Welcome back to the Proje’ blog! Summer’s gone, we’re into Fall and it’s almost time to say hey to Winter. It’s been an unforgiving time for most people – hot, dusty, changeable weather. And with that comes a strain on your car; the paintwork, the mechanics, it all needs a bit of a rest.
Winter isn’t going to help either, though. The cold brings its own issues with it. Sure, it takes longer for your car to get up to temperature, your oil gets thicker and your fans etc. are all working on overdrive. This affects fuel efficiency, so you’re going to feel the cold weather in your pocket. There isn’t much you can do about this. But the main concern you can do something about is your paintwork – get it protected from the elements!
What’s the Danger?
The main dangers of low temperature are twofold. Firstly, freezing cold temperatures can expose your paintwork, bringing up imperfections in the form of small amounts of warping. This, combined with the fact that there is water on your bodywork in the form of ice, can lead to rust developing.
Second, and even worse, is that when ice is around, people use salt. There isn’t much worse for your car than salt. Salt can erode paintwork, intact crystals can cause chips all over your car, and salt can stain both paintwork and glass.
The Solution
The solution, of course, is to get protected. There are a few ways you can do this – here are the best.
- Clay
Our Proje’ Traditional Clay Bar and Throwback Clay Lube will remove all roughness and dirt extremely easily with just a couple of passes, leaving your paintwork feel as smooth as crystal. A clay bar is the perfect way to remove all the contaminants that build up on your paintwork – including salt. It leaves a perfectly smooth surface to work on for your future processes. Think of it like an exfoliator, but for your car. All the dirt that has collected on your bodywork is literally sucked out by a clay bar, and ours also has some flexibility so that it stays flat against your car even when claying over a curve. The key to the perfect clay bar is not to go too heavy-duty. A good clay bar like the Proje’ Traditional Clay Bar will remove all roughness and dirt extremely easily with just a couple of passes, leaving your paintwork feel as smooth as crystal. And in winter, try and double protect against any issues with extreme cold by warming your clay bar and lube up a little before starting to use them – and don’t start if you think there’s a danger of freezing. Best to take things inside a heated garage or try again on a slightly warmer day!
- Ceramics
Ceramics – or SiO2 - are the ultimate in protection for your paintwork. Start by using our Prep Spray – this helps you to put on a pristine, uniform protective coat by removing all old polish, wax and sealant from the surface of your car. Our Prep Spray ensures that everything is removed, so you can start again from zero. Then, go Ceramic Spray Coating for Its ultra-hydrophobic properties that not only produce incredible water beading, but also makes your car super easy to clean, saving you time and money in the long run. Stronger and slicker than any other sealant on the auto detailing market today, Ceramic Spray Coating will protect your surfaces from salt, dirt, water spots – anything the elements can throw at your car!
- Fusion Tire Dressing
Don’t ever forget your tires – especially with extra salt and mud around. Also, remember that cold temperatures make for lower tire pressures, so keep an eye on that. Nobody wants a flat during the long drive home for the holidays! Tires need looking after and cleaning regularly, just as you would with other parts of your vehicle. As they age, they will fray and turn slightly brown as mold is released when the tires heat up and cool down. Tire manufacturers add antiozonant to the rubber, which is a compound that stops tires cracking by surfacing at high speed. Antiozonant is extremely important for the longevity of your tires, and Fusion Tire Dressing is specifically designed as a water-based formula so as not to remove these vital antiozonants. This means that your tires will last just as long, but will have that added shine to the color of your choice when you use Fusion Tire Dressing. And with that extra protection, they’ll stand up to the worst that winter can throw their way, with no problem at all!
Now, you’re prepped for the colder months!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s blog – stay tuned for more tips and tricks next week.
If you have any questions about any of the techniques or products that I’ve mentioned in this post, just add a comment below and we’ll post a reply! Remember that we stock only the best auto detailing supplies, so why not click some of the links in this blog post, or visit our products page to find out more? From all of us at Proje’, Enjoy the Process!