Eight Ways Real Men Take Care Of Their Cars

The holiday is over!

Only the best loved cars are the most excited today while others are waiting on the calendar checking for another long holiday. This means how well you take care of your car, so it responds to you.

Good masters are known from the appearance of their servants. From appearance to quality of work done to agility and instant bounce. Can you ‘categorically’ be called a good master, it does depend on these eight things.

Here are ways to take care of your car like a real adult giving every bit of TLC (tender, love and care);

1. At least once every month, you thoroughly give your car a good clean up

You don’t need to be told to wash your car but giving is a total make over once a month both inside and outside would do you a lots of good.

2. Change your oil regularly and only use reliable oil

If your car doesn't have fresh oil, dirt will build up and eventually kill your engine, which will cost thousands of dollars and your happiness.

So what’s the definition of regular, a school of thought suggest that you change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. And remember to use quality oil, preferably not dispensed oil you don’t know the brand nor are you sure of. A healthy car gives you less headache so don’t joke with this.

3. Check your tyre pressure monthly

Incorrect tyre pressure can lead to a ton of problems, including poor braking, instability, less gas mileage, and of course, a flat tire, so check your tyre pressure with a gauge. Also, rotate your tyres often to make sure that they wear evenly, making sure you get the most before replacing them.

4. Get your brake pads replaced regularly

Neglecting your brake pads will eventually lead to your brake rotors failing and you don’t want to deal with this. Before you feel this not your portion, the experts’ view is that you get your brake pads replaced every 25,000 miles.

5. Maintain your car's interior to keep its resale value high.

This doesn’t depend on how long you’ve been riding your car but rather on how well you’ve been. A dirty, unkept interior can lead to you losing money when you try to resell your car. There are car cleaning products that reinvigorates the outlook of your car all the time.

6. Change your air filters regularly

Your car isn't going to explode from a dirty air filter, but it's possible that leaving one can cause your engine to fail and damage your combustion chamber.

7. Prevent damage to your car by parking in the shade and using a window shade.

The same way you cannot roast yourself under a scorching sun so should your car be parked to experience the torturing heat? In addition to causing interior damage, UV rays from the sun can melt plastics, crack your dashboard, and cause fading on your paint job. It also isn't the most pleasant thing to sit in a scorching hot car, so for the sake of you and your butt, find some shade.

8. Ask an expert about car trouble when you're not sure yourself.

Every Wednesday is an opportunity for you to ask questions about your car and everything you need to know about automobiles.

Cars are just as complex as they are wonderful, and you shouldn't ever force your way into fixing a problem if you don't know exactly what's wrong. There are different brands of cars and different models, it’s an expert that can help guide you accurately.

If you need the right quality spare parts and accessories for your car, get it on www.autofactorng.com

Thank you for reading.

We hope you have a stress-less week!

How to Keep Your Vehicle in Top Shape in the Rain

Adverse weather conditions can really hamper drivers on the roads with not only poor visibility but loss of control on the road surface. Heavy rain and flash flooding are one of the most hazardous conditions on the road and can strike sometimes without warning. We thought we’d give our best advice to stay safe when driving in the rain to help avoid any accidents.

Prepare your car and check the weather

Before you leave on your journey, check out for weather warnings which could indicate hazardous road conditions, particularly flooding. Try to avoid driving in heavy rain unless your journey is absolutely necessary. If there are roads that you know are likely to flood try to avoid driving down them by taking an alternative route. Prepare your car by ensuring your wiper blades are working effectively and that you have packed appropriate clothing, warning signs (preferably with lights for better visibility) and blankets in the car should you breakdown. These days phone communication is vital so make sure you’ve charged your mobile phone or take a car phone charger with you in case you need to make an emergency call. Letting others know when you’re planning to make your journey and the route you’re taking will help ease their worries and if you breakdown and can’t get mobile signal they could send out a search party for you. It’s also sensible to fill your car up with enough fuel should traffic bring you to a crawl, eating up fuel resources.

When driving in the rain

• Slow your speed down in wet weather – the reason being is that your stopping distance increases in wet weather by twice as much. Slowing down will give you more time to react to any incidents or loss of control of your car.
• Watch out for spray blocking your view – big puddles can lead to vehicles projecting large amounts of spray, not to mention spray from the vehicle in front.
• Keep the air conditioning working – in particular on the windscreen. This will help prevent the windows misting up, reducing your visibility of the road.
• Dip your headlights – this helps other road users to see you better.
• Avoid using rear fog lights – it may seem strange but this can blind drivers behind you, plus they can’t see your brake lights as easily.
• Listen to the radio – local radio stations can be a great source of information for travel news during your journey and most radio systems have a built-in Traffic Information

If you breakdown in heavy rain

Stay calm. Whether you’ve flooded the engine with too much water by driving too fast, or a general fault in the car has occurred take all the right precautions when you breakdown, especially if visibility is poor. Put your hazard warning lights and dipped headlights on (if you can) to increase visibility to other road users. If you have an illuminated sign, also carefully put that out on the road some distance back from your vehicle to alert others to the breakdown ahead.

Of course, try to remain dry by wearing rain coats and sheltering away from the car if there is somewhere safe to do so. Not always is it safe to remain in your broken down car on busy highways. Sometimes if a car engine has flooded give it a few minutes to dry out and attempt to restart the vehicle. Otherwise, if you can’t resolve the breakdown yourself in the rain, call an emergency breakdown recovery service like AUTOFACTORNG to come and help or tow your vehicle.

Top 5 reasons for car break down that you ignore

We all hate it when our car breaks down but knowing the most common symptoms should help you prevent a future break down. So here’s our top 5 reasons for car break down.


Flat or dead car battery causes break down

It’s more common than you think but battery failure is one of the biggest causes of break downs. Batteries most often run flat when we leave the car lights on or forget that the radio is left on. Other times just simple old age can mean the battery suffers to hold it’s charge, or that corrosion has affected the battery terminals. Usually these issues affect you before you start the car but sometimes even when you’re driving the alternator can fail and not charge the battery causing you to lose power to the car! Don’t forget, sometimes the manufacturing process can go awry and bad cells occur.

Overheating engine forces you to break down

Watching the temperature gauge rise in your car can be a worrying matter since an overheating engine can cause plenty of damage to the internal structure of the engine – if it hasn’t already happened. Sometimes the cause can be a leak in the cooling system of the car, meaning coolant isn’t circulating around the engine. Other times the cooling fan or water pump can be the culprit making the engine overheat. Even a clogged radiator can cause this issue too, so whenever you witness the signs of engine overheating make sure you stop immediately before more damage is done.

Tyre failure is another big cause of a break down

Whether you experience a flat tyre or a complete tyre blow-out your tyres are another vulnerable part of the car which causes break downs.  Some people may simply forget to check the tyre pressure and drive on a low pressure causing an accident. Other times tyre tread wear – if severe – can cause a blow out forcing you of the road. Most of us however will likely experience tyre failure through a nail or screw in the tyre causing a puncture but usually this can be repaired without full tyre replacement if not too damaged. Other times just hitting a kerb at speed or running over pot holes can cause a break down.

Electrical faults are becoming a common break down cause

More and more these days our cars rely on electrical components to monitor and help drive the car. However this means there are naturally more instances of electrical failure when it comes to break downs. The complexities of the electrical system in the car can make it difficult to self diagnose, hence why garages are now equipped with computers to hook up to our cars and pinpoint the exact issue. You may also find the diagnostics team has to spend time discovering the fault if the car’s computer doesn’t show any problems.

Transmission failure leads to break downs

Another common break down symptom can be contributed to the transmission including the clutch. If not serviced regularly to keep the transmission lubricated and working smoothly, the parts in the transmission system may stress and wear down, leading to early failure of the components inside the transmission. Therefore it’s recommended you keep to your service schedule no matter the age of the car to prevent a costly bill.

A Guide to Car Leather Cleaning

  Leather often becomes grimy, sticky and tacky over time and with a few minutes of work you can make your seats look as good as new. There are several leather seat cleaning products on the market that you can buy to clean your interior. Any of these products can be used, but there is a simpler process that is safe and easy to do on your own with a few household items.

What You Need

The recommended process for cleaning your leather seats requires the use of a several items, many of which you may have lying around your house. You will need a spray bottle, Simple Green (a non-toxic, all natural cleaning product), some water, a clean towel and a green scratch scrub pad. With these tools you can clean your leather seats by following a simple process. One thing you should note is that you do not want to use harsh chemicals on your leather seats, because you could damage them.

The Cleaning Process

Before you begin you need to fill your spray bottle with 50% water and 50% Simple Green. It won’t hurt your seats to use 100% Simple Green, but it isn’t required. Liberally spray the mixture over your seats and wash them with your towel. This should remove nearly all of the dirt and dust on the seats and give them a nice shine.

If the seats still have some grime or dirt that can’t be removed then you can scrub the seats clean. When you perform this step you want to be aware that if you clean your seats too aggressively, you could potentially damage them. You want to spray your seats with the cleaning mixture, applying a liberal amount to the entirety of the seat. Lightly use the green scrub pad to clean the seat, using small amounts of pressure and scrubbing back and forth over the dirty spots. Repeat this process until all of the problem areas are cleaned. When finished you can dry the seats with a clean, dry towel.

Other Considerations

Cleaning leather is fairly straightforward, but if you’re worried you will damage your seats, you should have it taken into a shop for cleaning. Leather tends to be fairly durable and holds up well over time. As long as you use an all-natural (or leather) cleaning solution, you shouldn’t be able to do too much damage to your seats. Some off-the-shelf upholstery cleaners will require you to follow the directions that come with your purchase and in all cases these should be followed to the letter for the best results. Car leather washing is safe, easy and can be done at home with a little bit of time and effort.

10 Ways you are Killing your Car

The old mantra if you look after your car, your car will look after you certainly holds true. Car ownership is becoming more and more common with many households running 2 or more cars.

Sadly though few drivers are sympathetic to, or fully understand the way their car works. A little knowledge will keep your relationship with your car running smoothly!

Without realising it many drivers are actually damaging their car or at very least running up a hefty repair bill.

Here are the top 10 things people do every day completely oblivious to the consequences. Most of these points will at the very least hit us in our pockets in the near future.

How many are you guilty of?

1.) Oil changes and servicing – Engine oil is the vital component in your car. Some people will wrongly assume that if the car takes 5 litres of oil and they have topped up this year by 5 litres that there is no point in changing the oil. Oil degrades, and the reduction in oil level is due to the thinner high quality oil getting burned or just seeping out of the engine. The sludge, grime and metal particles build up in the residue so topping up is not the same as changing the oil. The oil level is dangerously low in over 70% of cars – check your oil levels today.

2.) Incorrect tire pressures  – cause additional heat to build up in the tires  due to the extra flexing. The car has to work harder reducing your fuel economy. With under inflated tires the handling becomes unpredictable at best. Braking is also significantly reduced.

3) Not allowing turbo to cool down – How many people with turbo driven engine drive it hard and then fail to allow the turbo to cool down properly? In Europe more and more production cars have turbos to meet emissions and power requirements. The turbo is spinning at between 100,000 rpm and 200,000 rpm and gets very hot, the moment you turn off the engine you starve it of fresh oil, unless your cars oil pump keeps running. The oil in the turbo gets fried and essentially leaves your turbo spinning with no lubrication. Your turbo will need replacing if this is your driving style.

4.) Driving hard on a cold engine! Don’t use higher engine RPMs when cold – until an engine is warm it will run rich. Your engine is most at risk from damage when cold, so putting undue stress on it by high revving will exponentially increase the damage done. The combustion process does not become efficient until the engine reaches its operating temperature. An inefficient burn leaves acids and other toxins th 874 at eat your engine. The oil also takes a short while to flow properly so ideally you would let the engine tick over for 3-10 seconds, then drive off at a steady pace keeping under 2-3000 rpm. Do not use the top half of the rev range until the engine reaches operating temperature. This applies as much to modern engines with catalytic convertors as it does on older engines. Don’t leave the engine idling to warm it up, just drive it (after giving it 30 seconds for the oil pressure to come up)!

5.) Short journeys – Just as driving off too quickly damages an engine so will doing short journeys. The problem with a short journey is that the engine never reaches its operating temperature. So for the reasons detailed in the driving off too quickly do not drive short distances. (Use the under 1 mile – walk philosophy!) The engine oil needs to reach its optimum viscosity to properly lubricate the main moving components in the engine. While cold the catalyst is unable to operate at peak efficiency thus reducing the life of your expensive catalyst.

Protect your car against the  rain this season

6.) Revving too high – The red line indicates the maximum permissible engine speed. At this point the engine is under enormous stress and the components are moving at their fastest speed. Slight imbalances in the engine are emphasised at high rpm and if you prolong the high rpm for a period of time you will more than likely throw a connecting rod through the sump (or worse). The older an engine is, the lower the red line should be. As an engine starts to produce most of its power across the middle third of its rev band there is little point exceeding this.

7.) Hand on gear stick – So many people do this but it can actually cause premature gear wear, especially if you wiggle the stick around. The stick is connected directly to the gearbox (in many cars) so the slightest pressure is transmitted to the gear selector. This is enough to cause wear and eventually your gearbox will start to grind and crunch as you change gear.

8.) Riding the clutch – Again keeping a foot on the clutch is enough to prevent it from fully engaging. The clutch plate will tend towards slip and will prematurely wear. Keeping the clutch depressed in traffic or at traffic lights is also a bad idea. Just put the car in neutral when you are stationary. When the clutch is depressed your are forcing the clutch against the release bearing. Eventually the release bearing will just give up having done 60,000 miles worth of pressure in just 10,000.

9.) Wrong gear selection – Nothing puts a strain on the engine like forcing it to pull the car in the wrong gear. Too high a gear strains the bottom end of the engine around the crank and con rods. Too low a gear will mean you are revving more than you need to so the top end of the engine around the valves, cams and lifters are working too hard.

10.) Driving a dirty car – This one is a little contentious but corrosion takes effect more easily on a car which is covered with a layer of dirt. A thorough clean each month and a coat of good quality wax (not polish) will do much to enhance the cars defence against corrosion.

Protect your car against the  rain this season

Source: Torque Cars

Can You Switch Between Regular and Synthetic Motor Oil?

If you have ever wondered if you can switch between regular and synthetic motor oil, you need to consider what type of oil works best for your engine.

Although most of today's new cars, trucks and SUV's have synthetic motor oil inside their engines, there are still a few that utilize conventional motor oil as their primary source of lubrication. 

The truth is - this is not a cut and dry, yes or no answer. In fact, depending on your individual application, The swap from conventional to synthetic or vice-versa may cause more harm than it's worth. In order to simplify the equation and to provide you with facts so you can make an informed decision.

What is Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil is made from chemical compounds that contain some petroleum elements combined with highly refined crude oil, organic, and inorganic compounds. In addition to synthetic oils, there are also synthetic blends that combine synthetic oils with traditional petroleum-based oils.

Synthetic oils were developed to address a major problem all combustion engines deal with each time they are started: oil and solvents do not mix well together. Engine oil is designed to lubricate moving parts inside the engine, especially inside the combustion chamber. However, most fuels are petroleum based and are solvents, which literally wash away conventional oil which coats components.

Synthetic motor oil provides a protective layer of thin lubrication on metallic components so they maintain lubrication for longer periods of time. As such, most synthetic oils have distinct advantages over regular motor oil, including:

• Better high and low viscosity performance
• Decreased evaporation
• Resistant to oxidation and sludge issues
• Improved lubrication during extreme cold weather
• Improved horsepower and torque
• Increased fuel economy

Synthetic oil typically lasts longer than conventional motor oil, which can reduce overall costs or at least help justify the higher price tag that comes with synthetic oils. For example, a person might change his or her oil every 3,000 miles with regular oil and only every 5,000 miles with synthetic oil.

Switching to Synthetic Oil from Conventional

When synthetic oil was originally developed it was meant to be used only in engines engineered to be specifically compatible with it. Older synthetic oils used esters, which are chemical compounds mixed with alcohol, and were harder on the components, including engine seals and gaskets. The esters would cause wear and create oil leakage, and potentially overheating problems. Today’s synthetic oils use less alcohol compounds, and engine gaskets and seals are made to withstand synthetic oils.

In general, there are three primary benefits to switching from conventional to synthetic oil:

• To reduce oil change intervals
• To remove carbon deposits on moving internal engine components (like cylinder head valves)
• To extend engine life

As you made the switch from conventional to synthetic, it is recommended to do this progressively. Here are a few tips to consider:

• For the first oil and filter change, switch from conventional to conventional/synthetic blend. Continue with synthetic/conventional blend for at least two other oil changes.
• Always replace the oil filter anytime you change engine oil.
• On the third oil change, switch from the conventional/synthetic blend to full synthetic.

The one thing you do not want to change is the recommended oil weight or viscosity. If the above process is followed, it should be safe to switch from regular to synthetic or use a synthetic blend as long as you use the same weight of oil.

Concerns About Switching to Synthetic Oil

Most newer model vehicles will adapt to the change with no problem. However, older models with high mileage may not adjust to the change. Their seals are likely to be thinner and worn and you may find that they start burning oil as it seeps into the combustion chamber. It is important to consult your owner’s manual or ask a trusted technician before making the switch in a vehicle.

No matter what type of oil you use, regular maintenance with oil changes is essential to extending the life of your engine. Follow the guidelines by the manufacturer or ask the technician how often you should have your oil changed based on the make and model and how the vehicle is used.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Intake Manifold Gaskets

Common signs include the engine constantly overheating, coolant leaking, engine misfires, and a decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel economy.

The intake manifold gaskets are some of the most important gaskets found on an engine. Gaskets are the seals placed between engine components before they are assembled in order to provide a reliable seal. They can be made of paper, rubber, metal, and sometimes a combination of the three.

The intake manifold gaskets are responsible for sealing the intake manifold against the cylinder head(s). Apart from sealing engine vacuum, certain designs will also seal engine coolant. When the intake manifold gaskets have an issue, they can cause drivability problems and even engine overheating. Usually a faulty intake manifold gasket will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue.

1. Engine misfires and decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel economy

One of the most common symptoms of an issue with intake manifold gaskets is engine performance issues. As the vehicle acquires mileage, the intake manifold gaskets may wear out and eventually leak. This can cause major performance issues, as the intake manifold gaskets seal engine vacuum and pressure. A vacuum leak caused by a bad intake manifold gasket can throw off the engine’s air-fuel ratio and cause engine performance issues such as misfires, a decrease in power and acceleration, a reduction in fuel efficiency, and even stalling.

2. Coolant leaks

Another symptom of a faulty intake manifold gasket is coolant leaks. Some intake manifold gaskets also seal engine coolant, and if the gasket wears out it may lead to a coolant leak. This may produce a distinct coolant smell, along with steam, and drips or puddles of coolant underneath the vehicle. Coolant leaks should be addressed as soon as possible, in order to prevent them from becoming a greater issue.

3. Engine overheating

Engine overheating is another symptom of a possible issue with the intake manifold gaskets. A coolant leak will eventually lead to engine overheating when the coolant level drops too low, however there are instances where overheating can occur without any visible leaks. If the intake manifold gaskets leak coolant into the intake manifold the engine may overheat as a result, without any visible external leaks. Any coolant leaks should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of serious engine damage occurring due to a bad intake manifold gasket.

While a faulty intake manifold gasket will produce symptoms that quickly alert the driver of an issue, there can be instances where a leak is difficult to detect. If you suspect that your intake manifold gasket or gaskets may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician from AutoFactorNG to determine if the gasket should be replaced.

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Thermostat

Common signs include the temperature gauge reading being very high or changing erratically, engine overheating, and coolant leaks.

A car thermostat regulates the flow of coolant through the engine and is an incredibly important player in the operation of your vehicle’s engine. You may hear the phrase “the thermostat was stuck open or closed.” When the engine has been sitting for a while and is not warm, the thermostat will be closed. Once the engine is running and reaches a certain operating temperature, a sensor inside the thermostat will cause it to open, allowing coolant to flow to and from the radiator, decreasing the temperature so it can be recirculated through the engine again. This constant flow (in conjunction with several other cooling system components) is what keeps your vehicle’s engine functioning at the optimum temperature.

The opening and closing of the thermostat at the correct time is critical to maintaining proper engine temperature. In the event that it happens to become “stuck” closed, there is no way for coolant to be circulated through the radiator and eventually back through the engine, which causes extremely hot engine temperatures. 

Likewise, if the opposite problem arises in that the thermostat is “stuck” open, the flow of coolant is constant resulting in the vehicle’s engine temperature never reaching an optimum level of heat which creates performance problems. There are several common symptoms associated with a bad or failing thermostat that will alert you that service is due.

1. Temperature gauge reading very high and engine overheating

The first and potentially most alarming symptom will be the temperature gauge reading high into the red within the first 15 minutes of your vehicle engine running. This is often the very first sign that the thermostat is not functioning properly.

2. Temperature changing erratically

Erratic temperature fluctuations can also occur causing dramatic spikes and drops in temperature which eventually leads to poor engine performance. In this case you may see the temperature abnormally low at one point and shortly after climb to an abnormally high level.

3. Coolant leaks around the thermostat housing or under the vehicle

Another indication may also be leaking coolant which can be caused by the thermostat not allowing coolant to flow when it is stuck in the closed position. This can be noticeable in a variety of locations, but most commonly around the thermostat housing. This can eventually cause other coolant hoses to leak as well resulting in coolant often times leaking on the ground under your vehicle.

Thermostat replacement is a fairly inexpensive repair to make to your vehicle, preventing potentially thousands of dollars in engine damage due to excessive heat. If any of the above symptoms sound familiar to you, it may be time to have an expert mechanic from AutoFactorNG come to your home or office to diagnose your vehicle.