How to take care of your car during lockdown

Saturday, 4 April 2020

The current coronavirus lockdown is a stressful time for many, with income and supplies constantly at the back of the mind. The last thing you need is a car not starting or a flat tyre three minutes into your trip. With that in mind, we figured we should group up some of the ways to take care of your car during the lockdown.

Before we get into this, please heed the suggestions from the government. Our best chance of beating coronavirus at the moment is by staying at home and not going beyond a small local area unless it's absolutely necessary. A vaccine isn't likely to be available for at least six months, if that. That means as tough and boring as it is, we have to stay at home as much as we possibly can. Otherwise we'll be in lockdown for longer than four weeks.

So I can still drive, right?

The lockdown period is a great chance to give your car a bit of a birthday. But what can you do to keep your car healthy while it's going unused?

Yes but the Covid-19 website couldn't be any clearer - staying home and isolated within your bubble gives us the best chance of beating this.

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So, if you do need to drive, it must be for a genuine reason that stacks up with the expectation expressed through official channels.

Mainly, to stock up on required groceries and other home supplies. Even then, these should be direct trips. Tiki-touring is not going to be countenanced and the police will be out checking drivers.

Taking your car out for a cruise is tempting, we know, but unless you're going to the supermarket, it's not advisable. If its an older vehicle, starting it up every few days can be good to prevent any nasty buildups in the mechanicals.

I ride a motorbike, am I exempt?

No, even though you're essentially social distancing by default. From the Covid-19 website: 'You can only use travel if you're accessing essential services, if you're an essential worker, or if you're driving to a local area for a walk or to exercise.'

You can buy automotive parts like engine oil from shops that can deliver as they fall under essential services.

Are mechanics still available to use?

Yes, technically mechanics fall into the essential services column, However, a lot of smaller shops will have closed over the lockdown period and all driver-testing and WoF-only VTNZ branches have closed until further notice.

AA Roadside has confirmed it will be operating over the lockdown, albeit with some changes.

'We will also be able to assist those in the essential service workforce. We will however be making some changes to the way we prioritise callouts, in order to ensure that we can continue to help those most in need,' a spokeswoman said.

Also, there's an understandable request: 'We will ask members to maintain at least a two-metre distance from our service officer or remain in their car, and follow their instructions to help keep everyone safe.'

If your vehicle is unable to be moved, more good news. The Motor Trade Association understands vehicle recovery services – basically, towing and flat deck pick-ups – are also considered essential, so will continue.

My Warrant of Fitness is expiring soon, how am I meant to get it tested?

No stress. If your WoF lapses during the lockdown period it will remain current until things return to some semblance of normality.

What can I actually buy for my car?

It might not be the best idea to brim the car right now, despite the low prices. If your car isn't driving for a while, it might just be a waste of money and cause some damage in the process.

Under government rule, mechanics and automotive parts suppliers fall under essential services. According to Repco, it is 'approved to supply essential automotive products and services to business and retail customers during lockdown.'

This means anything that may be needed to keep vehicles running or maintained for safety, including automotive parts (engine parts, braking, filtration), engine oils, batteries, globes, wipers and interior and exterior cleaning and hygiene products.

You can still purchase non-essential car items, like a new stereo but it won't be shipped until the lockdown lifts or restrictions relax.

It's a great time to finally give the old jalopy a bit of a birthday, don't you think?

What if this goes on for longer than four weeks?

That's a very real possibility, especially if people keep flouting the lockdown. In that case, most of the above will apply although the rules may change slightly. Things might become more accessible or they might get more restricted and if the government decides to temporarily outlaw all travel (aside from essential workers) there may be a need to prepare vehicles for long-term storage.

The best option for storage is, obviously, a garage but if you don't have access to one, a car port or off-streetcover will do. Alternatively, there are places you can hire for storage.

Setting up a trickle charger for your battery is the next step. If you don't have power where you are storing the car, just pull the battery out and plug it in at home.

Trickle, or maintenance chargers are designed to be plugged in and left, they switch on and off as required to keep the battery in a good state of charge. Keeping the battery at a good state of charge is the key to longevity of battery life.

If your car is staying put for a while, keep an eye on its tyres. AA says it's a good idea to overinflate them just a bit. This will ensure that adequate pressure remains even if a small amount leaks out over time. Back in the day, car tyres were particularly prone to flat spots and vehicles were raised on blocks to prevent this from happening.

Finally, don't use the handbrake. Leave it in park or in gear to prevent the brakes from binding over time.

What about fuel?

Petrol has a lifespan of roughly one month in equipment tanks, which includes passenger vehicles. It can last up to a year if you keep it in a sealed tank but, given it has to get from the petrol pump to your tank, that doesn't apply.

According to BP, once a seal is broken the fuel has a storage life of six months at 20°C or three months at 30°C.

You can extend the life of petrol by not filling your tank completely and topping it up periodically. Leaving some space in the tank also helps prevent stop water vapour from being sucked in and condensing.

Diesel is a bit different, as is not a volatile fuel. Therefore it does not suffer from starting issues or from issues of evaporation that petrol does. The main issue with diesel fuel in storage is the formation of gums and sediments that can block filters.

Regarding diesel fuel in opened containers, the big enemy is moisture from condensation. This will create a favourable environment for fungus and bacteria that degrade the fuel. Simple solution - regular treatment with a biocide every six months when storing for lengthy periods.