Car ownership is like owing any other gadget or item – if you don’t look after it properly, you will eventually need to replace it.

Here are just five of the key car ownership mistakes that people have made in the past, that have cost them far more than they could have imagined.

The Wrong Wheels

Believing that you are a car expert, when you are new to the world of automobiles can be a disastrous car ownership mistake to try and pull off. For instance, installing oversized wheels is a rookie mistake and will eventually cause you nothing but massively expensive problems. You can eventually damage the fenders and wheel wells for your vehicle and leave yourself with a huge bill to pay and no car for quite some time.

Unaligned Tyres

Car Ownership Mistakes

Tyres care is a big part of car ownership, and aligning them in the wrong manner is a mistake that plenty of people do. If you’re putting on new tyres make sure they are properly aligned. Failure to do so will see your tyre’s running out much quicker than you ever thought possible!

Ignoring Oil Changes

Just like anything else that uses oil, it has to be changed and re-mixed from time to time. Whilst oil technology has improved in the last generation or so, it’s still vital to make sure that your car gets an oil change from time to time. If you fail to do so, this car ownership mistake will eventually start to cause your engine to wear out, as there will not be efficient enough lubricant. This can be an expensive problem to clean up, in more ways than one.

Buying Cheap Batteries

Sometimes, trying to save money on vehicle maintenance will only cost you far more in the long-term. A dead battery as you might imagine is useless. When buying a car battery, look online for the exact battery type for your vehicle and try going for one of the better ranges. Buying a cheap replacement to save a few pounds may cost you extra money for a battery charger and a replacement, so try not to scrimp and save in this department.

Unprofessional Body Work

The last thing that your vehicle needs is cheap bodywork – if you have dented or damaged your car, get a professional to fix the problem. Your mate with a hammer or that DIY specialist with his own garage out the back, might not be the best people to really help you, as it may end up costing you far more in the future.

If you can think of any other car ownership mistakes you want to shout, about feel free to let me know.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Five Disastrous Car Ownership Mistakes appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

As you might imagine, car maintenance is very important because the majority of cars can be relatively fragile if you don’t look after them. Bad car habits tend to be entirely self-inflicted, and therefore can cause vehicle damage that may prove to be expensive. So if you find that your car is beginning to incur problems a touch quicker than you are used to, it maybe it’s due to the way you drive.

Okay… so this post isn’t a dig, or a way to preach about road safety, it’s a legitimate concern, as certain bad car habits can directly cause crashes and accidents. Equally, the following bad car habits are going to put a severe dent in the lifespan of your vehicle.

Bad Car Habits

Dodging Maintenance

If you were to go through life without ever doing any exercise, or looking after your body in any fashion whatsoever, it would no doubt lead to shorter lifespan than normal. Right? Well a car is the exactly same. Delaying going for regular service checks ups and maintenance may turn into one of those bad car habits, meaning that your car will never get its proverbial exercise check up. If you want to avoid this dilemma, you should take your car for a regular service for things like oil and filter replacement, transmission fluids, air filters and replacement brake pads.

Head ups! Your vehicle should have come with a maintenance manual. If you can’t find it, you may be able to pick one up online. Following the advice found in your vehicle manual will help you to create a nice maintenance routine to follow.

Shifting When on the Move

Gear shifting when on the move is a foolish tactic, it’s another one of those bad car habits, it’s costly, and will wear out the transmission fairly quickly. Don’t shift from drive to reverse whilst you are moving as it’s like a kick in the face to the transmission. Too many of these jerks and jabs, and you will eventually need to replace the transmission. In many cases, this can almost be as expensive as buying a new car outright!

Computer Game Driving

Do you tend to drive at the maximum speed possible, only to come to grinding halt at every stop you encounter? If so be prepared to put your car in the scrapper early. This type of driving will accelerate the deterioration of the key parts of your vehicle, it’s again another one of those bad driving habits, and eventually it will leave you with a hulking mess of a vehicle. For a good car life span, take it nice and smooth and don’t make computer game driving a bad car habit.

Ignoring Dash Lights

It’s fairly self-explanatory – if you decide to ignore the clear warnings that your vehicle is giving you, then hands down you will eventually regret it! Bad car habits are not paying attention to dashboard warning lights, they are there for a reason. And if you do come across a legitimate problem, please do yourself a favor and hot foot it down to the local garage or your trusty mechanic to have the problem repaired.

Tire Replacements

Are your tires balding or damaged? Then you need to bite the bullet and get replacements. It might be expensive, but it may cost you more than and “arm and a leg” in the long-term if you decide to just ignore it. Bald tyres are dangerous full stop, and if you live in weather torn areas it’s asking for serious trouble. You’ve been warned, if your tyres are balding pick new ones up as soon as possible or you run the risk of having no car at all!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Five Bad Car Habits That Will Cost You appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Planning a summer road trip anyone?

Whether you’re going to a summer festival, on a glamorous camping trip, or a day trip to the beach, there are a few things you really don’t want to forget on a summer road trip.

Join us, as we run through the checklist of summer road trip essentials.

1. A sense of direction…

You don’t want to be getting lost the very first time you attempt to venture away on a summer road trip. Obviously it’s not a very good idea to head straight out on your the day after you pass your driving test, so make sure you’re capable of using a map and driving without getting lost.

For your summer road trip, it makes sense to use a Sat Nav or if you prefer things the old-fashioned way a good ole map with some printed directions will do the trick.

2. Food, food, glorious food

No one wants to be hungry on a summer road trip, so don’t forget the sweets, the Pringles and the cash for the McDonalds drive-thru. Don’t go too eating to much though, you don’t want to end up sticking your head out the window like a sick dog.

3. Bring some tuuuuunes!

You’re going to need some seriously good music for your summer road trip. You know… the kind of songs that make people shout ‘TUUUUUNNEEE’ or run to the dance floor like they’re being chased by a pack of hungry dogs.

A collaborative summer road trip playlist is a good idea, providing no one created a playlist filled with songs from the wonder years.

4. Your Ray Bans

What’s the point in going on a summer road trip if you haven’t got any Ray Bans? Okay…we’ll allow cheap knock offs too; but for swag just make sure you’ve brought your driving shades along for the ride.

Note: In the interests of safety, please make sure that you can actually see out of your sunglasses while driving.

5. An in-car mobile phone charger

The last thing you want if on a summer road trip is to get stuck driving around the countryside looking for Glastonbury with a dying mobile battery. Having a mobile phone charger in your car can you get you out of all sorts of situations, so don’t forget to stick it in your glove box before you leave.

6. A Polaroid instant camera

On a summer road trip, who needs Instagram if you can take instant pictures of your mates really going for it in the dance tent? Polaroid instant cameras aren’t too pricey, and there’s no need to spend hours uploading everything to Facebook when you get home. Job done.

7. A torch

You may be going on a summer road trip, but every driver should have a torch in his or her car, although hopefully there’ll be no need to use it. Your first road trip should be a fun, stress-free affair. But you never know when a torch may come in handy, or when you might find yourself searching around in the dark for the right tent.

8. Money…

It may sound obvious, but you’d may be surprised by the number of people that break down because they run out of petrol. On your summer road trip make sure you’ve got cash on your card, so you don’t find yourself sitting at the side of the M25 instead, of lounging at the beach. Oh… and seeing as you’re the driver, don’t forget to make sure your mates chip in with the petrol money too!

9. Something warm

We know the summer is the time to take as many clothes off as possible, but lets face it… we are in England and who knows what the weather is going to be like. A good suggestion is to bring a few warmer clothes with you, at least a hoodie and a pair of leggings, because as soon as it gets dark you’re seriously going to regret your choice of daisy dukes.

10. Your friends

Summer Road Trip

Finally on your summer road trip…

Don’t forget to bring your mates with you. Your first road trip isn’t going to be much fun if you’re sitting on your own shouting ‘TUUUNNEE’ with all the windows open, so bring your friends drive save and have a wonderful time.

That’s all folks!

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post 10 Essentials For Your First Summer Road Trip appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Car Care

Car care can mean different things to different people. But If you think that a car is nothing but a metal on wheels that can get you from A to B, then please move on.

This page is dedicated to car owners who treat their cars with love and respect; the people who like to have their vehicles cleaned inside and out, and protected from all harmful elements.

I came up with this post because of the number of emails I get asking for tips on how to get a car looking show room clean. So here it is my basic guide to car care and cleaning. Enjoy!

Car Care Tip 1: Take Off Your Bling

As much as you love your oversized shaped ring, when it comes to car care, you need to take it off and keep it safe in your pocket.

It’s not so much that your ring will lose its luster, but more because you risk scratching your car’s paintwork to bits. So if you really care for your car, strip yourself free from any jewelry that may accidentally scratch your paintwork.

Care Car Tip 2: Use a Clay Bar

A car care oldie, and a trick to getting back that new paint job look is by using clay bars. A decent one will have your car gleaming just as it did when you drove it out of the showroom. You won’t have swirl marks nor will you have dried watermarks. Use the clay bar a couple of times a year and wait to see the difference.

Car Care Tip 3: One for Clean Water, One for Rinsing

This is a simple yet vital rule to car washing. For common sense car care use two buckets of water, dedicating one for rinsing off the dirt on your sponge or mitt. You wouldn’t wash your face with dirty, recycled water would you? Same goes for your car.

Car Care Tip 4: No Pressure Washer Needed

If you swear by how much cleaner your car is when you use a pressure washer then you’re right. It strips off the dirt so well that it can even strips off your paint. The pressure from these washers is generally too harsh for use on cars, especially cars with aged paintwork. I’ve seen it literally peel off stickers and disintegrate already damaged paint. Trust me, or see for yourself.

Car Care Tip 5: Do Not Use Household Soap

Seriously, this is the most common car care mistake of all. Sure dish soaps clean your pots well. Heck, they even smell good too. Doesn’t mean they will do the same for your car! Most household cleaners are either very acidic or alkali, and that’s a big No-No for your paint job. It eats up the wax and polish off your car before eating away at the clear coat too. You will eventually lose all protective layers to your paint if you keep using household soap on your car. So only use car shampoos formulated with the correct PH-neutral.

Car Care Tip 5: Invest in Specialist Products

You can rub all you want but unless you use a specialist car care products, you will never get that ingrained road tar, birdy poops, or tree sap off your paint. When it comes to the hard stuff, it’s worth purchasing that occasional specialist car care product.

Car Care Tip 6: Bring on the Microfibers

Why? Simply because microfiber towels do the job well and clean up well afterwards.

They are plenty of cheap, disposable, and biodegradable ones to choose from, and of course crucially they are gentle on the car.

Car Care Tip 7: Enough with Chamois

Car Care chamois are so old school… and lets not even talk about those ShamWow cloths, which are even worst and never really do the job they promise anyway. Instead, get a soft silicon blade to quickly and efficiently swipe water off your bodywork. I promise you’ll never look back.

Car Care Tip 8: Wax and Polish

If you’re going to spend the afternoon doing a touch of car care waxing and polishing your car, then don’t waste your effort by skimping on the good stuff. Invest in good quality products rather than going for the shop’s special of the day – there’s a reason it’s a special.

Car Care Tip 9: No Silicon Cleaners on Your Engine

Back-to-Black is great for car care outside your car, but never use it to detail your engine. It gets sticky when dry and your engine will attract more dirt when covered in the silicon cleaner residue.

Car Care Tip 10: Avoid Hot Days

On hot days, soap and water will dry out fast. OK…so it doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. But while the heat may cut your washing and wiping time down by heaps, you’re unfortunately allowing water and calcium streaks to form; and trust me, they’re very hard to rinse off, if rinse-able at all. Do your car a favor, and wait for a cooler but dry day or at least find some shade.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post 10 Quick Car Care & Cleaning Tips appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Sun tan lotion? Check.

Mills and Boon? Check.

Strawberries and cream? Check.

Cooler? Check. The kids? Check.

So you’re all ready to roll out for your summer road trip…

Then you hear the voice in the background…“Darling have you checked the car?”

Question. Before you hit the road, are you up to date with your summer vehicle maintenance?

It’s ok I get it… vehicle auto maintenance is perhaps the last thing on your mind. But trust me, it will hit the top spot pretty damn fast if you end up breaking down at the side of the road.

So to help, here are my top 7 summer vehicle maintenance checks – which I hope once carried out, you’ll be patting yourself on the back for.

Oh… and don’t forget the lemonade.

First up:

1. Tyre Check:

I didn’t want to go there, but traveling during the summer in the UK, can and generally does involve driving in the rain. So its important to ensure that the tread on your tyres is adequate for any rainy weather, we really don’t want you ending up in a ditch.

Checking the tread depth on your tyre’s doesn’t take long, so while you’re at it you may as well check your tyre pressure too.

2. Replace Windshield Wipers:

Have you ever put your windscreen wipers on during a downpour, to realise they are not… doing the job there suppose to? It’s not a good look, and it can most definitely be scary.

The UK has just been through a rather intense winter, so it makes sense to check your windscreen wipers for wear and tear.

Winter weather can be ruthless on your windshield wipers, making them virtually useless during those summer showers. So by having quick vehicle maintenance check, and ideally replacing them at the beginning of the summer it should aid to a little peace of mind.

3. Check Your Headlights:

It’s so easy to be driving, without realising that one of your headlights is out.

Not only is it unsafe, but the police could pull you over and slap you with a ticket, – all of which is unnecessary. So what better time than now, to do a quick vehicle maintenance check,and take a little gander to see if you need to replace a headlight bulb.

4. Inspect Your Brakes:  

It goes without saying, but car safety should be your top priority, and what is a car without good brakes?

I always suggest to my customers, that they at least inspect their brakes twice a year just to make sure everything is tiptop. But while you’re at it, why not check your brake fluid also.

5. Car Radiator Flush:

Did you know that the coolant in your radiator doesn’t last forever? In fact unless replenished over time,  it can break down and begin to corrode the inside of your radiator. Which would naturally lead to cooling problems and, you got it…radiator repair.

A great, cheap way to prevent this and reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance is by flushing your radiator once a year.

6. Check Your Car Battery:

You may think, that checking the car battery every now and again should be given. But unfortunately, you’d be surprised just how many people fail to do it until it is too late.

During winter months corrosion is very likely to build up. So take some time out to check your battery posts and cables to ensure that you have no starting problems.

7. Replace Your Air Filter:

Last but by no means least; you should really replace your air filter twice a year. It’s a 10-minute job and good check to get it out the way before your summer road trip.

Glass of Pimms Anyone?

7 top tips for summer vehicle maintenance checks

Finally… let’s be honest, it’s summer, and at the end of the day who doesn’t like a drop of Pimms or a glass of plonk or two? But if you’re driving – car safety begins and indeed ends with you.

So please don’t do anything silly like drink driving or speeding, it’s really not worth it. But most of all, enjoy your road trips and enjoy the summer, because who knows how long it will last!

If you have the know-how and the tools, perhaps now is good time to look at undertaking some of my  7 top summer vehicle maintenance checks. If not, and you need a little guidance, feel free to get in touch as we’d love to help.

To vehicle health

By Philip Xavier

The post Top 7 Summer Vehicle Maintenance Checks appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.