Many believe spring and summer are the best times to
wash and wax our cars, which is true for us, but not necessarily
our cars. The season that destroys cars is winter, what with all the
dirt, corrosive road salts and melting snow. Unfortunately the damage
often goes unnoticed until it’s too late for a cheap fix. Car care by
definition is anything that provides direct service to the vehicle. But
what about common sense maintenance?
Connecticut-based zymöl Enterprises, makers of
high-quality car care products since 1980, says there are at least 20 easy
ways to increase the service life of your car, keeping it looking great
through this winter and many winters to come. Zymöl products and other
car care tips are available online at www.zymol.com
FORGET DAD. Don’t get us wrong - we love dads.
They just don’t know much about car care. We’ve been instructed to wax
the car every spring and fall, but dad would never suggest doing
anything to the car in winter because, in many cases, he didn’t have a
warm garage in which to work. So first and foremost find a relatively
warm location to do these simple winter maintenance tasks.
PREPARE. The best preparation is obtaining the
shop maintenance manual for your car, which provides extremely detailed
maintenance recommendations. It’s available through your local dealer
or the factory. Most service intervals are mileage based, which means
the tasks you should perform, or have performed, are keyed to how many
miles are on your car. The manuals also have a general maintenance
section that will tell you what needs to be performed and when. If you
can’t get a shop manual, follow the guidelines in your car’s owner’s
manual.
PREPARE SOME MORE: Have you ever felt the
frustration of trying to fix something without the right tools? Basic
auto maintenance tools include a set of screwdrivers, a good quality
socket set, a wash and rinse area that includes warm water, clean terry
towels and good quality non-acidic, non-abrasive cleaners, conditioners
and waxes. Mix all of the above with common sense, pride and a sense of
perfection and you have an unbeatable combination that even old man
winter will retreat from.
FIND TROUBLE BEFORE IT FINDS YOU: Practice
investigative maintenance. For example, today’s aerodynamic cars shed
water via hidden channels and drains. These collect all sorts of
materials like dead bugs, leaves, silt and sand. If you don’t keep them
clear, water can collect inside the car’s body. When it freezes in
winter it can distort panels or even break unseen parts. It also
promotes smelly mildew, deteriorates paint and eventually causes the car
to rust from the inside out.
BE ONE STEP AHEAD OF OLD MAN WINTER: Wash your car
more frequently during the winter and don’t forget to wash
underneath the car. Most icy roads are kept clear and safe with a
corrosive mixture of sand and salt. Ironically, this can cause more
costly damage to your car than losing a fender to a guardrail or bending
a wheel on a curb. If you do this yourself, add three tablespoons of
baking soda to your undercarriage wash water to neutralize the salt and
arrest it’s treacherous activities.
A CLEAN MACHINE IS YOUR DREAM MACHINE: Cleaning
goes well beyond wash and dry. Just removing surface road grime won’t
protect your paint from the effects of acid rain and snow, or protect it
from the exhaust emissions from the car in front of you. Painted
surfaces must be deep cleaned in winter to remove sub-surface
contaminants before moisture and a warm winter afternoon (+38°F)
reactivate them.
WAX OR WANE: No single action on your part does
more to protect your car’s finish, and your investment, than waxing
during the winter. Mid-winter waxing is not only a smart way to inspect
your car for new damage but it provides a strong barrier to road sand
and salt. Only you can decide how much protection you want against old
man winter.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE: Have you thought about your
wheels during the winter? Road sand and salt mixes with snow and slush
to form an abrasive and acidic paste that attacks your wheels with a
vengeance. This attack is fueled by the wheel’s temperature, which
increases during operation. Rinse wheels as often as possible, before
driving, to dilute the salt attacking them. Wash wheels with a
non-acidic, non-caustic wheel cleaner, then, unless they are chrome, wax
them. Let the wax take the abuse. Not your wallet.
YOUR WINDOW ON THE WORLD CAN DESTROY IT: You’ve
seen what happens to your windows during a wet winter day. They turn
caulk white and become almost impossible to see through. Using the
windshield washers to clean this off works fine, but the alcohol in the
familiar blue fluid strips off any wax you’ve applied to the body,
leaving paint open to the elements. Use high quality window solvents,
diluting them to their maximum level and try to limit their use safely.
CLOAK AND DAGGER: The best protection against
winter is not to drive in it, but for many of us this is impossible.
The second best protection is a proper maintenance regiment that doesn’t
stop when the weather gets cold. On the contrary, it should increase
when the elements are at their worst. Try to garage your car whenever
possible. After washing and drying it, use a breathable car cover to
prevent ice and soot damage.
TO FREEZE OR NOT TO FREEZE: Engines, like people,
need to keep their temperatures in check in order to operate
efficiently. A proper anti-freeze mixture keeps engine coolant from
freezing in the winter. Left unchecked however, this mixture can lose
its effectiveness, leading to major problems. Make sure your
anti-freeze mixture and engine cooling system are clean and topped off
by following manufacturer guidelines. It’s also a good idea to
occasionally rinse the radiator of road salt (make sure it’s cool first)
and check underhood belt and hose conditions periodically.
BE PREPARED TO CHANGE: Your engine and
transmission receive more abuse during the winter. Cold starts, when
lubricating fluids are thick as molasses, causes immediate wear and tear
due to lack of lubrication. Change your engine and transmission oils
regularly, also following manufacturer guidelines. Use only the oil
grade and viscosity called for in your car’s owner’s manual.
THAT OLD CLOTH COAT: Cloth seats and upholstery
feel best in winter because they reflect heat quickly and are generally
warm to the touch. But cloth can be easily damaged by exposure to oils
from your skin, fur coats, and even the air. These oils combine with
dirt and silt to form a sticky adhesive that continually attracts more
dirt to eventually stain the material permanently. Clean your interior
often. If at all possible Scotch Guard™ your cloth upholstery to make
the next cleaning easier.
UGH! IT’S SNOWING: Brushing snow from a car is
sometimes a necessary evil. Be very careful when removing snow
and ice. Unless you just washed the car, that snow fell on a dirty
surface. Carelessly brushing off snow is doing no less than scraping
abrasives across the paint. Be gentle. Lightly use a soft brush in a
short, straight pattern without removing all of the snow and ice. DO
NOT scrape ice off body panels. It’s unnecessary and can only do harm.
And NEVER use warm water to clear a windshield or headlights of ice
since the temperature difference can cause the glass to break on contact
-- not a cheap repair.
ALL THE TRIMMINGS: Exterior trim and moldings are
prone to more winter damage because they trap salt and dirt and even
worse become brittle in very cold temperatures. Use a high quality
vinyl and trim protectant. Stay away from those with heavy silicone and
formaldehyde treatments that will dry and crack your trim.
THE SHINING: Never wax chrome. Chrome needs
oxygen to keep its appearance. Wax traps moisture and can cause
unsightly bluing and pitting. Clean chrome with a good pre-wax cleaner
and leave it alone.
THE MAGIC CARPET: Floor mats usually provide
carpets enough protection during the mild months, but when your shoes
bring in snow, ice and dirt things can get bad. Use heavy-duty rubber
floor mats to catch this filth, and place silica gel bags under the
seats to absorb any excess moisture in the air.
SADDLE UP: Temperature change, improper
maintenance and simple use will permanently damage the delicate finish
of your leather upholstery and trim. Solvent-based cleaners and
conditioners actually accelerate the aging process. Use small amounts
of solvent-free leather feeding products on warm leather. Do not use
water.
INSTANT GASOLINE? Tempted to buy a bottle of Dry
Gas to keep fuel lines from freezing up? This methanol product bonds
with water molecules and forces them safely through your system.
Unfortunately methanol can devour plastic fuel lines and electric fuel
pump diaphragms. Be sure to use only factory recommended gas additives.
COMMON SENSE, THE BEST PROTECTION: Take the time
to look over your car once a week. Look for new threats to your
investment. If you are truly involved with your car and want to keep
it, treat it well. The extra cost in maintenance is a small price for
maximum investment insurance. Protecting your car is not a chore, it’s
an opportunity; an opportunity to beat old man winter at his own game
and, if done correctly, keep some of your hard earned dollars…yours.
For more information on Zymöl products, go
to
www.zymol.com
Family Car Parts Store
