How to keep your car happy :)
So I decided it would be interesting to put together a lil blog about the lil things I've learned to keep my Jeep looking as new as possible, along with ways to help its performance. These would apply to any car. Thanks to Megan for inspiring me to write this up, finally :b
Car Wash
It may seem like a waste going to the car wash once a week (usually on a Saturday) and spending $5 on the really nice wash, but really it's helping keep the car in good shape on the outside, and it looks nicer too :D Now, if you prefer to handwash the car yourself, which I do on occassion when the weather's nice and I'm too lazy to waste gas and take the Jeep to the carwash, then here's some basic tips. First, do NOT use dish soap to wash your car! I made that mistake last year and I have a couple of small spots where the clear coat is blistering... Not good for your car, trust me. I've since picked up some car wash fluid at the local Murrays (about $5 for a large bottle), along with some more sponges and wash cloths. I suggest washing the car with the hose (just don't use a rough spray on the car) before you actually wash it. Gets some of the light dirt and stuff off of the surface and underneath the wheel wells n' stuff, and softens the harder stuff. There's all sorts of things you can use to scrub the car with, from basic sponges to wash mitts. Just don't use something that will scratch the car's surface and damage the clear coat or the paint. I also recommend washing in a circular pattern too. When finished, give it another rinse with the hose and a clean cloth/sponge/whatever and then be sure to dry the car off. Why do you need to dry it? Because the water can leave stains on the car's surface. Use some kind of a terry-cloth towel or something rather than just letting the car air dry.
Vacuuming
Last year, my friends and I decided we were going to road trip down to Florida for a few days. I took the house vaccuum with the hose and cleaned the Jeep thoroughly, including underneath the seats and cushions, in the trunk, under floor mats (take the mats out of the car and clean them separately, then shake any extra debris off before putting them back in the car), etc. I didn't realize until then just how much random crap had accumulated in those areas. Ever since, I've set aside a half hour or so once a month to giving the Jeep a full vacuuming inside. Again, it makes the car look nice, smell nice, and has earned its fair share of compliments :)
Air Fresheners
Another nice way to keep the car smelling nice, especially after a good cleaning is to either buy an air freshener to hang off the rear-view mirror (just make sure it doesn't block any of your vision while driving), or a bottle of spray air freshener. I used to have a cute lil air freshener, the same one the old Bumblebee Camaro used in Transformers *giggle* but since I can't locate a new one to use now, I've bought a spray from Meijer. Basically, every Saturday I give the interior a lil spray in each row of seating and the trunk, and leave the windows open an inch to allow the scent to ventillate out. This leaves the car smelling nice n' fresh (currently like wild berries, hehe).
Dusting
Who really thinks about dusting the inside of their car that often? Well, I do. For some reason, my Jeep is a dust magnet, and I've decided that every Saturday I'll take some soft paper towels and some ArmorAll cleaner spray, which helps keep all the plastic/vinyl portions of the dash, door panels, etc. looking shiny and it helps remove any dirt and stains too. Whatever you do though, do NOT use this stuff on your steering wheel! It makes the surface a bit slippery and can cause you to lose your grip on the wheel, which you really don't want. You can use it on the shifter and parking brake (see the lil diagram in the above link), dashboard, consoles, etc. It also helps keep the plastic from cracking with age :D It's not that expensive to get either.
Glass Cleaning
Ever notice that after a while, the windshield gets a lil dirty or hard to see through, especially when it's dark and rainy? Simple solution is to just take some Windex, park the car outside where the sun is facing the windshield and clean it using some paper towels. Not hard to do, doesn't take long, and makes it easier to see out the glass. I'm sure there's other products you could use too, but this is what I do.
Detailing Inside
Going back to interior cleaning, there are some areas that can't be cleaned using a cloth or paper towel. For these, I suggest picking up a soft n' fluffy paintbrush or a detailing brush (found at a car parts store).
Engine Detailing
And now for the really hard part. I just recently learned about how to clean a car's engine. I guess you could say I was getting kinda jealous of all the show cars I've seen with their pristine, shiny engines. I read a bunch of articles online about how to clean the engine compartment, and here's what I put into practice. I picked up an engine degreaser spray at the local Murrays, along with some engine detailing brushes (one of which looks like a big fluffy pipe cleaner) to get into those places that are really hard to reach (and to get the heavily caked grime out).
First, park the car in a well ventillated area (aka, outside but not right next to your garage). Second, make sure the car has been turned off for a while and that the engine is cooled down. It doesn't have to be completely cool, but just enough so you don't get burned while touching stuff. Next, seal off any electrical ports with aluminum foil (I used pieces of duct tape to seal the foil off too since I was a lil paranoid the first time I did this). Be extra careful when handling the battery. There's more advanced info about this online. Then use the degreaser spray (keep in mind this...that stuff reeks!!! I was kinda dizzy after spending so long breathing that stuff in...I'll wear a lil mask over my nose and mouth next time @_@ ). Spray liberally over the filth, especially on the metal surfaces. Make sure the spray doesn't get on the car panels though, and if it does, wash it off immediately. It leaves nasty stains if you don't clean it. Allow the degreaser to sit for up to 10 mins before taking a hose and rinsing it all off. While some of the less filthy areas were soaking with the spray, I scrubbed them clean, leaving the dirtier spots for the end so the grease could come off more easily. After rinsing, scrub and clean away the rest of the filth, then give it another rinse. Then dry everything (at least everything you can get your hands on, because some of the stuff is still hard to reach...at least in my car it is). After everything is dry, give it a minute and then start the car to make sure everything's still working properly (check for any engine lights that may turn on if something was done improperly). I kinda freaked out when I saw a bunch of steam coming off the engine block, but that was just evaporating water, so it was ok. Naturally, I was really paranoid of cleaning that bugger for the first time ^^; I think I've got the hang of it for the next time when I do more detailing, hehe.
Better Mileage
Yes, there are some lil tricks I've learned for getting better mileage out of the Jeep. Aside from routine things like tire rotation, oil changes and whatnot, every few thousand miles I've been adding fuel injector cleaner into the gas tank. This should be done on a nearly empty tank. Other things are avoiding sudden stop-and-go's at green lights, using cruise more often, letting the car slow down almost to a stop without the aid of the brakes whenever possible (also keeps the brakes from being worn out faster), only running the A/C when absolutely necessary or for short periods (like when first starting the car, going through parking lots, or on slow roads because the A/C can kill mileage on the freeway). I also have a running mpg calculator built into my Jeep which helps me keep track of my current mpg. I've noticed that the car's sweet speed is around 45-55 mph to get the highest constant mileage (around 27-38 mpg on the calculator), but on the freeway, going about 70-73 gets me about 18 mpg (the mileage goes down the higher the speed). So it balances out, and I actually managed 21 mpg the other day on a tank :D My Jeep is only supposed to get 13-17 mpg!! Talk about a nice surprise :D!
Things I still want to learn about... Polishing/waxing the car, how to keep the tires and rims looking clean, and more ways to spiff up the engine compartment :b Yep, I'm a dork. I think my Jeepy has decided to thank me for everything I've been doing for him by performing better than usual, getting awesome (for his model) mileage, and being an extremely low-maintenance car. Yes, cars have feelings too. Mine's just another member of the family to me.
If any of this was helpful to you then kewl. I just felt the need to post this stuff.
~Lucrezia
Car Wash
It may seem like a waste going to the car wash once a week (usually on a Saturday) and spending $5 on the really nice wash, but really it's helping keep the car in good shape on the outside, and it looks nicer too :D Now, if you prefer to handwash the car yourself, which I do on occassion when the weather's nice and I'm too lazy to waste gas and take the Jeep to the carwash, then here's some basic tips. First, do NOT use dish soap to wash your car! I made that mistake last year and I have a couple of small spots where the clear coat is blistering... Not good for your car, trust me. I've since picked up some car wash fluid at the local Murrays (about $5 for a large bottle), along with some more sponges and wash cloths. I suggest washing the car with the hose (just don't use a rough spray on the car) before you actually wash it. Gets some of the light dirt and stuff off of the surface and underneath the wheel wells n' stuff, and softens the harder stuff. There's all sorts of things you can use to scrub the car with, from basic sponges to wash mitts. Just don't use something that will scratch the car's surface and damage the clear coat or the paint. I also recommend washing in a circular pattern too. When finished, give it another rinse with the hose and a clean cloth/sponge/whatever and then be sure to dry the car off. Why do you need to dry it? Because the water can leave stains on the car's surface. Use some kind of a terry-cloth towel or something rather than just letting the car air dry.
Vacuuming
Last year, my friends and I decided we were going to road trip down to Florida for a few days. I took the house vaccuum with the hose and cleaned the Jeep thoroughly, including underneath the seats and cushions, in the trunk, under floor mats (take the mats out of the car and clean them separately, then shake any extra debris off before putting them back in the car), etc. I didn't realize until then just how much random crap had accumulated in those areas. Ever since, I've set aside a half hour or so once a month to giving the Jeep a full vacuuming inside. Again, it makes the car look nice, smell nice, and has earned its fair share of compliments :)
Air Fresheners
Another nice way to keep the car smelling nice, especially after a good cleaning is to either buy an air freshener to hang off the rear-view mirror (just make sure it doesn't block any of your vision while driving), or a bottle of spray air freshener. I used to have a cute lil air freshener, the same one the old Bumblebee Camaro used in Transformers *giggle* but since I can't locate a new one to use now, I've bought a spray from Meijer. Basically, every Saturday I give the interior a lil spray in each row of seating and the trunk, and leave the windows open an inch to allow the scent to ventillate out. This leaves the car smelling nice n' fresh (currently like wild berries, hehe).
Dusting
Who really thinks about dusting the inside of their car that often? Well, I do. For some reason, my Jeep is a dust magnet, and I've decided that every Saturday I'll take some soft paper towels and some ArmorAll cleaner spray, which helps keep all the plastic/vinyl portions of the dash, door panels, etc. looking shiny and it helps remove any dirt and stains too. Whatever you do though, do NOT use this stuff on your steering wheel! It makes the surface a bit slippery and can cause you to lose your grip on the wheel, which you really don't want. You can use it on the shifter and parking brake (see the lil diagram in the above link), dashboard, consoles, etc. It also helps keep the plastic from cracking with age :D It's not that expensive to get either.
Glass Cleaning
Ever notice that after a while, the windshield gets a lil dirty or hard to see through, especially when it's dark and rainy? Simple solution is to just take some Windex, park the car outside where the sun is facing the windshield and clean it using some paper towels. Not hard to do, doesn't take long, and makes it easier to see out the glass. I'm sure there's other products you could use too, but this is what I do.
Detailing Inside
Going back to interior cleaning, there are some areas that can't be cleaned using a cloth or paper towel. For these, I suggest picking up a soft n' fluffy paintbrush or a detailing brush (found at a car parts store).
Engine Detailing
And now for the really hard part. I just recently learned about how to clean a car's engine. I guess you could say I was getting kinda jealous of all the show cars I've seen with their pristine, shiny engines. I read a bunch of articles online about how to clean the engine compartment, and here's what I put into practice. I picked up an engine degreaser spray at the local Murrays, along with some engine detailing brushes (one of which looks like a big fluffy pipe cleaner) to get into those places that are really hard to reach (and to get the heavily caked grime out).
First, park the car in a well ventillated area (aka, outside but not right next to your garage). Second, make sure the car has been turned off for a while and that the engine is cooled down. It doesn't have to be completely cool, but just enough so you don't get burned while touching stuff. Next, seal off any electrical ports with aluminum foil (I used pieces of duct tape to seal the foil off too since I was a lil paranoid the first time I did this). Be extra careful when handling the battery. There's more advanced info about this online. Then use the degreaser spray (keep in mind this...that stuff reeks!!! I was kinda dizzy after spending so long breathing that stuff in...I'll wear a lil mask over my nose and mouth next time @_@ ). Spray liberally over the filth, especially on the metal surfaces. Make sure the spray doesn't get on the car panels though, and if it does, wash it off immediately. It leaves nasty stains if you don't clean it. Allow the degreaser to sit for up to 10 mins before taking a hose and rinsing it all off. While some of the less filthy areas were soaking with the spray, I scrubbed them clean, leaving the dirtier spots for the end so the grease could come off more easily. After rinsing, scrub and clean away the rest of the filth, then give it another rinse. Then dry everything (at least everything you can get your hands on, because some of the stuff is still hard to reach...at least in my car it is). After everything is dry, give it a minute and then start the car to make sure everything's still working properly (check for any engine lights that may turn on if something was done improperly). I kinda freaked out when I saw a bunch of steam coming off the engine block, but that was just evaporating water, so it was ok. Naturally, I was really paranoid of cleaning that bugger for the first time ^^; I think I've got the hang of it for the next time when I do more detailing, hehe.
Better Mileage
Yes, there are some lil tricks I've learned for getting better mileage out of the Jeep. Aside from routine things like tire rotation, oil changes and whatnot, every few thousand miles I've been adding fuel injector cleaner into the gas tank. This should be done on a nearly empty tank. Other things are avoiding sudden stop-and-go's at green lights, using cruise more often, letting the car slow down almost to a stop without the aid of the brakes whenever possible (also keeps the brakes from being worn out faster), only running the A/C when absolutely necessary or for short periods (like when first starting the car, going through parking lots, or on slow roads because the A/C can kill mileage on the freeway). I also have a running mpg calculator built into my Jeep which helps me keep track of my current mpg. I've noticed that the car's sweet speed is around 45-55 mph to get the highest constant mileage (around 27-38 mpg on the calculator), but on the freeway, going about 70-73 gets me about 18 mpg (the mileage goes down the higher the speed). So it balances out, and I actually managed 21 mpg the other day on a tank :D My Jeep is only supposed to get 13-17 mpg!! Talk about a nice surprise :D!
Things I still want to learn about... Polishing/waxing the car, how to keep the tires and rims looking clean, and more ways to spiff up the engine compartment :b Yep, I'm a dork. I think my Jeepy has decided to thank me for everything I've been doing for him by performing better than usual, getting awesome (for his model) mileage, and being an extremely low-maintenance car. Yes, cars have feelings too. Mine's just another member of the family to me.
If any of this was helpful to you then kewl. I just felt the need to post this stuff.
~Lucrezia