When your vehicles are out of action for a few months at a time due to lockdown or the winter season, or even in longer term storage, you can ensure that they’re protected inside and out with a few simple DIY products. When spring arrives and you’re excited to take your jetski to the dam, or put the top down on your classic car to take a drive – your vehicles will be ready to go and in tip-top condition, saving you from the hassle and cost of expensive repairs.
While we may not experience deep snow and freezing temperatures everywhere in South Africa, winter temperature fluctuations and dryness can still pose problems for seals, oil, fuel and cooling systems in your vehicle. Here are some of the preventative measures you should take.
OIL
If your vehicle is stationary for a while, the engine oil will settle down in the sump. When oil is not running through the engine regularly, your seals will not be lubricated and may wear or become brittle, and the oil may age and oxidise. Poor fuel consumption and oil leaks can result in performance issues. Liqui Moly Motor Oil Saver can be added to any oil, synthetic or mineral, and it will protect your engine for over six months. It will also improve the viscosity index, effectively thickening and regenerating the oil. We have products available for all types of vehicles to take care of seals in winter – motorcycle, marine, auto and even aeronautical.
FUEL
If you leave fuel in equipment, oxidisation from aging has a negative effect. To prevent this, add Petrol Stabiliser to your fuel system. Whether it’s your motorbike, jetski or lawn mower, measure it up, pop it in the fuel tank and idle the engine for fifteen minutes to ensure it runs through the entire system. You can confidently leave your vehicle standing for more than two years, knowing that you’ll have no problems.
If you’re dealing with diesel, water forming from condensation due to temperature fluctuations is a big hazard. When fuel is left standing in fuel tanks, agricultural equipment or bowsers, the area between the oil and water layer that forms becomes a perfect growth area for bacteria, fungi, yeasts and moulds. This results in irregular engine idling and can clog your filters. When there is no fuel going to the engine you can end up burning your injector tips, which will then need to be replaced.
Bacteria multiply rapidly and can be hard to eliminate. Liqui Moly has a great biocide called antibacterial diesel additive. Add this as a preventative measure at a ratio of one to 1000, or use a concentrated value of one to 200 to eliminate bacteria if you already have a problem. One litre of the product will cover 4 000 litres of diesel, so even large diesel bowsers that take 15 000 litres or big motorhome tanks are easy to deal with.
Diesel can actually freeze in winter temperatures and cause sludge in the filter. If you are in a very cold area, where temperatures go below zero overnight, you need Diesel Flow Fit which is an additive that protects your fuel from freezing at temperatures up to -10 degrees celsius. To improve mixing into the fuel or fuel oil, add it before filling up.
COOLING SYSTEM
Your cooling system needs protection in both hot and cold temperatures with a combination of antifreeze and corrosion protection components. When the correct amount of product is added to water, it prevents the cooling system from freezing up and overheating all year round. The ethylene glycol base of Liqui Moly antifreeze products works well in cold temperatures, ensuring that water and fluids in the vehicle don’t freeze.
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES
Much can be done on the surfaces of your car to prevent rust, cracked dashboards, gummy wiper blades and brittle rubbers caused by harsh winter conditions. Liqui Moly has Cockpit Care, Leather Care and Rubber Care, which comes with a nice little sponge to enable application on all the rubber surfaces of your car. Anti-corrosion products are also essential. Use an industrial wax or our multipurpose protection spray.
PEST CONTROL!
During winter rats are in search of a warm nest and have a tendency to seek out engines where they destroy wiring, which can become an expensive problem. Liqui Moly Marder Spray stands out from the rest as it’s a non-toxic pheromone-based repellent. We’ve received thousands of messages to say it’s an unbelievable product. Keep in mind that it must not be used together with a rat poison, as the products work in conflicting ways. Rat poison attracts rats and makes them desperate for water, which is not great when you have water in your pipes in your car! To get rid of any rat poison you have used previously you can clean the area with our Universal Cleaner before applying Marder Spray.
Whether it’s your lawn mower, boat or treasured collectors car you need to store for long periods of time – Liqui Moly has a product range that will protect your fuel, prevent bacteria and oxidation, keep your seals lubricated and prevent rust and corrosion. In the spring, when you’re ready for the open road or water and start the engine, you’ll have no issues. Prevention is definitely better than cure, so don’t wait until after the cold season.
