoring your car's fluid levels
It's best to keep checking the levels to ensure you detect any drops before restarting the engine.When the car is going to be parked for a long time, some people recommend emptying the oil tank. We simply advise you to leave it full and, if necessary, change it once you are ready to use it again.
6. Protect your vehicle from humidity
In general, garages tend to have humidity levels that are undesirable for proper vehicle maintenance.If you have or can afford a small dehumidifier, this will be a good solution for indoor humidity, which at certain temperatures can promote mold growth. It's reasonably priced, and you can forget about this issue during the quarantine period.
It is also advisable to thoroughly clean the interior of the car periodically to avoid unwanted odors or moisture.
7. Don't forget regular maintenance
The properties and routine and necessary changes to some of your car's components don't stop just because we have to.When the engine is stopped, the oil also loses properties , so scheduled oil and filter changes should be resumed whenever possible.
Also, check the tires' manufacturing date . You can find it on the four-digit code included on these parts. The first two refer to the week and the last two to the year of manufacture. Make sure that, regardless of the wear associated with use, they are no more than five years old .
What steps should I follow when restarting it, for normal use?
Before starting it, it is advisable to perform a visual inspection of the engine's overall condition and check the fluid levels (oil, engine coolant, hydraulic oil for the power steering, and brake fluid).
The first day you drive the car, do it in stages, without forcing the start . Let it idle for a few minutes, and once the various components are lubricated, start driving gradually .
Drive the car carefully until the oil reaches its optimal temperature again and brake a few times beforehand to make the brake pads effective again . But above all, be very patient, as it takes time to get the car back to full functionality after a long break.
The exceptional emergency situation we are experiencing requires us to stay home out of social responsibility, resulting in our vehicles being shut down. Although we hope the shutdown will be as short as necessary, at Help Flash we want to review some simple recommendations for maintaining your vehicle during the quarantine to help prevent future damage.
Before we begin, we want to emphasize the importance of these recommendations, but even more so the importance of following the instructions set by the Government regarding the state of emergency. Therefore, follow these 7 vehicle maintenance tips only if you have the opportunity to access your vehicle in your garage or parking lot without violating the lockdown rules.
1. Avoid exposing your vehicle to environmental agents
Ideally, keep your car in a garage or parking lot to avoid direct sunlight. This will protect the plastics and paintwork, as well as the tires and interior rubber.
If this isn't possible, it may be a good idea to cover the vehicle with a waterproof cover, if you have one, or at least a sunshade to protect the vehicle's interior elements.
A breathable fabric cover can also help protect your vehicle from external damage, even if it's parked in a garage.
2. Move the car slightly from time to time
To maintain the condition of your tires, it's recommended to move the vehicle, even if it's only half a meter, so that the tire's support point changes position, avoiding deformations due to higher pressure.
If you can't move it frequently, you can also increase its pressure to 2.8 bar, minimizing its deformation.
- Prevents the fuel tank from being empty
- Start the vehicle every 10 days and let it idle for a few minutes.
Lack of use can cause deposits to form in the fuel, oil, and coolant circuits. Even if you can't move your car, simply start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes.
During the same procedure, turning on the air conditioning can also help prevent blockages in your ducts.
- Continue monitoring your car's fluid levels
It's best to keep checking the levels to ensure you detect any drops before restarting the engine.
When the car is going to be parked for a long time, some people recommend emptying the oil tank. We simply advise you to leave it full and, if necessary, change it once you are ready to use it again.
- Protect your vehicle from humidity
In general, garages tend to have humidity levels that are undesirable for proper vehicle maintenance.
If you have or can afford a small dehumidifier, this will be a good solution for indoor humidity, which at certain temperatures can promote mold growth. It's reasonably priced, and you can forget about this issue during the quarantine period.
It is also advisable to thoroughly clean the interior of the car periodically to avoid unwanted odors or moisture.
- Don't forget regular maintenance
The properties and routine and necessary changes to some of your car's components don't stop just because we have to.
When the engine is stopped, the oil also loses properties, so scheduled oil and filter changes should be resumed whenever possible.
Also, check the tires' manufacturing date, which you can find on the four-digit code included on these elements. The first two refer to the week and the last two to the year of manufacture. Make sure that, regardless of the wear associated with use, they are no more than five years old.
What steps should I follow when restarting it, for normal use?
Before starting it, it is advisable to perform a visual inspection of the engine's overall condition and check the fluid levels (oil, engine coolant, hydraulic oil for the power steering, and brake fluid).
The first day you drive the car, do it in stages, without forcing the start. Let it idle for a few minutes, and once the various components are lubricated, start driving gradually.
Drive the car carefully until the oil reaches optimal temperature again and brake a few times beforehand to make the brake pads effective again. But above all, be very patient, as it takes time to get the car back to full functionality after a long break.
