The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging. Here in California, cases are rising dramatically as we battle the second wave. Public health officials recently announced that every county in Southern California is in the purple tier, the most restrictive before a full-scale lockdown. Under these restrictions, many businesses have to adapt to even tighter rules to curb the spread of COVID-19. Nearly 94% of Californians, or 37 million people, live in the counties now facing these restrictive guidelines, and another lockdown may be looming.
Gov. Gavin Newson recently said that “this is simply the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic.” No one wants to head back to another lockdown like we faced this past spring, but it’s increasingly looking like some lockdown may be imminent. For many businesses, this may be very troubling as the economic effects of the previous lockdown and ongoing pandemic guidelines have caused great distress. As a wholesale fuel company and whole diesel fuel supplier, we stand with our local community to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the pandemic’s economic effects. One of the unfortunate side effects of a shutdown or reduced business is the degradation of lubricant supplies. Many of our customers have had to either completely shut down their businesses during lockdowns or reduce their workload. A shutdown or slowing down of work can adversely affect your wholesale lubricant supplies, especially if you do not practice proper storage. Lubricants that sit unused or in storage for an extended time are more prone to degradation. Here are a few factors that may affect your lubricant supplies.
- Oxidation: Oxygen can be deadly for your lubricants, as it is an element that bonds atoms together. If your lubricants are exposed to extra oxygen, a process called oxidation can occur. This process can cause the lubricants to separate and breakdown, which will affect their performance on your machinery. Ensure that all the fittings for your lubrication containers are airtight and that all your bearing seals are in good condition. A defective seal can cause a leak, which can destroy a whole container of lubricant.
- Heat: Extreme temperature swings can cause lubricants to break down. Make sure that your storage area is at a consistent temperature. Follow the manufacturer guidelines for proper temperature storage.
- Water: If your lubricants are exposed to water, they may begin to break down. Make sure that your storage area is dry and free from leaks or condensation. Visually inspect your supplies for any signs of leakage or damaged storage containers.
Once you’ve inspected your storage area for possible contamination, it’s time to implement a proper storage system. This process can include installing proper storage racks, rotating your supplies regularly to ensure freshness, and maintaining a detailed log of when your supplies were last used. Regularly sampling and testing your lubricant supplies to ensure quality can also help. We offer oil analysis services to help you stay on top of any potential contamination issues and potential equipment breakdowns. Many people have reduced the amount of driving they do or are parking their vehicles long term to save money on gas and insurance costs during lockdowns. If your business is considering this, make sure to follow these tips to prepare your vehicles for long term storage.
- Make sure the gas tank is full. Even if your vehicle is parked long term, you should make sure the tank is full. A full tank will help prevent fuel condensation and stop the build-up of hazardous gasoline fumes. You may even want to consider the use of a fuel stabilizer to prevent the gasoline from degrading.
- Check your battery. Your car battery is the most susceptible to dying when your vehicle is parked long term. Try to at least drive or start the vehicle once a week to keep the battery fresh. Otherwise, you may find that your battery is dead when you do start your vehicle up after it has been sitting for a long time. You may also try plugging your car in if you are able.
- Keep your car properly lubricated. Before you park long term, make sure that your car’s maintenance is up to date and you’ve recently had an oil change. Try and start or drive your car at least once a week so that the fluids in your vehicle circulate and keep everything lubricated. Make sure to check all the fluid levels in your vehicle regularly.
- Check your tire pressure. Make sure that your tires are properly filled. Driving the vehicle once a week can also help prevent flat spots that will develop over time as the tires lose pressure from staying in one position.
- Park in a safe and secure space. Where you park is almost as important as preparing your vehicle for long term parking. Take care to park your vehicle in an area free of debris and away from potential hazards, like under a tree. Regularly inspect your vehicle to make sure it’s free of fallen leaves, bird poop, and other debris, and check for signs of rodents who may sneak into your car engine. You don’t want your vehicle to become the home or storage facility of an industrious squirrel or mouse. In 2018, Kellen Moore parked her vehicle and found 50 pounds of pinecones under the hood when she tried to drive it again. You don’t want the same thing to happen to you.
No one wants another shutdown. We hope that we will avoid such extreme measures and that case numbers will begin to decline. But if we must have the reality of even a partial lockdown, it’s best to be prepared. Take care of your lubricant supplies and your vehicles if you will not be using them for a while so you can avoid costly maintenance when it’s time to open back up again. If you require oil analysis, fresh lubricant supplies, or have other fuel needs, please reach out to us. We have been a supplier of wholesale fuels in Bakersfield, CA, for decades now and a supplier of California fuels and lubricants. Our local community and customers are important to us, and we are here to support them as we all get through this pandemic together.