Posts Tagged ‘automotive’

Auto Detailing – What Does It Involve?

One of the proudest moments of being a driver is the first few weeks of driving a brand new car. The admiring glances from onlookers viewing your jewel in the rough are enough to make anyone happy. Though this feeling will only last as long as your car stays looking new, which could only be a few weeks depending on how well you look after it. You could try washing it every week, but ultimately, washing it is not enough, occasionally you will have to do a little bit more.

That extra little bit you need to go to is called detailing your vehicle as opposed to just cleaning your vehicle. Detailing means exactly what it sounds like, basically going over every single detail of your car with a fine tooth comb (not literally) and removing imperfections, blemishes and anything that is unwanted from the paint surface to recreate that as new shine the vehicle once had when it was new.

It is important to note that the process of auto detailing is not easy at all. To fully detail a car, it will take a professional detailer possibly up to a few days depending on how bad the vehicles paintwork is. If you are doing it yourself, the guide below will outline the basic steps you should take to detail the exterior.

The first thing that you need to do is to properly wash the exterior of the car with detergent. Before you get the sponge out, spend a few minutes rinsing away any dirt or grit from the car, including in areas such as the wheel arches, door shut lines and panel gaps to prevent any dirt from contaminating your sponge and scratching the paint. Then, using only car washing detergent, wash the car in parts, starting with the roof and rinsing each part before you move to the next. Remember to use generous amounts of water and detergent and dry the car afterwards with a soft cloth or microfiber towel.

After washing the car, you now need to polish the paint to further remove any of the tougher dirt or deposits. For this you can use, in order of strength, simple paint polish, paint cleaner, a clay bar or rubbing compound. Start with the least aggressive first and work your way up depending on how the paint finish responds. Unless you are a professional detailer (in which case you should not need to read this), avoid using the super-aggressive rubbing compound.

Finally, you need to wax your vehicle to seal the paintwork with oils and prevent contaminants coming into direct contact with the paint. It is best to avoid using a spray wax here as they apply in thin coats and therefore do not last very long. Apply the wax sparingly with a damp kitchen sponge or applicator pad, and after it has dried, buff clean with a microfiber cloth to a deep shine.

Now Try – Detailing

Types Of Car Tyres : The Basics Explained

There is a whole range of car tyres available and the ones you need will vary depending on where you live and the surrounding environment. We’ll take you through a few of the key types. Firstly, the standard, all-season tyre. These probably came with your car as standard when you bought it, and they’re suitable for all year round use, as the name suggests. They use a form of hard rubber to extend their shelf life and are good enough for regular use.

The next type of tyre you could choose is the performance tyre. These are sometimes also known as ‘summer tyres’, because they perform at their best in dry weather. You may find them beneficial if you have a car that requires increased handling performance. If you live in a largely dry, warm area, you may be able to use them all year round, but they’re not so good in the rain. They are made from soft rubber, which increases grip but reduces the life of the tyre.

The winter tyre is a good option if you live somewhere with harsh winters and generally rough conditions, such as lots of snow. One option with these is to get little metal studs embedded in the tread. This improves their already heightened grip capabilities and makes them excellent for driving in tough weather conditions as well as the difficulties of driving in winter. They will, however, damage the road and wear out quickly if you try to use them in dry weather.

Another type of tyre you may want to consider is the all terrain tyre. These are most commonly found on off-road vehicles as they can be very noisy if you use them on standard roads. They have increased grip from a large tread block pattern and their stiff sidewalls means they can cope with unexpected potholes and challenging terrain. They’re great for using on loose surfaces such as dirt and sand and there is a special mud tyre available for use on mud.

The final type of tyre in our guide is a relatively new concept that is just starting to take off and is often found as standard on brand new cars. This is the ‘run flat’ tyre, which does as the name suggests: it makes it easier for you to continue driving if you get a puncture without massively affecting the handling. They can operate without air, but this must only be done for a short distance at reduced speed and you should always repair the tyre as soon as possible.

Now Try – 4 x 4 Tyres

Auto Detailing Advice

Just as people like the keep themselves and their houses looking good, they also like to keep their cars looking spic and span too. A great way of doing this is to pay attention to auto detailing. But what is auto detailing? Simply put, this means paying attention to all the little details of your car as well as the bigger picture, and putting in a bit of time and care can make a big difference to the overall appearance of your car.

Firstly, give a little time and care to the inside of your car to keep it looking nice. It won’t take long and will make a world of difference. Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to get at all the edges inside the car. This will suck up all the dirt and grime, make the car look good and help stop the spread of bacteria. Then get a mild kitchen or bathroom cleaner to wipe around the cup holders and other spill-prone areas to get rid of sticky patches.

Probably one of the most obvious ways to keep your car looking good is to give its body a good wash. Be careful here, as going through a car wash can often lead to abrasive cleaning products and sponges leaving faint, swirled scratches in your paint work. It’s safer to wash it by hand, but make sure your equipment is clean as using dirty sponges won’t help matters. A good wash will help prevent grime sticking to your car, so it’s worth spending some time here.

Waxing is another vital part of auto detailing that contributes to the upkeep of your car. You only need to do this twice a year, but it can be worth doing it every couple of weeks to build up a good shine using compounds or clear coat restoration materials. At the same time, you should look for any paint chips as these will need to be filled in with touch-up paint as soon as possible to prevent rust forming in the gap.

So, you’ve got the rest of your car looking great, but remember to spend a bit of time under the hood, too. You should regularly use a good engine degreaser to keep the parts in good shape. Leave it on for a bit so it soaks into the dirt, then wash it off with a hose and rub an emollient like Vaseline into any rubber hoses so they don’t dry out and crack. You should also keep electrical components under cover to keep them in full working order.

Now Try – Detailing

#1: Quadboss Duo Rear Luggage

Quadboss Duo Rear Luggage by Quadboss Buy new: $274.99 $247.99 (Ranking is updated hourly.

Read more...

#3: Kolpin Hardside Front/Rear Gear Box

Kolpin Hardside Front/Rear Gear Box by Kolpin Buy new: $139.95 - $149.95 $134.99 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Hot New Releases in Seats list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Read more...

#2: ButtyBuddy Passenger Seat – Standard

ButtyBuddy Passenger Seat - Standard by ButtyBuddy Buy new: $149.95 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Hot New Releases in Seats list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Read more...

#6: Ducati 848 1098 1098s 1098r 1198 1198s 1198r Race CNC Billet Mirror Block Off Offs Blockoff

Ducati 848 1098 1098s 1098r 1198 1198s 1198r Race CNC Billet Mirror Block Off Offs Blockoff by Slingshot Racing Buy new: $39.99 (Ranking is updated hourly.

Read more...

#2: Ken Sean AP Bar End Mirrors Black

Ken Sean AP Bar End Mirrors Black by Ken Sean Buy new: $19.99 $17.99 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Hot New Releases in Mirrors list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Read more...

#5: Yamaha V-Max V-Star VStar 650 Chrome Roque Mirrors

Yamaha V-Max V-Star VStar 650 Chrome Roque Mirrors by D2Moto 1 used & new from $33.90 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Hot New Releases in Mirrors list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Read more...

#4: BILLET CHROME FIREBALL MIRROR SET WITH STANDARD STEM FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON & CHOPPERS

BILLET CHROME FIREBALL MIRROR SET WITH STANDARD STEM FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON & CHOPPERS by KC International 1 used & new from $49.00 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Hot New Releases in Mirrors list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Read more...