5 Reasons to take your car on a weekly drive
Everything you need to know about tyres
October 7, 2020
7 Basic car maintenance tips from the experts
November 26, 2020We all are doing our part to curb the spread of the pandemic, and that meant staying indoors, working from home and ordering not-so-healthy takeout deliveries. So suffice to say, we’ve been using our car lesser and lesser, with some who have not even been in their cars for weeks! Cars shouldn’t be a long-forgotten trophy collecting dust, they are meant to be driven around, so here are 5 reasons why you should take your car on a weekly drive.🚗
1) Charge up the battery
Not using your car for more than two weeks can result in complete drainage of your car battery. To avoid this, it is recommended to run your car for 15-20 minutes to keep the battery charged up. So, if you drive for 15-30 minutes at a moderate speed (up for interpretation) at least once a week, that should be enough for it to be in top shape.
With the cables removed, use a cloth and a corrosion removal fluid that you can get from any automotive retailer store to clean up the battery. Don’t worry if you don’t have any fancy corrosion removal fluid as you can use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean it too! Why does it work? Because battery acid is acidic (duh) and baking soda is alkaline, thus the chemical reaction would neutralise the acid, allowing it to be safe for handling. You can then rinse off the cleaned area with some water and dry it with a cloth. With everything set and done, reconnect the battery cables by attaching the positive cable first. Voilà, your car battery is all cleaned!
2) Movement is life
Driving your car weekly would ensure all moving parts of your vehicle are well lubricated. Parts like the parking brake cables and the pistons are essential for a well running car. So, when you take your car out for a drive and you use your brakes, the brake pads will naturally scrub the rust off your rotor, ensuring you have a functional brake. Car parts are similar to the muscles in the human body—both require constant exercise to be in good shape.
3) Prevent tyre’s damage
When you park your car for an extended period of time, the vehicle’s weight would start to crush down on its tyres, thus causing flat spots which can affect the quality of the ride. Now, most flat spots are temporary, after a few hours of driving around, your tyres would naturally revert to its original shape. However, keep in mind that flat spots can become permanent if your vehicle is left sitting for over a month, and so it is best avoided.
4) Horrifying infestations
Yes, the creepy crawlies and the terrifying hornets would build their nest in your car if you do not use it regularly. The dark, humid environment of the car is perfect for nest building since they are safe from the harsh weather outside. Nonetheless, by driving your car at least once a week, it would deter any insects or rodents for that matter to build their nest in your car since they know it's not a stationary sanctuary for them. So, if you hate bugs and you love your car, please do yourself a favour and take it out for a spin at least once a week.
5) Good for your mental health
Tired of staying indoors and staring at the same four walls every day? Well, just rev up the car and take a drive around. The different scenery, the familiar sights of the streets and people would surely lift your spirits. After all, being cooped up in your house for so long is not fun. So, relax and cruise around in your car—life is more than just work and the pandemic.
If your car is due for a service, do drop by our workshop to get it inspected and fixed. Your safety is our priority!