As Islanders get provinces are loosening restrictions on travel. As your car may have sat relatively idle over the last few months, the following tips can help ensure your vehicle is ready when you are, while you, the driver, stay informed and safe. adjusted to a safe and socially-distant return to work, Whether you're headed back to work, road-tripping the Atlantic Bubble, or simply making a grocery store run, thoughtful preparation can help you successfully navigate a safe transition back to the roads. Maintain and repair: give your car a thorough basic inspection If your vehicle hasn't been in use for a few months, it's important to conduct a few checks before driving again. Batteries can drain, tires can lose pressure and worse. Battery maintenance: Make sure your car battery is free of dirt and corrosion with a simple visual inspection. If it's looking worse for the wear, check your driver's manual for how to remove the battery and have a local auto parts store check its charge. Of all simple car repairs, a battery replacement is perhaps the easiest. Air pressure and tire tread: Consult your driver's manual, then ensure your tires are in the right PSI range (typically 30-35) by checking their inflation with a tire pressure gauge. While checking your tire pressure, you should also evaluate the tread on your tires. This is easy to do by sticking a coin in the tread gaps with heads facing down. If the head is fully visible, it's safe to say that you need new tires.
Motor oil: With minimal use of your car over the last few months, it's a great time to consider changing your motor oil. It is a best practice to change your oil and oil filter as specified in your owner's manual. If you're still using conventional oil, strongly consider switching to a synthetic motor oil. Synthetic motor oil offers improved wear protection and low/ high temperature performance over conventional motor oils, particularly in modern turbocharged engines. Think about your first refuel: Try to reduce surface contact at the pump For customers filling up their vehicles for the first time in a while, many service stations are sanitizing surfaces and pump handles more frequently and encouraging the use of contactless payment. Use the pay-at-the-pump option: Using this method reduces contact with others and helps maintain social distancing. In addition, it's quicker and you won't be tempted by those candy bars at the cash. Gloves, masks, paper towels and sanitizers: For actual pump handle contact, a disposable glove or even one of the paper towels next to the squeegee can be used when holding the pump nozzle. Beyond that, always carry hand sanitizer in your glove box. As you return to the roads, conduct thorough vehicle checks and take proactive measures at the pump to ensure a smooth and safe driving experience.
And above all, remember to be kind and stay safe.
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