Having a car is a useful thing. It gives you plenty of freedom, and it’s a life skill that you may find helps you out in a number of ways. However, in today’s world, you might be able to drive, and you might have a car, but you might also find that you don’t need to use it that much. Perhaps you work from home, or there are public transport options that make getting to work easier, for example.
In this situation, assuming you don’t want to sell your car (it’s always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, after all), how can you make sure it stays in good condition even when it’s not being used? Read on for some tips.
Store It
Perhaps the best thing you can do if you don’t use your car regularly and want to keep it well-maintained is to store it. You can hire a storage unit for this very reason, and as long as you follow all the rules, your car should be safe and sound inside it.
Something you will need to do is prepare your car for storage. This means the car should be clean, the paperwork should be up to date, it should have been serviced recently, and you might also want to consider installing security features such as a dash cam to ensure your vehicle will be safe. Of course, with a reputable storage company, this should not be a problem.
Change the Oil
The oil in your car is essential to keep your engine running smoothly, but when the vehicle is not used regularly, and the oil just sits in the engine, it can deteriorate. When you do use the car again, this can mean your engine is not well lubricated, which can cause damage. In normal circumstances, you would change the oil after you have driven a certain number of miles, but in this situation, it’s better to change it every six months, no matter how many (or how few) miles you have driven.
When you do this, you can be sure that when you do get behind the wheel again, the engine is not going to be damaged because the oil you are using is too old or has been still too long and gathered debris.
Take Care of the Battery
If a car lies unused for too long, there is a high chance that the battery will go flat. When you come to use it again, the engine won’t start, and you’ll have to get the engine jump-started. You might even have to buy a new battery, and that can be very expensive.
The best thing to do is to start the engine every week or so. You don’t have to drive the car anywhere, but by switching it on for a minute or so, you can recharge the battery and ensure that when you do need it, you will be able to drive away safely and without any issues.
