Monday, July 28, 2008

Know about Car Cleaning Tips

By Bhadresh Bundela

WINDSHIELD CARE TIPS

Most car owners spend a lot of time and money on the maintenance of their car’s interiors and paint job. One of the exterior surfaces of your car that in fact needs the most attention, for the purpose of your safety, is the windshield. Looking out of a dirty windshield is dangerous as it can confuse, lower or obliterate visibility.

It is therefore important to wipe your windshield every single day before taking your car out. While the natural tendency is to use cloth, lint is as harmful as dust, so a paper towel that doesn’t leave any lint is your best bet. You should ideally do this after using your automatic windshield wipers every day.

In case of surface scratches, use a glass polishing product. For graver injuries to your windshield – like small rock chips and cracks – acquire a resin repair kit from any auto parts store. If you aren’t into DIY, remember to take a spin to your local garage as these seemingly tiny scratches can cause you grave harm.

10 STEPS FOR A GOOD CAR WAX

Though taking your car to the professionals to make it sparkle is the best alternative, following these 10 waxing steps will protect your car’s paint and keep it looking like new.

1) Wash and Dry: Before you start waxing your car make sure to remove the superficial grime by washing and drying it well.
2) Choose the right wax: Be careful when choosing the wax you use. Make sure you use the right kind and if you don’t know then choose a nonabrasive wax.
3) Choose the time: Avoid waxing your car when it is too hot outside. The hot sun may bake the wax onto your car. Park your car in a shady spot if you have to wax it in the sun.
4) Don’t use too much wax: Dip the wax sponge into the car wax, getting just a small dollop of wax on the sponge.
5) Apply carefully: Apply the wax in circles on the car body. Avoid the cracks or seams. If you do get wax on these, remove them with a soft sponge.
6) Wipe it off: Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth in the same order in which it was applied. Shake off the cloth or towel every time to avoid wax build up or streaking.
7) Those spots: Wax can remove spots that washing failed to remove. Simply rub the wax on the spot till it comes off
8) Spot residual wax: Lean down as close as possible to the car surface to spot and remove any residual wax.
9) Remove as you finish: Never leave the wax on for too long on the car, or it will damage the paint and will be difficult to remove later.|
10) Final Touch: Use an absorbing cloth to wipe off your car one last time to finish the waxing process.

Now stand back and admire the shine and sparkle of your car. It will soon be your neighbour’s envy and your pride!


PREPARE YOUR CAR FOR THE MONSOON

Car care during monsoons is crucial especially for the better running of your car. Here are a few important things you need to make a note of:

Tyres
Make sure your car tyres are in excellent condition before the monsoons arrive, as they will be in constant touch with the wet slippery roads. To avoid skids and unwanted jolts, make sure your tyres have good tread depth. Compromising on this could prove dangerous. Car tires should be minimum 2mm in depth, including your spare. Fine parts of dust get entrenched in the tyres, causing them to skid. Rubber has a tendency to soften when it comes in contact with water. Check the tyre pressure regularly and inflate it to recommended pressure when it is cold. This increases driving comfort and the life of your tyres.

Wipers
The wiper blades are better when new. Always make sure they are of good quality, non-streaking and smooth functioning. The wiper blades should not be hard and cracked, as they will cause scratches on the windscreen. Check that the wipers are working in all the three speeds (normal, slow, fast) before you start out on your drive. Instead of ordinary water for your windshield wiper, try using some solution like soap solution for better visibility.

Brakes
The most crucial part of a vehicle, brakes calipers must be regularly cleaned and replaced. Brakes should not be too loose or too tight. Keep using the car brakes as water may make the brake drums wet, causing low braking efficiency. Keep taking your car for regular service check-ups. You can dry out the wet brakes by placing your left foot on the brake pedal and gently moving the throttle with your right foot. Make sure the handbrake works fine.

Car Finish
To avoid the car body from rusting, use an anti rust coating on the car fittings. Service your engine and make sure it is made water tight. It would be a good idea to use an anti-moisture spray or simply removing the plug and cleaning out the moisture with a cloth.

Car Interiors
Many at times, water flows into the cabin area, damaging the carpets and flooring. Place old mats on your car floor, so that they soak up the dirty water. It would be a better option to use fabric mats rather than rubber ones. Vacuum clean the car interiors regularly and use car perfumes with light fragrances that will also make your car smell fresh. This will keep the car interiors clean and smelling fresh. If your car seats get wet, keep the windows open, to avoid the formation of fungus.

Car Electricals
Patch up all the weak or loose electrical connections and check if all the external wires are insulated, as these tend to act up in the monsoons. Also check to see if all the fuses are in order and always carry a few extra fuses with you.

TOP TEN TIPS TO WINTER-IZE YOUR CAR

The colder months of the year can take their toll on your car. You wouldn't head out into cold weather without bundling up with proper accessories. Similarly your vehicle also faces similar challenges as temperature drops. But a few simple preventative measures will keep your car looking good and protect it.

Cold weather affects battery efficiency. Most cold-weather breakdowns occur because batteries aren't delivering full cranking power. Also make sure that your battery cables are corrosion-free.

In severe winter temperatures, you may have to change the grade of your engine oil. Check your owner's manual for the viscosity grade recommended for your vehicle's engine.

Check your wiper blades. Cold temperatures can make blades brittle, and ice on the windshield can cause nicks in the blades, decreasing performance.

If you're planning a trip, take a blanket, extra-warm clothing, a collapsible shovel, a bag of road salt and an extra bottle of windshield washer fluid.

Put on snow tires if you live in major snow belt areas. Check your owner's manual for details and recommended practices. Tires marked "M + S" ( "mud and snow" tires), also known as "all-season" tires, provide safe all-weather performance.

Cold weather reduces tire pressure, so check tire pressure often. See your owner's manual for directions and details.

Make sure your vehicle’s exhaust system has no leaks. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and can accumulate quickly in closed vehicles.

Keep the windshield washer reservoir filled with antifreeze solvent.

Brakes should be checked and serviced if necessary. Even braking on all four wheels will lessen the chance of skids on slippery roads.

Emergencies can happen when you least expect them, so be sure to carry winter survival gear in your vehicle.


MAKE YOUR CAR LOOK SPARKLINGLY NEW!

A car wash might seem like the simplest thing in car care but then again, it does deserve some thought. The first step in cleaning the car is to wash it. Give it a good rinsing from top to bottom, including the wheels and inside the fenders. Always clean the tyres and wheels before washing the body, and don't use the same mitt for both. This way you'll avoid contaminating the vehicle's paint with debris from the wheels and tyres.

Cleaning the Wheels. Use a good tyre cleaner with a stiff brush, to improve the appearance of the tyres. Clean the wheels with a wheel cleaner that removes the brake dust, which often blackens the front wheels. Application of these cleaners varies, so be sure and follow the directions on the container.

The body wash. Use a product sold specifically for automobiles as household cleaners can strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish. Starting at the top, wash one section at a time thoroughly rinsing away the soap. Work your way down toward the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Clean the rear last since it usually has the largest accumulation of dirt and grime, which can contaminate the wash mitt. Wash the inside door jams about once a month.

To rinse, remove the spray nozzle from the hose. Starting at the top, let the water cascade down the surfaces of the vehicle. Use paper to dry as this avoids scratches.

Waxing. Now is an excellent time for waxing, which not only protects the finish but also makes subsequent washing easier. Before proceeding, look for foreign particles on the paint. Use a car cleaner, to remove contaminants embedded in the paint. Once the surface is clean, apply the wax, following the manufacturer's instructions for application of the product. Often they recommend not using the product in direct sunlight.

Bonus Tip:
AC Clean-up: Your car air conditioner needs to be serviced once a year or every 20,000kms. This also includes inspection of the cooling coil. The leak of A/C gas causes oil leakage in the compressor and damages it. So the a/c serviced periodically.
Condenser: Your condenser needs cleaning every 5,000kms. This is normally taken care during washing of your car during service.

Keeping your vehicle clean doesn't require a lot of effort, yet it gives you a feeling of pride and would reflect upon your personality as well!

For More Information about Car Maintenance!!!!!! Kindly Visit…….
http://carmaintainwebs.blogspot.com/