Auto Fanatic

Casual musings of a car crazy blogger.

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Are You Making These Harmful Mistakes With Your Car?

I'm looking outside and it's cloudy, raining and the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Tomorrow we're supposed to have a break in the weather and then another day or two of the wet stuff. I guess that's my signal that it's time to get the vehicles ready to make it through another winter. I don't know about you, but this tough economy has brought a lot of changes into my neighborhood. I see a lot more cars parked on the street and I'm see families consolidating homes or simply moving out all together. Perhaps they are going to an apartment or moving away for a job. I guess we all do what we must to make it. In these troubled times, don't forget to give a little car to your car. Just a few hours of basic cleaning and protecting will make a lot of difference in how it looks and how long it lasts. Winter is the most difficult time of year for automobiles, especially when they are parked outside. While parked in the driveway or on the street your vehicle is exposed to some very extreme conditions. Snow, icing, hail and road salt will all take their toll. The cold, dry air is brutal, too. It sucks the life out of plastic, rubber, leather and your paint. There are some basic steps you can take to help your vehicle make it through the next few months intact. It all starts with cleaning and conditioning. Here's what I recommend. Give your car a very thorough washing and then clean away the bonded contamination using a clay bar. If you have not used a detailing clay bar yet you are in for a real surprise. Automotive detailing clay is a pre-wax cleaner that removes what washing can't. It works on all hard surfaces, including paint and glass. It's fast, easy and safe. Simply lubricate the area you want to clean with soapy water or your bottle of quick detailing spray and rub with the clay bar. What used to take hours to do with a pre-wax polish can now be done in less than twenty minutes. After you dry the car the silky smooth finish is ready to wax. Here's the treat. Your car wax will go on faster and wipe off with ease because the clay bar made the paint so slick and smooth. If you're not already using one, you might want to think about upgrading your traditional car wax with a paint sealant. Have you seen the latest clear sealant products? All you do is wipe it on and walk away. That's right, wipe-on and let it dry without buffing or heavy rubbing. The product I recommend is Opti-Seal by Optimum Polymer Technology's. It runs about $24 for a small bottle, but don't let the size fool you. All you need to do a full-size vehicle is about a quarter of an ounce, so it's very thrifty. The tires and trim need a little care, too. During the winter months I recommend using a gel dressing. The thick consistency helps the coating protect longer. If you don't already have a favorite, try Meguiar's Endurance. The price is right and it's easy to find. After you get the exterior clean and pretty, don't forget to do the same for the interior. You might think it's protected from what's going on outside, but the cold, dry air is brutal. Plus, during the winter months the sun's UV rays have less ozone filtration so cold, clear days are very damaging to the dashboard and upholstery. The easy answer is a quick treatment with 303 Aerospace Protectant. Simply spray and wipe to protect and beautify all of the plastic, leather and vinyl. It works great and no other product is as highly recommended. If you take those basic steps your car will be a lot better off when spring arrives. Just realize that waxes and protectants have their limits and can't protect as well as a dry garage or even a covered carport. There is a good alternative. For me the next best thing is keeping my car under wraps with a winter car cover. I ordered the Covercraft Noah because it has the best reputation for being nearly 100% waterproof. It holds its own in rain, snow and icy conditions. All the while your vehicle is safe and dry. Granted, it's not as easy as a garage with an automatic door opener, but a good winter car cover is a close second.

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Shopping For a Cover For Your Car? Do You Know The Facts?

When looking for the right car cover for their vehicle, car owners will see two words that seem to be the same thing, but they are very different. I'm talking about "outdoor" versus "waterproof". Outdoor speaks specifically to the ability to be used outside in light weather conditions. Waterproof is different because it has a specific claim of resisting high moisture levels.

This article explains the difference between the many different types of fabrics used to make outdoor and waterproof car covers. With more than twenty different fabric names in common use, it is not only difficult to remember what is what, it is also challenging to determine what is best for your particular situation. We'll use the top two factories in the USA, Coverking and Covercraft, and point out the major differences between waterproof fabrics and those that are merely for outdoor use. Other factories offer some decent materials, but these are the top names in the business. For ease of evaluation, you'll discover that both companies use a 1-5 star rating system to evaluate the capability of each material for a particular condition. For the sake of clarity, an outdoor fabric is one that is suitable for light weather conditions, but not for heavy or extended periods of precipitation. Here, too, you will find fabrics that have many different qualities. For example, the Triguard material is a 3-layer fabric that's okay for light use. It's great for a vehicle that you might have tucked away under a carport, but definitely not made for an automobile parked on the street or in the driveway getting full exposure. A step up in the UV protection department is available with Silverguard. It's an amazing UV shield, even under daily use in hot, sunny climates. It's not made for the South or Southeast, though. It does not breathe well enough to allow moisture from summer rains to escape. And, you can believe me when I say that's important. In the South and Southeast you'll want to use a water resistant fabric with excellent breathe-ability. Another sun lover is Sunbrella. A nice step up from the Silverguard or Sunbrella fabric is Covercraft's Block-It. It is very capable in all-weather conditions, including extended rain. The four layer polypropylene system is not 100% waterproof, but it's darn close. What it offers is great breath-ability. That means any small amount of moisture that does make it through the fabric or past the seams will be able to evaporate without causing any issues. Plus, this is a material that works indoors, as well. Many people use it as a dust cover because of the impact protection provided by the thickness. If you have a busy house with kids and pets, it's ideal. For complete waterproofing, a cover must provide all-weather protection. That means long exposure to the rain, snow and ice won't allow moisture to get through. For this, most people think of the Noah fabric. Created by the Kimberly-Clark company for Covercraft, Noah was the first true waterproof system. One of the qualities making it so unique is its weight. At just 4.45 ounces per square yard, it's super light weight making it easy to handle, fold and stow. It's an all-weather champion, too. The watertight capability is enhanced by its ability to breathe and block UV light. It's a champ in the South, North, East and West. When you require serious all-weather protection, put Noah on your evaluation list. Not to be over-looked, Stormproof by Coverking is the latest in modern microfiber technology. It uses yarn with fibers so small that water can't get past the weave, yet moisture vapors under the cove pass through with ease. Unlike older fabrics treated with water repellent chemicals, Stormproof does not need a coating so its water repelling capabilities don't wear off. Lesser fabrics will fail after a season or two unless you treat the fabric again. The big surprise is the super soft, plush feel. It's amazing! Before you make your final selection, be sure to check off all of the boxes. There's a big difference between outdoor and waterproof car covers. Make sure you get the right material for your climate and use conditions.

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Need The Perfect Gift For A Car Guy?

If you own a luxury or sports car you have an investment that's worthy of the best care possible. All it takes is a little extra care for your automobile to retain as much value as possible. That's only important at trade-in time, but the proper care needs to start on day one. For the money, there's no better way to keep your fine machine in excellent condition than using a car cover when the vehicle is parked. To best understand how custom car covers  resale value it's important to be aware of the used car market and how buyers and sellers appraise cars. Almost universally the information published by Kelly Blue Book (KBB) provides the basis for the value. The "Blue Book," as it is called, rates vehicles by their condition. A standardized grade of poor, fair, good or excellent is applied. From my own research on KBB, the difference between full grades is approximately 15% of value. Let's use a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan as an example. With all other conditions being equal, a 2007 S550 sedan with an "excellent exterior" condition is valued $2,100 higher than the same vehicle with an exterior in "good condition." This is only a single example. In my research, I discovered other Mercedes-Benz models with a much higher value difference between excellent and good, including the incredible CL65 AMG Coupe. A 2008 CL65 AMG Coupe in perfect condition is valued at $98,530 but drops a whopping $4,900 if the exterior condition is degraded to "good" condition. The difference between the excellent and good can be something as minor as a few door dings or paint scratches from shopping carts. Before you head off to your local auto parts store to look at covers, know this. All you will find are ready-fit products. The price is right, but I suggest you do your research before you even consider one. My personal experience with ready-fit car covers is that they can do more harm than good. I've had a lot of cars (thirty-two at last count) and all but my Bronco and trucks have had a Covercraft or Coverking. Let me explain why. Not only are these the top two brands, but they are right here in the USA producing jobs. I like that. What you get for your money is quality, computer controlled construction, using only the very best fabrics. A perfect fit for your vehicle is guaranteed. A ready-fit hangs on a car like a sack. Custom-fit is pattern-perfect and snug so it shows off the beautiful lines of your vehicle. It's the snug fit that prevents the possibility of damage to the paintwork. There is one alternative, and that's a visit to your car dealer. In most cases you can get a factory branded cover. It might even be made by one of the top manufactures. The problem here is that they treat it as if everyone has the same basic need. Don't take me the wrong way; I'm not suggesting it's inferior. It's just that your car dealer can only offer you a single choice. If we all lived in sunny San Diego, California where the humidity is low and the rainfall is lower, what the factory offers would be okay. I say that because factory covers are light weight fabrics made for basic protection from the sun and dust. For your luxury car you need a custom-fit Coverking or Covercraft cover. It's the right choice and I know you will be thankful for the incredible selection of fabrics. You can choose a material for indoor, outdoor, waterproof or a mixture of conditions. And, let me tell you, the fit and good looks are second to none. If you're a car enthusiast, you might even want to color coordinate or take advantage of special features, like racing stripes. It's all possible when you go custom. For the ladies, here's a gift idea for you. Some men are impossible to shop for, especially the affluent ones. Let me suggest that a custom-fit car cover is gift he will love. I can say this with authority because I still have mine, and it was gifted to me over ten years ago. Trust me on this suggestion, ladies. Car guys love receiving gifts that acknowledge their passion for the automobile. If you're planning to give one as a gift, plan ahead. Each one is strictly made-to-order and it takes a few weeks. For the holidays, including Valentines Day or Father's Day, it's best to order about six weeks in advance. Be certain to figure out how he will use it, too. There's a big difference between indoor and outdoor fabrics. Also, if he's a sports car owner you'll need to think about storage space. A bulky waterproof cover might be inconvenient due to the small trunk area. If he parks both indoors and out, compare fabrics carefully. There are fabrics that work in and out but you need to be sure to get the right one for your climate. In all cases, consider a locking cable and a storage bag. The locking cable helps with theft protection. You will sleep better at night knowing both car and cover are safe and sound. If your car's long term value is important to you, invest in the only car accessory that will keep it in excellent condition. Luxury cars, including BMW, Cadillac and Infiniti, loose 5% or more of their value when the exterior condition drops from "excellent" to "good". The difference is as minor as a few preventable paint scratches or door dings. Custom car covers help you avoid the common hazards that chip away at your excellent finish.

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Paint Scratches and Swirl Marks? Piece of Cake... When You Have One of These!

If you have attempted polishing a late model automobile by hand recently you probably discovered that minor blemishes don't rub out like they used to. The reason for this is the recent improvements in clear coat technology. The final factory finish is very hard, allowing it to resist minor scratching, swirl marks and water spot. The solution is a tool that's been around for nearly two decades, the Porter Cable 7424. It's a buffer polisher that car enthusiasts have known about for years, and now it's spreading to garages all across America and the world. The reason it's so loved is that it makes easy work out of most minor coat problems, even if you have one of the new high-tech ceramic finishes. The original Porter Cable Polisher and the new 7424xp are dual-action polishers. What this means is that the polishing head rotates (free-spins on its spindle) and orbits (powered by the motor) around the center spindle. A mass counterweight mechanism on the spindle dampens vibrations. This polishing action, often referred to as "random orbital" or just "orbital," totally prevents symmetrical buffing marks, paint burns and the other types of automotive finish damage that people associate with high-speed buffing machines. That means if you use the buffer polisher as intended it's virtually impossible to damage your car, even with no experience. As I mentions, the Porter Cable (or "PC") is a dual-action polisher and it works like circular hand polishing. The big difference is that works at a speed of 2,500 to 6,000 orbits every minute. That's how this machine knocks out scratches and swirl marks with ease. You'd have to have Superman waxing your car to do it better. If you have previously owned a car waxing machine that made a lot of racket, but did little else to fix the damage and restore shine, you will appreciate the brilliance of one of these buffing machines. It has all of the power needed to get the job done, yet it's small enough and light enough that it's easy to use. There is a secret to getting top results with a dual action polisher. It's very important to use the right combination of polish and foam polishing pad. For the most part, you'll find foam polishing pads in three levels of coarseness: cutting, polishing and finishing. Cutting pads are what you use to remove damage. After cutting, you use a polishing pad to restore full gloss. The finishing pad has not polishing qualities at all. It's very soft and used to apply liquid waxes and glazes. Polishing pads do not work alone. The actual work is performed by polish and you need to match the function of each polish with the appropriate pad. Polishes have different grades of cut, just like the pads. For example, a polishing compound is a cutting polish that removes damage. A compound that can take out 2000 to 2500 grit sanding scratches will do a pretty good job on heavy swirls marks and most water spot etching problems. If you're not accustomed to the language, it might seem a bit confusing. Do yourself a favor and start with Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. I think it's one of the best compounds available and it's perfectly safe to use on any clear coat finish. You'll find it at most auto parts stores. After compounding to remove damage, you might think the finish looks great, but I recommend finishing off the job with a fine polish. Most compounds, including the new Meguiar's product, will leave just a touch of hazing in the clear coat. All it takes to remove the hazing and restore a brilliant shine is a fine paint polish. I prefer and recommend Klasse All-In-One. It's an amazing product that will produce a final finish that blows you away. If your vehicle's paint finish is driving you nuts with swirl marks, scratches and water spots that simply won't go away, the solution is a Porter Cable 7424xp. It's a quality buffer polisher that gets the job done fast and easy. Plus, it's a high quality machine that will last a lifetime. Don't settle for one of the cheap knock-offs made in China when you can own an American original.

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WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

Already went around the world a few times and ended up back in San Diego.  It's perfect!

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Will Your Car Bring Top Dollar At Resale? Use This and It Will!

Are you protecting your vehicle with a car cover? It's something every car own needs to consider. The best custom car covers have excellent warranties and are expected to last five years or longer. If you take proper care the investment is $40 to $100 per year, but what it saves you in wear and tear on your vehicle is many times that amount. Selecting an appropriate cover for your climate and use requirements is essential. There are many considerations. For instance, do you garage your car or do you park it on the street? Climate conditions, including humidity are also important, as are winter weather conditions, like snow, ice or heavy rainfall. All of these factors must be taken into consideration. A premium custom-fit product starts at about $175. On very large automobiles they can cost as much as $500, so be sure to do your homework and get the right one the first time. You are well advised to investigate the type of fabric that works best for your situation. When looking at your climate and use situation, you may be forced into a trade-off or two when it comes to the fabric. If you're not comfortable with the trade-off then you may need to consider one for indoors and another for outside. I mention this because waterproof car covers are not something most people want to hassle with if they have a garage. A good trade-off is to find a material that's breathable and light enough to use inside for dust protection and yet has the capability to protect in mild weather conditions outside. Still shopping for the product that's right for you? I feel for you. The wide selection of fabrics makes it a difficult decision. Let me assure you that doing the research is well worth the effort. Taking the time to understand how each fabric works to protect your car will help you. It's time to change the subject just a little, because I have a question for you. Do you know when you should and shouldn't be covering a vehicle? There's one mistake I see lots of folks make, and it's covering a dirty car. I'm not talking about a very fine coat of dust, either. That's no big deal. On the other hand, when the outside of the car is grungy and you cover-up, your paint will start to look like the body shop guy took sand paper to it. Here's what works for me. It's a super simple solution, too. Dust your car. Use a California Car Duster. It's like a giant Swiffer. In about a minute your car is dust-free. I'm not kidding. Be sure to shake your duster before each use. Then start at the top and work your way down. If you're thinking it takes too much time, consider this. Dust your car daily and it will be a time savings. That's because it will reduce the need for regular soap and water washing. In case you are concerned about the duster scratching your vehicle, I can promise you that it won't. With twenty-five years of use I've never had a problem, even on my black cars. That's because the dust mop is saturated in paraffin wax at the factory. The paraffin makes the mop work like a dust magnet. It works! Another thing makes my skin shiver is watching some people put their cover on. Maybe you've seen people do this, as well. What I'm talking about is the car cover jerk. That's when you just grab it by a corner and give it a quick pull and wad it up into a ball. It never fails that the big ball of fabric gets hurled onto the back seat or into the trunk. Being a car lover it breaks my heart to see, and here's why. A car cover is made from yards and yards of fabric. When you take the time to neatly fold it and stow it properly, there's no issue. When you don't stow and use it properly you are forced to spin it around, slide it and twirl it all over the surface of your car. All of that swirling and twirling on the paintwork make swirl marks and causes light scratches. Removing them will cost you time and money. Here's a proper way to do it. Start by putting the cover on. Next remove it starting at the front. The easy way is to neatly flip the front edge up in the direction of the windshield. I recommend 12 to 18 inch folds. When you reach the middle of the roofline go to the rear of the vehicle and do the same thing. This will make a long, neatly folded run of fabric across your car. From the passenger side roll the cover up towards the driver's side. Avoid sliding the fabric by finishing from the driver's side. When it's time to put it back on, all you need to do is go to the middle of the car on the driver's side and toss the roll over. Be sure to hang on to the loose end. Next, unfold to the rear, unfold to the front, and you're done. This way you completely avoid dragging the fabric over the paint surface. It's so easy! You might be wonder if windy conditions will cause the same issues. The answer is, yes, and you should make a mental note to get uncovered when it's windy. I'm not talking about breezy weather. That's not a problem. Be concerned about heavy winds. Sustained winds over 20 MPH will cause some serious scuffing damage. Plus, consider the scratching your paintwork will endure if sand or dirt gets inside. By the way, there are some devices for use to control breezy conditions. A wind control device keeps the bottom edges snug and secure. Be sure to follow the directions. Each wind control device clamps on a bit differently. As you might imagine, having a dirty cover is no different than having a dirty car, but how do you clean it? I can tell you this, unless you have an industrial size washer at home, you'll need to visit a coin operated laundry. Be sure to use the largest machine they have without a center agitator. You don't want to shred it and washer damage is not a warranty issue. Here's a better way. I've been doing it like this for years. It's a simple solution. I wash it while it's on the car. Use basic precautions and hose off the car before you start. Then simply put it on as usual and wash it with your car wash shampoo and a wash mitt. After scrubbing down the outside flip it over and do the inside. Be sure to use a lot of fresh water for a thorough rinse and then give it some time to drip dry. If your dryer is large enough, put it in for a half hour or so on medium heat. Whatever you do, don't leave it on your car out in the sunshine. I hope I have shared a bit of information that let you be the best car cover owner. If you have not made the plunge yet, just know that custom car covers are really the only car accessory that will help you keep your car in excellent condition. Use it as intended and you will reap the rewards.