Choosing the best car cover for outdoor use can be confusing. You might believe that a cover made for outdoor use would be waterproof, but that's not always the case. To people in the business, "outdoor" really means that it will protect a vehicle in light weather conditions. Waterproof means something completely different. A "waterproof" cover is what you look for when you need protection in all-weather conditions. I wrote this post to point out the specific differences between outdoor and … [Read more...]
Cool Nights & Falls Colors… Time to Get the Cars Ready for Winter!
October 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Cool nights and falls colors means that winter weather is only a few weeks away in some areas. That means it's time to start thinking about getting the vehicles cleaned up and and protected. Here's a quick check list: Give your car or truck a thorough scrubbing. Since you need to wax, it's okay to wash with a strong mixture of Dawn dish washing liquid. It will remove the tar, sap and bugs left over from summer. Now's the time to do the clay bar detailing you put off this summer. The … [Read more...]
Sun Lovers Beware: Your Car Needs Sunscreen, Too!
February 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
When I was a kid, my parents let me run around outside for hours without a thought of skin protection. Being a fair-skinned boy, I'd get burns that would make my skin blister. Over the past 25 years or so we've come to realize just how damaging the sun is to both us and our stuff. These days, most parents are savvy enough to cover their children with SPF-30 or better sun protection, but are we as smart about our cars? Modern cars are being designed with inherent protection features, but … [Read more...]
Never Wax Your Car Again: Beware Snake Oil in Car Wax!
February 16, 2010 By 1 Comment
Recently I ran across a car wax ad that prompted me to click. It said "Never Wax Your Car Again!" Sounds enticing, doesn't it? I call it snake oil! When I went to the product web site I was immediately bombarded with FUD marketing. I backed out as fast as I could to get back to the search page I was on. Just below the ad I clicked was another ad advertising "5-Year Shine!" that's "endorsed by the U.S. Military." Again, more FUD. What is FUD, you … [Read more...]
Proper Automotive Clear Coat Paint Care
February 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The modern automotive clear coat paint finish is not maintenance-free. In addition to regular washing, the clear coat finish requires periodic cleaning, light polishing, and waxing. To keep your car's clear coat perfectly smooth, clear and glossy, it must be cleaned (see Using Detailing Clay) and polished several times each year. Detailing clay products, like Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit and Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System, make polishing a breeze. Detailing clay … [Read more...]
Special Auto Paint Hype
February 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There have been some reports that European car paint systems are significantly different and require different care. According to my research, there is little difference. Any notion that the paint on European cars has better color, vibrancy or richness is a matter of personal preference. Today, DuPont and PPG manufacture more than 80% of all automotive paint used worldwide. A third player, BASF, manufactures paint for many of the European car manufactures and some car models in the United … [Read more...]
A Regular Car Wash is Critical
February 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Regularly washing your car is the most important step in maintaining a like-new car appearance. If your car is painted with a clear coat system (most new cars are), it is particularly important to choose a quality car wash soap (shampoo). In all cases, you should use a car wash product specially formulated for cars, not your dishes. Many people continue to wash their car with dish washing detergent (e.g., Dawn), which quickly strips all waxes and dressings that you apply to your car to … [Read more...]
