Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

Wheel & Tyre Care

Wheel & Tyre Care

Maintenance of painted, anodized and clear-coated aluminum   wheels is not much different than cleaning body paint.

Wheels pickup alot of road grit and abrasives which could scratch your paint. Wheel Arches are the inner area that surrounds the wheels & tyres and so any dirt and comtaiments picked up from the road surface by will be deposited on them quickly too. As well as pickig up dirt from the road 

The wheels get covered and with in the arch itself and these will work better and last longer if kept free from the build up of harmful containments.

Tyres also pickup and carry all the same dirt & containments that the wheels do. It is impotant to properly clean and dress your tyres as this helps to prevent the tyre walls from fading, cracking and degrading due to the sun and water from the road surface.

So a strong alkaline based wheel/tyre cleaner is needed to break the bond between dirt, tar, brakedust and wheels to creep under the surface to loose the dirt. When caring for your wheels it is important that you have the proper products and tools. We recommend maintaining your wheels with a Automotive wash cleaner and water with a dedicated wash mitt, every time you clean your vehicle (1 to 2 weeks). Thorough cleaning of your wheels and adding layer(s) of protection should be done every 2 to 3 months. It is also important to know what type of wheels you have so you use the proper products on them. If you have factory alloy wheels, chances are they have a layer of clear coat on your wheels. This makes things easy because you can use a variety of wheel cleaners without worrying about oxidizing your wheels finish. You can also treat them like you would your clear coat on your paint, which means you can wash clay, polish and protect your wheels.

Some wheels need extra cleaning power such as chrome wheels and those made of roughcast metals. In this case, strong cleaners like Mothers® Foaming Wheel&Tire Cleaner can be employed. Take extra care to prevent the cleaner from coming into contact with other parts of the car, and don't let it sit too long before hosing off. Be sure your wheels are chrome or roughcast, because Chrome Wheel Cleaner can damage clear-coated and painted wheels. When doing chrome wheels, you can chase the cleaner with a chrome polish to properly finish the job..

Your wheels should be completely cool when you start to clean them. If you have been out driving, even just a little bit, give them ample time to cool down before using any cleaner on them. You can spray them down with water to help them cool down but it may take some additional time for them to reach air temperature so you can begin cleaning. Clean the wheels in the shade whenever possible to avoid water marks or rinse them frequently while in direct sunlight.

Polish:

Polishing your wheels can help increase the depth and gloss of your wheels as well as remove minor surface imperfections. If your wheels have a clear coat on them, then you can treat them the same as you would polishing your paint. If your wheels consist of bare metal, such as the lip of your wheel, you can polish them using a metal polish to increase gloss and depth and remove minor imperfections.

Recomended Products: http://www.autofresh.in/home-wheel-tire-care

Leather Care

About Leather Care

Leathers are made of animal skin. Leathers are breathable, nondurable.

Mainly protected/Topcoated leather comes in super luxury cars. This is the most common leather type and is issued in over 95% of interiors. The leather has a uniform appearance and color with a definate pattern(grain).

You cannot see any natural leather markings through the top coatings because a pigmented leather paint coat is applied to the surface. It is then sealed with adurable finish. If properly maintaines this finish will provide years of durability, Identofying chatecteristics of pigmented/Painted leather: uniform color and grain patterns will not scratch easily, water dropped on to the surface will not change the color of the leather.

Their enemies are dirt, dust, oil & sweat from the human body.This will cause leather to brake down, age and discolor surfaces. Detergents will damage and leather by dissolvingy the the protective coating causing the material to prematurely lose its sheen, dry and crack.

To prevent this happening always use a mild NON-Solvent based cleaner to clean the leather to avoid discoloration from any chemical containment.

How To Care:

    Leather can be virtually indestructible if treated properly. With a little bit of care and attention, your new leather will last well into vintage age and your vintage leather will continue to have a long happy life. Improper care or cleaning can crack and dry leather skins, removes finishes and colors. Keeping leather away from chemicals, heat, and humidity are key. If leather is like skin, think of its care as anti-aging; if you wouldn't put it on your own skin, it probably isn't very good for the leather either.
    choose a leather conditioner that is solvent-free, because it will penetrate deeply and won’t evaporate – which means you won’t have to reapply as frequently. To take best care to your leather, Neutral pH makes it mild and it’s safe to skins or leather and will keep the leather supple and shiny.
    The most important things to remember about leather is not to get it soiled, soaked, or let it dry out. Despite the fact that all of these things can be rectified to some extent, it is helpful to not let leather get into such a condition in the first place. Proper storage, cleaning, and conditioning will keep leather looking as good as new no matter how old it is.

In general products that clean and condition in one bottle are not as effective as a separate cleaner and conditioner. The trade off with using separate products is that it can cost more and they may take more time to apply. If interested in just a leather cleaner we recommend the Leatherique Prestine Clean & Mothers Leather Cleaner.

For conditioning, Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Sealer Treatment. Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil , Insta Finish Leather Conditioner & Restorer &, Mothers Leather Coditioner.. If you want to clean and condition in one bottle the Meguiars Leather Cleaner& Conditioner  The choice is yours.

Recomended Products: http://www.autofresh.in/home-interior-car-care-leather-care

Keep Your Alloys Shining

Monsoon Car Care Tips

Ask your mechanic the reason for a fault in your car, and he will give you a dozen possibilities. Your car not starting could be attributed to any number of reasons from a cold battery to a clog in the carburetor.

The phrase "Prevention is better than Cure" is most apt when it comes to car care, and even more so during the rains, when a minor fault could translate into more than just loss of time.

Nobody knows your car better than yourself. It is important that you report the right symptoms to your mechanic. While you are driving your car be alert for:

aUnusual sounds, odours, leaks, smoke, warning lights, gauge readings. 
aChanges in acceleration, engine performance, mileage, fluid levels. 
aProblems in handling, braking, steering, vibrations. 
aScratches, bubbles etc. on the paint 


The Monsoon Car Check : 

The modern car is made up of thousands of parts, any of which are liable to fail. A breakdown at best could mean a little discomfort, and at worst can create a potentially hazardous situation. While a breakdown is far from welcome at any time of the year, the consequences of a minor default can be magnified during the monsoons. A complete checkup and servicing of your car at the onset of the monsoon season is highly advisable. 

Given below are some of the 10 most common causes of breakdowns and accidents, which your pre-monsoon service should definitely check out for:

1. Worn Brake Parts 
2. Bald Tyres or tires with inadequate pressure 
3. Corroded Battery cable terminals 
4. Clogged Filters 
5. Worn Spark Plugs
6. Burned Out Lights
7. Loose Belts & Rotten Hoses 
8. Inadequate fluid levels - oils and coolants
9. Neglected Cooling System. 
10. Windshield Wiper Blades 

Rust :

Your car body is always has a propensity to rust due to the humidity present in the air (especially for those who stay near the coastal areas). The car-paint and finish play the very important role of protecting your car from the elements. Rain contains dirt and pollutants from the air (commonly referred to as acid rain) which can damage the finish on your car. After acid rain falls on your vehicle, the water evaporates, evaporates, leaving a film of acid on the car body. This acid can become so strong that it can "eat" through your car's finish, exposing the body underneath to rust. Some simple precautions you can take against rust: 

a) Do not neglect the daily wash of your car (especially in the monsoons). After a shower wash your car with clean tap water to remove the acid and dirt particles stuck on to your car.)


b) Waxing is a very effective way of protecting your car from the rains. It is highly recommended that you get your car waxed from before the rain starts and then regularly (atleast once a month) during the entire monsoon season.

c) The underside of your car is especially prone to rusting, since it is exposed to the water and dirt thrown by the wheels. There are several rust-protective products available in the market, which can be used on the more rust-prone parts of your car.

d) Keep a regular check - on the metal panels under the doors, around the wheels, in the trunk and the undercarriage of the car, as these parts are more liable to rust.

e) Do not neglect small scratches and nicks on the paint of your car body, since these expose the body to the rain, leaving the areas prone to rusting.


Interiors :

 Wet interiors can mean more than uncomfortable travel and smelly cars. Damp carpets & trims can cause your car-body to rust. As far as possible try to keep the interiors of your car dry. 

It is advisable that to entirely remove the carpets for the monsoons, and make do only with rubber mats & Plastic mats. Keep your clean & fresh. Always clean your car with some good interior cleaners. Use a car air freshener to clear out the smell. Also ensure that the rear wiper and heater are working right. Check and double check all the lights. Place your feet on the pedal and check if you have an adequate grip on the pedal. Your feet might slip if the pedal doesn’t provide adequate slip. Be sure to replace the pedals if you suspect a loose grip. Check the insulation of your car - rubber beadings on the doors and windows. 

If they appear loose or damaged tighten or change them. The condition of the beadings is crucial as they stop the rain from getting into the car, preventing rust and short-circuits.

Another hugely neglected item in a car's kit is safety tools - first-aid, basic medicines, torches, and umbrella etc.

 Windshield Wipers

a.) Cracks in the wipe edge, resulting in streaks on the glass which obscure vision
b.) Prevent the wiper to "lay over" as it changes direction across the glass, resulting in an annoying noise and an inadequate wipe.
c.) Prevent consistent contact with the glass resulting in un wiped regions.

Use plenty of windshield washer solvent, to get rid of stubborn dirt and prevent the windshield from getting scratched. Ensure that the arms of the windshield are properly set, so that there is no gap between the blade and the glass.

Dirty water splattered on your windshield is a common complaint during the monsoons. Mud flaps not only ensure that you do not cause any discomfort to other motorists (especially two-wheelers), but to an extent also protects the underside of your car from dirty water. Ensure that your car has mud flaps on all tyres. 

Car Covers

If your car is always parked outdoors (as most cars are), car-covers can afford protection from the harsh Indian sunlight, accidental scratches that could be caused by anything from dirt particles to naughty children, bird-dropping and - during the monsoon - from acid rain. However it is very important to select the right cover for your car, since a badly designed one will do you more harm than good. 

Some precautions that you should take when using car-covers are: 
1).If the cover is too loose, the wind may constantly cause it to rub against the body, and scratch the paint.
2).If the car is not clean, the dirt particles on the car can scratch the paint while putting and removing the car cover.
3).Many times makeshift covers are used, which are actually nothing but crude plastic sheets. While these may keep the rain off your car, it traps the moisture between the cover and the body, which can cause damage to the car-paint. 
4).While removing or putting the cover, roll it on or off the car rather than dragging it over the body, to prevent the cover from scratching the car paint. 

While buying your car-cover:

a.) Make sure that the cover has a bottom locking system to hold the bottom of the cover tightly. This will help prevent wind movement of the cover and thieves from taking a casual peek. 
b.) While the cover material should be water-resistant, it should also be "breathable", so that it allows air to circulate, preventing condensation.

Tyres :

Seeing that your tyres are in proper condition is a very important part of preparing your car for the monsoon. Two aspects to be kept in mind while checking your tyres are: the tread, and the tyre pressure. 

The "tread" is very important for your tyre to be able to grip the road properly. Completely smooth and "bald" tyres create a vacuum between the tyre and the ground. The grooves in the tyre allow circulation of air, preventing formation of the vacuum, and allowing for a proper grip of the road. The grooves allow water to slip out, and prevent a layer from being formed between the tyre and the ground. The ideal tread depth should be at least 1 cm.Thus while you need to ensure that your tyres are in proper condition at all times, it is absolutely essential to do so during the monsoons, when the roads are wet.

Incorrect pressure can cause tyres to wear out much faster and the car to consume more fuel. Most importantly, however, tyres with incorrect pressure could create hazardous driving conditions, causing blowouts, skidding and handling problems. 

Take these simple precautions while filling air in your tyres: 

a) Strictly follow the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. Never inflate a tyre beyond its maximum rating.
b) You could use your own portable pressure gauge which is small, convenient and fairly accurate.
c) The air-pressure should be ideally checked when tyres are cold (i.e. less than 2 kilometers of driving), since tyres that have been driven for sometime build up heat inside, and will show incorrect pressure. 
d) Check your tyre-pressure at least once every fortnight. 

Brakes :

Your car brakes along with the tyres are the two most important checks of your pre-monsoon service. The brake-fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water). Presence of moisture in the fluid can substantially lower its boiling point, which can lead to improper functioning of the brakes. The best indication of the condition of your brakes is the "play" or "feel" of the pedal. 
The brakes pedal should be hard, and travel should be restricted to a maximum of 50%. If the travel is excessive it means that the brake fluid has worn out or there are air-bubbles in the fluid. Thus either the entire fluid either needs to be replaced or the air in the system will have to be removed.
Another indication of the condition of your brakes is unusual noises. When you pump the brake pedal, friction from the brake lining causes heat. Under extreme conditions this can damage the pads and/or lining, brake drums and rotors. A metallic grinding sound indicates your brake pads are worn through. Metal-to-metal contact will damage drums or rotors. 
If your car pulls to one side when you brake, it indicates worn or uneven brake linings or a leak in one of brake lines. Brakes that are out of adjustment or have contaminated fluid can cause brakes to drag. 

The following checks should be made during your pre-monsoon service: 

Master Cylinder - The brake fluid is stored in the master cylinder, which should be checked regularly to ensure proper fluid level. 
Brake Lines - are the steel tubes, which connect the master cylinder to all the four wheels. Brake lines should be inspected for rust, which can lead to leaks. If the lines are damaged they should be replaced.
Brake Hoses - run from the brake lines to the brake calipers and wheel cylinders. The hoses should be checked for brittleness and cracks, which could also lead to brake-failure.
Linings and Pads - The pads and brake shoe linings should be checked periodically for uneven or excess wear, glazing, or saturation from brake fluid or grease. 
Calipers and Wheel Cylinders - Brakes are activated by brake fluid pressure from the master cylinder pushing a piston located in the caliper or wheel cylinder against the pad or shoe. A leak can cause erratic braking or brake failure. 
Bearings and Seals - Wheel bearings should be inspected and lubricated periodically. Worn wheel bearings, can cause erratic braking, and should be replaced. 

Conclusion:

The toughest time for driving cars in India, is during the monsoon season, especially in the city. Even if we follow all rules, regulations and tips, there is always an element of risk involved in driving and maintenance of vehicles. The above tips should allow you to at least minimize that.

But always ensure to use your best judgment at all times, and remember, better be safe than sorry!

We have covered several ideas for safer driving and maintenance of car. Still, there can always be more ideas for safer driving and maintenance of cars. We welcome our readers to share their experience on how they handled their car in past and present monsoon seasons.

Insta Finish Retail Products

 
 

 

 

and many more ....

Headlight Restoration

Do your headlights look like this? Keep reading!

If your headlights look hazy, discolored, and down right disgusting, you are victim to what is called oxidized headlights. You may also hear other similar phrases thrown around such as hazy headlights, cloudy headlights, or foggy headlights. However, don’t assume that it’s from your lack of care for your vehicle as the root cause. In fact, it is quite common and hundreds of thousands of cars face the same problem. Fortunately, anyone can restore their headlights and bring them back to crystal clear condition!

Hazy headlights are dangerous!

Most people do nothing about their cloudy headlights and assume their is no affect on overall visibility. However, that is far from the truth! According to the AAA, foggy headlights can reduce your headlights output by as much as 90%! Not only does it impact your visibility, it also impacts surrounding drivers from seeing you. Therefore, driving at night can become very dangerous and sometimes even fatal.

Why do headlights become hazy?

Most headlights are made from plastic / polycarbonate material. Overtime the clear coat will fade which causes oxidation to occur through normal everyday usage. This oxidation is only accelerated by the strong UV light from the sun if your vehicle is outdoors for long periods of time, tiny dirt, debris, and grime that contacts your headlights while in motion, and any chemicals that range from acidic rain to chemicals used to melt snow.

The right headlight restoration solution for you!

Repairing and cleaning your headlight can either cost you: nothing, a few bucks, or a couple hundred dollars, all depending on which route you choose to take. Rich folks might resort to taking it to a detailing shop which will probably charge them at least 3x what it would take for them to do it themselves. Rich folks also might just buy a brand new headlight which can costs hundreds of dollars from the dealership. The DIY folks will try to use home chemicals and products they read about working such as vinegar and toothpaste to only find out it’s never as effective. However, we recommend going with a well known car detailing oriented brand that specializes in car care, and in our case headlight restoration.

What is the best headlight restoration kit?

Well we set out to test different headlight restoration kits from 3M, Mothers, Meguiars, and more and after careful testing, we have found the best headlight restoration kit for the money. 

Meguiar's Headlight Lens Correction

Restore clouded headlights, to crystal clear, with no tools needed and fine finishing pads to remove oxidation. Removes yellowing and stubborn oxidation, PlastX premium ploish restores clarity, with less work, Headlight Protectant keeps the lens clear

Weekly checks for your car

Small preventive measures go a long way in ensuring that you dont run up a hefty bill when you take care for serving

Your car goes through a lot of changes  everytime you driveit. While  there is no subtitute for  a thorough check-up by taking it to a proper  service centre, a  few simple weekly checks will ensure that when the time comes to put  it in the servicing  bay, you wont burn a hole  in your  pocket . Ensure  to read the owner's  manual, as all basic  instructions needed to carry out routine  checks can be found in it. Here is a list of weekly  checks  that you should  carry out  in order to ensure that your car remains trouble freee....

Coolant

The  coolant level in the coolant bottle should be  checked every week. The  coolant  bottle is usually  located close to the radiator. Since the coolant level fluctuates with changes in the engine temprature it's best to check the level when the engine is still cold.

The bottle will have a high and low level mark and the fluid  levels should  be between  the two  marks. If the coolant  is in concentrate form, dilute it using distilled water.  Never use tap water in your cooling system. For  topping up always use coolant that is recommended by manufacturer.

Engine Oil

The  engine oil not only lubricates the engine , it also keeps it clean, prevents  corrosion as well keeps  the engine cool by carrying  away  heat  from  the  moving parts. When checking  the level of engine oil, ensure that the car is parked on a flat surface, preferably with the engine cold. The best time to do this  would be before you start the car in the morning. First remove the dipstick &  wipe with a clean cloth  and note the maximum and minimum levels. Now,  reinsert the dipstick and  remove it and note the oil level. It should be closer to the high level mark.  Top up, If  necessary. While topping use a small funnel as it will help prevent spillage. Remember, to reinsert the dipstick.

Battery

The battery is a much neglected part of  the car's electrical system and the cause of the most  breakdowns. Nowadays, with  most batteries being sealed for life, the needed for the topping up of electrolyte is no longer required. However, ensure that the terminals are free of  corrosion and that the battery case  is clean and dry.

Apply  little bit of  grease to prevent  moisture accumulation on the terminals. However, if your battery is non sealed  type then check the level by removing  the caps and ensure that the electrolyte covers the plates. Always top up with distilled water as tap water  can contaminate the  electrolyte and shorten the life of the battery.

Tyres

The  tyres dictate a car's handling and braking  performance. Maintain corrent air pressure  level i all  the tyres since in correct pressures can cause premature tyre wear and tear apart form poor handling. Over inflacted tyres can cause  the car to aquaplane in the wet  since the  contact patch becomes smaller.