How to Clean Your Car the Right Way

Proper Washing

1. Wash the wheels and tires first. If you splash wheel cleaners or dirt onto your vehicle, you can simply wash it off as you wash your vehicle. Use a cleaner that is safe for all wheels, like Wolfgang Tire & Wheel Cleaner. It is water-based and has no corrosive chemicals, which is safer for coated wheels and rubber. Agitate with a wheel brush to clean wheels without scratching. Wash each wheel and tire one at a time and rinse thoroughly before moving on to the next one. NOW EMPTY AND RINSE ALL CLEANING MATERIALS including your Pinnacle Safe Scrub Bug & Tar Sponge and your wash bucket.

2. Now you’re ready to wash. Let’s start with clean water and a freshly rinsed container and our Micro-chenille Wash Mitt. It’s important to use a car wash that is rich in lubricants. The purpose of the car wash is to remove contaminants and lubricate them so they do not scratch the paint as they slide off the vehicle. Dish detergents are not ideal because they remove protective coatings. P21S Bodywork Conditioning Shampoo, DP Auto Wash and Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo are all fantastic choices. They do not remove wax and provide ample lubrication of gritty particles.

3. How do you prevent swirl marks? Use two buckets. Fill one bucket with soapy water and fill the other with clean water. Each time you’re ready to reload your sponge with soapy water, dip it in the clean water first, to rinse out the grit and contamination you’ve just removed from your vehicle. Then dip it in the soapy water and continue washing.

An even better option is the Grit Guard. This plastic grid sits in the bottom of a 5-gallon wash bucket and stabilizes the water. Contamination and particles settle to the bottom of the bucket and the clean wash water remains at the top.


4. Always rinse your vehicle thoroughly before you begin washing in order to remove loose debris. Then begin washing at the top of the vehicle. Wash down the vehicle as opposed to front to back. Remember that the lower panels are dirtiest. You want to clean the windows and the upper panels before cleaning the lower half of the vehicle so that you don’t transfer grit to the top half of the vehicle. Rinse and reload your Sponge often to prevent cross-contamination. Rinse your vehicle frequently as you work, especially in hot weather.

For stubborn spots, like bugs or tar, use the Pinnacle Safe Scrub Bug & Tar Sponge to gently remove sticky contaminants without scratching. To soften the sponge, soak it in warm water for 3 minutes. Always use it with soapy water to lubricate the sponge. If you choose to use a spot cleaner, spray it on before washing and reapplywax to the treated area after you’ve dried the vehicle.

5. When rinsing, you don’t have to blast your car clean with the water hose. Free-flowing water (no nozzle) will allow the water to sheet off of your vehicle for a more thorough rinsing.

To see how to dry with the proper technique, follow the link below! 

Courtesy of Autogeek.net

Link: http://bit.ly/1joMsIJ

Maintenance Questions You're Afraid to Ask

 

We've all been there-- you have a question about something basic...but you don't ask it.  Chances are, someone else has been where you are and had the same confusion!  Here are some frequently asked questions (with answers!) about maintaining your car.

 

How often do I need to change the oil in my vehicle?

There are many variables that determine how often an oil change is needed (climate, drive time, highway or city street driving, etc.) You should refer to the Scheduled Maintenance section in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

 

Should I consider using synthetic motor oil in my vehicle?

Synthetic motor oils can be a good choice for high output, turbocharged or supercharged engines. Or for vehicles that are used for towing (especially during hot weather), and vehicles that operate in extremely cold or hot climates. Although more expensive than mineral-based oils, synthetic motor oils can improve fuel economy and provide longer intervals between changes.

 

How often should I rotate my tires?

Your tires should be rotated every other oil change. Neglecting to rotate tires is a major cause of premature tire wear.

 

Is it really necessary to replace my timing belt at the recommended interval?

YES. The failure of a timing belt in many cars can result in major engine damage. The cost of repairing an engine with a broken timing belt is much greater than the cost of a timing belt replacement.

 

 

Have more questions?  Give us a call!  We'd love to talk to you.

How to Change a Tire in 9 Easy Steps

Having a flat tire and not knowing how to change it can make you feel helpless. Changing a tire is easy enough to do, and everyone should have a general idea of what's involved:

Secure the vehicle so that it won't roll; and roll the spare tire to the scene of the action.

Never change a tire on an incline or hill; always seek a flat surface, even if it means driving on a flat tire. Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised.

Pry off the wheel cover.

You can use a screwdriver to pry the wheel cover off. Just insert the point of the tool where the edge of the cover meets the wheel, and apply a little leverage. The cap should pop off. You may have to do this in a couple of places, as if you were prying the lid off a can of paint.

Loosen the lug nuts.

 You might know this as breaking the lug nuts. Whatever you call it, find the end of the wrench that fits the lug nuts on your vehicle, and fit it onto the first nut. Apply all your weight to the bar on the left. This starts turning the nut counterclockwise, which loosens it. Don't remove the lug nuts completely; just get them loose enough to remove by hand after you jack up the vehicle. A hollow pipe and a cross-shaft wrench can loosen the tightest lug nuts.

If you have alloy wheels that are held on by lug nuts with delicate finishes, the delicate aluminum or chrome-plated lug nuts need careful handling. They should never be loosened or replaced with power tools that can scratch the delicate finish.

Jack up the vehicle about 6 inches off the ground.

Place the jack securely under the edge of the car. Proper locations may vary among vehicle models, so consult the owner's manual for the right places to put the jack. 
If you have a scissor jack (image a), insert the rod or wrench over the knob, and then crank. If you have a hydraulic jack (image b), place the handle into the appropriate location and pump up and down. Use nice, even strokes, taking the jack handle from its lowest point to its highest point on each stroke to cut down on the labor involved.

Remove the flat tire.

Take the lug nuts completely off by hand and put them in a safe place — inside the wheel cover or hub cap works well. Grasp the flat tire with both hands and pull it straight toward you. As you pull the flat off, it should slide along the bolts until it clears the end of the bolts and you find yourself supporting its full weight. Roll the flat along the ground to the rear of the vehicle to get it out of the way.

Lift the spare onto the lug bolts.

Because tires are heavy, you may have a little trouble lifting the spare into place — especially if you're not accustomed to lifting heavy things.

Replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand.

Give each lug nut a jolt with the wrench to get it firmly into place, but wait until the car is on the ground before you really try to tighten the lug nuts.

Lower the vehicle and tighten the lugnuts.

After the vehicle is resting on the ground, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can.

Replace the wheel cover or hubcap.

If your car has wheel covers with a delicate finish, the owner's manual should provide instructions for replacing it. If your car has hubcaps, place the hubcap against the wheel and whack it into place with the heel of your hand. Cushion your hand with a soft rag first so that you won't hurt it. And don't hit the hubcap with a wrench or hammer — you'll dent it.

Courtesy of Dummies.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1jazEkD

Quick Guide: Auto Detail 101

Supplies:

To properly Quick Detail your car you'll need a few high quality, plush microfiber buffing towels, and quick detailing spray. A car duster also works well at removing the top layer of dust prior to quick detailing, but is not necessary.
Quick Detailing is not just for the exterior of your car. There are detailing sprays for your car's interior as well. Sonus Cockpit Detailer or the multi-use Ultima Detail Spray Plus are excellent interior detailers. They will remove dust, fingerprints and light soil from all non-fabric surfaces.

INTERIOR QUICK DETAILING

About three to four times per year you should clean and protect your interior, but that that is simply not enough to keep your interior fresh and clean. A few years ago due to the popularity of the exterior quick detailer, a new interior quick detail emerged. Why not have the ease keeping the outside clean available for the interior too! The idea is about the same as the exterior quick detailer, just mist and wipe to maintain freshly detailed interior look. 
To use an interior detailing spray, fold your microfiber detailing towel, spray it with a few shots of detailing spray, and wipe down the dashboard, console and leather seats, door panels and door jambs. The interior detailing spray was made more for dusting than cleaning, just as the exterior spray, it is a maintenance product and is not meant to replace interior cleaners or protectants.

EXTERIOR QUICK DETAILING

The number one concern most people have with quick detailing is scratching or dulling the paint. This is a genuine concern and warrants discussion.
Quick detailing your paint is perfectly safe if you follow a few cautionary measures:

• Use only high quality microfiber buffing towels with a thick, plush nap
• Use plenty of quick detailing spray
• If in doubt, if you think your car might be too dirty, don't quick detail, wash it instead.

QUICK DETAILING PROCEDURE

Paint Condition: To prevent scratching and swirl marks, a Quick Detail Spray should not be used to clean large areas with heavy dirt. If in doubt or when heavy dirt is present, wash your vehicle with quality car wash shampoo.

Always use a high quality microfiber buffing towel and fold your towel into quarters.

Start at the top and work your way down to the lower surfaces of your car. Holding the Quick Detail Spray 12" to 15" away, lightly mist about a 2' by 2' area on the surface of your car with a Quick Detail Spray like the Ultima Detail Spray Plus, one of the Sonus Quick Detailing Sprays, Detailer's Pro Series Final Gloss Detailer, or Pinnacle Crystal Mist.


Gently wipe in a straight line back and forth , then flip the microfiber buffing towel and buff dry

As the surface of the microfiber buffing towel gets dirty, flip it to a clean side.

If needed, when all sides of the towel start to look a little dirty, switch to a fresh microfiber buffing towel.

Courtesy of autopia-carcare.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1joFrHZ

Pet Travel Tips!

It's usually not as easy as you think it would be. Bringing your best non-human friend on the road with you seems simple enough, right? Not always so. Here are a few tips on how to make travel with your pet easier.

Healthy Start: The last thing you need on the road is a sick pet. Make sure your pet is all set on vaccinations and has the proper certificates if you intend to cross any international/province/state borders.

Frequent Pit Stops:  You pet can get stir crazy just like you! Stop at any designated waiting area or service stop and take it on a little walk. This may increase your travel time, but it is well worth it! Breaks like these also serve as a perfect time to hydrate.

Proper Restraint:  Whether your pet is calm and obedient in the car it is always important to make sure they are safe. No need to roll the windows down for fresh air, you don't want any debris hitting them in the face. A favorite blanket or pet bed is perfect for a long road trip. Creating a normalcy and routine for car rides helps your pet stay calm.

There are lots of other ways to make you and your pet calm during a car ride lasting anywhere between 5 minutes and 8 hours. Thank you!

Courtesy of Tripswithpets.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1hrgECD

5 Roadside Attractions You Have to See!

We wanted to provide a quick list of roadside attractions around the U.S.A. On your next road trip take a look at some of these wonders if you are passing by!

1.  Ave Maria Grotto | Cullman, Alabama

The Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala., devoted some 50 years to the project. "To pass the time, I started hobbies," he once said. After he made 5,000 small grottoes, which were sold to support the abbey's work, Zoettl began work on his magnum opus, the Ave Maria Grotto. Today, spread out across three acres of the abbey's forested grounds, stand tiny replicas of St. Peter's Basilica, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the grotto of St. Theresa, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, an Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine, the Great Wall of China and miniature versions of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Rome, among others. He even crafted a mini St. Bernard's Abbey, complete with the abbey's power station where he once worked shoveling coal.


2. Carhenge | Alliance, Nebraska
 













On a 10-acre plot in Alliance, Neb., stands Carhenge — a monument that looks like the artistic offspring of Stonehenge and Cadillac Ranch. Envisioned by artist Jim Reinders in 1987, Carhenge is an arrangement of 38 autos, painted slate gray and placed in a formation mimicking England's medieval wonder.


3. Desert of Maine | Freeport, Maine

When you think of Maine, you think of fresh seafood, idyllic sunsets and endless blue water. So a desert is probably the farthest thing from your mind. But if you're around the Freeport area, this natural wonder is a must-see. Bad farming after 1797 led to soil erosion and the creation of natural desert-like conditions. Surrounded by green hills, this unlikely wonder covers nearly 50 acres and can be explored with 30-minute coach tours or on foot.


4. Lucy the Elephant | Margate City, New Jersey














Victorian speculator James V. Lafferty, who hit upon the idea of driving up interest in beachfront property he owned by constructing 'Lucy,' a building shaped like an elephant. Though 'zoomorphic architecture' failed to take off, Lucy became a popular tourist attraction, her belly serving variously as a restaurant, summer home and speakeasy. Though she fell into disrepair in the 1960s, Lucy was soon saved from the wrecking ball, moved onto public land and designated a National Historic Landmark.



5. The Blue Whale | Catoosa, Oklahoma














Drive along Route 66 through a pair of side-by-side bridges and you're bound to come across an even more bizarre sight: a famous beached whale. Built in the 1970s as an anniversary gift from one man to his wife, Oklahoma's grinning Blue Whale is 80 feet long, and rests in a pond that has since become a favorite watering hole for locals and passing travelers.


If you have a suggestion or a favorite roadside attraction, tell us and post a picture to our Facebook page!

Courtesy of Time.com

Link: http://ti.me/1gSfeMw

Jeep Wrangler Mojo and Cherokee Dakar teased ahead of Moab Easter Safari

Jeep has an annual tradition of debuting wild, new concepts during its Easter Jeep Safari, and this year looks to be no different. The automaker has already confirmed two of the six vehicles for 2014 – the Cherokee Dakar (pictured above) and Wrangler Mojo. This year's event runs in Moab, Utah, from April 12-20.

There are no official details about either of the concepts yet – Jeep will release more info on the new models next week. Judging by the pictures, though, the Cherokee Dakar appears to be lifted with some knobby off-road tires. The Wrangler Mojo looks to have a bulging hood that might hide a more powerful engine underneath.

Past vehicles at the Easter Jeep Safari have included a Hemi V8-powered Wrangler, a classically inspired pickup and modernized Jeep Forward Control. Since this is the brand's chance to express itself every year, hopefully it has some more sensational concepts up its sleeve. Scroll down to read the little information that has been revealed about this year's models so far.

Courtesy of AutoBlog.com

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