Why It's So Important to Protect Your Car's Paint Job
By ARA-Fusion
Published: Wed, Apr 5, 2006

(ARA) - The summer driving season will be here before you know it, and if you're planning to hit the road, it goes without saying that you want your ride to look great!

If you have a fairly new car, its paint job probably still looks pretty good, but unless you regularly wash and wax your car, it won't be long before the color starts to fade and rock chips begin to rust.

Paint manufacturers recommend people wash their cars weekly, and wax at least three times a year, but few people follow through.  Among the most common excuses: "It's too much bother;""I don't like to do it" and "I don't have time."

If you want a great looking car, however, you may want to rethink your priorities. Waxing does more than help maintain that fresh-from-the-factory look, it can prevent damage to you paint.

"The biggest complaint I hear about waxing is that is has to be done over and over again, but when I tell people that's no longer the case, their jaws drop," says Glenn Canady, president of 5Star Technologies. His company has developed a 2-step polish called 5 Star Shine that uses PTFE (the same substance that makes nonstick cookware so slippery) to protect the paint.  Once you wipe it on the car, the polish bonds to the molecules of your paint for unbeatable shine and protection that will last for five years on a new car and three years for a used car with good paint.  Log on to www.5starshine.com for an in-depth explanation of how the polish works.

Protecting your car's paint isn't the only thing you should do before setting off on a summer road trip.  The Car Care Council also recommends you:

* Check and perhaps top off the car's fluids: antifreeze/coolant, transmission, engine oil, brake fluid, washer fluid, power steering fluid and gasoline.

* Inspect the air filter. This strains the impurities and should be changed at recommended intervals in order to protect the engine.

* Make sure headlights, windshields, window glass, signal lights, mirrors and wipers/blades are in good shape.

* Check the brakes to make sure they're in good working order.

* Test the battery.

* Check the tires.  Make sure that the tire tread is deep enough; the tires are properly inflated and have been correctly rotated, balanced and aligned.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content