Your Classic Car
Posted by Knowledge Guy in Autos and Trucks, tags: Antifreeze, Car Depreciation, caring for classics, Classic Car, Classic Cars, Cooling System, Driving Condition, Extra Care, Minibus, Oil Pressure, Paint Work, Paintwork, Pressure Oil, Preventive Measures, Quality Soft, Road Grime, Short Periods, Tyre Pressure, Ultra Violet Light, Undercarriage, used minibus, Weathers, Winter StorageA classic car will lose its looks and value unless the owner devotes a lot of attention to it. In keeping the bodywork and interior in sparkling condition you mustn’t overlook the engine for that, too, must be kept in good order. If you settle into a routine and regularly polish the paintwork and interior trim, add to that regular engine checks and make small adjustments to tyre pressure, oil pressure and the timing as required, you can not only keep your classic car in top driving condition but also looking like new and slowing the effects of car depreciation down, perhaps even adding value to your motor over time.
Because a classic car that’s used several times a week will be subjected to all weathers, it will need extra care and attention. The rain and salt on the roads in winter will cause corrosion, whilst in summer the sun’s ultra-violet light will damage the paint work.
In spite of the expense of motoring it’s possible, without great expense, to carry out some preventive measures that will keep your classic car in excellent condition. You can’t simply put your car into storage without carrying out numerous tasks. Deterioration will occur if a classic car is put into storage without proper preparation.
Whether you own a classic car, classic pickup van or even a used minibus from decades past you must give the vehicle a good detailing before you put it in storage. It’s essential that the car is completely clean. The body parts and the undercarriage must be cleansed of all road grime and salt.Before putting your completely wrapped up vehicle into winter storage it is essential that it is totally dry from end to end. Any cover that you use should be a high quality soft fibred one, not a cheap one with coarse fibres. Avoid storing your classic car in a place where there’s dust or direct sunlight.
For short periods of storage your classic car will benefit by the complete draining of the cooling system and refilling with pure antifreeze. The entire system should be drained and the radiator cap removed if you intend storing your car for a long time; this allows air to circulate around the cooling system. In addition to this you should change the brake fluid, oil, and oil filter before storing the vehicle.
During the washing process make sure you look for any scratches or chips in the paint finish. Having any superficial defects remedied by paint pen before storing the car will help prevent metal corrosion. Don’t forget that if you don’t use primer first, the new paint won’t stick and the eventual level won’t be right. You will have to order the paint from the manufacturer to match your vehicle’s paint colour. If you are looking for a more professional touch, have a look at purchasing SMART for your car, it is a form of additional car insurance which is an absolute must for long term car owners. This acronym stands for Small Accident Repair Technology.
Tyres.
You will also want to do something with the tyres because the rubber will actually perish if they are left inflated with the vehicle’s full weight on them. You can put the car on axle stands and deflate the tyres or remove the wheels completely. This will put less strain on the suspension system and also deter theft at the same time.
Car Batteries.
Never put a car into storage with the battery connected. You must decide on how you will maintain your battery once you’ve removed it and cleaned the terminals. A bicarbonate of soda solution is ideal for cleaning the terminals of older unsealed batteries that have leaked. For a short term storage option, often the case in harsh weather climates, placing your car’s battery on trickle charge is a great idea. A flat battery is an unwelcome experience for anyone who stores a classic car for long periods or who rarely uses their car. Not only is it frustrating to have a dead battery but it’s also extremely expensive to replace.
Keeping the Battery Charged Up.
The short term solution is to keep the battery topped up with a trickle charger. If you use your car about once a month, a trickle charger will top up the battery enough to recharge for such usage. Unfortunately the trickle charger will go on trying to charge the battery no matter what state of charge it’s in. A battery that’s not regularly disconnected and reconnected will eventually boil dry and become useless. For a long term solution, think about using a float charger. No harm will be done to the battery if the float charger is left connected indefinitely. A classic fitted with an alarm system or an immobiliser can maintain a decent level of battery charge by using a float charger. Because of the huge range of car chargers available in the UK and the USA, making the right choice should be easy. A charging battery should always be in an area where the air is free to circulate. Make sure that the air is free to flow around the battery; otherwise a fire is possible!
Final Prep.
You will want to replace all filters with new ones and remove the spark plugs. Avoid the possibility of corrosion by moisture trapped in the cylinder head by removing the spark plugs. Petrol has high water content and this causes the corrosion. You will want to grease over all areas, including points, door locks, door boot hinges and the like. At least once a month you should turn the engine over using a spanner. The flywheel bolt allows this to be done. If you don’t do this, you run the risk of the tappets, valves, and pistons seizing up through want of lubrication.
A classic car that’s used frequently will need to be maintained with special care. To prevent the polished areas from cracking, keep the interior and exterior trim polished and clean. The harsh rays of the sun will fade and crack the trim if it is not kept clean and polished and the metals in the exterior trim fade and crack in UV light too.
When cleaning your classic car you should use a microfibre or cotton cloth that is designed for use on classic cars or expensive paintwork of other luxury cars. Cheap cloth made from nylon and polyester can easily scratch your paintwork, unlike soft 100% cotton cloth. The fibres in microfibre cloth are manufactured to a narrowness that’s between 100 and 1000 times that of traditionally made cloths. Microfibre cloth works so well because unlike when using cheaper traditional cloths, with a microfibre cloth you really don’t need to use abrasive
detergents. The fibres are so closely woven that they are able to pick up far more dust particles than traditional cloth would be able to. This reduces the need for the chemicals needed to loosen and remove the same amount of dust as a traditional cleaning cloth would.
You won’t need much water when using microfibre cloth to remove even stubborn particles of dirt. A quick gentle wash with cotton cloth using a quality car wash detergent first, followed by a fine mist of water and a microfibre wipe should leave you with a great result. You want to use the correct car wash and not an abrasive detergent like dish-washing liquid. Oddly enough, many car owners use dish-washing liquid, which produces much the same results as washing with petrol would. The paint will fade straight away and continue to fade, losing that shine forever. It is advisable to have any small dents, cracks or chips repaired as soon as you notice them. Rust is less likely to form if you do this. Try not to use cheap poor quality car shampoos, but use instead one of the many high polymer premier products that are available. Don’t expect to get a bargain; you’ll get what you pay for.
Your car is best polished in the shade. Sunlight bakes the wax onto your paintwork rather than helping you clean it. Avoid polishing in direct sunlight because you will be left with a streaky unprofessional finish. Use good high quality polish to wax your car. Use a high quality polish or special rubbing compound to remove any paint that has oxidized.
After rubbing off the oxidized layer of paint by means of the tiny particles in the rubbing compound polish, a fresh bright layer ready for polish will be revealed. Ask an expert about rubbing compounds before you buy. What you learn from him will help you to avoid damaging your paintwork by using the wrong compound.
Always make sure that your vehicle is protected by a dust cover during the night. Avoid using a dust cover made from rough abrasive material to prevent the paint surface from being scratched. Using as soft a cloth as possible will prevent the scratching which otherwise can be caused by tiny dust particles. If you go out for a drive, take a few minutes to remove any bird, bat or seagull droppings immediately. You will also want to remove tar, dead bugs, leaves, sap and any other debris on your return. Avoid parking under trees where your paintwork is vulnerable to tree sap; parking under a roof is better. To carry out such removal you should use a branded remover product that has a low acid content.
Washing and drying the car after every journey is essential to avoid the danger of rusting. Waste no time in getting rid of any petrol spills, mud, and dust. If you drive in Europe where roads are regularly salted to prevent ice, the underneath of your car is likely to rust. Make sure to wash the underside of your car if you have driven in these conditions. If you get in your car with wet shoes, dry the carpets when you get home; that moisture can cause metal and carpet rot. At the first whiff of dampness you must take action. Don’t forget to check the boot, sills, in corners, under the bonnet and around rubber seals after every wash that all is dry.
Your life can be enriched by owning a classic car. You have to baby your classic car to keep it in mint condition. You are so proud of this classic car that there will be no limit upon the time you’ll spend caring for it.
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