Now we have an end to lockdown in sight it’s the right time to prepare your car for returning to the roads.
Leasing Options has come up with handy ten-point turnaround tips which will save you money as well:
- Clean The Car (Saves You £350+)
Prevent Paint Damage through regular cleaning or applying a wax coat. Tree sap and bird droppings can actually damage your paintwork. Bird droppings have acid that can burn through the clear coat of your car’s paint in as little as 48 hours. To repair bodywork, you often have to repaint an entire panel which can cost upwards of £350, or up to £1000 for a full new coat.
2. Beware Of The Battery (Saves You £40)
According to Green Flag, in April 2020 over 60% of their callouts were for battery-based issues. A 36% rise from the previous year. It’s recommended that you run the car’s engine for at least 15 minutes, once a week.
- Liquid Levels
Top up your liquid levels! When your car is inactive for long durations, there’s a chance the liquids and lubricants within the car have separated or have sunk to the bottom of reservoirs. Windscreen washer fluid can also freeze if left over winter, so check this before you drive next.
- Look Out For Pests (Saves You £220)
If your car has been stationary for a long time, animals may think that it’s a safe place to nest and/or take shelter. Pay particular attention to wires and belts under the bonnet in case any little critters have got in there to chew on them, they can be expensive to repair!
- Feel The Pressure
Air is likely to have escaped our tyres during its inactivity and colder temperatures will cause your tyre pressure to drop slightly. A rule of thumb is that pressure drops around 1 psi for every 10°F drop in temperature.
- Flat Spots Prevention (Saves You £180)
When a car is sat in one place for a long time, the tyres can produce flat spots where the tyre is touching the ground.
- Rusty Brakes (Saves You £80)
Inactivity can rust to build up on your brakes. To prevent this, make sure they’re as clean as possible. This will wash away things such as road salt which can be one of the most common causes of rust.
- Hands Off The Handbrake (Saves You £30)
When the handbrake is applied for a long time it can become stuck. This is likely due to a build-up of rust and/or corrosion. If you know that your car will be inactive for a long period, and your car is parked in a flat location, meaning it doesn’t move when the handbrake is released, it’s beneficial to leave the handbrake off to prevent it seizing up.
- Fill Up The Tank (Saves You £100)
If a car is left inactive for longer than 30 days, and hasn’t much fuel in the tank, moisture can accumulate inside the tank. Having water in the tank can cause the car stutter or jolt as a result of the water moving into the engine. In this case it would need to be removed as it can damage the fuel injectors and can cause rust through the fuel system.
- Take It For A Spin
The best way to prevent your car from many of the issues listed above is to simply take it out for a spin when allowed, for shopping or essential journeys. Doing so will allow the car’s lubricants to circulate through the system, rust will be reduced and flat spots prevented amongst many other benefits.
