74 Tips To Extend the Life of Your Car

CREDIT TO - http://www.rd.com/advice/saving-money/74-car-care-tips-to-keep-your-automobile-in-topnotch-condition/?v=print

Care and Maintenance Tips Keep Your Car Running in Top-Notch ConditionWe’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile!

1. Be patient during the break-in period

You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

• During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
• Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

2. Drive with care everyday
Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in. Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

• Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
• Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.
• Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
• Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
• Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
• Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
• When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
• Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.

3. Buy gas at reputable service stations

Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filters regularly. If you get a song and dance, find another gas station. Some stations don’t have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline. Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly — or worse, water down their product. Find a station you trust and stick to it.

4. Don’t fill up if you see the tanker

If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs.

5. Go easy when you’re stuck

When stuck in mud or snow, don’t make the problem worse by damaging an expensive component. Gently rocking in an attempt to free the car is fine. But if it looks as though you’re really stuck, don’t keep at it. Throwing your car from forward to reverse repeatedly, as well as spinning tires at high speeds, can generate lots of heat and spell trouble for transmissions, clutches, and differentials. It may be cheaper in the long run to call the tow truck rather than risk big repair bills down the road. It’s a good idea to carry a traction aid in the trunk, such as sand, gravel, or cat litter.

6. Lighten up your key chain

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded.

7. Choose a good car insurer

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, disaster inevitably strikes — typically in the form of an accident. Make sure that your car will be repaired to the best possible standard by finding an insurer that will pay for parts from the original manufacturer and guarantee the repairs it authorizes.

8. Keep an auto log

Keep a pad and pencil in the glove compartment and use them to record your gas fill-ups and mileage. If you notice that your gas mileage worsens, mention it to your service man. It may be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your car.

9. Preserve your car during long-term storage

If you are not going to use your car for more than a month, store it properly to prevent unnecessary damage and repairs upon your return.

• Fill the gas tank to help prevent condensation from accumulating in the gas tank. Add a fuel stabilizer and drive the car around a bit to distribute the additive to engine parts.
• Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
• Place a vapor barrier on your garage floor. A 4-mil polyethylene drop cloth will do.
• Disengage the parking brake to help avoid brake corrosion.
• Put the car on jack stands to take the weight of the vehicle off the wheels and tires.
• Disconnect and remove the battery to keep it from draining. Place the battery on a trickletype charger. Or periodically drain the battery, using a small light bulb, and then recharge it with a low-volt charger.
• Plug the tailpipe with a rag to prevent moist air from infiltrating into it.

Car Detailing Trend in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon

Car Detailing Trend in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon

Car Detailing is a 30 Billion dollar Industry in the United States and is a relatively new trend in Asia, especially in India.

First let us look up what Wikipedia has to say about Car Detailing –

Car Detailing is to meticulously Clean, Polish, Buff and Protect all parts of a Car from top to bottom, inside and out, using specialist tools and products that would not be used by a typical car cleaner/car wash

This is a slightly modified version, but does the job. It captures the essence of what Car Detailing is about and what it entails.

In India especially in Delhi and surrounding areas like Gurgaon and Noida, Car Detailing is fast becoming a hot trend with Expensive Car Owners lining up for services like Paint Protection, Wrapping and Car Polishing. Some of the major players are constantly upgrading their service offerings with the end result that the quality and variety that they are able to offer can match their counterparts in the United States and Europe.

Products from Meguiars and 3M now command a healthy following from DIY car owners and Car Detailing professionals. It does not matter that a single Meguiars can of wax can cost upwards of 1500 Indian Rupees which is approximately 30-35 US dollars.

The presence of a large number of BMWs and Audis on Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida Roads has automatically forced Car Detailing Professionals to upgrade the products and machines they use as the care and maintenance of these brands cannot be done by local products and local car cleaners.

Car Detailing Packages start from 1500 Indian Rupees and can go upto 400000 for a Hi-End Car Wrapping Package.

Overall, even with the large number of spurious products and untrained self proclaimed car detailers around in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida, the trend of Car Detailing is here to stay as –

a)      There are still 3-4 high quality and honest car detailing companies operating

b)      The consumers are much more aware of who is to be trusted and who not to, thanks to the internet and Social Media

From –

Car fanatic,

Excel Car Spa

Car Detailing Center

How To Wax Your Car - Detailing 101

Credit to - http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to-protect-your-cars-paint-car-wax-paint-sealant-paint-protectant-detailing-101.html

How To Wax Your Car - Detailing 101

Many new car owners look at the clearcoat as a protective layer that shields their car against harm. This is simply not true. The clearcoat is a tough clear paint that is there to protect your color coat and add depth in shine. Although harder than single stage paints, it is not a super high tech protectant, it is just clear paint and needs to be protected just like the older single stage paints.

Car Wax, Paint Sealants And Paint Protectants, What’s The Difference?

When choosing your protection you must first understand the somewhat confusing term, “protectant” which can mean several things in the automotive finish care industry. To simplify things, car waxes, paint protectants and paint sealants all fall into the same “paint protectant category”. Although some protectants do a better job than others, they all protect against the harsh environmental elements and help prevent premature deterioration caused by the onset of oxidation. With modern technology, a traditional car wax would be considered “old school” and be less protective than the more advanced paint synthetic sealants and protectants.

Synthetic Paint Sealants vs. Old School Traditional Paste Wax

When choosing a paint protectant product, some compare liquid vs. paste wax and assume that the paste wax is better because it is tough to put on and take off. This is not necessarily true. The object of a paint protectant is to have it bond with the surface to create a protective barrier against harsh environmental elements as well as make your paint slick and look good. When you wipe off your protectant residue, you want to make sure you leave as much bonded protectant on the surface as possible. With the newer technology of liquid paint sealants this is an easy task and they actually do a very good job. With older paste waxes, this is more difficult as you need to work hard to remove the residue and at the same time you are creating friction, which causes removal of a portion of the protectant that you truly need to leave behind.

How To Choose Your Paint Protection

There are many choices when it comes to car wax, paint sealants and paint protectants. When it comes to choosing, you will want to make sure your protection choice includes durability, looks and don’t forget, slickness. With these key characteristics in mind let’s move forward and take an in-depth look at the chemistry of paint protectants.

• Traditional Paste Wax – Paste waxes are usually older technology and are a hard wax substance that contains silicone and petroleum distillates to create a temporary shine. They are often difficult to put on as well as remove. In fact, the pressure it takes to remove the wax residue will also wear away part of the wax protection that would ideally be left on the surface for protection.



• Carnauba Based Wax – The true Carnauba Based Wax are soft, easy to use waxes that are usually a little pricey and known for looks, not longevity. These waxes are commonly called toppers. They are commonly used to top acrylic paint sealants that need a little shine. The carnauba works well on all colors but will show more on darker or deeper colors. The downfall of the protection is that pure carnauba melts at about 160 to 170 degrees so the look fades fast and the protection doesn’t hold up on hot sunny days, especially on dark colors, which tend to draw the heat. Basically, put it on when you want to look good but don’t expect it to last.



• Cleaner Wax – A cleaner wax is a one step product that has some polishing ability as well as a protectant. They work well for those who have a surface that is free of defects and plan on using further protection. The cleaner wax is generally about the same aggressiveness as a pre-wax cleaner. The problem with a cleaner wax is that because of the cleaners you are not able to leave as much protection on the paint surface so you will want to follow up with more serious protection that is not a cleaner wax.
  
  
• Synthetic Paint Sealants – Man perfected the Wax! Newer technology reveals synthetic paint sealants that offer serious, long lasting protection. Unlike traditional waxes, synthetic paint sealants can withstand temperatures over 1000 degrees which make them much more durable. When choosing a synthetic paint sealant you need to know the difference between the two basic types of synthetic paint sealants. While they both offer good protection, they will vary in shine and slickness. A quality synthetic polymer based paint sealant will generally offer your best protection, shine and slickness, while the acrylic based sealant will provide good protection but is not as slick and may need a little help from a carnauba topper for shine.

Now that you know the difference between traditional waxes and synthetic sealants, you can make an educated decision on what will work the best for your needs. There is no right or wrong choice, just make sure you protect your paint and keep it protected!

PAINT PROTECTION PROCEDURE

WASH - CLEAN - PERFECT - PROTECT - MAINTAIN

New or older, no matter how well you have taken care of your car, you still need to prep your surface. Protecting your surface properly is actually the fourth step if you want serious protection and the best looking shine. We all know washing is necessary to remove loose dirt and grime before we protect our surface, but what about the bonded contamination and minor defect removal and gloss enhancement? A properly prepared surface not only looks better it actually helps your protection bond with your paint surface which helps it protect better and longer.

STEP 1- WASH

We all know that washing your car removes loose dirt and grime. What you may not know is that your car washing procedure is the number one cause of swirl marks! Don't worry - this can be avoided by using high a quality car wash shampoo, wash mitt and microfiber drying towels. With high quality products and a little education your car wash procedure will not only be safer, it will be easier and you will achieve much better results.

For more information on how to properly wash your car read our Detailing 101 – How To Wash Your Car Article.

STEP 2- REMOVE BONDED CONTAMINATION

Many think that claying is an optional step and a product for professional detailers. This is not necessarily true! Contamination doesn’t care if your car is old or new. Even if your car is new it has been subjected to many types environments between the factory lot waiting for transport via ship, train or truck or a combination of transports, then it may have sat on the lot waiting to be bought for who knows how long. During this time, contaminants such as pollen and pollution were floating around the air and had a chance to bond to your paint surface. If you don’t remove the contamination, you are actually protecting over it instead of allowing your paint protection to bond directly with your paint.

Claying your car with a detail clay or using the Ultima Elastrofoam Cleaning System is not a substitute for polishing your paint, it is a process to be done prior to the polishing process to remove surface contaminants that make your paint rough. When your paint is rough, dirt and grime tend to stick and build up, creating even more problems. Claying is simple and will quickly and safely remove the contamination and prepare your car for the polishing and protecting steps.

For more information on properly detail clay your paint or how to Ultima Elastrofoam Clay Replacement System read our Detailing 101 – How To Detail Clay Your Car Article.

STEP 3- PERFECT AND ENHANCE GLOSS

After your surface is free of surface contamination it is time to remove defects, staining and enhance overall shine by cleaning and polishing your paint with a pre-wax cleaner or paint polish system. What you are looking for your polishing process or pre wax cleaning to do is offer a clean, contaminant free, optically clear paint surface that is ready for protection. For proper bonding, the surface should be perfectly smooth and free of defects prior to your application of your chosen car wax, paint sealant or paint protectant

If your car is new, more than likely you won't need to remove defects unless your car has been on the lot for a while and been stricken with that dreaded swirl from poor washing procedures by the dealership. If your car is older, it depends on how well the car has been maintained as to whether or not it needs correction or just gloss enhancement.

If your paint is free of defects you will still want to use a pre-wax cleaner like the Ultima Paint Prep Plus to enhance the shine and prepare your paint surface for your paint protectant, sealant or car wax. This can safely and easily be done by hand or machine.

For those needing more serious defect removal, I would recommend the Sonus Polishing System for scratch, oxidation and swirlmark removal as well as overall gloss enhancement.

For more information on properly polish your car read our How To Polish Your Car Article.

STEP 4- WAX YOUR CAR

The term “wax your car” started with the old school waxes when you actually put wax on your car’s paint. Nowadays, it is a term that is used for the paint protection process of applying your car wax, paint sealant or paint protectant. This does not mean you need to apply a wax. It also does not mean you need to wax after a paint sealant. Remember, the object is to protect and the car wax, paint sealant and paint protectant all do this job so you truly only need one product for protection with the exceptions of topper type waxes.

Now that you have done the proper prep work, you should have a have a high gloss, slick, contaminant and defect free surface and now you are ready for your protection! I know it seems like a long road but trust me, the end results will show your work and the actual protection process is quite simple.

Traditional Car Wax, Paint Sealant and Paint Protection Application Instructions

Always work in a shaded area and on a cool surface.

• To begin your wax or paint sealant application process, start at the top surfaces of your car. Apply a very thin, even layer of your car wax or paint sealant with a quality microfiber or foam wax applicator working in a back and forth motion in the direction of the panel or along the lines of the car. This process may also be done with a finishing pad on a dual action polisher.



• When you are finished applying your car wax or paint sealant to the entire car you will need to wait for it to cure and bond with the paint. This generally takes about 15 to 20 minutes but could take longer depending on the type of car wax or paint sealant and weather conditions.



• Test a small area by performing a “swipe test” to see if your car wax or paint sealant residue is ready to remove. To do this test, briskly wipe your finger across a small area of wax residue. If it smears, wait a little while longer, if leaves a clean area, it is time to wipe off.



• Start your car wax or paint sealant removal at the same place you started your application. With a high quality microfiber buffing or polishing towel, wipe in a back and forth motion, just as you did during your application process. As you work, fold the towel often to reveal a fresh side and every once in a while shake out any loose residue build up.
• For best results repeat the protection process in about 12 or more hours after your car wax or paint sealant has had a chance to harden and finish bonding with your paint. A second layer will ensure even coverage as well as enhance the shine.

Ultima Paint Guard Plus Wipe-On, Walk-Away^TM Application Instructions

Ultima Paint Guard Plus is a synthetic polymer paint sealant that goes on clear and is a Wipe-On, Walk-Away^TMthat offers serious durable protection, a deep, wet looking shine and offers superior slickness. The thin, clear liquid will not build up in the cracks, crevices, emblems and will not stain trim.

• Ultima Paint Guard Plus must be used very sparingly. About 1/4 ounce of product is all that's needed to treat most cars. Start at one corner of the vehicle (e.g., left front fender). Mist the Ultima AutoSpa Microfiber Applicator with Ultima Paint Guard Plus twice (two pumps) to prime the pad with product.



• Wipe the product onto the surface of your paint in a circular motion to spread out and finish by wiping in a straight line motion. (This will help to see where product has been applied).



• When it appears that no more product is being applied to the paint, spray one more shot of product onto the applicator. Do not spray directly on your vehicle.



• Continue to apply until the entire vehicle has complete coverage. By the time you get back to where you began, the first couple of panels should already look dry.



• For best results repeat this process in about 4 or more hours after Ultima Paint Guard Plus has had a chance to cure and bond with your paint. This will ensure even coverage for your protection as well as enhance the shine.

It’s that easy - the entire Ultima Paint Guard process should take less than 10 minutes!

Quick Detailing To Maintain Your Protection and Shine

Quick Detailing is a simple solution that will cut down on your regular washing routine by maintaining your car's paint when it is just lightly dusty. Just a few minutes a day or every other day will refresh your protection, enhance the shine and keep that just detailed look!

For more information on properly quick detail your car read our Detailing 101 – How To Quick Detail Your Car Article.

How Often Should I Wax Or Protect My Paint

The answer is 2-4 times per year; depending on the environmental conditions and if you park in a garage or outside. Many car wax, paint sealant and paint protection manufactures make big claims that their product will last a year or longer. The truth is that there are no miracle products and although you may find protection on your paint after a year, would you rely on it for your protection? Think of it as you would your sunscreen, would you put it on yourself or your child early on a scorching hot day and rely on it to protect all day? Yes, you would still have sunscreen on at the end of the day, but more than likely you will also have a sunburn. The moral of this story is that just like your skin, the environment can cause premature aging so KEEP PROTECTED!

Many people ask, “do I have to do all of the steps?," and the answer is no if you are looking for mediocre results and protection. If you expect the best, then yes, you need to follow the proper steps and avoid any short cuts. You spent a lot of money on that car or truck and will get out of it what you put in to it so protect your investment by properly taking care of it!