With the increase of Covid variants and transmission rates in Malaysia spiralling out of control, the Movement Control Order (MCO) was put into place to help in preventing the spread of the pandemic. For many people, the lockdown meant not being able to leave the house as most offices go through a work-from-home order, and most schools are closed. 

Unfortunately, this also means that there are long periods of time where cars sit idle and are not used. Cars that are left unused for an extended amount of time could face problems; notably dead batteries, engines not being able to start, corroded starters and transmission issues that could be a result of environmental or time factors. 

Today, we’re here to help you out with some tips to maintain your car engine and make sure that you won’t be affected by some of the issues that we mentioned. After all, you don’t want to be caught in a pickle when you need to use the car during an emergency. 

1. Remember to start your car once a week

Even if you’re not going anywhere, you have to remember to start your car at least once a week. You can start the engine and leave it running for 10 minutes, in order to keep your car’s battery charged and ensure that the car’s alternators and other components function properly. Another tip is to not turn on your air conditioner or the radio during this 10 minutes to fully utilize the battery charging process. 

2. Keep your car interiors clean

While we have mentioned that you should avoid eating food inside your car as much as possible, you should also ensure that there are no trash or food waste in the car if left for long periods of time. Not only will this invite pests like cockroaches or ants into your car, it will also leave a musty odor that will seep into your car seats. Make it a point to vacuum your car regularly and air out your car whenever possible to prevent molding. 

3. Keep your tyre pressure up

If you leave your car unattended for a long time, this could lead to the flat-spotting of the tyres; basically where your tyres lose their shape leading to dangerous driving. Low tyre pressure can also impact the fuel economy, as well as the comfort and handling. Generally, the tyre pressure check should be done every week. It also gives you a chance to even out their wear and extend the life of the tyres.

4. Look out for leaks

When you’re moving your car, stop and look at whether there are any fluids left on the ground. Common causes are often the intense heat and pressure that will eventually cause engine hoses to fail, leading to leaks. You can also check under the hood to see or smell something leaking. Engine oil and antifreeze are fluids you should look out for when checking for leaks as these means that something is wrong under the hood. If you can stay ahead of a minor leak and have it taken care of before it turns into a major problem you could save yourself a big headache later on.

While the above helps when your car is still in relatively good shape, we’ve also put together some tips for what you should do if your car is unable to start due to being put aside for a long period of time. 

5. Jump starting your car

If your car is unable to start, it could be because your car battery has lost all its charge when left unattended for a while. The easiest way to do so is to try jump-starting it. Here’s how you can do it easily.

1. Using the jumper cable, connect the red clamp to the positive terminal on your dead car’s battery and the other red clamp on the live car’s battery. The positive terminal has either a red cover or a “+” symbol on it.

2. Connect the black clamp to the negative terminal of the live car’s battery. The negative terminal has either a black cover or a “-” symbol on it. Connect the black clamp of your car to a grounded-metal part or surface of the car.

3. Start the live-battery car and let it run for a few minutes as this will start to recharge the dead battery.

4. Start the dead-battery car. If the engine does not start, keep the other car running for a few more minutes and try again.

5. Once the car starts, remove the clamps in reverse order, black clamp from the grounded surface, black clamp from the good battery’s negative post, red clamp from the dead battery, red clamp from the good battery.

6. Replace your petrol

Did you know that unused petrol can also turn bad if left for too long? Generally, the rule of thumb is that it has a shelf life of about 6 months, so it’s good to remember when you last filled up your tank. However, if you realized that you’re past the shelf life, you should replace the petrol in your tank. 

Here’s how you can do it by yourself easily. 

1. Using a fuel transfer pump, slide the pump’s hose into the gas tank’s input opening behind the filler cap and pump a small amount of petrol into a clear container.

2. Let the petrol sit for approximately five minutes so it can settle.

3. If you see the petrol separating into discernible layers or contains particulates, that means it has gone bad.

4. Remove as much as possible using the pump and replace it with new petrol.

5. You will likely have to crank up your engine a few times to flush out the remaining petrol through the system.

As the saying goes, prevention is definitely better than cure. Don’t wait till it’s too late before you need to take preventable steps to fix your car. It’s always good to maintain your car as best as you can even when you’re not driving it often. 

We hope that this guide has helped you become more informed on how to maintain your car during this lockdown period. What do you think of the article? Leave a comment below!

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