Mark “O”matic

by Wil Yeo

Taking good care of your ride is always a great idea. Not only will your car run better if you perform regular maintenance on it, it will also hold a good resale value if you keep it looking it’s best. Keep reading to discover some great car care tips offered here.

Let’s start with the outside of your car. Your car should be washed and waxed on a regular basis. But what should you use to wash your car? Some people think that any old soap will do to wash your car, but this is not true. If you are using dish soap to wash your car then you are removing all wax from your car. Dish soap is made to remove animal fat from dishes, so it will be really good at taking off that fresh coat of wax that you applied last week. Your best choice for total car care would be to choose a quality car wash. These washes are more of a detergent than a soap and will do less damage to your wax job.

Minimizing any scratches is always a great practice towards making your car looks great. Any dirt that comes in between the cleaning material and the car surface will cause the surface to be scratched and therefore dulling the paint on your car. So, when you are cleaning your car don’t forget to take note of any chips or scratches in the paint. These should be repaired immediately to avoid rust. Minor dings and dents should be noted also. You can opt to repair these yourself or take your car to a body shop for the repair.

Remember to include tire care in your total car care procedure. Check the tire pressure and the tread for wear and tear. Having the correct pressures for your tires not only will prolong the useful lives of your tires, you will experience a smoother drive and better fuel efficiencies. Check all of your valve stem caps to make sure they are tight, as they are the final seal after the tire valve stem and could help to hold up the tire pressure should the tire valve stem fails. Apply a quality rubber protectant to your tires to prevent damage from UV rays. This will keep the rubber of your tires from drying and cracking.

Once you have finished with the exterior of your car, it’s time to check the interior. Vacuum the interior thoroughly. If there are stains on the upholstery or the carpet, you can use a quality carpet and upholstery shampoo to clean the interior. Wash the windshield inside and out and clean all vinyl with a good vinyl cleaner and protectant as well.

To complete your total auto car care mission you should look under the hood. Checking under the hood on a periodic basis can help you to spot problems before they become costly and is therefore a wise thing to do. It is best to conduct the check when the car engine is cold, i.e. not after the car is being used and that the engine is hot. Check all fluid levels. Take a good look at your belts and hoses and check for cracks or worn out signs. Finally, make sure that all caps are screwed on tightly after the checks are done..

Following these car care tips will allow you to take the best possible care of your car. It will also save you money in the long run because a well maintained car will bring in more money for you should you decide to sell or trade in your car.

Do yourself and your car a favor and perform total auto car care on a regular basis - it will serve you well for a long, long way to come.

Enjoy safe driving.
About the AuthorWil Yeo is a mechanical engineer by training and owns the site Avanigroup.com:Tire Pressure Valve Stem Cap which features a unique anti theft tire valve cap product.

Also check out a useful ebook entitled: Tire Maintenance Guide given out from the site. Enjoy.

By: Mike Rosania

As I was sitting there in the K&N info session, listening to a bald man with a raspy voice throwing me his best pitch on air filters, I thought to myself, “K&N really does care for their customers.”

This guy wasn’t just some salesman. Heck, he was as nervous as 6th grader giving a book report in front of the class. He stuttered and stammered over his words, as if it were his first presentation. But you know what? The guy knew what he was talking about. Cars are his life. Maybe it was the excitement in his words or the sweat dripping down his face, but I could tell he wasn’t faking. He loved his job and loved talking about auto air filters. He even told us his life story– about growing up working on cars with his dad.

But, back to the debate. People around the country are bringing their cars to dealerships and mechanics with MAF(Mass Air Flow Sensor) problems. The problem—MAF failure. What causes MAF problems? The dealerships claim excess oil from K&N filters is to blame.

The K&N representative, however, gave a compelling argument. If you are not familiar with what a K&N filter looks like, let me explain. It is cone shaped part, basically constructed of a paper filter with wire mesh around it. It attaches to a hose that brings air into the engine; blocking dirt, bugs, and any other hazardous objects that happen to make their way under your hood. The paper, which is the filter, is coated in oil.

Have you ever gotten a really greasy piece of pizza and blotted it with a napkin. If you haven’t, I will give you the low down. The napkin absorbs the grease, practically making the paper transparent. Well the paper is similar. The filter absorbs the oil, which coats it for protection, and is invisible. You can’t even see it. Mechanics are claiming that the oil from the filter is coming off the paper an affecting the MAF. Even if you were driving 103mph and held a grease covered napkin out the window, the oil wouldn’t come off—trust me.

His number two argument. The MAF is fouled by oil right? Well, the MAF is in the engine. Do you know what is constantly cycling through the engine? You got it– oil. It is much more likely for oil from the engine to get sucked through the intake and foul the MAF.

His final point. Is the filter fouling the MAF or is the MAF flawed? It is just as likely that the MAF comes defective from the factory. Mechanics are telling customers that MAF readings show it is “saturated” with oil from the K&N filter. But I looked at the cone-shaped piece in the man’s hands. It was a solid, dry piece. He made a good point. Where would all this “excess” oil come from? Hmmm…

Of the 2,500,000 filters K&N sells a year, they encounter less than 200 dealership problems annually. The representative continued to explain the company’s lengthy product testing process. I work for an automotive company, but I’m not that into my car. I’m more of a motorcycle guy. My point being, I was ready to buy a K&N air filter. On top of all the testing, K&N works with customers to make sure dealerships honor their warranties. Solid argument if you ask me.

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If you encounter with your Mass Air Flow Sensor, contact K & N and they will communicate with the dealership on your behalf. – Mike Rosania

By: Barry Pendley

When it comes to proper maneuvering, handling and braking practices for your car or any other motor vehicle, your tires play a role which is absolutely critical as they are the only part of your vehicle which maintains contact with the road. Practicing basic safety practices regarding your tires, which involves keeping your tires properly inflated at all times, can add a greater degree of security to your driving experience, expend the life of your tires by reducing tread wear, and can actually save on fuel as well.

Enhance the degree of security that your tires afford you –

When a tire is under-inflated, it can quickly become a serious concern for safety because excessive flexing is forced onto the sidewalls of the tires, which can build up more heat internally and can result in premature failure of the tire, in addition to other safety hazards. Tires which are inflated improperly tend to wear out much more quickly than properly inflated tires, because more rolling resistance or drag is put on the road.

Extend the life of your tires by reducing wear on the treads –

One of the primary causes associated with early breakdown of your tires, or poor tread life in general is under-inflation of the tires. When the air pressure in your tires is low, excessive heat can build up in the tires which can shorten the life of your tires and can create driving conditions which are dangerous at best. The wear on your tire treads will be rapidly increased by unwanted heat, and tire casings and retreads can easily be torn down. Nearly ninety percent of all breakdowns involving tires are a direct result of under inflation of the tires.

It is imperative that you maintain the proper pressure levels for your tires in order to improve the mileage that your treads can withstand. If your tires are under-inflated by around 20-percent for a fairly consistent basis, you can reduce your tire’s life by up to 30-percent. The tread wear for your tires will increase as much as 25-percent for a 20-percent under inflation of your tires.

Save money on fuel by expending less –

The additional level of drag on the road also leads to a significant reduction in the fuel economy for your vehicle, which is something that most vehicle owners and drivers should want to avoid. For every ten pounds per square inch that a tire is under-inflated, the amount of fuel that your vehicle consumes is increased by 0.5-percent. If several of your tires are chronically under-inflated, you can lose as much as a 3.3-percent difference in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

With inaccurate tire pressure impacting so many important aspects related to driving your vehicle, there really is no good reason not to check the tire pressure in all four wheels on at least a weekly basis. Tires that have the right pressure on a consistent basis contribute to better fuel economy, longer life span for the tires, and a much safer driving experience.

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Barry Pendley is the webmaster of a website that offers a tire pressure monitor.