We understand that will many people around the United States staying home or working from home, many aren't using their vehicles as often as they used to - or at all! So the question becomes, do we need to maintain an idle vehicle? Surely if you aren't using a vehicle, it doesn't need any services or maintenances - right? Actually, even and idle vehicle still needs to be checked on a maintained in certain ways to ensure proper function when the time actually comes to use your vehicle.
First things first - try to start up your vehicle at least once a week. If you don't start up your vehicle regularly, it could cause the battery to die and you'll have problems getting your car up and running when you need it. When you do start it weekly, leave it running for at least 5 minutes. This will help is get the juice flowing and get all of the major systems active. Be sure that if you are doing this in the garage, that the garage door is open and that there is plenty of ventilation.
Another important maintenance item to take care of is ensuring that your vehicle's tires are always filled up to the correct tire pressure specifications. When vehicles sit too long, the tires tend to form flat spots, so a brief drive regularly can help prevent this from occuring.
We also recommend that you keep a full tank of gas in your car even when you aren't using it. The reason is, doing so helps to prevent gastank condensation which can help prevent fuel oxidation and increase the life of your fuel tank. You can also use a fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank if you don't have a fuel tank and don't have access to gas.
Be sure to check all of the vehicle's fluids regularly, because even when sitting idle these fluids can breakdown. We still recommend that you have your vehicle's oil changed at its usual interval to ensure proper performance when you're ready to use your car again.
A car parked outside can develop rust on the brakes if unused, so driving your vehicle around the block a few times once a week can help prevent brake components from rusting.
It's also a good idea to wash your car regularly to prevent the build up of rust and grime which can be hard to remove if left on your vehicle for extended periods of time.
All of these maintenance items will ensure that your idle vehicle is ready to go when you need it. If you suspect that your vehicle needs a maintenance item completed, don't hesitate to bring your vehicle into the experts here at D. Wells Automotive Service today!