Car care tips that will keep you safe at all times
Philippine climate conditions should prepare us motorist from two norms, dry and wet. And it’s that time of the year when we now transition to slippery roads, it’s been raining lately, hasn’t it?
Many car owners know that it is difficult to maintain their vehicles in the rainy season. In fact, rains have a very bad effect on a car’s body, in contrast to intense sunlight. Though many people are aware of safe rules for driving in the monsoon weather, such as:
- Driving your car at slow speeds
- Turning on lights during a heavy downpour
- Driving at a safe distance from the next vehicle on the road
- Never turning your hazards on during heavy rains, except when stalled.
CAR CARE TIPS
On Tires and Brakes
a. Make sure you have enough tire depth on your treads. Balding tires will make your vehicle hydroplane causing this to slip, slide and spin out of control.
b. While you’re checking on the depth of your tire treads, might as well have them balanced, rotated and if necessary, aligned. This way you get to use that new tire on the spare tire well.
c. Since the tires are off the vehicle, fantastic opportunity to have those brakes checked! Believe us, we depend on them with our lives, very important!
d. Always check and maintain your tire pressure (at least once a week). The correct tire pressure as recommended by the manufacturer is found on the side your door, diver side.
On Visibility
a. Make sure your windshield washer tanks are full, for both the front and rear (if you have a rear windshield wiper). It is recommended that you use the correct additive in the water mixture so as to remove grime and mud splashes. DO NOT USE washing detergent as an additive, as this would foam up your windshield with bubbles making it harder to see!
b. Yup, time to check and if needed, replace those wiper blades. A bad blade will not only scratch your glass, but won’t clean it as well.
c. It’s also time to have your air-conditioning serviced. What’s the use of having done all that, just to have your cabin windows and windshields all fog-up!?
Check Your Battery
It’s during the rainy season that we put a strain on the electricals of our car, as everything is on! From wipers to fog lamps and everything in between. The battery will last anywhere from a year to two, maybe even three.
So don’t take a chance and bring your vehicle over to the battery shop and have it checked! You wouldn’t want to get caught in a downpour, with an automatic, and have your battery die on you, now would you?
On Maintenance
After the rain passes, we get intermission of warm, dry spells before the next storm or typhoon hits us again. During this time, as car owners we maintain our vehicles by:
a. Bring your car to the car wash and have it foam washed, make sure to get all that ACID RAIN out of the surface of your paint. Then, protect it by having it waxed.
b. Have the car wash boy’s check for any signs of rust, or if you still have enough rust proofing underneath. You may need rustproofing.
c. Do not have them apply armor-all on the following as this may cause you to slip your grip or footing resulting in an unforeseen accident.
i. Steering wheel, knobs and switches
ii. Foot pedal
iii. Hand brake lever
iv. Shifting lever knob.
On COVID-19
a. Best practice is always have your car cabin clean.
b. Park your car under the sun, even for at least 2 hours. Nothing kills better than the heat under those UV rays!
c. Use a good disinfecting spray for overnight parking, such as Lysol. And have some alcohol inside your vehicle, immediately clean your hands when you get inside even before you touch the steering wheel or deploy your seatbelt.
d. Lastly, if you do not want to be called out by the LTO – wear your face mask.
WRITTEN BY
Technical Division
Standard Insurance