Feb 8 2010

How to Use a Car Cover to protect the Exterior of Your Car

The exterior of your car is what people notice first and it doesn’t matter the age of the car; if you keep it clean, waxed and covered when not in use, it will always be something you can be proud of. Your paint is expensive to repair and replace so keeping it in tip top shape is definitely worth it, both financially and for your enjoyment.

 

There are several other things that you can do to make sure your car runs for a long time. With proper care, any car can be kept in good condition both in the way it looks and runs. The first thing is to choose your vehicle wisely. You will want to do research on the make and model of the vehicle you plan to buy. The internet is a great source for finding out about if the car is prone to any problems or how reliable down the road it is.

Make sure you keep your vehicle clean and covered up when not in use. Your paint job does more than make your car look good it also protects the parts of the car underneath. You have to make sure that you fight rust to keep your car looking good. If you are in an area that has a snowy climate then you should make sure you wash your car often. The salt used on the roads to melt the snow and ice can be detrimental to your cars paint job. You should wash your car regularly during the winter months and wait until the temperature is above freezing. As long as it is below freezing the salt stays in the ice and therefore won’t harm your car. If you park in a heated garage the melting snow allows the salt to attack and corrode your paint finish.

To keep your car running in top shape, you should follow the maintenance guide in your owner’s manual. Use this as a guide for when you should have your car serviced, and you might want to keep a notebook in your glove box to write down when you have serviced, or replaced a component, so you can refer back to it when needed.

You will also want to be aware and on the lookout for new noises or anything that doesn’t seem quite right. To keep your car running well and as long as possible you should make sure that you fix problems as they come up and anticipate component failure by following the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. Even though it might seem like an unimportant thing at the time, little things add up over time.

Your car is a major investment and you want it looking and running at its best for the longest period of time possible. That is why it is important to keep it maintained properly and covered when not in use. It is recommended you use a custom car cover that is specifically made for your make and model of vehicle. It will help protect your car from the sun, rain, snow and other outdoor elements to keep it looking new.

 

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Jan 17 2010

Picking the Right Car Cover

Apart from the way we dress, nothing says more about you than the car you drive and the condition you keep your vehicle in – you wouldn’t go outside the house naked and nor should you leave your vehicle exposed to the elements and environment without using a car cover!

The car cover you will choose will depend on where you live and the conditions your car is facing – you may live in the colder north where snow and rain are more of an issue than in the south, where blistering sun has more of an impact. When you come to buy a car cover you need to think carefully about getting the right product to do the job for you – protecting your car.

Basic principles are that a car cover should be relatively lightweight in order to be fitted easily and stowed without taking up too much room for when it is in the trunk for instance. Also, it has to be able to be stored for a long time without cracking. Most of all, your car cover should fit your car properly and provide the ultimate protection.

Car covers ought to be water-resistant to a high degree but not waterproof – they should allow moisture which is present in the atmosphere to leave and for air to circulate, otherwise, your car will be attacked by mold and become “stuffy” smelling as well as damp causing other issues, such as rust. They need to be water-resistant so that rain and snow melt is unable to penetrate the cover to any degree and will be sloughed off before it can pass through the barrier.

You can get a sunburn, and so can your car - the harmful UV rays penetrate materials and cause damage to your paint job. The car cover you select must be capable of protecting the vehicle from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Just think of the times you have seen cars with faded paint jobs and especially with red paintwork – a car cover with UV protection will easily protect your car from that fate.

A car cover also has to be robust enough to protect your vehicle from minor impact and dings from the kids playing ball or the neighborhood cat deciding your parked vehicle is the ideal spot on which to take a snooze while surveying the street. Cars parked under or near trees are also subject to falling branches or tree sap, which is a really hard substance to clean off your car and will damage the paint. Even worse, bird droppings are acidic and will eat your paint job in a few minutes if they make contact with your car’s body leaving a permanent and unsightly blotch.

When you are thinking about purchasing a car cover, think about what elements threaten your car, and in what context you'lkl be using your car cover. You get more bang for your buck when you choose a car cover that is custom fit to your car's conditions and needs.

 

 

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Jan 17 2010

A Quality Car Cover Will Protect Your Vehicle

Unless you are keeping your car in a garage on a regular basis, a car cover is the best protection you can invest in and the good news is that they are one of the cheapest car accessories available. It feels great to drive around in a great-looking car when the gleaming paint job attracts admiring looks!

Prevention is far better than cure and while regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure the look and running of your vehicle are kept in good shape, much of what you have to do can be avoided if the elements and environment cannot impact on the vehicle in the first instance.

A good quality car cover will provide excellent protection from the rain and snow; water is a major hazard for your car as the paint job can become affected by acidic elements in the water which will cause unsightly blotches and patches on the pain work and of course, there is the perennial problem of rust affecting the entire vehicle. A car cover should have a low degree of permeability but not be entirely waterproof – permeability is measure of how well air and water will pass through the cover.

You still need air to circulate under the cover because this will ensure that moisture in stale air is unable to accumulate which in turn will result in mold and mildew affecting the interior as well as rust patches. At the same time, rain and snow melt will have disappeared before it has a chance to pass through the car cover and get to the underside.

The rays of the sun damage a car's paint job - just like we can get sunburned, so can your car (especially your red car). Whether you are keeping your car in the exposed sun or in the shade, the sun’s harmful rays will have an impact on your paint job so make sure your car cover has a high UV protection factor and avoid faded paintwork.

A well-fitted car cover will automatically act as a deterrent to thieves and vandals. Car thieves are typically opportunists and if your vehicle is protected by a car cover, this means they have to spend more time getting the cover off before they can steal belongings from the car, or even the vehicle itself.

If you use your car frequently, consider a lightweight car cover - they are easy to fit and stow and don't take up too much room. A heavy duty car cover is more appropriate when you are storing the vehicle for significant periods of time; a heavy duty cover will also provide better physical protection from dings and bumps caused by playing children, pets and wildlife as well as falling tree branches and debris.

 

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