During the Movement Control Order, all Malaysians are urged to stay at home unless there’s a need to go out to buy food and essentials. Although the price of petrol has gone down significantly, you also shouldn’t be driving around for fun. If you don’t plan on using your car for an extended period of time, Proton has provided 5 car maintenance tips to keep your car in good working condition.
Clean your car’s interior
Any left behind trash especially food wrapping or containers can attract unwanted pests. During the MCO, you can wash your car and give the interior a good cleaning.
Start the engine weekly
To prevent your car’s battery from going flat, you can start your car every 7 days and keep it running for 10 minutes. This is the typical car maintenance routine if you’re not using the car for a very long time. When you leave the car running, you can switch off the air-conditioner and infotainment system to maximise the battery charging process. Once you’re done, don’t forget to lock your car in alarm armed mode.
Check Tyre Pressure
If you do get a chance to drive out, do check your tyre pressure and keep it inflated according to its recommended levels. If you’re driving the Proton X70, the premium model comes with a “Tyre Pressure Monitoring System” which can be viewed from the digital instrument cluster. Do note that petrol stations are only operating between 8am to 8pm during the MCO Phase 2.
Lift your windshield wipers
If you park your car outside especially at an open-air car park, you can lift up your windshield wipers to prevent the rubber from hardening.
Prevent tyre flat spot
Your car tyres might develop a flat spot if it is parked at the same spot for a long time. To prevent this, you can “rotate” the tyres by moving your car periodically.
If you do go out to buy essentials during the MCO, you can also disinfect your car door handles, steering wheel, gear shifter and other contact points in the vehicle for extra precaution. Do note that the government is also enforcing a “one person one car rule” in the second phase of the MCO which starts today.
