It is important for four-wheeled vehicle owners to know how to care for their cars, whether they are cars that are frequently used or rarely used. The goal is to keep the car engine running well and provide comfortable performance while you are driving it.
So, for those of you who want to know how to properly care for your car so that it doesn't get damaged easily, you can check the complete review below.
1. 7 Risk of the Car Being Poorly Maintained and Rarely Used
Before knowing how to care for it, you must first know what risks will arise if the car is not maintained properly, especially if the car is rarely used, namely:
1.1 Car Body Becomes Rusty
When you don't take care of a car that is rarely used, the body of the car will easily rust. This rust appears because the car is damp because the engine is rarely turned on.
Apart from that, rust on the car body also often occurs due to accumulated dust or dirt. This dust buildup occurs because the car sits in a place for a long time without any movement energy at all.
1.2 Fuel Settles
The risk that occurs when you don't care for your car, especially one that is rarely used, is that the fluid in the engine will settle. The main fluid that often settles comes from car fuel, including oil.
Fuel deposition occurs due to the oxidation process due to being stored for too long. If left untreated, the fuel will start to settle, then contaminate the corners of the liquid reservoir, causing rust to appear.
Conditions like these sometimes make the car engine run less smoothly. If so, it will endanger you while driving it.
1.3 Short Circuit Threat Appears
When the machine and its electricity are damaged due to rust or a buildup of dust, this usually creates a threat of a short circuit. Don't let something like this happen to your car, so make sure you always service and clean your vehicle regularly.
1.4 Tires Have Reduced Pressure
The next risk of lack of car maintenance and rarely using it is that the tires will experience a decrease in pressure.
A car that is not moving or parked in the same position for a long time will cause lumps on the bottom of the tires. This condition causes the shape of the tire to not be perfectly round. Of course, conditions will affect comfort and safety while driving.
Apart from that, car tires that are poorly maintained and rarely used will reduce their elasticity. This happens because there is an accumulation of dirt and dust in that part. If the tire is less elastic, it will cause the risk of the tire bursting while driving.
1.5 Car AC Not Cold
The car air conditioner, which usually feels cold, feels less cold because the car does not receive routine maintenance because it is rarely used.
Dust and germ deposits will start to nest in the vehicle's cooling channels. The quality of the air released becomes bad, stagnant and doesn't feel cold at all.
To overcome this problem, you can clean the AC ducts and understand the process of filling your vehicle's own AC freon so that the air released can feel cold again.
1.6 Dead Battery
If you rarely start the car engine, the electrical power will decrease by itself. This decrease in electrical power will get worse if the battery is old. As a result, when the electric power goes down, the car battery becomes dead.
Therefore, starting the engine regularly is important. If the battery has run out, you will be forced to immediately replace it with a new one.
1.7 Machine Performance Not Running Optimally
A car that is poorly maintained and rarely used will result in engine performance not being optimal. In fact, when you use it again, the engine will work harder because the conditions inside the car are no longer ideal, such as rust appearing, the battery running out and fuel or oil deposition.
Less than optimal engine performance will also affect the comfort and speed of the car. If left to continue, the car engine will be damaged later.
2. 10 Ways on How to Maintain a Car Correctly and Appropriately
So, to avoid the various risks above, you must be able to carry out car maintenance appropriately and correctly.
Here are some correct ways to care for your car for you to follow, namely:
2.1 Check Car Components Regularly
The first way to maintain a car is that you have to check the car components regularly. The goal is to ensure that the vehicle is in good condition without any damage. Even if there is damage, you can handle it immediately before it damages other parts.
There are several car components that you should check regularly, including:
2.1.1 Machine
You must pay attention to the condition of the engine so that fuel or oil fluid does not settle. Apart from that, also check whether there is rust on the engine parts or not. This is because sediment and rust will make the car engine break down and short circuit easily.
Immediately go to a trusted repair shop or car service center in your city to check the condition of the engine. Don't leave it alone because it will make the condition worse and cause the car to become damaged.
2.1.2 Tires
It is important to check car tires, especially if your four-wheeled vehicle is rarely used.
If there is a decrease in pressure and lack of elasticity, handle it immediately to avoid causing the tire to deflate easily, a lump appearing on one side and the risk of the tire bursting.
If the air pressure has decreased, you must immediately refill the air. Apart from self-checking, take the car to a service location or repair shop regularly.
You can take your car to a service center every 6 months. The goal is to keep the car's performance optimal and repair existing damage.
2.1.3 Oil
A car that is rarely used will result in less than optimal oil circulation when lubricating engine components. Therefore, checking the condition of the texture and color of the oil is important in car maintenance.
If the color changes and the texture becomes thick, make sure to immediately replace it with new oil. Apart from that, the oil must be changed regularly every time the car has traveled a distance of up to 10,000 km.
2.1.4 Battery
The function of the battery in a car is to supply voltage to all the vehicle's electrical systems. When a car is not used for a long time, battery performance will decrease. In fact, the battery power in a car that you rarely use will run out quickly until it runs out.
So, make sure to check the battery water level regularly. The goal is to ensure the battery voltage remains for a long time. If you don't use the car often, it's best to disconnect the battery connector so it doesn't use up too much power and avoid short circuits.
2.2 Do not Park Cars Haphazardly
You should not park or store your car carelessly, especially if it will not be used for a long time. It's best to keep the car in a special parking area so that the body remains protected.
Therefore, good car parking should be in a closed parking area. If you park your car in an open parking location for a long time, the paint will usually peel easily. In fact, there is a risk of rust on the car body due to direct exposure to sunlight and rain.
If you have to store it in the open, use a waterproof and heat-resistant car cover. So that the risk of rust can be avoided and the car paint does not peel off easily.
2.3 Wash the Car Regularly
The next way to care for your car is to wash it regularly to minimize the appearance of mold and rust on the car body. By washing your car regularly, dust and dirt will be removed, so the risk of rust can be avoided.
Remember, a good car wash must use a special car shampoo and a soft cloth, such as a chamois or microfiber cloth. That way, the car paint will not peel off easily and will not cause rust to appear.
The correct way to wash a car is to do circular movements and rinse with clean water. Remember, also clean parts that are difficult to reach, such as wheels and rims.
At least, washing the car can be done once every two weeks or once a month. You can do it yourself at home or go directly to a professional car wash to make it bigger.
2.4 Clean the Inside of the Car
Not only the outside of the body, you also have to clean the inside. The car cabin also has the risk of being exposed to dust and animals entering the car, thereby damaging the components of the car itself.
Use a vacuum to clean areas inside the car. Check every gap in the cabin, such as the AC ducts, between the seats and so on so that there is no dust or dirt left behind.
Apart from cleaning with a vacuum, also use car freshener in the cabin. Afterwards, the inside of the car feels fresher, fragrant and comfortable.
2.5 Check the Condition of the Fluids in the Car
Apart from checking the oil as explained previously, you also have to check the condition of other fluids in the car. For example, checking brake fluid, radiator water, wiper water, tank reservoir and others regularly.
Make sure all the fluids are completely filled according to the specified standards. The radiator water must always be in sufficient standard condition to help maintain the car's temperature.
If the radiator water runs dry, the car engine could overheat, causing it to suddenly stop while in use.
2.6 Fuel Must Be Kept Filled
Make sure the car remains full of fuel to avoid rust on the fuel tank. This is because rust on the tank can cause the fuel system to become damaged. As a result, the car will easily break down while you are driving it.
2.7 Warm Up the Car Regularly
Warm up the engine, even if the car is rarely used, you still have to do it regularly. By turning on this machine, the risk of fluid clumping in the engine and the battery running out can be avoided.
In fact, starting the car should be done while driving the vehicle itself. However, if this is not possible, you can just start the engine for about 10-15 minutes.
2.8 Check Brake System
You must check the brake system for both automatic and manual cars. Make sure the system is always in optimal condition for safety while driving. Also check the condition of the fluid in the brakes regularly to avoid undesirable things happening.
2.9 Check the Air Filter Regularly
You should also clean the air filter in your car regularly. You can use a compressor to clean it if the filter is made of paper. Meanwhile, if it is made of stainless steel, then use a slightly damp cloth.
Even though it looks trivial, the air filter has an important influence on the car's performance and fuel efficiency. So, make sure you don't ignore it and always check regularly.
2.10 Use Paint and Wax to Protect the Car Body
The last way to care for your car is to use paint and wax to protect the body of the car. Choose a product that is compatible with each type of car paint to provide maximum results.
You can apply the wax in a circular motion, then leave it for a while before rubbing it off with a clean microfiber cloth. This protection will keep the car paint beautiful and durable.
3. 5 Tips to Avoid Car Damage Quickly
To anticipate damage to your car, you can follow the following tips:
3.1 Avoid Speeding When the Car Engine is Cold
When the car engine is cold, avoid driving the car quickly. This can cause wear on car components, such as valves, piston rings and pistons in the car.
To avoid this, you can wait a few minutes until the engine reaches optimal working temperature before starting to ride fast.
3.2 Avoid Overloading
Carrying passengers or transporting goods beyond the factory specified capacity will cause damage to the car's suspension, springs and electrical system. Vehicle performance and stability can also be reduced than usual.
So, make sure to avoid overloading and make sure to know the maximum capacity that the car can transport.
3.3 Check the Electrical System and Car Lights
For cars that are frequently used in hot and rainy weather, it is very important to check the electrical system. Make sure all cables and connectors are safe and in good condition. This can prevent electrical leaks or damage to car components.
Also check the condition of the car lights, starting from the brake lights, headlights and rear lights. Make sure all lights function properly so that driving is safer from various weather conditions.
3.4 Protect Car Glass from Direct UV Rays
Sunlight that hits the car window directly can cause damage to the car interior. Therefore, you must protect your car windows using window film or a sun visor.
Window film is able to withstand heat from UV rays entering the car. Meanwhile, the sun visor will protect the dashboard and car seats from direct exposure to sunlight.
3.5 Clean the Car Every Day
Whether it is a new or old car, you should clean it every day. Just wipe the outside and inside of the car using a dry cloth.
Apart from that, don't let trash or other debris accumulate in the car. Because, this will cause an unpleasant odor and make you uncomfortable when driving the car.
If the car you own is rarely used for a long time, there's no harm in using a cover on the outside to protect the car so it doesn't get dusty easily later.
That's the information about how to care for your car that you should know. Follow the methods above so that your car is well maintained, thereby minimizing damage and making the car last longer. Apart from taking care of your car personally at home, make sure you always take your vehicle to a service center at least once every 6 months to get maximum care.
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