Owners of diesel cars who run their vehicles to keep the battery charged need to make sure the particulate filter has completed a regeneration cycle at the same time. The particulate filter in your diesel car is clogged. Short runs to shop for essentials, deliver food and medicine to those who are in isolation or to attend medical appointments during lockdown aren't ideal for diesel cars.
All modern diesels have expensive-to-replace diesel particulate filters DPF in the exhaust systems. These are designed to prevent harmful particles of soot being emitted into the atmosphere and the air we breathe. The build up of this soot is usually burned off when the exhaust system warms up to the peak temperature and when you take the car on fast-paced runs on motorways to clear the filter of pollution away from built-up areas.
Even infrequent trips to the shops and back could be worse for a diesel car than not using it at all, as the soot will begin to clog-up the DPF, which are expensive to replace. So it might be worth considering other methods of short-distance travel in lockdown, if they're available. If you decide to run your the car to keep the battery charged, look for the DPF regeneration symbol on your dashboard warning lights usually a filter-shaped symbol to go off illuminate and then go off the signify the DPF cycle has been completed.
Neglected air-con units during winter months can cause problems. The same can be said during lockdown. The air conditioning systems in most new cars uses the coolant that flows through them to lubricate the seals. If the air-con goes unused for a long period, those seals can dry out and cause leaks. This often happens in the winter months when drivers don't use their air conditioning systems because it's too cold.
If you start your car to charge the battery in lockdown or head out on a journey now that driving restrictions have been eased, make sure the air-con is switched on to lubricate the system. Bird poo can do serious damage to the paintwork of a car.
So make sure you're not parked under any trees. Attacks from above have damaged your car's paintwork. Bird droppings on modern water-based paint will start to impact the lacquer within 90 minutes, or even less if the car hasn't been polished for a few years. If it's dried on, use some warm water to soak it first as this will make it a lot easier to remove.
Scrubbing the paint without soaking the areas first will do even more harm as it can create scratches. If your car is parked on your driveway or on the road under a tree, consider putting a cover on it to protect against sap and bird droppings. Rodents taking refuge in your car's engine bay could have gnawed through wiring, leading to potential repair bills.
Stowaways have taken shelter in parts of your car. Car engine bays can be an attractive nesting area for small rodents so if you haven't driven your car for a while, it's worth having a look around to see if you have any lodgers. Using a torch, look around under the bonnet for signs of intruders. Droppings, gnawed wiring or pipework and plastics, evidence of bedding or hauls of stored food are all signs that you have guests. But any dry, concealed space could be a target,' says the AA.
It's also worth looking under each wheel arch, around the suspension for signs of life. If you do find anything, it's important to deal with it as rodents can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage, having a particular fondness for expensive wiring looms. If you are not comfortable or able to move the visitors on yourself, pest control firms are still operating but you may experience longer waiting times as many are busy with essential decontamination work. If you find animals have dug in to difficult to access areas, you may need assistance from your mechanic.
It is also a good idea to clear out any build up of leaves and debris that may have accumulated during the lockdown period to prevent them from clogging ventilation systems.
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