Car service in a pandemic...
July 9, 2020 9:13 AM Subscribe
I have an appointment coming up for an oil change and some other car service that I’ve already deferred once (because I’m not driving much). The dealership is doing contact-free handoff, but some tech will end up sitting in my car. If I go, how should I make the interior as safe as possible afterwards? Should I defer again?
The car is a new-as-of-last November VW GTI, and this is the scheduled oil change (VW recommends every 6 mo). My understanding is that keeping up with the oil changes is particularly important in cars with turbos. Then again, the car has <3k miles on it, and has only driven maybe 100 miles since March. I was originally scheduled for the oil change in May, but I deferred in hopes that the pandemic would get sorted out. It obviously didn’t.
If I go in, I believe I will leave the car outside the service area with a key inside, and a tech will get in the car, drive it into the service area, work on it, and return it outside. I should be able to wait outside. My main concern is that people outside my bubble will have been inside. I figure one easy step is to drive with the windows down to exchange the air as quickly as possible, but what about surfaces? (The upholstery and steering wheel are leather, and I’d prefer to sanitize them in a way that minimizes damage — rubbing alcohol on tissue maybe?)
Am I overthinking this? Under thinking this? Should I count on synthetic oil being okay At rest and wait it out?
The car is a new-as-of-last November VW GTI, and this is the scheduled oil change (VW recommends every 6 mo). My understanding is that keeping up with the oil changes is particularly important in cars with turbos. Then again, the car has <3k miles on it, and has only driven maybe 100 miles since March. I was originally scheduled for the oil change in May, but I deferred in hopes that the pandemic would get sorted out. It obviously didn’t.
If I go in, I believe I will leave the car outside the service area with a key inside, and a tech will get in the car, drive it into the service area, work on it, and return it outside. I should be able to wait outside. My main concern is that people outside my bubble will have been inside. I figure one easy step is to drive with the windows down to exchange the air as quickly as possible, but what about surfaces? (The upholstery and steering wheel are leather, and I’d prefer to sanitize them in a way that minimizes damage — rubbing alcohol on tissue maybe?)
Am I overthinking this? Under thinking this? Should I count on synthetic oil being okay At rest and wait it out?
It depends on your risk budget. While we certainly don't know everything about this disease yet, almost everything that we've heard so far about transmission is that it spreads through aerosol droplets (i.e. not on surfaces). I'd drive it in with the windows rolled down, ask them to keep the windows rolled down, then drive it for a while with the windows rolled down (while wearing a mask, to be extra careful). I don't know that there's much to be gained by wiping surfaces down. I think it's very telling that, to date, we have not heard reported a single case of transmission between a surface and a person.
posted by Betelgeuse at 9:26 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Betelgeuse at 9:26 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'll let someone more knowledgeable auto maintenance answer, but on the tech being in your car, there's ways to mitigate risk in my non-expert opinion, based off of what I have read. Here's what I would do, even though it's probably overkill.
1) Is the tech wearing a mask the entire time? This should mitigate risk significantly. Ask that the windows be left down to maximize air exchange.
2) When our car was repaired, we asked that the repair shop wipe down the entire surface with disinfectant. They were happy to do so. Recent studies I've read notes that surface contamination is less of a concern than before.
3) If you're able, let the car chill on their lot for a day or two before pickup. If you aren't able to do that, at least the let the car chill for a few minutes with the windows down and the air conditioning blasting, then drive the car back home with the windows down, in a mask, with glasses. Hand sanitizing/wash after you get out of the car, and before you take your mask/glasses off. Then let the car chill for a few days.
posted by Karaage at 9:26 AM on July 9, 2020
1) Is the tech wearing a mask the entire time? This should mitigate risk significantly. Ask that the windows be left down to maximize air exchange.
2) When our car was repaired, we asked that the repair shop wipe down the entire surface with disinfectant. They were happy to do so. Recent studies I've read notes that surface contamination is less of a concern than before.
3) If you're able, let the car chill on their lot for a day or two before pickup. If you aren't able to do that, at least the let the car chill for a few minutes with the windows down and the air conditioning blasting, then drive the car back home with the windows down, in a mask, with glasses. Hand sanitizing/wash after you get out of the car, and before you take your mask/glasses off. Then let the car chill for a few days.
posted by Karaage at 9:26 AM on July 9, 2020
There was an early study that suggested that COVID aerosols last about three hours. I would be the most worried about the virus in the air rather than surfaces, but if you can wait to get back in the car, that should help (and obviously wipe down the steering wheel, etc and wash your hands).
posted by pinochiette at 9:42 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by pinochiette at 9:42 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Spray with Lysol?
posted by oceanjesse at 9:59 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 9:59 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I’d consider going to a drive-through oil change place. There’s nothing about an oil change that should require the technician to make contact with you or the inside of the car. Paying is the highest-touch piece.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:00 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:00 AM on July 9, 2020
Best answer: I'd worry more about a voided warranty on a VW product because of improper maintenance. I'd check the warranty terms before skipping. I also would not take to a drive through place unless it's five quarts conventional - which yours is not. Because they're just going to put in five quarts conventional. A car like this needs to go to the dealer on the schedule. Presumably you have a service agreement, too. If I were you, I'd keep the windows down and hang outside while the service happens.
posted by everythings_interrelated at 10:08 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by everythings_interrelated at 10:08 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Also - drive your car a little more - a half hour or so once a week - keeps the lubricant worked around all the bits and pieces and evaps any moisture hanging around in there. Might keep your tires from going out-of-shape. (Also, ...like, how can you resist driving your GTI? You bought the ticket, take the ride!)
posted by everythings_interrelated at 10:20 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by everythings_interrelated at 10:20 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
I have taken my car in for service twice recently due to a warranty issues that could not wait. It was fine, everyone was wearing masks at all times and the windows were rolled down when the car was brought back to me. Once I dropped it off and once I waited outside. We were only within 6 ft of each other for the one minute it took to sign paperwork while wearing masks. They didn't do any of the normal vacuum or car wash services they usually do to cut down on contact with the vehicle which was good too. It felt like a trip to the grocery store, you get in and get out quickly while everyone does their part by staying masked and distanced as possible.
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 10:25 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 10:25 AM on July 9, 2020
Ooh, ooh! I know "this one trick" that will help. (This will also stop you from ever suffering in a hot car that's been in the sun.) Roll down the passenger side window and, with all the other windows rolled up, open and close the drivers side door 5 or so times to force the hot/germy air out (you don't have to close the door completely, you are just fanning/forcing air through, but do open the door wide) Do it in the back seat too for extra safety maybe?
posted by sexyrobot at 10:28 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by sexyrobot at 10:28 AM on July 9, 2020
We just had a shitload of work done on both our cars since they were offering contactless pick-up/drop-off, and they said they would be masked the whole time and I didn't believe it but still felt it was an easily mitigated risk.
We did both notice our dashboards were dust-free when we got them back (even in the hard-to-reach crevices), but we've been routinely wiping the primary touch-points down with bleach wipes after doing necessary shopping anyway and it was easy enough to do so again before we next drove. Which wasn't for days after anyway.
My husband is immunocompromised and we are taking highly conservative precautions, he is only doing porch-drop hard drive swaps with coworkers and I am only going to the grocery and hardware store when necessary, and we were still extremely comfortable doing this. Not having to go to the shop at all or go anywhere near another breathing person was a big plus for us, as we're considering airborne droplet exchange as our primary threat.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:29 AM on July 9, 2020
We did both notice our dashboards were dust-free when we got them back (even in the hard-to-reach crevices), but we've been routinely wiping the primary touch-points down with bleach wipes after doing necessary shopping anyway and it was easy enough to do so again before we next drove. Which wasn't for days after anyway.
My husband is immunocompromised and we are taking highly conservative precautions, he is only doing porch-drop hard drive swaps with coworkers and I am only going to the grocery and hardware store when necessary, and we were still extremely comfortable doing this. Not having to go to the shop at all or go anywhere near another breathing person was a big plus for us, as we're considering airborne droplet exchange as our primary threat.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:29 AM on July 9, 2020
Could you leave it out in the hot sun for a while and let the heat kill any coronavirus that may be lying in wait? Every summer it seems we are treated to endless demonstrations of how quickly and how high the temperature can climb inside a car with windows rolled up. The point being to keep the absent-minded from forgetting their little ones inside their vehicles and causing heat-related illness or death.
A half hour of sun baking before you access the vehicle and roll down the windows while you drive home seems safe enough to me. Of course, wash hands or use gloves then wash hands when you get home.
posted by Gino on the Meta at 11:10 AM on July 9, 2020
A half hour of sun baking before you access the vehicle and roll down the windows while you drive home seems safe enough to me. Of course, wash hands or use gloves then wash hands when you get home.
posted by Gino on the Meta at 11:10 AM on July 9, 2020
When I took my car in for a its MoT (UK annual roadworthiness test) at the end of March, it was all super-safe. Before I got out of the car, I wiped everything I'd touched with disinfectant wipes, including the keys. Before anyone got in, a plastic cover was put over the seat and they wiped down everything again. Everyone was masked and gloved.
When I picked up the car, the windows were down, the plastic cover was on the seat and was carefully taken off before I got into the car, the keys were dropped into a disinfectant wipe, rolled around and then dropped into my hand, and I wiped down everything they had probably touched before I got in (gloved) to drive away.
This was at a Toyota main dealership.
posted by essexjan at 11:11 AM on July 9, 2020
When I picked up the car, the windows were down, the plastic cover was on the seat and was carefully taken off before I got into the car, the keys were dropped into a disinfectant wipe, rolled around and then dropped into my hand, and I wiped down everything they had probably touched before I got in (gloved) to drive away.
This was at a Toyota main dealership.
posted by essexjan at 11:11 AM on July 9, 2020
In May, Sunnyvale VW was willing to come pick up my car, service it, and drop it off the next day. To be eligible, I had to be within (I think) 10 miles of the dealership. Note that I had to sign paperwork at dropoff time, which made it a little less contactless than I would have liked, but still really nice.
I didn't worry about disinfecting the car after getting it back; instead I just let it sit for a few days.
posted by actionstations at 5:50 PM on July 9, 2020
I didn't worry about disinfecting the car after getting it back; instead I just let it sit for a few days.
posted by actionstations at 5:50 PM on July 9, 2020
I’ve taken my car in twice recently. Once was because there were two recalls that I couldn’t keep ignoring and the other was because my car wasn’t starting normally... so I had to do it.
Both times, everyone was masked. I didn’t touch anything in the shop and I waited outside.
They wiped down my steering wheel etc when I dropped it off and did the same when they brought it back. I also drove home with the windows down. I felt comfortable, but a little stressed about it. However, both times I felt like I had to take my car in. Maybe you can check to see what they’re doing to protect themselves and their customers? That may help ease some concern.
posted by jdl at 7:13 PM on July 9, 2020
Both times, everyone was masked. I didn’t touch anything in the shop and I waited outside.
They wiped down my steering wheel etc when I dropped it off and did the same when they brought it back. I also drove home with the windows down. I felt comfortable, but a little stressed about it. However, both times I felt like I had to take my car in. Maybe you can check to see what they’re doing to protect themselves and their customers? That may help ease some concern.
posted by jdl at 7:13 PM on July 9, 2020
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That said, it doesn't seem particularly risky to do it and wipe off the things you touch, or even just wash your hands. Baseless claim: it doesn't seem that surface transmission is really the thing it was feared to be, short of rubbing your nose along the steering wheel aggressively.
From the CDC "it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads."
posted by so fucking future at 9:25 AM on July 9, 2020 [2 favorites]