How to keep your car healthy during a lockdown

With the Coronavirus affecting us all and our daily routines and with no clear end in sight, your car could also be at risk during the lockdown due to how little you need to use it. 

Dubicars is here to help, and in this how-to, we’ll give you our tips on how to keep your car safe and roadworthy for when you need it.

Start your engine

You don’t have to do it every day, do it at least once a week. If you don’t, your car battery will go flat you’ll need to replace it. Having a flat battery is not ideal during these teams in case of an emergency.

Don’t just turn they or push the button and leave it idle for a few seconds, keep the engine running for at least 10 to 15 minutes. 

Move it

Yes, all residents in the UAE are advised not to leave their houses unless it is required to do so. But if you live in a gated community or have a basement, slowly drive around and park your car again. Do not do it between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am.

This rotates the tyres and preserves them from wear and tear on a particular spot. If not rotated, they can develop a flat spot, and you’ll need to replace the tyre.

Driving the car not only gets the battery going but the A/C, transmission, power steering, brakes and suspension going to prevent them from seizing. 

Full tank

This might be hard to do during times like this, but when your car is parked, fill up the petrol tank as much as possible. 

Leaving a car with a low fuel level can cause moisture to build up in your petrol tank, which can cause an issue when you retire the engine. 

Across the UAE, petrol can be delivered to your location.

Leave the brakes

This one may seem a bit strange, but it’s worth doing if you can. Leave your car in gear and put a brick/block of wood/or something heavy in front of your tyres and release the parking brake/handbrake.

Turn the engine off as usual and leave the car. This will save the strain on any brake systems left in place for extended periods.

Just remember, when its time to drive that you apply the brakes and shift the gear out of gear and into park.

Clean the interior

Your car interior needs a good clean every once in a while and seeing as you can’ take it to the nearest car wash, you’ll have to do it yourself. 

Clean the interior thoroughly with hot water and hand soap plus any car cleaning products you might have in the house. 

Don’t use hand sanitizer as it can damage leather surfaces.

Don’t forget the exterior

Grab yourself two buckets and fill one with water while leaving the other empty. Give your car a good scrub and dry it off using a leather chamois.

Not only is this great for your car, its good for you as well as its a productive task to keep you busy. 

Just remember to scrub the tyres as well.

Main image credit: Khaleej Times.

And those are our tips, have you got any tips you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments below.