Welcome to brain Stuff production of iHeart Radio. Hey brain Stuff, Lauren Volga bam here. If you've been sheltering at home and happen to own a motor vehicle, it may have been weeks since you've driven it. Nobody really knows how long it will be until we get back to normal, or what normal will even look like. But we do know one thing. Your car still needs attention while you
shelter in place. So even though you might not be driving to and from work, or taking the kids to their activities, or running as many errands as usual, that doesn't mean you should neglect one of your biggest investments. Here's what you need to do to make sure your car stays in tip top shape. First, you need to get out and drive. Consumer Reports recommends driving your car at least once a week for twenty minutes or more.
Don't joy ride more than necessary. This is a great excuse to support local businesses if you can, or to plan a drive by socially distant visit to friends and family, but joy riding can increase the risk of accidents. Simple twenty minutes a week will help keep the battery in good shape, prevent rust from building up. On the brakes and prevent the calipers from seizing up and gets gasoline, oil,
and other fluids flowing. Speaking of gas, it can go bad if it sits too long, usually around thirty days or more. At that point, gummy deposits can form and the ethanol in the blend starts to draw water from the atmosphere into your tank. Fuel stabilizers can prevent this, but they're designed to be poured into your tank before.
Your car isn't going to be driven for long periods of time, so assuming you didn't add a fuel stabilizer to your gasoline before all of this started, you need to drive your car to burn off some of the gas, then top off your tank with fresh fuel. It's at record low prices, so that's a plus. Just don't forget to wash your hands before you leave the house and after you get home. While your car is parked and the engine is cold, it would be good to check
the oil to see if it's low or dirty. Your owner's manual will help you locate the dipstick and identify the markings to determine the correct oil level. It's fine postpone oil changes somewhat, but if you do need a change, you can still have it done safely, as it's considered an essential service in most states. Some shops will even let you remain in the car during the oil change.
Call ahead to find a shop that offers this. You should also be checking your tires on a regular basis anyway, and even more so if you're not driving your car much, if at all. That's because the tires could lose pressure or end up with flat spots from sitting too long, or even with dry rot. If your tires must be replaced, find a shop that's maintaining social distancing procedures, or even better, a tire installer who will come to you if you
do run into major engine problems. Cannics are also considered essential services in most states, so you can have your car repaired. Just be sure to wipe down your cars interior, your surfaces once you pick it up the way you would groceries or anything else you're coming into new contact with. And according to consumer reports, Triple A is still providing roadside assistance in the case of an emergency and implemented
social distancing protocols for such events. If you've let your car care slip in the wake of all of this confusion, It's probably fine. It takes more than a few weeks or even a couple of months of casual neglect to seriously damage and otherwise well maintained car. However, a little attention now will go a long way to regaining your mobility once self isolation comes to an end. Today's episode was written by Sheryes three Wit and produced by Tyler Clang.
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