Automotive Academy

When you first purchase a car you are eventually going to want to sell it on at some point, so it is important that from day one of the purchase you start to maintain it so when you come to sell the car on, or complete a part-ex deal, you can get the highest resale value in the future.

While your engine is new and still shiny and beautiful, you should have it sealed to keep it that way. An engine sealer can help to keep under the bonnet looking clean and shiny and this should not cost very much but it looks incredible! And the effects of it lasts. 

The manufacturer of your vehicle probably recommends you to change the oil in your car every 6,000 miles, but to be on the safe side, I recommend every 3,000 miles. Also, keep the records using an envelope and put it in your glove box for all of your oil change receipts. On the outside of the envelope list the date of each oil change, records of any manual work on the vehicle will always be an attractive feature to possible buyers. 

Regular ‘tune ups’ and maintenance at the dealership always reflects well when you show a possible buyer the history of your vehicle, go at the recommended increments and always replace tires and repair breaks regularly. Once again, get a separate envelope for tune ups and maintenance and keep your receipts in 

Keep the inside and outside of your car clean, cleanliness is far easier to maintain than it is to clean something that has years of build up. Use the appropriate leather, vinyl and wheel cleaners for best results.

And always ensure you repair any damage promptly and correctly straight away, as if left they will just get worse and become harder and more expensive to fix. Keep your receipts for your repairs at home with your insurance paperwork.

One of the most annoying things about owning a car is coming out of the shops to your parked car, to find it has a scratch… small but noticeable, on the vehicle side panel. It wasn’t there yesterday or a week ago, but today it is prominent. How frustrating! If this is a small scratch, it is simple to fix and here’s how!

First you need to look closely at the scratch. If it is minor and only scratches the paint surface of the car, but not destroyed the paint or gone further than the top coating, it can be fixed it. You will need a thin lined sharpie marker that is the same color as your car. Black marker for a black car, blue marker for a blue car etc.

Wash the panel the scratch is on to make sure it is completely rid of any dirt or grim. Wipe it dry with a paper towel. Make sure there is no dirt on the area around the scratch or in the scratch itself or this process won’t work. Take the sharpie marker and fill in the scratch very carefully. This needs to be an exact line, spread evenly where the paint is lacking. 

You then need to carefully apply wax the area of the scratch, place the wax on the surface, but before moving or polishing, allow the wax to set for 15 minutes. After the time allotted is finished, polish the panel as directed on the package directions.

Once you are done polishing, you will notice the scratch has disappeared or considerably lightened. The wax builds up in the scratch and allows the surface to smooth out. This is can be repeated if necessary and will last for up to a year before fading.

Once you have finished washing your car the next step is to complete a wax. And even if the vehicle has been corrected with a swirl remover it is still recommended to apply a pre wax as part of the entire system.

Pre-wax is just as the name implies, to get the surface ready for wax to be applied. Tar spots, some tree saps and various other surface contaminates are usually not taken off by a product that is termed wax only.

The wax/cleaners with high solvent content in them need to be avoided, as they will eventually deteriorate the surface to which they are applied. Pre Wax Cleanser is especially formulated to be used prior to applying Car Wax. If you’re trying to get a really incredible deep, vibrant shine from your wax, you need to use a pre wax cleanser to properly prepare the surface prior to use Car Wax.

The benefit of Pre Wax Cleanser is that is prepares the surface after you wash it, so that the paint surface doesn’t get contaminated by dirt or anything else that may keep you from getting the ultimate protection.

The application of the car wax is the final stage, again we like to apply the wax by hand and remove by hand using a super flush Micro fiber towel. With a good car wax you don’t need multiple products to accomplish astonishing results, it doesn’t get any easier.

Tire Dressing is best to be applied as a tire gel using an applicator with a very thin layer of tire gel to the tire sidewall if more shine is desired a second coat can be applied, most of the time one coat is enough, it’s a nice finishing touch after all your hard work!

We are often facing the question of what is the best way to achieve maximum results to detail a car. To start your detail job, you want to make sure your car is not in direct sunlight and that the surfaces on the outside aren’t hot, de-tailing a car in hot weather will just create bad results.

Vehicle surface evaluation is one of the most important aspects of a successful detail job. This evaluation will allow us to prepare ourselves with the correct products and steps, things like light scratches, swirl marks and other paint imperfections can be evaluated at this time, from here we will have a plan of what products are needed and in what order.

Begin with a pre-wash by rinsing all the loose debris from the top of the car working downwards. You want to make sure to get all of the loose grime off of the surface so you don’t have to use your wash mitt. Using this process we can avoid causing swirl marks, at least to a certain point.

Do not use the same wash water or tools on the paint as you did your wheels. Prepare your wash materials and get started doing the wheels, tires and wheel wells one by one. Don’t do all of them at once, you don’t want any of these cleaners to dry. Use the detail brush first to get to the backside of my wheels and get all that brake dust out of there. When you are done with each wheel, rinse the wheel and make sure the entire cleaner is off the wheel.

After the tires and wheels have been done and before wetting the paint, you will want to prepare your wash bucket and tools for the paint in this step you will use a Car Shampoo that is highly lubricated formula with unique foaming quality and quick rinse characteristics.

The use of the wrong shampoo that doesn’t remove the grime and dirt combine with a low quality sponge/applicator will eventually leave swirl marks in your paint surface something that all of us try to avoid.

When you are done rinsing the car of all the soap, you need to dry your car. Make sure if you see a spot of dirt you missed, or loose debris on the car, don’t touch it with your drying towel, re-wash the area and then dry. A great tool is the chamois and we can go as far as using leaf blowers to completely remove all the water from all the tight spaces and trim.

The next step will be a tutorial guiding you how to complete your de-tailing process by waxing your car, come back tomorrow for the next tutorial! 

Oil and grease stains are unfortunately a common problem for car interiors, due to oil being leaked onto driveways, parking spaces etc and then being stood in and wiped onto the carpet of the car. I was recently asked the best way to remove oil stains from carpets without making it worse, so here is a tutorial to get rid of any nasty stains! 

1.) Remove excess oil or grease by blotting or scraping, using a blunt knife, this will make it easier to get the stain out as the move you remove beforehand the better the result. 

2.) Place a sheet of butcher paper or a portion of a brown paper bag on the stain, glossy side up and then gently press the tip of a warm iron over the affected area whilst holding the paper flat.

3.) Lift the paper from the carpet after the paper has absorbed the grease.

4.) Apply carpet shampoo with a moist sponge if any residual stains remain and then wipe away the carpet shampoo foam with a clean, dry towel.

5.) Finish by hovering the area, if a stain still remains repeat the process again until clean. 

Other products which i have heard apparently work well – but i have not tried – are Head and Shoulders Shampoo and men’s shaving cream straight from the can.

1.) Clean your rims before you wash the rest of the car. At first, do one rim at a time. After some practice, you will learn how long each step takes and can work on multiple wheels at once.

2.) Spray the dry rim with wheel cleaner, which will get rid of any brake dust etc. Let the chemical sit on the wheel for a while. This chemical will eat through the brake dust that has built up on the wheels and make the hand-cleaning easier.

3.) Rinse off the wheel cleaner and as you rinse, direct the spray toward the ground to keep the potentially abrasive wheel grime from splattering on to the rest of your car. High-pressure is not recommended due to splattering. 

4.) Mix a soap-and-water solution in the bucket, then soak the sponge and use it to clean away any remaining visible grime. When it’s time to re-wet the sponge, first rinse it with the hose outside the bucket. This will cut down on the grime that gets into your water/soap solution.

5.) Rinse the soap off the wheel use the soft-bristle toothbrush and soap and water solution to clean any areas you weren’t able to reach with the sponge. 

6.) Rinse the soap off the wheel and when you wash the rest of the car and it’s time to dry the rims, use an old cotton towel to dry the rims. The towel will pick up any remaining bits of grime and help you avoid water spots.

Do you usually clean your cars tyres by giving them a quick wipe round with a dirty soapy sponge and then quickly hose the soap off? You might want to consider a more thorough cleaning that is highly beneficial for you and your tires. Not only does it make the tires look nice, a good wash job allows you to keep regular watch on wear-and-tear. This helps prevent unexpected blow-outs from worn or damaged tires.

Here is a quick tutorial on the best way to clean your cars tyres. 

1.) Wet the tires using a garden hose and water. If there is a lot of tar, road debris or film from brake fluid on them, you may wish to spray them with a pre-treatment product prior to beginning the washing step. 

2.) Use a soft brush and car soap to scrub the tires briskly, using a circular motion to loosen any dried-on dirt. A brush that is too firm could scratch the rims or hub caps on your car.

3.) Rinse with clean water. If the tires still look dirty, repeat the previous steps.

4.) Dry the tires with a soft towel.

5.) Spray on a tire dressing which is available in any hardware or discount store in an automotive section. This will act like a protectant much like wax does for the car body, helping to keep the tires in better shape.

Car cleaning products can be made at home, much less expensive than the store bought cleaners and they are better for the environment too. Here are some home made recipes that will take care of all of your car care needs.  

CAR WASH SOLUTION: Add a couple drops of liquid castile soup which can be found in health food stores to a bucket of water and wash with a sponge or soft cloth.

WINDOW CLEANER: Fill a clean spray bottle with full strength white vinegar and spray onto windows, then allow it to sit for a few minutes, then, wipe dry with a piece of newspaper.

CHROME CLEANER: Mix together equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then, spray it on your wheels; and work it in with a sponge or cleaning rag. Note: Vinegar should not be used on aluminum alloys.

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY STAIN REMOVER: Mix white vinegar and baking soda together to form a paste. Then, work the paste into any carpet and upholstery stains with an old toothbrush or something similar. Allow the paste to dry. Then, vacuum up the baking soda, and the stains should be gone. Note: Some stains may need to be treated more than once.

INTERIOR CLEANER: Mix together equal parts white vinegar and water. Then, spray it on any vinyl, plastic, wood, or leather surfaces in your car that need cleaning. Allow it to soak in. Then, wipe dry with a clean rag. Note: As with any leather cleaner, you should test on a small area before applying to the entire surface.

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID: Mix half white vinegar with half water and fill your windshield washer fluid reservoir. The acetic acid in the vinegar dissolves grime, bugs, and sap. It also helps keep windows frost free in the winter.

Homemade Recipes for Cleaning and Conditioning Leather:

Read ingredients in leather cleaners carefully. You will find that the ingredients are pretty common: olive oil, lanolin and Neat’s-foot oil (animal rendered oils) are generally used in commercial products. If your vehicle has leather seats, avoid hot, sunny parking spots and use a sun screen in front of your windows, or cover the seats with a blanket to protect the leather.  Spot cleaning, dusting and using a protective spray will increase the life of the leather.

For full cleaning and conditioning, try this mixture:

• 1 part white vinegar
• 2 parts neatsfoot oil OR raw or food grade linseed oil
• Use a white lint free cloth to swirl on, leave overnight then buff for maximum shine.

Remove any mildew or mold on leather before starting with a regular cleaning. To remove mildew, try this inexpensive, easy recipe:

• 1 part rubbing alcohol
• 1 part water
• Spray on or use on a dampened cloth. Use a clean white lint free cloth and replace as it gets dirty. Avoid direct sunlight and allow to air dry. You may also turn on a fan and allow it to gently waft over the surface.

Removing Stains From Leather

It may be impossible to remove all stains from leather, depending on their origin. However, here are some simple cleaning tips that might help.

• Toothpaste straight on the stain, lightly scrubbed in and then wiped off.
• Try non-acetone nail polish remover wipes on ink stains.
• Aerosol hairspray works well on tough stains. Spray the hairspray directly on the stain and wipe away. This may take several swipes so keep at it.

Many people will just leave the car to dry itself, this can cause problems if you have direct sunlight on it. You will find the water drying in certain areas faster which will leave spots all over. Drying your car is easy and only takes a few minutes to do it manually and the result will be much better.

1) A towel or leather is what you should be using, there are better materials to use than leather – it depends if you have one or mind spending the money in getting one. The main problem with using leather is that after a few uses it will become slimy and won’t be as good as drying the car making it much harder to dry manually.

2) All you have to do it go around the car drying it section by section, if the car is in direct sunlight then you should start with that area first. After you have cleaned a section, rinse out the material to free water allowing you to dry the next section easier.

3) Ensure that the car is 100% dry before putting your equipment away, make sure that you dry the wheels because if you were to drive off with wet wheels it could splash the side panels of your car.

A good way to remove insects from the front of your car when cleaning is to use Active Insect Remover which is a concentrated foam designed to rapidly dissolve squashed insect remains from vehicle bodywork, windscreens and headlights, insects are always the hardest part when it comes to cleaning a car and this is especially the case in summertime. 

The product can be used at the roadside as a quick fix or as part of the full car cleaning process; all you have to do is spray onto the surface to be cleaned and allow approximately 30 seconds whilst the product works and the insect remains to soften.

Wipe off surface with a soft cloth and clean the surface with dry paper towel or hose off if used prior to normal washing of the car. Stubborn insect remains may require a second application. If the product ‘dries on’, then wipe off is improved if the cloth is dampened or sprayed with Active Insect Remover. This product can be used on cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, caravans and boats.

When detailing your car you should start with the lower half so that you are not transferring any of the dirt to the cleaner areas. This is because the wheels, wheel arches and the front of the car are often the dirtiest. If possible you should also use separate cleaning apparatus for the best result, failing that you should clean it thoroughly before using them again.

1) Start by wetting the top half thoroughly, you will get the best results if you wash your car in the shade or when the sun isn’t out. This will prevent the water drying unevenly giving a spotty effect.

2) I always tend to start at the front and work my way to the back, when cleaning the bonnet keep an eye out for foreign objects such as grit that will scratch the paint or glass if moved around. You can use a separate cloth or bug sponge to wash the windscreen to remove any bugs that may be stuck on.

3) Be careful when you choose a pad to wash your car, many of them will state that they will not scratch the paint or glass but sometimes they do. You are best doing a small area to see what the outcome is like, if it’s satisfactory then you can do the rest of the vehicle.

4) To get onto the roof of your car simply use a box or step ladder giving you easy access, just make sure that it’s stable and not touching the cat to avoid any damage.

5) After you have cleaned the car with your cleaning products go over it with the hose removing any soap and let it dry. You can dry it manually depending if you have time, if not try to let it dry in the shade to get an even finish.

When you are detailing the exterior of your vehicle you will find certain areas needing more attention if you want the best results. You will agree that the exterior of your vehicle is the most important part of the detail.

1) You are best doing the front and the wheels separate to the rest of the car, this is because it’s often the dirtiest so you would hate to mix up the dirt when cleaning the other panels. Use separate buckets, sponges and paintbrushes when cleaning the front, you should just clean them thoroughly after you have finished.

2) Before you start cleaning the front end of your vehicle you should wet the area first.

3) Using a degreaser you should spray the areas that you intend on cleaning. You can pick up degreasers that are used for vehicles if you want the best results.

4) Using a sponge of cloth you should then wipe down the area removing the dirt and any bugs that may be stuck onto the front. Sometimes it will take a couple of wipes to get the front end clean depending on how bad it is.

5) You can use a paintbrush for any areas where you cannot get into to make things much easier for you. Areas such as the grills are hard to get the cloth into in order to clean it properly.

6) Simply spray the front end down again removing all of the chemicals and excess dirt and dry the front end with a new cloth.

Many people think it’s harder than it is to clean a door jamb that it really is, when you are detailing your car you want the best results so don’t want to miss any section out.

1) Start by just opening the doors so you can see the door jamb, you should use the same product you used when cleaning the wheels for this task.

2) Most of the products out there will not do any damage to the material so you can be confident that you won’t discolour, weaken or ruin the door jamb, paint or upholstery. Before you begin you are recommended to double check that it will not affect any materials to be on the safe side.

3) You can dilute the cleaner if you wish, start by simply spraying the product evenly into the door jamb.

4) Take a paintbrush and ensure that you have got into the corners, just lightly brush over it a couple of times.

5) All you have to do now is rinse it off, you can either use a wet cloth or a hosepipe to do this. You have to be careful that you don’t get too much water inside the car as you are prolonging the drying process.

That’s all there is to it. Repeat this process on the other side and carry on detailing the rest of your car.

1) When you are cleaning your car you will need to address the trim separately with a different approach, the trim are the areas made from rubber or plastic.

2) You should be using a special UV protector so that it’s doesn’t fade in sunlight, you can pick it up from some of the high end motor supply shops.

3) Spray the solution onto the sponge opposed to directly onto the car, use the sponge to apply the solution to the trim on your car. Be sure to wipe off any residue because if it gets onto your paintwork it can stain and damage the finish.

4) You should clean the trim before you wax your car, basically it just means that if you get any wax onto the trim it will be a lot easier to remove.

5) If you decide to use this on your wheels you should always put a towel on the floor, if you get the solution onto concrete it will actually leave a mark that is visible when the concrete is wet.

6) Go around the car cleaning the trim and wheels ensuring you’re wiping the UV protector with a towel to remove in residue as you go along.

7) It dries pretty quickly so once you have finished you should be ready to wax your car if you have decided you are doing it on the same day.

NOTE: Before you start you should always test your chrome polish on a small area of the car before you polish all of the chrome areas, this is because some chrome polishes have been known to scratch the chrome.

If you are unsure which polish to get you can always ask the store you are purchasing it from to see if they can recommend any that will not scratch your car.

1) Apply the polish as you would a normal car wax, it will be slightly harder than applying normal car wax if you want the best results. You can still polish the chrome if it has been tarnished – it will just be a little more difficult to apply.

2) Simply use a different towel and wipe of the wax, you are best wiping down a small section first to ensure that you have the results that you want. If so, continue to wipe down the rest of the chrome area you have applied the wax.

3) If the results are not as desired you can apply more polish to the chrome and repeat steps 1 and 2 until you are satisfied.

This is a process that you will get better the more you do it, don’t be disheartened if you cannot get the perfect results right away.

People often miss out on cleaning the engine bay when detailing their car, this not only will make it harder to do so in the future and could impose problems if left too long. It’s not that difficult if you know how to do it correctly, so let’s get to it.

1) Be careful when using water in the engine bay, on certain makes and models of cars too much water can result in problems. Not to mention any electronics you may have in the engine compartment – damaging these could result in having to have to pay to repair them.

You want to begin by spraying the engine bay down with water

2) Next you need spray the area with degreaser, be careful around some of the components because if too much is applied it could leave marks on certain surfaces. Note: avoid having direct sun light on the degreaser once applied as it will speed up the process.

If you have any excess on certain areas just wipe them off and continue covering the whole engine bay, don’t forget the underside of the bonnet.

3) Use a paint brush to wipe around the area to ensure you have got degreaser everywhere that you wanted, this will also agitate the degreaser making the outcome much better.

4) After degreaser has been applied, simply wash down the area with your hosepipe, be careful again about getting too much water near the engine and other components. Some makes and models are known for having problems when you use too much water.

5) Next you need to dry it, if possible you are best using an air compressor to get most of the water out of the engine bay. Then go round the area with a towel to make sure that it’s all dry. If you don’t have an air compressor you can use a couple of towels to dry the area.

Espuma Clay Bar
Espuma Clay bar is a mixture of clay base and various mild abrasives. Clay along with a clay lubricant is used to remove paint contamination. Road grime, tar, bugs, rust, tree sap and even paint overspray can be removed with a clay bar. Clay bars differ in color and density but what is most important is the type and amount of abrasive particles they contain. All clay bars will be labeled from “mild” to “strong” abrasive quality. Claying does not remove the clear coat of the paint but can cause marring or dullness if used incorrectly. When using a clay bar sufficient lubrication must be present to avoid scratching the paint. It takes a few passes of clay to feel the difference on the surface of the paint. To evaluate the effectiveness of claying dry the area and assess the paint and the bar. The paint should become slick to touch. The clay bar used should be turning gray. If the clay bar is dropped it must be discarded. The clay bar should be folded over frequently to expose clean surface. Claying does not replace polishing. It is a process that should be used before polishing compound is used. Claying should be used once or twice a year.