The Philippine government has extended the the enhanced community quarantine until April 30, 2020 to further contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Therefore, it means a longer time for private vehicles to have to be parked in the garage. Movement is limited to purchasing only essential products such as food and medicines. Ford shares some tips in keeping your car in shape while parked in your garage. Stay safe everyone as we all work to flatten the curve.
Simple Tips on Keeping Your Car in Shape While on Park
In order to keep your vehicle in good condition while parked in your garage, here are car care tips from Ford:
Choose a parking spot
Picking a spot where to park your vehicle is very important to its overall well-being. Do not park it on grass or soil, because moisture can make its way up and rust certain parts of your vehicle. So make sure to choose a covered area, or an area out of direct sunlight, and has a solid floor.
Give your vehicle a regular wash
Spend time to wash your vehicle in your garage or parking area once in a while. Ensure that you are able to remove dirt particles or even bird droppings. These will be harder to remove after a couple of days if left uncleaned.
Clean the interiors and place a dehumidifier
Give your car’s interior a thorough vacuum. Throw away food particles or remnants so that insects and small animals will not be attracted to the smell of food. These may enter your vehicle and potentially cause damage. Additionally, place an off-the-shelf dehumidifier inside your vehicle that can help combat unwanted moisture. This is especially necessary in more humid climates.
Fill up the gas tank
Make sure to fill the fuel all the way to the brim. This avoids a gap in your fuel tank where oxygen can oxidize. Oxidization is a chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen, which results in gum forming in your fuel tank. This can cause damage to your vehicle if not properly cleaned before using.
Overinflate the tires
Tire pressure can slowly drop over a period of time, even when your car is not in use. Before parking your vehicle, overinflate your tires and the spare tire. This will also prevent flat spots from forming on your tires.
Leave the parking brake down
Leave your parking brake engaged could possibly keep it stuck or seized after being parked over some time. Unless you are parked on a slope, simply shift your vehicle into “Park” for automatic transmissions. On the other hand, engage the first gear for manual transmissions. When starting the car, remember to shift back the transmission to Park or engage the gear back to neutral for manual transmission.
Lift your wiper blades
Lift the wipers and place a ball of cloth underneath it so the blades are not touching the windshield. Heat can damage the wiper blades over time and take away its wiping credibility. This very simple advice can save you money and time when the strict travel restrictions have been lifted.
Start your car once a week
Take at least 10 minutes every week to start your vehicle. Let the engine idle so the oil and other fluids can circulate through the engine. This will enable your battery to recharge if you do not have a trickle charger. Additionally, this will keep your battery healthy and ensure an efficient start every time.
Covid-19 Quarantine Stay at Home
As the whole world tries to cure infected patients and prevent further spread of Covid-19, we are all encouraged to stay at home. If we don’t need to go out for work or errands, let’s stay home and practice social distancing. Additionally, stay faithful to your marriage.
It is hard but it is even harder if people get sick. All it takes it one weak link and an entire community can be affected. Covid-19 is not just your regular flu. While some people can be asymptomatic
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I would still prefer to leave the handbrake on park. Normally, a light knock or two on the brake drums would release the brakes should it get stuck.
This how to are very detailed and accurate