Be Mindful Of These Things To Prevent Permanent Damage To Your Vehicle

Fallen Leaves

• They may look harmless but make no mistake. Leaves can wreak havoc when left unattended. Most are easily wiped off before driving and the rest are blown away shortly after takeoff. However, leaves left behind can clog up air inlet. Negatively affecting the performance of your HVAC system. Lastly, leaves leave behind a liquid that can damage your car’s paint.

Tree Sap 

• It can be the large oak that overlooks your driveway, one of those beautiful pine trees, or one of the many maple trees that line your street that cause the issues. Parking under a tree for long periods of time can be damaging to your car’s paint, windows, and even the air conditioning. When left for a long period of time. Tree sap causes damage that looks nasty and extremely difficult to remove. Often requiring expensive paint correction.

Falling Nuts 

• Depending on the type of tree you park under, you may be familiar with the effects of falling acorns, walnuts, and ripe fruit. These falling objects smash the body of your car and sometimes crack your windshield. Causing permanent damage to the surface of your car.

 

Bird Droppings 

• Bird droppings contain a chemical called uric acid. In fact, the pH level of bird excrement rivals that of acid rain. As soon as it touches the vehicle, it’s important to remove it quickly and safely as it can slowly penetrate the clear coat, creating a semi-permanent stain that will stand out on the paint surface.

Water Damage 

• A water-damaged car comes with a variety of problems, including foul odors, rust, odd noises, engine, and electronic malfunctions. The damage you can cause by driving through flood water can affect the engine, interior, electrical, and paint. Getting water inside your vehicle, due to driving in extreme conditions or suffering from flooding, provides a recipe for disaster.

Bugs 

• Bugs are not your vehicle’s friend; their body fluids are often acidic. When bugs hit your car’s front bumper, the grill, and the backs of the mirrors—the most common landing areas, along with the windshield—and aren’t cleaned off right away, problems could start. 

Pot Holes 

• Common problems from potholes include sidewall bulges, tread separation, or a puncture. You might also experience uneven wear on your tires as a result of their alignment being knocked out of position by the pothole, or damage to your rims due to a large or deep pothole.

Fuel Spillage 

• Whatever the reason, you should never take the spill lightly! The obvious reason is that it can make your car’s trunk messy. Clay-based cat litter is fantastic for absorbing gas, and it can also help remove any lingering odor. Pour it over the spill in a layer at least a half-inch thick, and let it soak up the gas. Also, keep in mind, inhaling gasoline fumes over time can cause dizziness, headaches, or worse, it can even damage your lungs!

Road Tar 

• Over time, tar can pit and damage the paint underneath it. If you ignore it long enough, it’s even possible for the tar to cause discoloration. There’s also the possibility that rocks and other debris get stuck in the tar before it dries, which can chip and scratch your paint.

Sun Damage 

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause significant damage over time.

CAR INTERIOR PROTECTION

• Park in the shade. It is the easiest form of protection. By avoiding direct sunlight, you’ll help keep your dash from drying and cracking. If it’s safe to do so, open the windows with a crack to help lower the interior temperature and equalize the air pressure.
• Use a windshield sun protector. It’s a way to keep your car cool and prevent sun damage. They may appear to be complicated to use, but these visors are actually quite easy to unfold and slide into place on your dash.
• Wipe the dash with a microfiber cloth. Dust and dirt can cause tiny scratches that can become worse over time. Wipe down the dash frequently to remove all particles. A low-gloss detailing product will also protect it and reduce glare.
• Install seat covers. They not only protect the leather and fabric seats, but they also help keep them cool.
• Protect leather seats with a conditioner. The sun and heat can really do a number on them. To help avoid cracks or tears, keep seats clean, and apply leather conditioner often.

TIPS FOR EXTERIOR CAR CARE

• Wash and dry often. Sun and heat can fade and crack the paint. Frequent washing and hand drying help remove dirt and dust particles that can cause micro scratches and dull your car’s finish.
• Wax your car. A layer of wax between your car’s finish and the sun’s ultraviolet rays is a great way to help protect it. How often does a car need a wax job? Answers vary based on the car, but it is generally best to wax cars on a regular basis.
• Check tire pressure. Hot pavement and underinflated tires can be a dangerous combination and may lead to a blowout. Even good tires can lose about one pound of air pressure a month, so it’s really important to check tire pressure often when it’s hot. Make sure you follow your vehicle’s manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.

UNDER THE HOOD

• Cooling system. In order to help protect your engine from overheating, make sure it is in good working order. Have the belts checked and the antifreeze/coolant drained. Change belts and fluids on a regular basis, as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
• Fluids, in general. The possibility of overheating greatly increases when fluid levels are below recommended levels. Regularly check motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. If any need to be topped off, check your owner’s manual about the types of fluids recommended.
• Battery. High temperatures and high accessory loads (use of the vehicle’s air conditioning) can cause it to wear out and fail quicker. Have the vehicle’s battery and complete charging system checked regularly by a professional mechanic at Hong Kong Auto Service to make sure it’s functioning properly.
• Air conditioning. If your car’s interior temperature isn’t cool enough, the refrigerant charge level in the air conditioning system may be low or there may be a more serious problem. Have it checked by a professional at Hong Kong Auto Service.

• Protect leather seats with a conditioner. The sun and heat can really do a number on them. To help avoid cracks or tears, keep seats clean, and apply leather conditioner often.

Salt 

• Road salt affects the car’s paint causing corrosion; rust begins forming underneath, bubbling up, and the metal becomes brittle and flakey. Eventually, the damaged area breaks free, and if left untreated, a hole can occur.

Cold Weather 

FREEZING ENGINE FLUIDS

• When the temperature outside gets cold enough, you might notice a few things happen to your car’s fluids. For instance, your motor oil, transmission fluid, and antifreeze can become thicker and slower moving. This can make starting the engine, as well as driving in general, feel sluggish. 
• When oil thickens in response to cold temperatures, it has trouble circulating. This forces the oil pump to work harder than usual. If you suspect your car is struggling due to thickening engine oil, switching to a lower viscosity oil (e.g., going from 10W-30 to 5W-30) or using synthetic oil can help. If you’re not sure which type of oil is best for your vehicle and your city’s driving conditions, come into your local Tires Plus for an expert opinion!
• Transmission fluids are also critically important. When they aren’t flowing effectively, the transmission will not operate correctly, and your vehicle will struggle to switch gears. If your transmission fluid is too cold, you might not even be able to move at all!
• Despite its name, even antifreeze, or engine coolant, can freeze up in the wintertime. If the engine coolant freezes, your engine won’t be able to maintain an optimal operating temperature. Plus, the frozen liquid can crack and damage your radiator hoses in the process!

  DYING CAR BATTERY

• Your battery can suffer in the cold, too. The lower the temperature, the more difficult it is for the battery to give off enough of a charge to start your car. Jumper cables can be a quick fix for getting your car started and everything warmed up, but jumpstarting your vehicle in the dead of winter might not be so fun.
• If your battery is older or weaker, it has a higher chance of giving out on you when the temperatures drop. Have your battery tested for free before winter arrives to avoid shivering over some jumper cables.
• If below-freezing temperatures are common where you live, it might be a good idea to invest in a battery warmer — even new batteries can be negatively affected by extreme weather!

DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE

• Generally, air expands in heat and contracts when it’s cold. The air in your tires is no exception! When the air in your tire contracts, pressure decreases. This can increase rolling resistance, which in turn affects handling and gas mileage. To combat the effects of increased rolling resistance, consider a fuel-saving tire such as the Bridgestone Ecopia or Firestone’s Champion Fuel Fighter.

ICY FUEL LINES

• Gasoline typically won’t freeze at temperatures above -40°F. However, if there is any water moisture from condensation in a fuel line, it can cause serious problems. Ice in the fuel line can inhibit fuel intake, making it hard to start your car or giving you a “sputtery,” bumpy ride. One way to avoid an icy fuel line is to keep the gas tank at least half full in colder weather.

SLUGGISH LCD SCREENS

• If your vehicle has an LCD — liquid crystal display — radio or information screen, you may notice that it acts a bit squirrelly or is less responsive in the winter. That’s because the liquid crystals slow down when subjected to cold temperatures, just like other fluids. Unless you’re able to park in a garage, preventing cold LCDs is difficult. The best way to get them working smoothly again is to wait for your car to heat up before queuing up your groovy commute playlist.

  RIGID RUBBER COMPONENTS

• Rubber and synthetic rubber compounds technically don’t freeze. But they do get rigid in cold temperatures, and as they lose their “bendiness” they become extra brittle! For instance, stiffening rubber can cause belts in the motor to break, and windshield wiper blades to crack. Stiff rubber can even cause tears along your door jambs’ rubber gaskets, effectively freezing your car door shut!

 

Call or stop by Hong Kong Auto Service today. It’s always sad to see summer come to an end, but fall is nearly here, and just behind it, winter and the holidays. Make sure you and your family reach their destination safely by spending a few hours taking care of your car today!