Car Care Q & A
Got a spare minute? Why not browse through the answers to some of the questions our users have previously asked and increase your own car care I.Q?
"What is the difference between a polish and a wax?" Helen Beaumont
Although these two
terms are used interchangably, there is infact a great deal of difference between the two.
A polish is basically a Paint Correction product, whereas, a wax is for Paint Protection. You might be familiar with the Autogym Super Resin Polsih or perhaps, T-Cut. Both of these are polishes and the attribute that seperates them is primarily, the level of 'Cut' each one delivers. A good quality polish will be effecient in removing light scratches and mild oxidisation.
A wax on the other hand is for protecting the exterior paintwork from the elements and pollutants such as rain, bird droppings, road grime. A good quality waxes can also add another dimension to the appearance of your vehicle by singinfacntly increased the level of depth and shine.
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"I keep hearing the terms 'Valeting' and 'Detailing'. Is there any real difference?" Jeff Abbott
The term 'Detailing' comes from the U.S and is used in the same context as 'Valeting' here in the U.K., i.e the act of cleaning and preparing a car. However, 'Detailing' usually involves a greater level of attention-to-detail to the job (as the name suggests).
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"Why does the colour on some cars, especially TVR's, seem to change shades in daylight?" David Fisher
It is because of the type of paint that is used on the bodywork, called Flip Paint. As the name suggests, Flip Paints are primarily two-tone in nature, and each level of shade becoming apparent according to the amount of light it receives. Besides TVRs, you will also find Flip Paints on many of the Japanese imports such as the Honda Integra and Nissan Skyline.
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“How do I remove sun cream from the exterior of my car?” Clare Meldrum
Try and get hold of a product called 'Tar and Adhesive Remover' from Autoglym. It is available in Halfords and other fine automobile accessories store. Next, spray some of the remover onto a terry towel and make contact with the affected area for about 1-2 minutes. Thereafter, rub the terry towel on the affected area in circular motion until you notice the overspray (suncream) disappear. Alternatively, try using T-Cut to remove the suncream; Apply to the affected area and leave for about 20 minutes. Remove with a terry towel after about 20 minutes. For best results, follow by a coat of wax.
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"What is the difference between servicing and maintaining?" Gudia
Servicing a vehicle usually involves and/or carried out when a specific tasks needs to be accomplished. This might be a certain problem with the vehicle or perhaps only a regular check-up. Eg. Engine damage caused by prolonged driving with insufficient engine oil. Maintenance would involve properly caring for the vehicle consistently which might actually prevent the problem from arising in the first place. Eg. Checking the vehicle oil level every month. Like a wise man once said ‘Prevention is better than cure’!
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What can I use to restore the colour of my 1999 Astra which is Flame red,any advice would be appreciated?" Robert Christie
I am assuming that the paintwork on your Vauxhall Astra has gone ‘pink’, since oxidisation of red paintwork is one the more commonly seen problems within modern paintwork today. To effectively restore the paintwork, the faded layer of paint that lies above needs to be removed, so that the fresh layer below can be revealed. To do this, you would need to use an abrasive polish; strong enough to be able to remove the dull layer yet, gentle enough not to remove any more paint than that is absolutely essential.
You can pick up a bottle of T-Cut from any good car care store which should cure the faded paintwork and if done correctly, bring it up to a satisfactory standard. Go for the ‘Original’ and not the colour specific variety that Carplan (makers of T-Cut) also offer. We have carried various comparison tests amongst the various types of T-Cut’s available, and found the ‘Original’ to be the most effective.
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