Tips To Maintain Your Car During The Circuit Breaker Period

With Singapore’s circuit breaker extended by another month, most of us will continue working from home to avoid being out and about unnecessarily. This means less time spent driving, which can have consequences on our precious cars that we may not even realise. Although our cars have been sitting idle in their parking lots, it doesn’t mean we don’t need to take care of them! If your car remains unused for an extended period of time, these may lead to problems in the future that’ll give you a hard time once the circuit breaker is over.

If you’re wondering how to keep your car in tip-top condition during the circuit breaker, fret not! We’ve put together some useful tips on how you can keep your cars in good shape if you’re not going to be driving as often at the moment!
 

1.   Start Your Car Every Few Days

As your car sits untouched for a long time, the car battery can slowly lose its charge, which will cause issues when you try to start your car when you’re finally ready to go for a drive. The rate at which your battery loses its charge is dependent on factors such as the age of your car and the current condition of your battery which you should take into account into as well!

In order to keep your car batteries “healthy”, it is important that you start your car engine at least once a week for about 15 minutes each time. This prevents your batteries from losing charge and keeps the engine running and well lubricated.

While some people choose to disconnect their car batteries entirely, if it is not convenient for you to do so, you should also consider unplugging devices such as your dashcam which can potentially drain the car battery. Facing a dead battery when you finally hit the roads can be a bummer, so do take care of your cars starting now!
 

2.   Clean The Interior Of Your Car

Cleaning your car’s interior is as important as keeping the exterior spotless -- especially if you've neglected doing so given the recent circumstances. Failing to clean the interior surfaces can result in them becoming a hot spot for bacterial growth which is something you definitely do not want with the coronavirus in our midst.

Make sure that you clear all the trash that you might have conveniently stored in the pockets of your interior, especially food items which can not only be a breeding ground for bacteria but also serve as an invitation for pests. Even after a thorough cleaning, if you would like to be extra safe, we’d recommend placing some insect repellent in various parts of the car such as under the seats and the boot area.
 

3.   Check Your Tyres

Just like your car battery, your car tyres can also lose pressure if they’re left parked for a long time. When your car isn’t running, your tyres may be subjected to flat spots due to the weight of the car pressing down on them. Flat spots refer to the flattened and worn out parts of the tyre which occur in areas where the tyre was in contact with the ground.

Depending on how severe the flat spots are, driving under such conditions can even result in a large puncture which may require immediate replacement. In order to ensure a safe drive once the circuit breaker ends, it is important that you take some time to check your tyres regularly to ensure there are no signs of flat spots on your tyres. Remember to check the pressure of your car tyres as well. If possible, taking your car out for a short spin can help in alleviating the pressure on the wheels when they’re not being used.
 

4.   Choose A Good Parking Spot

If you’re not going to be driving for a while during the Circuit Breaker period, it is crucial to find a good parking spot for your beloved car. As much as possible, it is best to park your car indoors. Leaving your car outdoors with no shelter can cause the paintwork of your car to slowly lose its colour with continuous and direct exposure to the sun -- especially cars with darker colours like blue or black.

Besides the exterior of your car, your dashboard is also a vulnerable spot and is susceptible to damage with constant exposure to the sun. If you are unable to find an indoor parking spot, we’d suggest that you invest in a sunshade for your car to protect both the exterior as well as the interior of your car from any potential damage.
 

5.   Keep Your Fuel Tank Full

Another issue that arises with your car being idle is the potential rusting of your fuel tank. A fuel tank that is not filled completely will end up collecting moisture which can eventually result in a rusty fuel tank. In order to minimise condensation and accumulation of moisture in the interior of the fuel tank, it is good practice to ensure that the tank is filled to the brim at all times. Check to make sure that your fuel tank is filled up completely with the fuel cap secured tightly in place to prevent any humid air from entering. This will keep your fuel tanks in optimal condition while they remain stationary.
 

Car Insurance Quotation

Once the circuit breaker is over, many cars will be hitting the roads again and ensuring a smooth and safe ride doesn’t have to be difficult! Following these simple steps as mentioned above can help you take care of your car’s health even when you’re on lockdown. However, for an extra blanket of safety, don’t forget to look into your car insurance renewal for that added peace of mind, in case you face any issues when you start driving again. If you’re looking for car insurance quotations or looking to update your current one for more coverage, simply visit us at www.directasia.com to find out more! To help you during this trying period, we’re also offering One Month Free car insurance when you switch over to DirectAsia today! Terms and conditions apply. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.