How to maintain your car during shutdown

If we sit inactive at home for long, we would not remain healthy. Just like human beings, vehicles too would not remain fit if they sit at the garage and do not run.  

Cars are complex machines that need to be used on a regular basis in order to keep them up and functioning.

The countrywide shutdown has left many vehicles unused for days. Given the current situation, it would be some time before they can hit the road.

Since your rides have already been parked for a while now, here are some tips that might help to ensure your car does not lose its fitness.

Keep your car clean

First things first, clean your car inside out and give it a good wash. Spray some air freshener inside but do not overdo it, the scent might linger and become stale.

After you are done with the cleaning, cover the car and make sure it is parked away from the sun. Otherwise, a new paint job might be on the horizon.

Disconnect the battery

If the car is not being used for a long time, it is better to unplug the battery and apply some grease on the wire ends to prevent rusting. However, this old school method might not be applicable for new generation four-wheelers.

If you do not want to tamper with your car's sensors or computer, you can use a battery conditioner known as a desulfator.

Keep tyre pressure on check

Tyres keep losing air pressure even when the car is not running. If you do not want to damage the rims, check the tyre pressure and make sure it has enough air to pull a heavy duty. This will ensure proper inflation and you would not have to take the hassle of towing your car to a tyre shop after the shutdown ends.

Check the engine oil

Before tucking your ride into bed, make sure you change the engine oil (unless it has been recently changed). The engine oil tends to lose moisture over time and if it sits unused for a long time, it might stick to the engine.

Fill up the fuel tank

An empty fuel tank will start rusting with time. The quality of fuel that we use in Bangladesh is not the grade recommended by global car manufacturers, so we should not be taking any chance in this case. Fill up the tank with the engine's preferred fuel type and you can also add some additives like an octane booster.

Go easy on the hand brake

We use hand brakes quite frequently, but for the time being, refrain from doing so. The brake pads might stick to the disc if you put the car on hand brakes for long.

If the transmission is automatic, put the gear on parking and if it is manual, put in on first gear. After that, use a brick or a piece of wood as a choke so that the wheels do not spin.

Start the engine once in a while

Do not just forget your car once it is stowed in the garage. Try to start the engine once a week and keep it running for 20-30 minutes. After that, you can try revving a few times but try to refrain from over revving.

Make sure to check all the functions – turn your steering wheel, pump the brakes and turn on the AC.