8 extremely useful things when leaving your car unused for a long time

1. Clean the car

Cleaning the car will help remove dirt stuck on the body of the car, if left for a long time can damage the paint of the car.

In addition to the car body, when cleaning, you also need to pay attention to the undercarriage, fenders of the car, and areas that may be covered with mud because these substances, when stuck to metal for a long time, combined with moisture in the air, will cause rust on the details...

2. Find a parking space

Normally, the garage is a suitable place for the car to "rest" because it has stable temperature and humidity.

If you don't have a garage and have to park your car outdoors, find a cool place; use a rainproof and heat-insulating tarpaulin to ensure the best possible car storage conditions.

3. Change engine oil

Skip this step if you're only going to be sitting for a few weeks. But if you're going to be sitting for a few months or more, it's important to change the oil. This is because some of the harmful compounds in used oil can damage the engine if it sits idle for long periods of time.

4. Fill the gas tank and coolant

Many people often drain all the gas before storing their vehicle to avoid leaks and fires. However, if the gas tank is empty, it can expose the inside of the tank to moisture in the air, causing rust on the surface; you may even have to replace the gas tank...

The cooling system also needs to be checked and water added to avoid rusting of the system parts. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, when storing the vehicle, the coolant solution should be mixed with water in a ratio of 50/50.

5. Tighten the fuel tank cap

Even if the car is new and the tank cap is well sealed, gasoline vapor can still leak out if it is not tightened. In some cases, gasoline vapor can be a detonator, the fuel tank is a giant explosive that is very dangerous... The pipes need to be checked to limit the leakage of gasoline vapor.

If you do not drive your vehicle for several months, add a stabilizer to the tank before filling it up to prevent fuel decomposition.

6. Battery system

If the car is not used for a long time, the battery system will gradually lose its ability to recharge... Therefore, after 2 weeks, start the car and let the engine run for about 15 minutes. Doing this periodically will maintain the "life" of the battery and increase the durability of the engine.

You can use a battery charger - this device will supply electricity in cycles to avoid the battery being completely discharged. When using this method, you need to carefully study the manufacturer's specifications to avoid the case that this device can damage your battery.

7. Release the handbrake

Normally when parking the car must use the handbrake to fix the car, but should not do that if parking for a long time. The reason is that the pressure from the brake pads on the brake disc continuously will cause this area to concave, leading to a rough disc surface, the brake system will later operate unstable.

In case the car has to be parked on an inclined surface, use a few pieces of wood to block the wheels.

8. Pay attention to the wipers

Underneath the wiper blades there is a layer of rubber. If this rubber layer is left for a long time, it will deteriorate, causing it to melt and stick to the glass. When using the car again, you will have to replace the wiper blades as well... Therefore, to be safe, remove the rubber blades under the wipers and store them in a cool, dry place.

Ngoc Anh