How to maintain your car during Lockdown 3.0
In light of the new UK national coronavirus lockdown 3.0 being imposed, it is important that you look after yourself and your loved ones but also your car.
A lot of people may think that having your car sat stationary for a few weeks would not be a problem, but on the contrary, your car is similar to you in the fact that it needs to be properly maintained. This is to ensure that when the national lockdown 3.0 is over, it will be able to run smoothly with no faults. In this article, we are going to give you some car checks that you can undertake during the coronavirus (COVID-19) national lockdown 3.0, and what we as a company are going to do to help.
National Tyres and Autocare are still OPEN for business.
You can still get work done to your vehicle at your local National Tyres and Autocare branch. Alternatively, we do offer mobile tyre fitting, provided contactless at either your home of work. To read National Tyres and Autocare's response to the new National Lockdown 3.0 restrictions, please click on the green button below.
Start your car regularly
Starting your car on a regular basis is arguably the most important action you can take to maintain your car over the COVID-19 Lockdown. If your car is stationary for too long, this can lead to your battery being drained. This is because even though the car is unused, some electrical components in your car need a little bit of power. When you start your car engine, it gives the car battery opportunity to recharge itself. It is recommended that you start your car and let it run for 20 minutes, once per week. This will give the battery enough time to recharge itself, so that it has enough power to be able to start the engine once that car is going to be used again on a daily basis. National Tyres and Autocare branches are still open, meaning that if you need it, you can book in for a battery check at your local National Tyres and Autocare branch.
Check air pressure
If a car is stationary for an extended period of time, air will eventually start to leak from your tyres. If after lockdown you decide to take your car for a spin, low tyre pressure can lead to increased friction with the road, causing premature wear that can lead to loss of control and even a blowout.
The best way to avoid this is to use a tyre pressure gauge to make sure that your tyres are the correct tyre pressure and increase the pressure when necessary. To check your tyre pressures please click here.
Winter months
Unlike the previous lockdown earlier in the year, this coronavirus lockdown is in the winter months. The winter months provide more of a challenge for maintaining your car as the colder climate can prove tricky for your car.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is the unsung hero for vehicles in the winter. Antifreeze is to be added to the car’s engine cooling system. As the name suggests, it stops the water from freezing in colder conditions so your engine can be adequately cooled when running, and working to optimal levels. It is important that antifreeze is regularly topped up in the winter months.
Sort out any windscreen cracks
If you have a crack or chips on your windscreen it is important that you get these repaired whilst your car is stationary in the winter. When cracks are left to freeze over on an icy night, moisture can enter the crack and freeze over. When the moisture freezes it expands and can make the crack or chip a lot worse. The best way to avoid this is to get it fixed before winter.
In summary, this lockdown will not last forever, but it is important that you look after yourself and your vehicle. If you require any repairs on your car we will be happy to help with a payment assist option and a mobile tyre fitting service available to our customers.
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