Safeguarding Your Car From Winter Weather

March 4, 2010

Winter can be very harsh on automobiles, especially on the east coast.  Anybody living where there is a heavy amount of snow over the winter months need to take these steps to insure good mechanical and cosmetic health for their vehicle.
1st;  proper changing of fluids.. New coolant, replenishing windshield wiper fluid, and an oil change. Fluid build-up through the winter can damage all different types of parts inside your car. Most service options at mechanic shops will take care of these processes for you.

2nd; Make sure you always keep your gas tank from getting low.  Keeping your gas too low can cause fuel lines to freeze.

3rd; Another One other consideration is getting a brand new set of winter tires. Particularly with rear-wheel drive autos which can make your driving experience safer in the snow. Make sure that the pressure in your tires is where it needs to be.

4th; One other important tool during the winter is to have a strong vehicle cover to protect it from harsh weather conditions.

These steps are extremely important if you want your car to have a long lifespan and higher resell value.


Do I Need a Car Cover?

March 1, 2010

If you treat your car with proper care then it will give you much less heart ache. This entails not only cleaning your car regularly but keeping up on repairs such as balancing/ rotating your tires, getting oil changes on time, etc.. However many people whom do not have a garage or overhang to protect their car at home, do not realize how important it is to protect your car. This is where car covers come in. But how should you go about getting one, and what should be considered?

First consider how your car is being protected, if at all, already.  Whether it is in a garage, in the driveway, or on the road next to the house or apartment. If the vehicle is kept outside, you are going to need a cover with thicker padding. This will ensure that falling tree branches, other cars inching by in the parking lot or garage, rain, and so on, will not dent or dirty your car. That kind of cover will not necessarily be needed in an inside setting, but keep in mind that something can still happen to it while it sits in the garage.

There are all kinds of covers on the market, from truck covers to limousine covers to van covers. Many can be picked up cheaply from car dealerships and other places, but you are paying for the quality depending on the price you pay. If your car’s health really means something to you, then you will consider a better quality cover.  Better covers can be found on websites that specialize in vehicle covers.  You can find many different covers that offer you different advantages depending on what it is you want to protect you vehicle from.  There guaranteed 100% waterproof car covers as well as premier covers guard against UV rays.  These websites will make shopping easy by simply asking for the make and model of your car and then listing the size cover you will need to purchase. You can also have a cover custom created for your vehicle’s specific size and needs. It is more expensive but will save you much more money in the long run.


Car Covers are a Great Option

February 28, 2010

It always is a good feeling to walk outside and see your shiny clean car.  The hard work I put into washing it the day before has really paid off.  But in a few days the car is going to pick up road dust or even splash through some puddles and by the end of the week it’s going need to be washed again.

Before the economy went downhill a lot more people could afford to go to the car wash once or twice a week. But lately we have been more aware of our spending and expenses like that have been removed from our budgets.  It is still important to us to have a clean car but often we have other things that need to be done instead of taking the time to wash our vehicle. Now you must decide to either invest in a garage or a car cover.

Building a garage will obviously be a much bigger hit on your wallet. However, buying a car cover is not only more budget friendly, but quick and easy.  Nowadays, car cover websites offers vehicle covers for virtually every make and model dating back to as late as the 50’s!. If you have a car even older than that then there are upholstery shops that can custom fit a cover for you.

Putting a car cover on is much less of a hassle than you might think.  The fabric is flexible making it easy to fold and unfold,  and has elastic on the end so that it hugs the car as soon as you put it in place.  The process only takes a few minutes.  If you have a larger truck or SUV then it will obviously take you a couple minutes longer, but it still quick and easy.


Shop for Car Covers the Smart Way

February 25, 2010

If you have a car that you keep outside without any protection then you might want to consider a car cover. If this is the case then you are allowing the sun rays, pollution, dirt, and everything else our environment offers to damage your car. A lot of the damage will not be noticeable immediately. It will accumulates over time and often will be too late by the time you notice. Some people even use a car cover when they park their car inside a garage. This offers your car about as much protection as you can get.

Buying a car cover is not difficult. However, you should understand that there are different types of covers. A heavy flannel car cover is great for cars being stored indoors. They protect your car from dust and dings. A less expensive car cover is generally made of cotton and polyester. This will offer your car a fundamental protection. Depending on the material some covers will protect your car from sun rays. The best cover that offers this protection is from DuPont Tyvek.

You also have the choice of a custom made cover. This offers the best protection for your car because it fits your car just like a suit fits your body. All you need is to give the cover manufacturer some basic information such as the year and make of your car.

The best car cover you can purchase offers double stitching. This adds to the durability. Another consideration, when you are shopping for a car cover, is to read the directions and find those that offer resistance to both mold and mildew. If the cover is breathable is should resist both mold and mildew. Usually, if mildew or mold attacks your car cover it will cause the cover to become worthless. When the mold and mildew stagnate, they can also cause damage to the paint on your car.

Some people make the choice of buying the cheapest car cover they can find.  As you can imagine, they will offer the least protection which can lead to much bigger costs down the road than paying for a better more expensive cover.


Tips for Driving in Icy Road Conditions

January 13, 2010

When you tell someone that you were in a car accident, what is the first question that they usually ask after “Are you OK?” My guess is, “How fast were you going?” The fact is accidents can happen at any speed.

Of course the faster you are going at impact the greater the amount of damage to the vehicles involved, the higher the risk of injury and fatality. Make no mistake, slow moving cars that are involved in accidents can cause damage and injuries also

In fact, in the case of icy road conditions, slow moving cars will increase speed when you apply your brakes to avoid an accident. You will become powerless to control your vehicle to avoid crashing into other cars, buildings, telephone poles and even pedestrians. The best way to avoid an accident while driving in icy conditions is by applying pressure on and off the brakes while steering the car away from possible collisions.

The best way to avoid an accident during icy road conditions is to not drive at all. Unfortunately, most of us do not have that luxury. The next best thing you can do is use snow chains which will give you more traction and control of your vehicle. The last thing you can do to stay safe while driving in these conditions is to keep extra distance between you and the car in front of you giving you more time to react to anything that happens out of the ordinary.

CoverGuy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers, mini van covers and limousine covers at the lowest prices on the internet. Secure checkout.


7 Easy Tips for Improving Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

January 2, 2010

Because the majority of us earn $75,000 per year or less in income, the constant increases in gasoline prices can affect us greatly in terms of our disposable income. There are some things that we all can do to minimize the impact that those price increases will have on us. The most important thing is improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Here are 7 easy tips that you can use immediately to increase the efficiency of your own car, truck or SUV without spending much money at all. In some cases no cost whatsoever.

1) Turn off your car’s air conditioner unless the heat is unbearable. The air conditioner puts an added strain on your engine which reduces its efficiency. Reduced efficiency equals increased mile per gallon cost.

2) Try and avoid driving during high traffic times. If you have to drive during peak traffic times try and find alternate routes that will require less stop-and-go traffic. Starting and stopping your car increases the amount of fuel that you use.

3) Change you oil more frequently during summer months. Extreme heat breaks down the friction reducing qualities of your oil which causes your engine to have to work harder, decreasing fuel efficiency. Use a higher grade oil, whether it’s synthetic or standard oil that’s been treated with a friction-reducing additive. It has been proven by independent testing that better oils can increase fuel efficiency by as much as 12 percent.

4) Use your cruise control whenever it is safe. Steady speeds can boost your vehicle’s efficiency quite a bit and will make driving long distances less stressful.

5) When driving uphill do not increase your car’s speed. Your engine already has to work harder. Conversely, when traveling downhill, take your foot off the gas and see if you can maintain the speed limit without applying more gasoline.

6) Remove any temporary accessories that are on your vehicle like luggage or bike racks from the top or front of your vehicle. These racks reduce the aerodynamics of your vehicle, thereby decreasing your car’s fuel efficiency.

7) While driving at higher speeds, keep your windows closed. Open windows can cause friction and reduce the aerodynamics of your vehicle.

CoverGuy is affiliated withCarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers at prices to fit every budget. We sell 100% waterproof covers as well. Secure checkout.


Should I Run My Car’s Air Conditioning in the Winter?

December 16, 2009

Now that the fall and winter seasons are upon us, most of us will be using our car’s heater on a semi regular basis. It would not be unusual to go four months or more without using the air conditioner in our Car, Truck or SUV and not give it a second thought.

There are a couple of reasons why you should run your air conditioner at least once every two weeks for 10 minutes or more. The first reason is that it will keep the seals of your AC unit lubricated. The majority of the AC systems in vehicles today have self lubricating features. They only work while the system is running.

The second reason is that it is less likely that your system will not work when you go to use it in the spring and summer months. Older AC systems will lose their Freon if you do not use them on a regular basis.

Coverguy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells waterproof car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers.


Driving Your Car in Winter Weather

October 27, 2009

Driving your car or truck in rain, snow or under icy conditions can be stressful as well as perilous. There are a few things that you can do to increase your chances of a safe outing.

· Make sure your windshield wiper blades are working properly

· If you live in an area where you get a lot of snow, change to snow tires in the winter season or carry tire chains at all times.

· Leave extra room between you and the car in front of you.

· When there is more than one lane in your direction of travel, leave yourself an out (make sure there is no vehicle beside you in the next lane).

· Keep a windshield ice scraper in your trunk. Sometimes when you park your car for a while you will get ice build up on your windshield that you will want to remove before driving again.

· If you brake and start to fish tail, do not brake harder or panic. Instead if there are no vehicles in front of you let up on the brake and turn your wheel into the direction of the slide.

· Drive slower than usual.

You should always drive defensively, but it is more important as the driving conditions get worse.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limo covers at discounted prices. Secure checkout.


Tips for Saving Money on New Rims for Your Ride

October 21, 2009

With the economy being in the dumps, just about everyone is looking to save money where they can. If you are in the market for some rims for your car or truck we have four tips on where or how you might be able to save money on your purchase.

The first place to look is your local auto salvage yard or junk yards. There are plenty of cars that were in accidents that have been deemed not worth fixing that have had no damage to their rims. The salvage yards piece meal off the parts from these cars making for a great opportunity for you to get a great deal on some new wheels.

The internet is another source for cheap rims. While a lot of these companies that sell on the internet have a brick and mortar location as well, there are equally a number that only sell on the internet without the overhead of the brick and mortar business. This translates into savings for you. Don’t forget to figure in the cost of installation.

There are also companies that will take your existing rims and have them chromed. A lot of the rim designs are nothing more than factory non chromed rims which have been chromed. Some of the companies have those chromed rims in stock and will change your rims for theirs when you come in so that you do not have to wait long.

The last suggestion is to shop for your rims on EBay or Craigs list. Most of the time the rims that you find here will be used, however more and more businesses are selling new rims on EBay at reduced prices.

Like anything else, do your homework before purchasing so that you know exactly what you will be getting as far as quality, size you need, etc..

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers at discount prices. Secure checkout.


There are Benefits to Window Tinting Your Vehicle’s Windows

October 15, 2009

Most people do not realize that there are more benefits to tinting your car, truck or SUV’s windows than keeping the inside of your vehicle cooler. Here is a short list of the other benefits of tinting your windows;

· UV Protection – The sun will dry out your interior and cause it to crack over time. Professional grade window films can block up to 99% of these harmful rays. It also can help protect your skin as everyone knows that the suns UV rays can lead to skin cancer.

· Privacy and Security – Tinted glass can add a little privacy and added security to your vehicle. It makes it harder for would be thieves to see what valuable equipment you may have installed or valuable personal belongings are in your car. The tinting film also provides some added strength to the glass of your car or truck in the event of a break in. This may slow the thief just enough for someone to catch him/her in the act and call the police.

· Protection from Broken Glass – If you are in an auto accident your window film can help keep the glass breakage from flying throughout your car, truck or SUV. The combination of the film’s adhesive and the tensile strength of the film itself can keep the glass intact to a certain degree, thereby reducing the chance of serious injury from broken glass.

· Reduces Glare – The Sun’s glare reflecting off another vehicle can reduce the visibility of your peripheral vision. Having your side windows tinted (it is illegal to tint your entire windshield) can help reduce or eliminate that glare that can obscure your vision of oncoming traffic.

· Makes Your Vehicle Look Better – Tinted windows on any vehicle makes it look better as long as you do not go too dark.

Coverguy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon and limousine covers at discounted prices. Secure checkout.