Many people are working from home in the UAE, all thanks to the insidious pandemic that has compelled the world to transform their lifestyle. So, you would find the majority of Dubai cars are still standing idle in the rented parking spaces, building car parks, on the streets and in sandy places.
Cars work best when they are used and maintained at regular intervals. For some obvious reasons, the ‘using’ bit is not happening in this period. However, with these extremely basic maintenance tips, you can make sure that your car is ready for the job whenever you plan to start using it again. Continue reading!
Advantages of Driving It Once A Week
Taking out your car for a drive for about 15 minutes at least once in a week is one of the best ways to avoid any damage. There are no restrictions imposed on you by the government if you want to buy essentials like medicines or groceries. So, whenever you need them, take your car out, provided of course you should take all the precautionary measures.
Even if the supermarket is not very far, consider taking a longer route or drive around some blocks a few times. Make sure that you add 6 to 8km to the odometer.
Engine
If you drive your car at least once in a week, it will keep the fluids such as coolant, engine oil, power-steering fluid transmission fluid (gear oil), – in circulation and the different components well lubricated.
Battery
Generally speaking, the first victim of extended car disuse is the batteries. Another benefit of a weekly driving is that it allows the battery to charge up. That said, starting a car and leaving the same for some time is not enough. You should drive it for at least 6 to 8 km.
Tyres
Tyres are not only expensive but also are a prime safety component of an automobile. If you leave the car in one place for an extended period, with the usual tyre running pressure, they tend to decline faster than in normal conditions. This is because they lose more pressure when not in use.
Disadvantages of Not Using A Car at All
Battery
Since you have decided not to use your car at all, then you should disconnect the battery by removing the negative terminal which is followed by the removal of the positive terminal. In this way, you can have a charged battery available whenever you plan to start using your car again. All you need to do is to use a simple spanner from your car’s tool kit to re-connect both terminals.
Tyres
When you don’t use your car, flat spots appear on the place where the rubber touches with a tarmac. To avoid such a situation, put your car in neutral; this rule applies to both manual as well as automatic vehicles. Then, disengage the parking brake/handbrake and push the car either front or backwards very slightly (about 25cm), depending on the space available to you.
This will make sure that the part of the tyre touching the ground is not the same; it will continue to change every week or so. Moreover, don’t forget that the parking space should be impeccably flat.
Other General Maintenance
Cleaning
Apart from the above, one basic yet essential thing to do is car cleaning. Wash your car at least once in a week. The accumulated dust on the car can cause a tremendous effect on the paint and can lead to long-term consequences, apart from giving the vehicles a tacky look.
Another bigger concern is bird droppings, which are not only acidic but can also seriously damage the car’s paintwork. Therefore, a simple car wash at least once a week can save your car from future hassles.
Fluids
The well-being of the engine is dependent on how well you keep the fluids topped up. You can also do this on your own. Consider buying a bottle of power steering fluid, recommended coolant, brake fluid and top them up in the respective reservoirs.
Fill them again when the levels go below the marker point in these reservoirs. If you are still unclear about the idea, there are a lot of online videos available that can teach you the ways to take care of your new or used cars in Dubai. All things can become fairly simple this way.
In all, it is pertinent to keep your car in tiptop condition during such unpredictable circumstances. So, follow these simple tips and get your vehicle ready whenever you plan to drive it.
