What should you pay attention to when not using your car for a long time?
When not in use for a long period of time, the car needs to be inspected and maintained before operating again.
A car is a means of transportation and also a large asset that needs to be well cared for and preserved to maintain its value over time.
However, there will be times when the car has to be parked for a long time without being used for several weeks or months, so the car owner needs to pay attention to many issues to keep the car in good condition when used again.
Select parking location
Car maintenance is a very important factor in the process of use if you want your car to always be in the best condition. A garage with suitable temperature and humidity is a condition for the car to have a long life and durability. If your house does not have a garage and must park the car outdoors, you should choose a place with shade, add a rain cover and insulation to help preserve the car in the best way.
Cleanliness
Many people think that when they use the car again, they will clean and sanitize it to save time, money and effort. However, they do not know that stains caused by chemicals, spilled food and long-term dirt will directly affect the car's paint, especially the interior such as leather, plastic... will quickly fade and deteriorate. You should clean the car at least once a week even when not in use to keep the car looking like new.
Refuel
When the fuel tank is full, it will prevent humid air from entering and causing condensation, leading to "gasoline blockage" and the car will not start for a long time without being used. This is a useful tip that few people care about. In addition, car owners also need to screw the fuel tank cap tightly to avoid evaporation.
Pay attention to the battery
When the battery is not used for a long time, the battery system in the car will gradually lose its ability to recharge. After two weeks of not using the car, you should restart the car to let the engine work for about 15 minutes, which will have two benefits: good battery preservation and increase the durability of the engine and other components. In addition, you can use a small battery charger, a device that periodically provides additional power to avoid complete discharge.
Do not use the handbrake
When parking, you often use the handbrake to fix the position. But if you park for a long time, you should not do this because the pressure from the brake pads on the brake disc continuously makes this area concave, the disc surface is rough, the brake is unstable when you use the car again. Using a wooden bar to block the wheel is the most reasonable solution.
Don't let your tires go flat.
Just like when we bend something with our hands, the inner surface is compressed, while the outer surface is stretched, reaching a limit, a crack will form, the tire pressure drops to a certain level, causing the weight of the vehicle to press on the tire, causing it to crack. If the rubber tire is deteriorating, the phenomenon will happen faster. You should use a support column placed at the 4 corners and lift the car up. Because this job is quite hard, you should only do it when you need maintenance or when you do not use the car for a long time.
Pay attention to the wipers
The wiper has a rubber layer, when this rubber layer is left for a long time, it will deteriorate, leading to melting and sticking to the glass. You should remove this rubber layer and store it in a dry place or use a flexible plastic film to cover it to avoid contact with the glass surface.
Anti-rat and insect intrusion
Garages with suitable humidity and temperature conditions will help preserve the car very well, but at the same time, it is also an environment for mice and insects to develop. Under the hood, cabin, trunk... are the places most susceptible to damage. To completely prevent this phenomenon, you can use cotton or soft cloth to seal the gaps that mice and cockroaches can get through such as exhaust pipes, air intakes... Regarding the glass doors, you should close them tightly and leave a very small gap for air circulation between the outside environment and the space inside the car, avoid closing the glass doors too tightly and also should not leave too large a gap because insects can get in.
