1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff production of iHeart Radio. Hey brain Stuff, 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: Lauren Volga bam here. If you've been sheltering at home 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: and happen to own a motor vehicle, it may have 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: been weeks since you've driven it. Nobody really knows how 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: long it will be until we get back to normal, 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: or what normal will even look like. But we do 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: know one thing. Your car still needs attention while you 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: shelter in place. So even though you might not be 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: driving to and from work, or taking the kids to 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: their activities, or running as many errands as usual, that 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: doesn't mean you should neglect one of your biggest investments. 12 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: Here's what you need to do to make sure your 13 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: car stays in tip top shape. First, you need to 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: get out and drive. Consumer Reports recommends driving your car 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,480 Speaker 1: at least once a week for twenty minutes or more. 16 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: Don't joy ride more than necessary. This is a great 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: excuse to support local businesses if you can, or to 18 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: plan a drive by socially distant visit to friends and family, 19 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: but joy riding can increase the risk of accidents. Simple 20 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: twenty minutes a week will help keep the battery in 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: good shape, prevent rust from building up. On the brakes 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: and prevent the calipers from seizing up and gets gasoline, oil, 23 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: and other fluids flowing. Speaking of gas, it can go 24 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: bad if it sits too long, usually around thirty days 25 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: or more. At that point, gummy deposits can form and 26 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: the ethanol in the blend starts to draw water from 27 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: the atmosphere into your tank. Fuel stabilizers can prevent this, 28 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: but they're designed to be poured into your tank before. 29 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: Your car isn't going to be driven for long periods 30 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: of time, so assuming you didn't add a fuel stabilizer 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: to your gasoline before all of this started, you need 32 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: to drive your car to burn off some of the gas, 33 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: then top off your tank with fresh fuel. It's at 34 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: record low prices, so that's a plus. Just don't forget 35 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: to wash your hands before you leave the house and 36 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: after you get home. While your car is parked and 37 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: the engine is cold, it would be good to check 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: the oil to see if it's low or dirty. Your 39 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: owner's manual will help you locate the dipstick and identify 40 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: the markings to determine the correct oil level. It's fine 41 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: postpone oil changes somewhat, but if you do need a change, 42 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: you can still have it done safely, as it's considered 43 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: an essential service in most states. Some shops will even 44 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: let you remain in the car during the oil change. 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: Call ahead to find a shop that offers this. You 46 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: should also be checking your tires on a regular basis anyway, 47 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: and even more so if you're not driving your car much, 48 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: if at all. That's because the tires could lose pressure 49 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: or end up with flat spots from sitting too long, 50 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: or even with dry rot. If your tires must be replaced, 51 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: find a shop that's maintaining social distancing procedures, or even better, 52 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: a tire installer who will come to you if you 53 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: do run into major engine problems. Cannics are also considered 54 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: essential services in most states, so you can have your 55 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: car repaired. Just be sure to wipe down your cars interior, 56 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: your surfaces once you pick it up the way you 57 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: would groceries or anything else you're coming into new contact with. 58 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: And according to consumer reports, Triple A is still providing 59 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: roadside assistance in the case of an emergency and implemented 60 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: social distancing protocols for such events. If you've let your 61 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: car care slip in the wake of all of this confusion, 62 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: It's probably fine. It takes more than a few weeks 63 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: or even a couple of months of casual neglect to 64 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: seriously damage and otherwise well maintained car. However, a little 65 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: attention now will go a long way to regaining your 66 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: mobility once self isolation comes to an end. Today's episode 67 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: was written by Sheryes three Wit and produced by Tyler Clang. 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: For more on this and lots of other topics because 69 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: at how stuffworks dot com. Brain Stuff is production of 70 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: i heart Radio. For more podcasts. For my heart Radio 71 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: is the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 72 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.