Steering Wheel Covers for Your Luxury Sedan

If you are shopping for car accessories then don't forget to buy a good pair of steering wheel covers for your luxury sedan. These car accessories come in a variety of fabrics including plastic, cotton, leather and silk. The range of colors available in these accessories is quite staggering. You can any color including majestic white, jet black and mosaic color. Most car owners consider these items a luxury but actually they are a necessity. This accessory will not only enhance the look of your car but also improve your grip on the steering wheel. Made of cast iron, these accessories are very sensitive towards weather. It becomes hot in summer and chill in winter. You won't like to touch this wheel if it is not covered.

When decorating your car with new seat covers, mat and flooring, don't forget to buy matching steering wheel covers. Choose the one that matches perfectly with the interior of your car. Leather covers are very beautiful and they can work well in all weather condition. These accessories made up of leather are some expensive but you should buy them if you can. Car owners with limited budget can consider buying these accessories made up of cotton fabrics. Cotton covers also work well in all weather conditions and they come in a massive array of colors, designs and patterns.

If you want to use ravishing steering wheel covers then look no further than the plastic coverings. Such accessories are simply irresistible because they are glossy and feel like silk when touched. They are available in amazing colors and designs. The good thing about such items is that they are affordable. But these items are not suitable for harsh weather conditions. These accessories become redundant when the temperature is too low or too high. You can use them on your wheel in spring season.

When choosing steering wheel covers, you should keep in mind the model of your car and quality of the accessories you are going to buy for your vehicle. These items should be compatible with the sofa cover, mat and flooring. These accessories made up of leather are the best because they can mix well with any setting. Also they are suitable for all weather conditions. If you find such items to be too expensive to buy then consider items made up of cotton fabric. Always buy a couple of car accessories so that you can change them as and when required. Changing such items is not a problem.

Austinson Byron is an expert of auto motive industry. The author has more than 20 years experience in helping people find the right auto part outlets from where quality products can be purchased at never before prices. For More Information Please Visit, Steering Wheel Covers & Projector Headlight.

Can The Wrong Car Cleaning Products Damage Your Car?

If you pay a visit to your local auto parts store you will discover a wall full of car care and detailing products. It's no different on the web. Most retailers of car detailing supplies have so many cleaners, polishes and waxes that it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between even the most basic items. So how do you know what works and what doesn't? More importantly, can the wrong products damage your car?

Practically speaking, there are only a few categories of detailing products. For ease of discussion you can break it down into cleaners, polishes and protectants. A few products have more than one purpose. Chemicals that clean and protect in a single step are a good example.

Car Wash

A car wash is a gentle soap that's designed to clean the exterior of your car without removing wax protection. A soap is not the same as a detergent. A detergent will remove wax protection with a single use. That's why you should not use a household cleaner like Dawn dish washing liquid, unless you're planning to wax your car.

I recommend selecting a car wash soap based on what works best for you. You may need to try a few because they all react a bit differently to water quality conditions. That said, all of the major brand names are pretty close in quality. I like Meguiar's Gold Class. Mothers California Gold is another popular brand.

Tire and Wheel Cleaners

A tire cleaner is a detergent that has enough cleaning power to cut through old tire dressing and the road grunge film that builds up on tires and turns them brown. Be careful. If you find a product that contains petrochemicals or bleach, stay clear. These chemicals will really do a number on fine alloy wheels and they cause tires to age prematurely.

To properly clean your wheels, look for an all-purpose cleaner or an all-purpose wheel cleaner. Don't use an acid based cleaner unless you have chrome wheels. If you don't use a cleaner containing acid correctly it will permanently damage your wheels.

Engine and Undercarriage Cleaners

Most people don't clean their engines, but it's a great habit to get into because it helps reduce corrosion. Once a year of so is perfect. It takes strong chemicals to remove dirt, grease, oils and grime. The best cleaner for this job was d-limonene, but it is an environmental hazard, so it's banned in many areas. I suggest a detergent cleaner, not petroleum, such as Meguiar's new engine cleaner. They really did a good job formulating it for new engines with plastic covers and other composite components.

Leather and Vinyl Cleaner

Leather and vinyl are common throughout car interiors. Both materials are very durable, but the sun, dirt and oils from our bodies can cause rapid deterioration. Skin oils cause vinyl and leather to age and discolor, so frequent light cleaning is necessary to avoid issues. It's difficult to tell where real leather ends and plastic or vinyl begins theses days, so I recommend using a product designed for both. Lexol is the recognized leader.

Upholstery and Carpet Cleaners

For your carpet and fabric finishes, including carpeted floor mats, you can choose sprays or foams. There's no easy answer here because there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Foams have the ability to push dirt to the surface where it can be vacuumed away. They also put less liquid into the fibers so the carpet or fabric dries faster. Conversely, liquid cleaners thoroughly wetting the fabric and carpet fibers for deep cleaning. I prefer liquid cleaners.

Glass and Plastic Cleaners

Ammonia-based glass cleaners should not be used on your vehicle. It's harsh on interior car surfaces and it's a health risk when used in confined spaces. A better solution is a damp microfiber towel. They clean glass without using chemical cleaners. You can clean clear plastic surfaces, including window tint film, with a glass cleaner as long as it does not contain ammonia or alcohol. These chemicals will ruin clear plastic. A better solution is to use a plastic cleaner, such as Plexus.

Paint Polish

Paint polish, not car wax, is what gives paint its high gloss shine. Choose a car polish that matches the needs of your car's paint finish. New cars need a fine polish that cleans more than polishes. This type of polish is typically called a pre-wax cleaner. If you have swirl marks, fine scratches or water spots, choose a polish that specifically addresses these problems, but don't use heavy rubbing compounds.

Clay Bar

About ten years ago a new product came onto the market for general use that cleans better than car polish. It's called detailing clay, and it works like an erasure. Using a spray lubricant to prevent sticking, you simply rub the clay bar over the paint finish to make it clean and slick again. All of the bonded contamination transfers directly to the clay.

Car Wax

The final step is waxing. These days, "car wax" refers to any coating you apply to protect the paint. Synthetic waxes are also called paint sealants. Be leery of false claims on paint sealants. Too many products claim to last a year or more, and it's simply not true. Regardless of any claim, your vehicle needs regular cleaning and waxing to prevent surface oxidation. Waxing three to four times a year is optimal.

To learn more about car cleaning products visit David Bynon's Guide To Detailing blog, a leading source of information about detailing products and DIY car care.

Alloy Wheel Designs

Alloy wheels have become popular these days and come in many designs and sizes. High quality alloy wheels are known to improve brake performance, are heat conducive, and offer outstanding performance for cornering and acceleration in undesirable weather conditions. Audi wheels are German-made, and since the early 2000's have been manufactured using a mixture of magnesium and aluminum because they are lighter and provide top overall performance while driving.

They were built using steel prior to this, although they were heavier and damaged easier. When selecting alloys spend particular consideration to the design you buy. Since there are so many styles available on the market it could be confusing when deciding on the right match for your automobile. They enhance the appearance of the car or truck, and depending on the style purchased, could make your wheels seem to be wider than they really are. They might be more expensive than other kinds of wheels, but make up for it with comfort and different features. They may be more visually appealing than standard wheels and, due to their finish, require regular maintenance.

It really is cheaper to maintain alloy wheels rather than refinish them. Alloy wheels provide high quality and reliability, offering top class performance for the driver. Some kinds of Audi alloy wheels turn on an axis, so are extremely unique in their appearance. They are usually seen on high-end and sports cars. Race car drivers use them because of their light weight. Steel is heavier and damages easier, but remains manufactured today. Users of magnesium and aluminum alloy wheels discover that they get better gas mileage since they're lighter.

Deep dish wheels have an outer lip and rim that's deeply set and are made from magnesium and aluminum. They are the best option for German cars and come in a wide variety of designs and sizes. Professional installation is suggested when purchasing alloys. They may be purchased online and can often be found for cheaper prices. They are available in many different finishes, from the regular machine face finish, center-gun metal or inner-gun metal or external chrome finish. Also, they are available painted in black or silver. All are attractive and increase the value of your car or truck if you should choose to sell it later on. You may purchase alloy wheels by the wheel, or in sets of four, although there are discounts available when purchased in groups of four.

How Recycling of Automotive Chemicals Benefits the Ozone Layer

Nowadays, living green is on the top of everyone's agenda due to the issues like global warming, loss of rain forests and depletion of ozone layer. Recycling automobile fluids and parts, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, and newspapers makes a wonderful way to save the environment as it helps decrease emission of greenhouse gases into the environment and prevents pollution. Recycling helps conserve natural resources and saves energy. Moreover, it reduces the need for incineration and helps sustain the environment for future generations. Another benefit of recycling is that it saves landfill space.

When it comes to recycling items from your automobile, three major things that need your immediate attention include car coolant system, batteries and motor oil. These items contain chemicals that can cause major problems in our landfills and damage the environment if they are not disposed of properly.

Coolant recycling makes a green technology to reuse an old coolant. Professional coolant recyclers filter your old coolant, clean it using one of these several methods, and then add the proper chemicals and additives to restore the corrosion inhibitors so that it will perform like new. The main ingredient of the coolant is ethylene glycol or propylene that never wears out. In the open air, it will slowly evaporate and breakdown into carbon dioxide and water. Unstable oxygen molecules from carbon dioxide can combine with nitrogen oxide gases and other volatile organic compounds in the air, forming highly reactive and unstable molecules that can damage ozone layer. Ozone occurs naturally in the earth's upper atmosphere which helps protect life on earth by absorbing UV radiation that can damage crops and cause cataracts and skin cancer. However, mixing used propylene with water and inside an air-tight cooling system may help prevent damage to ozone layer.

Car batteries contain harmful metals and chemicals such as mercury, alkaline, nickel cadmium, lead acid, lithium and nickel metal hydride. If not disposed of properly, they can pollute the environment and evaporate into the atmosphere. For example, if car batteries are not recycled and are used in landfills, the cadmium and mercury will eventually seep into water supplies, creating health hazards for both livestock and human population. When water containing the harmful compounds will evaporate into the atmosphere, the vapors will combine with unstable oxygen molecules, forming highly reactive toxic molecules that may further damage the already compromised ozone layer. The first step in the recycling process of batteries is removal of the combustible material with a fire thermal oxidizer. In the next step, the metals in batteries are heated to liquefy. The final step is the shipment of liquid metals to metal recovery plants where chromium, nickel and alloys are separated and used for the manufacturing of other metal products.

It is also important to recycle motor oil properly because of the dangerous toxins and harmful gases emitted by used oil. The best option for motor oil recycling is to visit your nearest local oil and lube shop that recycles oil. Make sure that you transport the oil in a plastic container.

 

The Science of Car Cleaning Products

In most cases you can clean and protect your vehicle with just a few basic car cleaning products. In this article you will learn some of the science behind auto detailing supplies so you can clean your car the right way.

Soil can be organic, non-organic or petroleum. That's important to know. If you can identify the soil you're dealing with you can use the right cleaner. When you use the correct cleaner most stains come out with ease.

Take organic soil as an example. Organic basically means that it contains carbon. Stains in this group include proteins, animal fat, body oil, mold, yeast, insects, bacteria and excrement. The classic example is the batch of hot French fries your three year old spilled on the back seat. That's an organic soil stain.

Non-organic soil does not have carbon molecules. Most often we find these stains on the exterior the vehicle. A good example that frustrates most of us from time-to-time are water spots from minerals. Acid rain spots fall into this category, as well.

Finally we get to petroleum. These soils come from substances that do not contain or cannot be mixed with water. Motor oil, grease and road tar are the most common petroleum soils. Note that chewing gum is also a petroleum soil.

Now that you are aware of the three types of stains we can begin to discuss cleaners. Let me tell you, there are a lot of them. Unfortunately, no one has invented a true all-purpose automotive cleaner. Due to the many different surfaces and soils, automotive cleaners are complex mixtures of chemicals blended for a particular type of surface or soil. The most common chemicals used include surfactants, solvents, wetting agents, saponifiers and chelators.

Soaps and detergents are made using a surfactant. It's an agent that has two compounds. One molecule is attracted to the soil itself, while the other loves water. The compound that's attracted to water is a hydrophile. Its job is to surround the soil. The soil attracting agent is a hydrophobe. Its purpose is to break up the soil so the hydrophile can get to it and make it float away.

All cleaners needs a solvent of one sort or another to dissolve dirt and carry it away. Some solvents, including mineral spirits, work on petroleum soils and may be necessary on surfaces damaged by water. Did you know that the most common solvent used in cleaners is water?

Speaking of water, any solution that has a water base or mixes with water has a pH level. The term pH is merely a measurement of the relationship between hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions. When you have more hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, that's an acid. Likewise, if you have more hydroxyl ions than hydrogen ions it's an alkali. Knowing this is important because any cleaner that falls at either end of the pH scale can cause serious damage.

The pH scale runs from 0 to 14. The lower half of the scale represents acids and the upper half represents alkalis. As you might have guessed, water is neutral and has a pH of 7.0.

If you know the pH of a cleaner you will know where you can use it. A carpet shampoo should have a pH around 8 or 9, whereas an all-purpose wheel cleaner should be between 12 and 14. Try using a cleaner made for wheels on your car's fabric and carpet will make a pretty big mess.

Now that you know the basics you can better understand why there are so many car cleaning products and auto detailing supplies. Your vehicle has many different surfaces and they have different cleaning requirements. You can avoid using harsh cleaners by using basic protection. Wax the exterior several times each year and protect the interior with appropriate products. For the ultimate in protection, use an outdoor car cover or a waterproof car cover when you park outside.

For more information about auto detailing and car cleaning products, or to learn how you can use an outdoor car cover to protect your vehicle, visit David Bynon's Guide To Detailing blog.

Car Detailing Tips

A Porsche service center or Audi dealer can perform a thorough detailing of your car without causing damage to the finish. But if you are considering detailing your own car, rather than taking it to your Audi dealership, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Here are five of the most important things to keep in mind when detailing your car.

Get the proper supplies.

It may cost anywhere between $30 and $70 for quality detailing products. Your Audi dealer or Porsche service center likely already has these products on hand. For the do-it-yourself types, here are some of the basics:

Multiple microfiber cloths or mitts: Use different cloths for different parts of the car; you don't want wax from the body of the car smearing up the windows, or grit from the wheels scratching your paint.

Auto detailing soap: Don't settle for dish detergent, as it can be too harsh and harm the finish.

A toothbrush: A toothbrush is great for removing debris such as leaves and bugs from the small cracks and crevices of your car.

Cotton Swabs: These are handy for cleaning out things such as coin holders and other places where gunk accumulates.

Use two buckets.

A good Porsche service professional will tell you that using two buckets can save you a lot of time. This helps you avoid reintroducing grime onto your car's surface with dirty suds.

An Audi dealer will often recommend also using separate cloths for the top and bottom of the car. The beltline is the mid-point between the top and bottom of the car; most road grime accumulates below this line.

Clean in the correct order.

To prevent getting parts of the car you just cleaned dirty again, work in the same order that your Audi dealership or Porsche service specialist does:

1. Interior. This will help prevent getting dirt or dust on the outside of the car while cleaning the carpets.

2. Wheels, roof, windows, hood and trunk. Wash the wheels first, as this is likely the dirtiest part of the car. Then, with a different rag or mitt, take care of the roof, then the hood, and then the trunk. Rinse from top to bottom. For the "sheet rinsing" effect, shield the nozzle from touching the surface of your car with your fingers to prevent scratching, while holding the nozzle within an inch or two of the surface. Wash the fenders and doors. Re-rinse the entire car, and wait for it to dry completely before moving on to the final step.

3. Polish and wax. Finally, apply polish and wax. The polish should be used first to bring out the color in any oxidized spots.

While having a clean car is a reward in itself, it also helps maintain the vehicle's resale value should you decide to trade it in at your Audi dealership one day. So if you will be doing the job yourself instead of taking it to your Audi dealer or Porsche Service center for detailing, follow these tips to get the job done right with minimal damage.

Sunset is the source for Audi and Porsche service, repair and parts. Sunset Porsche & Audi is the top Wilsonville, OR Audi dealership. Used and certified pre-owned cars from Sunset offer luxury that you can afford.

Get Ready For Winter With These Two DIY Auto Projects

Summer is over and fall is in full swing, that can only mean one thing: winter is rapidly approaching. To get prepared for winter you should take a couple steps to make your harsh weather driving safer. Here are two quick and easy projects that you can do in two hours or less to get you car ready.

1. Restore your headlights: On the market today there are several options for headlight restoration kits. Your local parts warehouse store should have a section in the car cleaning aisle dedicated to these products. That a look at a few of them and select the one that best fits your budget and requirements based on headlight haze. Depending on which one you choose you may have between 15 minutes and two hours of work ahead of you. The simple liquid solutions will often only remove the lightest of imperfections from your headlight lenses, but it is a good first step. If it works, great. If not, they are relatively inexpensive and you'll just have to move on to one of the more complete kits. These kits include several different pieces of sandpaper, from coarse to fine. You start with the most coarse and work your way up to the finest one. Once you are complete you should have headlight lenses that look to be new.

2. Rotate your tires: This may be one of the best DIY things you can do for your car. Most tire or repair shops want upwards of $30 to rotate the tires for you. That is just silly since it is something that you can easily do yourself. You will need some basic tools which probably came with your car: a jack and a lug nut wrench plus a jack stand. Understand that the jack and lug nut wrench included with your car is more meant for emergencies so you may want to pick up a floor jack that is rated for the weight of your car and a better lug nut wrench. It will save you a lot of grief and time if you do. An aside about the jack and lug nut wrench in your car, this would also be a good time to test them out and make sure that they are properly lubricated. When you are stranded on the side of the road is not the time to make that discovery, I know because I have actually been there before....not fun. Once you have all of your tools ready, start by loosening the lug nuts on all of the wheels; just loosen, not remove. Next following the instructions in your owners manual, jack up one corner of the car on the designated jack spots. Place the jack stand in a secure location and remove that wheel. Leave the jack stand in place, lower the jack and jack up the next corner. Your owner's manual should have a diagram showing you where to place the removed wheel. There is an exception to this rule, if you have directional tires or rim pattern. In these cases just swap back to front on the same side, otherwise follow the owner's manual. Secure the wheel in its new location with the lug nuts and lower those two corners. Proceed with the next two wheels. Your owner's manual may suggest a pattern where you move the drivers rear wheel to the passenger front and the passenger front to the passenger rear. In this case you will need two jack stands. Once all of the wheels are back on and the car is on the ground you can tighten all of the lug nuts. You will need a torque wrench for this. Follow the owner's manual for a guide as to the torque setting. I always go over the lug nuts twice to be sure that nothing is left loose. You will also want to check them again after 100 miles or two days, whichever comes first.