Which industries can benefit from M2M technology?

The car is not only your faithful friend and servant, but also your “second skin”. Dirt, traces of bird droppings on the bodywork, stains on the windows and cigarette ash on the seat upholstery are not the best indication of the owner of even the most “dashing” car. Learn to take care of your car so that it serves you for as long as possible and enhances your image!

Regularly wash your car

The cleanliness of your car is affected by many factors, from the salt poured on the roads in winter to the resin and sap dripping from the trees in spring and summer. All of this looks unsightly, and also pisses into the body and affects the components in the car. Regular washing is the main recommendation when it comes to maintaining cleanliness. It is especially important to wash the invisible parts of the vehicle, such as the chassis and rims. Their recesses accumulate dirt that is difficult to remove, which over time can lead to corrosion.

Don’t neglect the car’s interior

A clean, well-maintained car interior is not only a prerequisite for a comfortable and pleasant ride. Dust, greasy stains and dirt all damage the seat upholstery. Proper car care includes cleaning all interior components, including seats, doors, floor and ceiling.

Vacuum as often as possible

During the warm months, spring, summer and early autumn, you should vacuum your car at least once a month. This is the only way to protect yourself and your passengers from dust and allergens that enter the interior through open windows. 

Remember about floor mats and thresholds

Drivers often forget that the thresholds in the car should also be cleaned. Although at first glance the dirt on the thresholds is not very visible, with the doors open the car looks unsightly. The floor mats should also be taken care of, especially after rain and snow. Rubber floor mats simply need to be washed with water, and those made of fabric – shaken out and vacuumed.

Lights and windows

Clean lights and windows are a prerequisite for safe driving. Streaks and mud on windows and headlights impair visibility, leading to accidents on the road. Headlights should be washed after every long drive. From time to time, it’s also a good idea to wipe them with a special polish and clean the car lamps from the inside. Even if it’s very dark on the street, don’t wipe the lights on with a damp tissue. This will dull the surface of the headlights. Let them cool down a bit before you wipe them. 

Keep your car in order

Don’t turn your car into a small storeroom. Take only the essentials on your trip. And under no circumstances keep trash in it! Throw away coffee cups, plastic bags and bottles systematically. Arrange your purchases so that nothing falls out and rolls into a hard-to-reach place. Remember, a freely moving bottle on the floor can fall under the pedals and make braking impossible!

Refrain from eating and smoking 

The best way to keep your car clean is to fully prohibit smoking and eating in the car. This is the only way to protect yourself from greasy stains, as well as ubiquitous cigarette ash. If you can’t do without snacks, get yourself a small lunch box and put a separate waste container on the floor.

main photo: unsplash.com/Oliur

Among motorists, the arguments about what is better: automatic or manual transmission are not quieting down. Proponents of traditional solutions complain about the automatic transmission, proving that there is nothing better than “manual”. Others again praise the convenience of the “automatic” and vow never to return to a manual transmission. As in any dispute, each side is a little bit right. We will try to give you a factual presentation of the pros and cons of both solutions. 

Manual transmission – advantages

Ability to use the full dynamics of the engine

On a manual transmission you can immediately accelerate your car to the highest speed. A classic automatic at a certain rpm begins to shift gears, so a manual transmission provides greater driving dynamics.

Lower fuel consumption

With efficient gear shifting, as well as the ability to idle, you can save a lot on fuel. Such benefits will not be provided by an automatic transmission, in which even putting in slack while driving is discouraged.

Lower oil consumption

Every transmission needs a special fluid. An automatic transmission requires 6 to 10 liters of oil, while a mechanical transmission requires about 3 liters.

Manual transmission – disadvantages

Driving comfort

The first disadvantage of a manual transmission is lower driving comfort, which is felt primarily by novice drivers. They find the starting maneuver especially difficult, as well as driving uphill.

Clutch

Poorly dynamic and smooth driving can lead to clutch burnout. And this caution applies especially to inexperienced drivers. And replacing the clutch is already an expensive repair, which automatic drivers, by definition, do not have to worry about.

Engine life

Lower engine life in cars with mechanical transmissions is due to the fact that their drivers easily allow the engine to overheat, especially if they like to drive fast.

Automatic transmission – advantages

Different dynamics

While a classic automatic with a torque converter actually severely limits the car’s performance, automatic dual-clutch transmissions such as DSG perform better than a manual transmission. When driving on such an automatic, two gears are engaged at the same time, which makes shifting up or down very fast.

Different fuel consumption

A classic automatic actually consumes more fuel, but newer models or transmissions use much less fuel than manual transmissions.

Smoothness of driving

An automatic transmission means a more comfortable driving experience. Even an inexperienced driver can smoothly, without nerves or the so-called “kangaroo”, start the car without posing a risk on the road.

Longer engine and transmission life

Automatic transmissions control the revs more and protect the engine from overheating.

Automatic transmission – disadvantages

As noted above, a car with a classic automatic accelerates more slowly than a vehicle with a manual transmission. The classic also has only four gears and consumes more fuel than a manual transmission. All models, both newer and older, require more transmission oil. 

The undeniable downside of automatic cars is also their higher price. The cost of operating and repairing an automatic transmission is also much higher, and you should know that according to statistics, manual transmissions break down much less often.

main photo: unsplash.com/Jean-Philippe Delberghe

Regardless of the type of material used, each car upholstery requires care in order to serve longer and remain in good condition. How to properly take care of it?

Upholstery in the car is exposed to dirt and damage with every use. Therefore, proper protection and care are necessary to keep it in good condition. How to care for it?

Protect upholstery from dirt and damage

Upholstery can be damaged for example when getting into the car with pockets stuffed with keys or other sharp objects. It’s just as easy to get stains that are difficult to remove, especially when the car is used by snack fans. It can be very difficult to remove some stains and even end up with discoloration. Therefore, it is worth protecting the upholstery with covers that can be easily removed and washed. The variety of available models will surely allow us to choose the right one. 

Remove dirt on a regular basis

The key to success in keeping upholstery clean is to remove dirt on a regular basis. It is much easier to get rid of fresh stains and dirt. Continual procrastination in cleaning the upholstery may lead to a condition where it can only be replaced. The way of cleaning and cleaning agents should be adjusted to the type of material.

Leather upholstery

Striking leather upholstery definitely requires systematic cleaning. Especially that stains from leather can be removed relatively easily if we do it as soon as the dirt appears. 

The first step when cleaning leather upholstery is thorough vacuuming. Do not forget about the spaces in the bends between the seats and the backrests of the seats. After removing dust, wipe the upholstery with a soft cloth dampened with water. 

Then, using a special preparation for cleaning leather upholstery, wipe the entire surface again. Especially if there is visible dirt on the leather, you should not use any other agents than those designed for leather car upholstery.

For the effect to last as long as possible, it is good to use a preservative, such as a special cream or wax. In this way we will put on the upholstery additional protection against dirt and abrasion.

Fabric upholstery

In case of fabric upholstery, we should act as soon as we notice contamination. The material is characterized by the fact that it absorbs dirt, so delaying its removal may end up in such a situation that the stain will become impossible to remove without visible damage to the upholstery or discoloration. 

Upholstery cleaning, just like leather cleaning, starts with thorough vacuuming of its surface. Then we proceed to clean the material using products for car upholstery. Some people use household cleaning products, but if you do not want to risk possible damage or discoloration, it is best to use special products designed for cleaning fabric upholstery.

Remember to wait a little after washing the upholstery before using it – preferably a few hours. Then the cleaning agent will have a chance to be absorbed well and the fabric will have time to dry.

main photo: pexels.com/Iwan Wasyl