Malcom Smith Racing

While most people are careful with regular maintenance and tune-ups, car washing can sometimes be overlooked. Weekly car washes can not only make your vehicle look better, they can make your vehicle last longer. We specialize in high quality car wax to protect and preserve your investment on the outside plus cutting edge car care products. However, there is a right way to wash your car – and many wrong ways to do it. At Meineke, we want to help our customers properly maintain their vehicles and save money. Not using the proper soap, equipment or technique can do more harm than good. Here’s what you need to know:

Can You Use Dish Soap to Wash a Car?

A common question is: can you wash your car with dish soap? Think about what dish soap is for: removing grease and caked-on food. While it does a good job at that, it’s good because it’s considered an abrasive soap. But, when you use an abrasive soap on something like car paint, it accelerates the oxidation process and gives the car a dull look. Dish soap will also break down a car’s wax coat and can be tough on rubber.

What Makes a Good Car Soap?

Now that you know not to use dish soap to wash a car, what does that leave you with? Laundry soap, hand soap and other household cleaners are also off limits. These soaps are not pH balanced and can also damage your vehicle’s paint. To get the results you want, you’ll simply need car soap. Car soap contains more lubricant, which you’ll notice when you move it behind your fingers. The slick formula is much better for your car’s surface.

What Other Products Will You Need Besides Car Soap?

• Sponge or Washing mitt made of sheepskin or microfiber
• A brush or additional sponge for tires
• Multiple buckets – one for soapy water and one for plain water
• Wheel cleaner
• Microfiber drying towel, shammy, and/or squeegee
• Bug and tar remover
• Wax, either spray or rub-on (optional)
• Polish (optional)

What Should You Know Before Starting?

• Always wash your car in the shade to avoid premature drying. Sunlight can create water
  spots that stain your car.
• Avoid water spots by keeping your car wet at all times.
• Make sure all windows and doors are shut, and don’t squirt water under the hood.

What’s the Proper Way to Wash a Car?

These steps and strategies will ensure you get the best results:

• Wash the wheels first. The wheels will be extremely dirty and require the most scrubbing. When you’re finished, refill your buckets with fresh soap and water.
• Rinse off your entire car with a hose, making sure you get any debris out from underneath the wiper blades.
• Pre-treat any stains (bugs, bird droppings) by applying bug and tar removal soap directly to the stain.
• Start soaping one side of the car. Make sure to periodically rinse off the mitt in the water bucket to avoid accumulating dirt.
• Avoid scrubbing too hard and wash in straight lines. Circular motions can create swirl marks.
• Rinse off the side you’re working on prior to soaping up the next side.
• Once you wash all four sides of your car, you still need to make sure to dry your car properly.

Can You Air Dry a Car?

Air drying after washing can create water spots. Carefully dry your car by using a car squeegee to remove most of the water. After that, use a microfiber towel over everything. The towel should be flat and moved in straight lines, no circular motions.

Should You Use Polish and/or Wax?

Polish or wax should only be used after a car is washed and completely dry. Polish adds shine, while wax protects the car’s paint. If water doesn’t bead into droplets on your car’s surface, it needs another wax coat. Waxes are only effective when used with proper car soap. The question often comes up when people are upset that their waxing product only lasts a couple weeks. You should only need to do seasonal waxing if you use car soap. Stop by your local Meineke Car Care Center if you have any questions about car cleaning products or techniques.

Learning about auto repair may seem daunting endeavor if you’re not sure how to begin. The following article will give you get started.This article can set you save time and saving money. To prevent permanent damage to the paint, limit this method of polishing to once a year and wax your car every couple of months and use the buffing machine that you bought in Zas.com.au.

Don’t underestimate how important it is to keep an emergency car kit for granted. You ought to assemble a kit consisting of tire change tools, charge your battery and put more gas in your tank.

Ask questions to the mechanics who inspect your car when you bring it in for repairs. Preventing vehicle issues can save you a lot of saving money annually.

You might not have to call a mechanic to fix your car problem. There are a few things that can fix easily yourself. If it is a basic issue, you can save some money by doing the repairs yourself.

Ask mechanics if they have worked on your particular make and model of vehicle before. If they have done so, then you can trust them with your car.

Go over your automobile’s manual and dog ear the most useful pages.You could even find that reading the manual can help you fix the issue.

Test drive your car before paying the auto repair shop.

Don’t leave anything of value in your car while you’re having it repaired. Mechanics might have to empty the work and they aren’t responsible if you discover something missing. You want to remove items from your trunk.

If your headlights don’t seem very bright, you may need to clean them. Use a reputable glass cleaner to wash them thoroughly.

Replacing the bulbs on your taillights or taillight is much cheaper when you do it by yourself. While it’s easier in some vehicles than others, it is much cheaper to do it yourself. Ask whether someone you trust if he can show you how to fix these problems.

Ask about labor rates and prices before hiring a mechanic. Some shops have their rates in conspicuous places, so read them carefully and be sure to ask about anything you don’t fully understand. You should understand how and why you are being billed for your mechanic. Some mechanics bill you for estimated labor times that are established by the manufacturers they work with. A lot of repairs that seem to be easy to fix could end up taking a relatively minor repair to be an all day job.

You do not necessarily have to go through your dealership if repairs done. There are several reputable technicians all over the place. Find a mechanic who you are comfortable with and stick with them.

Don’t let a mechanic insist that an engine flushed is normal maintenance visit. This is a pricy process that isn’t necessary unless you’ve done things to harm your engine care for some time.

Don’t trust any parts that a promise of lasting a lifetime. This is often just a scheme for the business to take as much money as possible from you. One example is that some vehicles say their transmission fluid.While this does not need to be changed as often as typical fluid, you will still have to change the fluid every 80,000 miles.

If you want to know how to diagnose a car problem, then you should learn a few things about its critical components. You might want to sign up for a class on auto repair.This will enable you to better service your vehicle lasts longer.

Pay attention to the different sounds you hear when starting your car. Noise can indicate a problem if you know what to listen for.

If you are happy with the work done at a particular repair shop, return to them each time you need another repair job on your vehicle. You may also become eligible for discounts because you are a loyal customer.

Put your car on a jack stands if you’re storing it.

Ask your old parts when they’re replaced. This can help you feel comfortable that the repairs were actually done. This isn’t particularly necessary for exhaust system changed.It is not hard to see if a brand new exhaust system has been replaced.

Do not put regular water for the windshield wiper reservoir. Water is going to be able to clean off your windshield, but since the system requires that specific fluid, you could damage it. You should check the level in the compartment and refill needs. Do not insist when the compartment is empty.

Choose between getting your car fixed by a dealership or an independent repair shop. Independent repair shops are the cheaper option, but you could hire a company that’s dishonest.

Keep good records of work done on your previous repairs. Keep this log in you car. This can help the mechanic figure out any problems you might have. It can help save time when diagnosing issues.

Take your mechanic for a drive to show him the exact nature of your car’s problem. This will allow your mechanic to see the same problems that you are having. This is a better way for them to determine the problem instead of just telling them.

If a mechanic suggests that you need work beyond what your owner’s manual indicates, then you should just follow the manual. This will allow you to save some money when repairs that you’re not doing repairs that don’t need to be done.

Check the drive axle boots often for leaks. These protect drive axle joint. You can inspect them by turning the wheels of your tires and peering behind them.

Familiarize yourself with the various types of mechanic certifications. If your state has it’s own certification process, find a reliable mechanic who has a certification from the ASE and from your state.

Learn what warning signs appear when your car needs work. Keep this article in mind the next time you are thinking about taking your car into be serviced. Keep this advice in mind when your car has problems.

You may know how to effectively repair your automotive paint if and when it suffers from scratches, but an even more important bit of knowledge is how to protect your auto paint against scratches and other threats in the first place. Not only will car paint protection save you effort, time, and money, it will help to ensure the long-term value and safety of your vehicle. There are many forms of vehicle new car paint protection, all varying in how they are applied.

• Forms of Car Paint Protection
• Car Paint Maintenance
• How to Remove Scratches from Car Paint
• Preserving your Car Paint After Repairs

Forms of Car Paint Protection

CLEAR COAT

One of the simplest answers to the question of how to protect car paint from scratches is clear coat spray paint. Really, this is a second layer of paint for your car, since clear coast is exactly that: clear. The product is paint with no coloring, though it may contain some properties that help preserve the pigmented automotive paint beneath, such as UV protection.

While a few vehicles have what is known as “single-stage paint,” which is an auto paint combined with protective enamel. The vast majority of cars and trucks, however, have the two layers: a base with color and a clear coat on top of that.

Like all automotive paint, the clear coat can be damaged by corrosive chemicals (like those found in bird droppings) and nicks and scratches. Clear coat spray paint can be used to restore the protective outer layer in areas where it has gone missing. This can be followed by an application of paint sealant, which is something like an amped-up car wax. Dealers may offer sealant, but as with many features available from the seller, you can also easily apply it at home.

PAINT PROTECTION FILM

While these thin layers of paint and wax do create some vehicle paint protection, serious efforts to prevent scratches need to involve some thicker barriers. One of the most common and effective methods is the use of paint protection film. This is a thin layer of clear material, often only millimeters thick, that can be smoothed out over just about any stretch of surface on the vehicle, serving as a shield against flying debris, grit, sand, chemicals, and other auto paint-destroying elements. The focus is on what are known as high-impact areas, as these are the places where the automotive paint is most likely to come into contact with flying projectiles.

Scotchguard™ 3M paint protection film is one option, and is cut to work with the curves and angles of various vehicles, conforming to the body to create a tight seal and providing auto paint protection while remaining virtually invisible. This film is also known as a clear bra, and can be found from several manufacturers. Another popular brand is XPEL®, which offers pre-cut kits that protect the bumper, headlights, fenders, hood, mirrors, and more.

Common areas for 3M clear bra application include the bumper, the leading edge of the hood and bed; key spaces on the door, such as the handle, sill, opening, and edge; and the rocker panel and wheel flare. Advanced forms of automotive paint protection film have a “self-healing” capability that erases visible signs of many scratches, nicks, and dings.
Paint Protection Film Installation

Installing paint protection film at home calls for similar steps as waxing and painting on clear coat: Ensure that the automotive paint is cool, dry, and clean. We mean really clean. Use an adhesive remover to eliminate all traces of gunk and goo on your auto paint, then use a glass cleaner to remove all traces of the adhesive remover. It’s recommended to do all of this on a day with no wind, as gusts could blow new debris onto an otherwise pristine car paint job.
With everything clean, including your hands, apply a mixture of soap (3M recommends four drops of baby shampoo in 16 ounces of water) to the top and bottom layers of the section of 3M paint protection film to be installed, your fingers, and the surface of the vehicle. Follow a provided pattern guide to ensure proper placement, then carefully squeegee off all of the soap, pressing firmly to squeeze it out from between the protection film and the automotive paint itself.
If the clear bra needs to be stretched to properly hug the surface beneath, spray a little mixture of three parts water to one part rubbing alcohol onto the center of the adhesive side of the film, then press it onto the desired location. This will hold the middle of the piece of film into place and allow you to press and stretch the rest with your palm and squeegee it once it’s in place.
Be sure to keep everything wet with the soapy solution throughout the installation process, paying particular attention to your hands to avoid leaving any fingerprints on the paint protection film.
Carefully wipe everything down and check for air bubbles or other places where the clear bra may have not fit perfectly. The film can be peeled off within a five-minute window and reapplied as necessary for best results.
Once set, the paint protection film can be removed if desired, simply by lifting it and pulling it away from the body, possibly with the use of a steamer or heat source (such as a hair dryer) if necessary.

CAR WRAPPING

Another automotive paint protection method is car wrapping, which is frequently done to give a vehicle a new look without applying a whole new layer of automotive paint. Car wraps are typically vinyl, and they cover the body by adhering to the existing paint job, as do many protective layers. People choose car wrapping to spruce up the look of their ride, changing the finish from glossy to matte or the color from dark to light. Since the vinyl can be printed with just about any graphics, vehicle wraps may also be used to advertise a product or service.

Obviously, any layer applied over the automotive paint will serve as paint protection, though car wrapping probably works best as a choice for people who don’t just want to preserve their paint, but who want an entirely new look.

EDGE TRIM

Vehicle paint protection doesn’t have to involve the entire car from front to back, either. A particularly vulnerable area on cars and trucks is the door edge, where nicks, chips, and dings can happen whenever the door opens into something hard and unyielding. ProtektoTrim door edge guards from Cowles Products can be easily applied to any edge, offering a literal line of defense to keep the paint there looking as good as the day it was first applied—and preserving the integrity of the metal beneath.