Latest news with #autocare
Times
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Times
What's the best way to clean a car? (You need two buckets)
Q. Is there such a thing as the perfect way to clean a car and how do I do so without leaving smears or scratches? Also, is paying for hand wash better than going to an automated car wash? TR, Richmond upon Thames To minimise the risk of scratched paintwork you should adopt the 'two bucket' method: one bucket for diluted shampoo and a second full of clean water, along with a microfibre mitten or cloth, as opposed to a cheap cellulose sponge. After rinsing the car with a hose to soften the dirt and get rid of mud, clean one section of paintwork, then rinse the mitten in the clean-water bucket to avoid putting dirt from the car into the shampoo bucket. Then back it goes into the shampoo to clean the next section of bodywork. Use a car shampoo, not washing-up liquid or household detergent. There are a couple of reasons. First, washing-up liquid is a strong detergent, designed to get rid of grease and fat. It will do a good job of cleaning off the dirt but it will also clear away any trace of polish, so unless you polish or wax the car after each wash, the paint surface will not be protected and eventually go rather dull. Second, car shampoo normally contains a lubricant to enable the washcloth to slide over the paintwork with much less risk of tiny scratches from the dirt you are washing off. Avoid washing the car in sunshine or the water will dry quickly, leaving spots and smears. Choose a cloudy day or shaded area and dry the car with a chamois leather or microfibre towel. Modern water-based paints used by car manufacturers are also more susceptible to corrosive damage from bird droppings, especially if they are left in place for a long time, so try to clean them off the same day, even if you don't wash the whole car. A hose is ideal, or a watering can and soft cloth, but clean gently; overenthusiastic scrubbing can inflict damage to the paint underneath. Tree sap can be a nuisance as well but a decent shampoo will get rid of it after two or three wipes. Again, be gentle. Products containing shampoo and wax — 'wash/wax shampoo' — leave a trace of wax on the car after rinsing, but the best protection from dirt, sap and bird droppings is washing followed by a polish and wax every so often. • Car Clinic: Does changing my car's wheel size affect the speedometer? Car detailing or valeting aficionados will, quite correctly, tell you that polish and wax are two different things. Polish is a mild abrasive designed to remove or minimise swirls and slight imperfections, whereas wax leaves a smooth glossy layer to enhance the shine and give added protection. The best natural wax is carnauba, obtained from South American carnauba trees but there are many resin products which do a similar job. All leave a protective layer over the paint to protect it from sunlight, droppings and road dirt. Car detailing enthusiasts swear by washing the car, drying it, applying polish, buffing the polish off, then waxing the car and buffing it to a better-than-showroom finish. If, on the other hand, you feel you have better things to do than spend the entire weekend cleaning the car, you can achieve an impressive finish with less effort by using products that are both polish and wax or resin. They contain a very fine abrasive to smooth the surface and fill scratches, and a wax to leave a good shine. Typical products are Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Turtle Wax Carnauba or Simoniz Liquid Diamond. All of these will remove or reduce slight swirling and leave a wax or resin coating. The coating will be quite thin and won't last as long as a thorough carnauba wax, but the finish is easily good enough to please most car owners. It will last a reasonable time. Treating the car three or four times a year is usually sufficient, and you can tell when the next polish is due because rainwater will not 'bead' on the paint surface. For some of us, cleaning the car thoroughly is a therapeutic activity; it's not mentally demanding and the results are instant and very visible. Of course, not everyone feels that way and many will simply want someone else to do what they regard as a chore. And why not? For the price of a couple of coffees (or one very posh coffee) you can get a perfectly acceptable job done. But, do you use the automatic machine or go to the disused garage forecourt where a small army of cleaners will descend on your car with sprays, buckets and cloths? • Car Clinic: Can I change my car's wheel if I've lost the locking wheel nut key? I've been to lots of hand carwashes and I've never seen any of them adhere to the two-bucket method, but then I pay only about £7 to £10 for a wash and dry. A typical handwash service may foam the car then jetwash it, and then use a cloth from a big shampoo bucket to clean the dirt off. This does risk rubbing the grit and dust from your car, and possibly previous cars, over the rest of the paintwork, causing those swirly scratches. The jet washers they use to soak and rinse the car shouldn't be a problem provided the doors, bonnet and boot are closed properly, although they have been known to dislodge balance weights from alloy wheels. If the car suddenly starts to vibrate at speed after a carwash, that's probably why. You'll almost certainly get a better result from a specialist valeting service, but you'll pay much more for the extra time it takes. An automatic car wash is certainly quick and easy; just drive in, let the brushes and driers do their work then drive out. However, an automatic car wash will not clean hard-to-access areas or wheels as well as a hand wash. If the car wash is well maintained, the brushes should thoroughly rinse themselves after each car, but not all are cared for so well. If the paint does become dull after a few years you can restore the showroom, swirl-free finish by having the paintwork machine-polished by a good car valeting service. The swirls are typically about 1.5 to 2 microns deep and a machine polish will remove the top 2 to 3 microns, but obviously you can do this only a limited number of times before the clear coat — a clear, glossy top coat applied on top of the coloured base layer — gets too thin to give proper protection. Alternatively, you could get the car treated with a ceramic coating. A ceramic coat is tougher than the clear coat or wax but the car will need a bit of preparation and the overall cost will be about £350 to £500. Afterwards it should be showroom-shiny, much more resistant to swirl marks and the coating should last a few years. DIY ceramic coatings are cheaper, typically £70 to £100 for a kit, but they are thinner so won't last as long. But do be aware of one potential drawback with DIY ceramic coatings. Unless you thoroughly prepare the paintwork first, you will effectively seal in any imperfections, leaving them visible and very difficult to remove until the coating wears off. That's why a professional treatment will remove contaminants with a clay bar, then polish it with a machine to free the surface from any blemishes before the ceramic coat is applied. That's what you're paying for. Bear in mind that if a scratch or contaminant has gone through the clear coat and the base coat, the only solution is touch-up paint; if you can see the light-coloured primer, no amount of polishing will restore the finish. Touch-up paint to match the original is widely available and often in pen form, which many people find much easier to use than a brush or spray. If you are getting ready to hand back a leased car with a peppering of stone chips on the bumper, a mobile chip-painting service might be less expensive than the lease company's penalties. Modern car paints do chip and scratch more easily than the finishes of the 1970s and 1980s. That's because carmakers switched from largely petroleum-based paints to water-based paints, which are softer, for environmental and health reasons. That means modern paintwork more easily accumulates swirl marks — visible as circular fine lines if you look at the paint at an angle under sunlight or a bright light. • Car Clinic: Does a car's colour affect its resale value? Car paint consists of three layers: a primer, a coloured base coat, then a clear coat to give shine and to protect the coloured base coat from fading in sunlight or being damaged by contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap or traffic fumes. The clear coat is usually between 50 and 100 microns thick and is tougher than the coloured base coat, but 'tough' is relative. The international standard for defining paint hardness is to determine what grade of pencil will scratch it. Pencil grades go from 9B as the softest, through HB, typical for writing, up to 9H, which only gives a faint line, but stays sharp for ages. The clear coat on most cars is about 3H to 4H, meaning a 5H pencil used on the surface will leave a scratch. The trouble is, this is softer than most of the tiny particles of dust, grit or brake dust that make cars dirty. As the car is washed, these particles tend to cause tiny scratches, which is why using a specialised car shampoo containing a lubricant is important. An automatic carwash should rinse the brushes after each wash to get rid of dirt particles, but even if the brushes start out completely clean, dirt picked up from your car can stay in the brushes and inflict tiny swirl marks on the paint. A good handwash will use thoroughly rinsed cloths for each car, but again, residual particles or dirt picked up from your car can leave swirl marks and eventually a duller finish on the paint. There are two academic papers supposedly proving that handwashing causes more damage than an automatic car wash, but bear in mind that one was sponsored by the International Carwash Association, supporters of carwash machines, and both compare carwash machines to DIY handwashing, not a professional or two-bucket Shallcross, independent expert Post your motoring questions below or send to carclinic@
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Michelin strengthens presence in UAE with opening of 16th Tyreplus Store in Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Michelin, the world's leading tyre technology company, alongside its partner Central Trading Company, is proud to announce the opening of Al Toufiq Tyres & Car Accessories L.L.C, the 16th Tyreplus store in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, marking its 29th point of sale across UAE. This milestone reinforces a multi-year expansion strategy to strengthen Michelin's retail and service footprint in collaboration with its trusted network of UAE partners. This Tyreplus outlet signifies Michelin's commitment to enriching consumer experience by offering a comprehensive range of high-quality car maintenance services. This aligns with Michelin's global retail strategy and extends the reach of Michelin's autocare network, ensuring customers receive exceptional service alongside Michelin products. The outlet in Dubai offers top-quality autocare services, including oil changes, tyre replacements, brake services, suspension maintenance, battery checks, and air conditioning services – all delivered with the highest standards of quality and expertise. Harkesh Jaggi, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing for Michelin Middle East & North Africa, commented,' The UAE continues to be a key growth market for Michelin, driven by rising demand for reliable, high-quality automotive care across diverse vehicle types. With the opening of our new Tyreplus store in Umm Suqeim, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering comprehensive, customer-focused services that go beyond tyres to include maintenance solutions for passenger cars, SUVs, and electric vehicles alike. Partnering with our long-time collaborator Central Trading Company enables us to provide these exceptional experiences while supporting the evolving needs of drivers throughout the region." Jean-Pierre Barnier, General Manager, Central Trading Company,"At Central Trading Company, we are delighted to support the opening of Tyreplus Al Toufiq as part of our ongoing collaboration with Michelin and our trusted network of retailers. This new location strengthens our shared goal of bringing high-quality Michelin products and reliable services closer to customers, and we are confident it will be a valuable addition to the Tyreplus footprint in the UAE.' Michelin's reputation is enhanced by several key strengths, including strong brand recognition, a long-standing commitment to quality and safety, continuous innovation through new product releases, a leading position in electric vehicle (EV) tyre technology, and a dedicated focus on sustainable tyre innovation. Al Toufiq Tyres & Car Accessories L.L.C is strategically located at Umm Suqeim Road and features professional tyre and automotive service experts with over 50 years of experience in the industry. In line with Michelin's commitment to the Dubai market, the company has established a substantial presence in various parts of the city. Michelin's comprehensive range caters to diverse automotive segments, encompassing tyres for trucks and buses, passenger cars and 4x4/SUVs, earthmover and industrial equipment, as well as motorcycles, tubes, and flaps. The Michelin Tyreplus network is a global network of automotive service centers, certified by Michelin, that offer comprehensive tyre and car maintenance services, operated by Michelin Partners. With a strong presence across UAE and the Middle East and North Africa region, Michelin continues to be a trusted choice for customers seeking reliable and sustainable autocare solutions. About Michelin Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 129,800 people.
Motor 1
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'They Can't Filter It Out All the Way:' Walmart Service Tech Changes Customer's Oil. Then She Puts In Recycled Oil
A Walmart service tech just made a bold claim about the company's auto care centers: They allegedly use recycled oil, not fresh oil, during customer oil changes. Trish (@pyt21_) didn't explicitly say how she knows this, though she implied she used to work there. In a now-viral TikTok, she accused Walmart Auto Care Centers of what could amount to negligent car care. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 'A PSA to drivers who get their oil changed at Walmart,' she begins, before adding that the workers there 'are reusing old oil.' 'Any oil that I take out of people's cars—that's what you're getting at Walmart,' Trish says. As of Monday, her video has racked up over 468,000 views. In a follow-up, Trish tries to back up her claims with receipts. Getting An Oil Change at Walmart's Auto Care Center According to Trish, even though Walmart might filter the used oil, that process doesn't remove everything. 'At the end of the day, they can't filter it out all the way,' she says. 'And you're still reusing someone's old oil.' That, she warns, could impact your car in the long run. Conventional oil is designed to last up to 7,500 miles —but with reused oil, she says, that number may drop closer to 1,500. So while Walmart might save you a few bucks, Trish argues it could cost you much more in engine damage. 'If you want to save $20 to [expletive] up your engine in the long run, that's on y'all,' she says. 'How you treat your car is how your car is going to treat you.' Where's the Proof? Trending Now 'Thought I Was Doing Him a Favor:' Woman Tries to Tow in Husband's Ram Bighorn. Then She Makes a Common Mistake 'I'm Absolutely Doing This:' Arizona Man Shares Little-Known Sunroof Trick to Stay Cool. Then He Slides It Open to Show Off In a second video, Trish points to online search results that show Walmart does accept used motor oil for recycling. She cites a website explaining that used oil can be re-refined into new oil, used as industrial fuel, or turned into raw materials for other products. 'Recycled used motor oil can be refined into new motor oil, used as a fuel source for certain furnaces or boilers, or used as raw materials in the petroleum industry,' she reads. Trish acknowledges that oil can be recycled, but remains skeptical that Walmart's recycled product is equal to fresh oil. But Is it Really That Bad? Not necessarily. Re-refined oil isn't just filtered—it's completely processed to remove contaminants and restore it to the same quality as new oil. Re-refined oils meet the same industry standards and can be used interchangeably with fresh motor oil. In fact, reusing oil is often better for the environment and conserves resources. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control reports , 'Used oil can be re-refined over and over again, it never wears out–it just gets dirty.' Do People Trust Walmart? Walmart doesn't specify on its website whether its oil is new or re-refined. Its site says it offers a variety of oils, including synthetic, high-mileage, and conventional. Some drivers, nevertheless, are going to steer clear of Walmart. In a popular subreddit thread , one commenter wrote, 'I wouldn't [expletive] in a Walmart, let alone let their employees touch my fucking cars.' 'I don't even go there for groceries,' another added. 'I would DIY before bringing it there,' a third chimed in. Others shared horror stories from personal experience—or from cars that came into their shops after a Walmart oil change. Their claims have more to do with the purported quality of the work than the oil itself. 'I work at a different shop, and we get cars coming in from Walmart and Jiffy Lube all the time,' one person said. 'The number that were underfilled, have loose drain bolts, stripped drain bolts, or missing oil caps is asinine.' 'One time, Walmart left a pair of pliers attached to the underside of my car, and they found themselves embedded in the brakes,' another recalled. Still, not everyone is convinced Walmart deserves the backlash. Some argue that oil changes are simple enough to trust even a discount chain. 'Changing the oil is one of the easiest things anyone can do on 99% of the cars on the road,' one Reddit user wrote. 'You will be fine.' A Walmart employee in the complaints department told Motor1 in a phone call Friday afternoon that the company doesn't have a media department or a corporate phone number for press. They also said that there is no manager of the company's Auto Care Centers who can speak on behalf of all Walmart locations and said that they would need the specific location where this allegedly occurred to provide additional information or comment. Walmart also didn't respond to an inquiry sent via the contact form on its website Monday morning. Motor1 has reached out to Trish via a TikTok comment. We'll be sure to update this if she responds. More on Oil Those Oil Life Indicators Are Way More Accurate Than You Think How Oil Analysis Reveals Your Engine's Secrets Here's Why You Shouldn't Use Racing Oil in Your Street Car's Engine Here's Why You Shouldn't Run Diesel Oil in Your Gas Engine Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
