How To Clean Your Custom Wheels So They Will Last As Long As Possible

Many people that want certain rims and tires will go to any cost to get them and that cost can be a lot. Some people will spend up to $2000 a rim and that is crazy. Then you still have to buy the tires but I would think since you are spending $8000 they would give you a free pair of tires. So if you are looking for rims I would say look for something cheaper.

If you have already cleaned your car then that means that your tires and rims should be looking really nice and shiny. If not then you need to work on that because your tires and rims should be cleaned at least once a week to keep them in good shape and looking good unless you want your rims to look all dirty and muddy I would recommend cleaning them.

Wash, clean, polish, and protect and that is what needs to be done to the whole car not just the rims that cost 8 grand. You will want to wash the whole car really good and then get started on washing the rims and tires then you will clean them then you will polish and after that you will protect them with whatever protecting agent that you have.

You should clean your rims and tires at least once a week so your tires and rims are always looking nice and clean for the road.

You should always wash the body of the car first and do all of that is needed. After you have washed your car and cleaned and all that you will want to start washing and cleaning your rims. You will want to do this one rim and tire at a time so you get them really clean and looking nice.

Most people will go around the car and spray all the tires and rims saying that letting it sit there is helping. Actually it is not helping and the pros say that you shouldn't do this because it lets the spray or foam sit there to long. They say that you should only do one rim and tire at a time so that they will look their best when you are done washing and cleaning. You want your car to shine and look nice so I would take any advice that I could get. That would be listening to any person that knew what they were talking about when they said to only clean one rim and tire at a time.

So if you had any questions that probably just covered them all so just remember to wash one rim and tire at a time and your car will look its best.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about custom wheels as well as car care products at http://www.5starshine.com


By Gregg Hall

Gregg Hall
Level: Platinum

Gregg Hall is a fulltime author and internet marketer living in Jensen Beach. He has been involved in a number of industries and has traveled ...

Why Car Enthusiasts Should Practice Safe Driving on the Road

Drivers have a number of options today when deciding on performance enhancing parts for their vehicles. Performance chips, exhaust systems and countless other modifications compete for the performance enthusiast's attention. Before deciding on any particular part, a driver should ask himself three questions:

- Do I really need this part?

- Can I afford this part?

- Will adding this part make me a more unsafe driver?

The last point may need further explanation...

My good friend Johnny Woo was obsessed with his car-a heavily modified Sti Racer. His car really was very impressive and not just in the looks department. It boasted a 4 cylinder, 16 valve turbocharged engine with an amazing 310 horsepower as well as 300 lbs of torque.

He had spent a small fortune in picking out components and parts and installing them himself. He felt that this gave him an edge because he knew exactly what his car was capable of.

Needless to say, he felt like a king whenever driving it around and this sometimes got him into trouble. At an intersection one day, he was waiting for the light to change when a Mustang pulled up next to him. The driver started revving his engine and taunting Johnny. He should have just kept his cool and let it pass, but there is some ancient rivalry between American muscle cars and import racers and Johnny wasn't about to let this insult pass unchallenged.

When the light turned green, the two cars were off with twin roars. They were neck and neck until, right on time, a siren was heard. Johnny was in the lead and he just floored the gas and kept driving. But because the Mustang guy had fallen behind, he was forced to pull over and take the full consequences of the law.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. The Mustang guy saw Johnny a few weeks later and challenged him to a rematch.

Johnny agreed, and met his rival at a deserted intersection at about 2 am. Due to the lateness of the hour, they thought they would be able to race undisturbed. They faced off and traded insults. "Ricer" and "Redneck" were shouted many a time. Finally they climbed into their respective vehicles and lined up at an agreed starting line. A friend gave the signal and they were off. Johnny pulled forward, but then suddenly lost control and spun wildly, crashing into a light pole and ending the race. The Mustang owner drove off in triumph, while Johnny lay in his car, quite dead. It was definitely a sad day, but also an important lesson on the dangers of street racing. For just a battle of egos, a life was lost.

So a driver nowadays needs to be smart. He should only trust top quality components and resist the urge to show off in what could possibly be a very deadly manner. If racing is what a driver craves and there is no way he can live without zooming down a street to prove his manliness, he should research various driving tracks in the local area and see if using any of these is an option.

By Andrew Bernhardt

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars - The Way Of The Future?

After the recent 2008 Geneva Salon International de l'Auto car convention, held between the 6th and 16th of March in Geneva, Switzerland, any self-respecting car enthusiast's first concern would likely be to find out the latest news from the motoring world. Among the most interesting cars unveiled at the auto show was Italian car manufacturer Pininfarina's new concept car, the Sintesi - Italian for synthesis - and designed to explore ideas and solutions for the cars of the future.

Using man's freedom over technology as a concept, the car was designed with a view towards a future where cars can disseminate intelligence from cross-media sources regarding traffic and security to create a continuous, transparent dialogue between the city, the road and vehicles without limiting the motorist's autonomy.

From the outside the Sintesi is a sleek sports car, but its aerodynamic exterior belies a unique design concept - rather than designing the car around its mechanics, the car and mechanics have been designed around the passenger space. The approach, known as "Liquid packaging", has overturned the car's volumetric balances, improving weight distribution and lowering the centre of gravity - giving the driver more physical space without compromising key dynamics which are essential for driving.

The car uses four modular hydrogen fuel cells - known as the Quadrivium Fuel Cells system - positioned near the wheels, with each providing 20kw of power per wheel; as well as an electric motor, with additional battery charge provided by solar panels and regenerative braking. Thanks to its sophisticated electronic architecture, the car makes modular use of the available power depending on driving conditions. Inside, the translucent dashboard displays the flow of information received and processed in real-time, lighting up when matters requiring the driver's attention occur. The car's headlights also play a part, using tele-cameras and a proximity radar system to ease the processing of information.

Though the concept of cars such as the Sinesti dominating the roads might seem like a far-fetched science fiction scenario, the concept is built on technologies already available, and could in theory create safer and better flow of traffic in the near future.

The Sinesti received much coverage in motoring news publications, both offline and online, prior to its unveiling in Geneva thanks to a teaser campaign website that received over 250,000 hits since it was launched in December.

Car enthusiasts wishing to find out additional information about the Sinesti and other motoring news are currently spoilt for choice, with dedicated websites, forums and RSS feeds ensuring that information regarding the motoring world is only a click away.

By Andrew Regan

Cheap Auto Parts - Why Discount Auto Parts Are Better Than Used Car Parts

It is extremely common for a car to break down and need a part replaced. Most car owners have already experienced this, and those who haven't, will do so at some point in the future. Many car owners are also aware that cheap auto parts are available if one knows where to look for them. However, this is where most people's understanding of cheap auto parts available at discount prices ends. Either most people end up paying premium prices for the parts, or trust that the cheap used car part being installed by the mechanic is indeed the best deal available. But is this true?

Most used car parts on the market today are salvaged from cars that were completely wrecked in accidents. As such, these are some of the worst car parts to use for repairs and replacement. Various studies undertaken on such parts have shown that these parts require frequent replacements and repairs. Additionally, these parts may adversely affect the safety, comfort, and gas mileage of the car. This is because many parts have internal damage that is not visible easily, even to the trained eye. Yet, these car parts are used many times simply because the car owner cannot afford to use new and more expensive car parts.

Of course, there are parts that you can compromise on and get a used part, while there are other's that you can't on. For example, transferring a headlight or tail-light from a used car is not a problem in most cases (though it will wear out sooner than a new one). However, transferring an air filter from a used car may be counter-productive since it may already have dust and dirt in it that will harm your car instead of helping it. The same goes for more sophisticated parts such as transmission. A general rule of the thumb is that more the internal and smaller moving components in an auto part, the riskier it is to acquire a used one for replacement.

The problem with cheap car parts has been increased even more due to the fact that there are very few regulatory agencies (private or government) that can test the used car parts before they are installed in a car as replacement. However, there are ways to obtain cheap auto parts that won't break your bank balance, and yet be as reliable as new car parts. Many used car parts may seem cheaper on paper, but frequent repairs, lower mileage and missed car-days due to the car being in repair shop add up to quite a bit in the long run. As such, one must make the effort to avoid these parts. The alternative is using discount stores, both online and offline that provide new auto parts at discounted prices.

The auto parts bought from these stores have already undergone testing in many cases and the prices are lowered primarily by lowering overhead and reducing the profit margin. This allows such dealers to provide cheap auto parts, often at over 15-20% discount, and sometimes even more. The benefits of getting these parts over seemingly cheap auto parts are obvious. The parts are tested, and can be returned in case of defects. Since these parts are new, they often last far longer than used parts and provide optimum performance. As such, there is no danger of the hidden costs often associated with used car parts. These stores are often found online far more than offline since the overhead of running an online store is far lower than a brick and mortar business. Searching online for "cheap auto parts" and "discount auto parts" may yield some good results. However, be careful since many places online are auctions for old used parts, not discount stores for new parts at lower prices than others.

The author is a well established expert on discount auto parts and manages an online store that sells cheap car parts and specializes in selling Mercedes parts at a lower than retail price

By Al Cox and Ivan C

Auto Accessories - Carbon Fiber Hoods

Ok let's talk about one of the most used and installed auto accessories in the market right, carbon fiber hoods. So exactly what is carbon fiber?

carbon fiber is a form of graphite in which these sheets are long and thin. You might think of them as ribbons of graphite. Bunches of these ribbons like to pack together to form fibers, hence the name carbon fiber(CF). These fibers aren't used by themselves. Instead, they're used to reinforce materials like epoxy resins and other thermosetting materials. We call these reinforced materials composites because they have more than one component. CF reinforced composites are very strong for their weight. They're often stronger than steel, but a whole lot lighter. Because of this, they can be used to replace metals in many uses, from parts for airplanes and the space shuttle to tennis rackets and golf clubs.

In this case the use is automotive hoods or bonnets as they are called in Europe. I haven't really found at what time the first CF hood was made, but most parts that are developed and are innovative usually come from development for the racing industry. The fact that CF has the highest specific tensile strength of all the reinforced materials (composite materials), and it has a high strength to weight ratio and low coefficient of thermal expansion. So for a racing vehicle part it is the perfect material. Bottom line: lightweight, strong, and great under heat.

So the industry catches on and they integrated it in almost every facet of the automotive industry. Hoods, fender, spoilers, mirrors are just some examples of where CF has caught on. But we are here to talk about hoods. So a hood can be as much as a 1/4 of your whole car. Adding a CF hood reduces weight(some manufacturers say up to 60% weight loss) and has great heat disipation qualities, if it has vents it can reduce the heat in your engine compartment by as much as 25% according to some of the greats in the industry. Now unfortunately I could not find any official unbiased results so I am going with what manufacturers are saying.

Now as for styles there are lots to chose from and this is what makes these auto accessories so perfect. Vents, no vents, mesh, original, and let's not forget in our shop alone we can get different colors: red, blue, yellow, gray and black to name a few. The industry has expanded enough that if someone needs custom work it is possible and this is what auto accessories is all about.

WARNING! Most people don't know that there different grades to CF; Grades A, B, C are the most popular. Grade A is what you are looking for and whom ever your buying should know this. Because the manufacturing of CF is not an exact science different grades are used to establish the quality of products. I am uncertain if it is a trend in the industry at this time but sellers might be tempted to pick up substandard parts and sell them as such. Buyer be warned.

Spool Motorsports.com specializes in the auto and truck accessories and performance industry with over 100,000 products ready to make your dreams come true. With over 15 years of experience in the aerospace and automotive industry Erik "Rex" Rexach owns one of the up and coming auto and truck accessories business in the internet.


By Erik S Rexach

Water Fuel - Can A Water Fuel Conversion Really Increase My Gas Mileage?

The concept of Water Fuel Conversions has always been a hot topic on hypermiling discussion boards, but lately the average consumer has been wondering if this somewhat strange sounding technology can actually increase gas mileage. The simple answer to this question is yes. I will tell you exactly how.

When a person hears the term "Water Fuel" they think of putting water in their gas tank. This is NOT how this technology works at all. You are not going to add anything to your gas tank at all. What you are going to be doing is performing a very simple conversion to your car that anyone can do. And if you aren't mechanically inclined, a mechanic can do this for you in under an hour very easily.

To understand how water fuel technology works to increase your gas mileage you have to understand a bit of science. The conversion, once performed, will draw a small amount of current from your car's battery, which will flow through a special coil into a very small water reservoir. This small current is harmless and will serve to separate the water molecules into HHO gas. This is a very stable, smooth burning gas.

This HHO gas is then fed into your vehicle's intake system and combined with your air/fuel mixture to create a cleaner, cooler, more efficiently burning chemical mixture. Is this hydrogen power? In a sense it is. This is what experts like to call hydrogen on demand. There is no actual hydrogen gas reservoir. There is simply water that is converted into hydrogen gas when the car needs it.

The result is, on average, a 75% increase in fuel economy. With some tweaking that is included with the instructions, it can be even more. Imagine taking your old Civic out of the garage and getting 55 MPG on a tank of gas. How's that for a money saver?

Water Fuel is a 100% legitimate technology and is a quickly spreading secret of the web. This website reviews three of the top product in this market. Water Fuel Reviews

This technology is 100% safe and effective and is a great way to own a hybrid vehicle without shelling out $30,000. The conversion can be done in less than one hour and will save you thousands of dollars at the gas pump, and even more as gas prices continue to rise. Thousands have already converted their vehicles. There is no reason to keep wasting money on gas you could be spending on your loved ones. Water Fuel Reviews.


By Cody Wheeler

Alternative Fuel Vehicles To The Rescue?

You've probably been hearing a lot lately about alternative fuel vehicles as concerns about global warming as well as the price of oil and gas sweeps the nation.

What you may not know is what alternative fuels - and the alternative fuel cars that use them - really mean.

Currently the fuel used in most cars and trucks - gasoline and diesel - is based on oil (petroleum). Since the oil from which gas and diesel are refined primarily comes from non-Western countries, unfortunately that means the US, Europe, and many other countries are vulnerable to forces outside their control, forces that currently include the war in Iraq, internal conflicts in Nigeria, and the latest political showdown in Venezuela.

Oil is also a major pollutant, meaning that vehicles that burn petroleum-based products add to global warming. Plus oil is what is called a non-renewable energy source. Once these fossil fuels have been used, they can't be replaced, so we will actually run out of oil someday.

All this obviously means that finding alternative fuels - particularly ones that are more "earth friendly" - and developing alternative fuel vehicles is in everyone's best interests.

Currently the most common alternative fuels for vehicles are ethanol, bio-diesel, and electric. In fact, you may even be driving a type of Flexible-Fuel Vehicle and you don't even know it. There are even hydrogen cars, but they currently cost millions of dollars so are out of range of most people's pocketbooks! Steam-powed and solar-powered alternative fuel cars also are being developed.

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, run on a combination of gas and electric power. They use gas engines in combination with electric motors, a combination that results in dramatically improved gas mileage as well as significantly reduced CO2 emissions. They are particularly useful driving in town where you can often drive solely on the electric power generated and use no gas at all. They are, however, noticeably more expensive that non-hybrids.

Bio-diesel is another common alternative fuel. Diesel fuel burns far more efficiently than gasoline, leading to better gas mileage. However, diesel is still a petroleum-based fuel. Bio-diesel, on the other hand, is made from vegetable oils, not petroleum oil. And, because it's made from plants, and plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, bio-diesel reduces net carbon emissions by as much as 60%. Most diesel vehicles, including buses, farm vehicles and cars, can also run on bio-diesel.

Ethanol is probably the most commonly used alternative fuel today. Ethanol, as a biofuel, can be made from a wide variety of common natural materials, such as corn, sugarcane, and switchgrass. Most cars today can run on a combination of gasoline and up to 10% ethanol (a combination called E10) with no special equipment. A real downside of bio-fuels is the environmental costs of growing and refining the material used. However research in using algae to make ethanol holds promise.

Alternative fuel vehicles allow us to reduce dependency on foreign oil and reduce pollutants even with the downsides. Is an alternative fuel car right for you? That is the question we must ask ourselves.

Take Care,
Steve Longoria

Whats The Big Deal About Hybrid Cars?

As we all become more environmentally conscious, efforts are being made worldwide to reduce the pollution caused by the cars you drive, the trucks that deliver the goods to your favorite stores, your kids' school buses.

You've probably seen newspaper articles and TV news reports on hybrid cars. But what exactly are hybrid cars?

Hybrid electric vehicles combine smaller gas engines with electric motors powered by a battery system that charges as the gas engine operates. This powertrain combination provides significantly improved gas mileage as well as dramatically reduced CO2 emissions. In these days of $3 gas and global warming, that's no small improvement.

If you regularly drive in an urban area, hybrid vehicles are particularly cost-effective as you can drive almost completely on electric power, which obviously saves gas dollars as well as the environment. This is the exact opposite of traditional gas cars that tend to get better mileage on the highway than driving in more stop-and-go city traffic. Take into consideration the type of driving you most frequently do when considering a hybrid.

Interestingly, when a hybrid car is running on electric power, particularly at low speeds such as in the city, they are practically silent, reducing noise pollution as well as air pollution. This means drivers of hybrids have to be more careful as pedestrians have a hard time hearing them coming...and being a more attentive driver is a positive thing.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that not all hybrids are created equal. For example, should you need a larger family vehicle, such as an SUV, a hybrid SUV very likely will not be as fuel efficient as a standard SUV. While this will surely change in the future, don't be fooled into thinking that just any hybrid is going to be better.

In addition, hybrid cars are definitely more expensive than "regular" vehicles. While the savings in gas mileage will help offset the higher purchase price, particularly if gas prices remain high, if you are thinking about buying a hybrid simply to "save money" you might find yourself unpleasantly surprised if the car does not meet your other needs.

On the other hand, if your major concern is the environment, the extra cost of a hybrid vehicle can be well worth it.

By Steven H. Longoria

Car Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is vital to keep your car in tip top shape. It's also important to keep it safe and running smoothly. With proper care your car will last longer and some of the expensive problems that can arise can be avoided. A well-maintained car is not only safer, it's more economical, lasts longer and produces less pollution. Another great aspect to a well-maintained care is it's resell value. You can expect a higher selling price if it's properly kept.

An easy place to start is by making a simple car maintenance checklist. A checklist could include things like: checking the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, coolant level, power steering fluid, CV joints, and tire pressure on periodic dates. Also, regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine running in good shape. Typically most cars are required to receive an oil change every 3,000 - 5,000 miles so be sure to make a note of that. Also, many experts agree you should have your car inspected once a year by a mechanic for added safety.

A car maintenance tip that is often overlooked is exterior care. Wash your car regularly and be sure to wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and free of corrosion. If you care for the paint of the car it will be easy to repair minor scratches and remove scuffs left by other objects from the paint on the car. On the flip side of exterior, is interior care. Clean interior not only looks great it's better for your health. Whether you are preparing your care for sale or simply wanting to keep it clean, a periodic detail is a good idea.

Another important tip to remember is as soon as you feel something is different with your car, take it to a dealer or garage as soon as you can for an inspection. Any kind of irregular noise, vibration, shaking, warning light, or fluid leak may make the car unsafe for driving. It's definitely wiser to check out any small problem before it becomes a major, and more expensive, concern. For your safety, a mechanic can do more than just a visual inspection. A mechanic can lift your car and check major components such as brakes, suspension, etc., while also having your tires rotated, for example. Following these tips, along with being familiar with your vehicles owner's manual should add many years to the life of your car.

Christine Beals is a professional writer who provides information for Auto Savvy where you'll find tips on car maintenance and more.


By Christine Beals

How Do You Build A Hydrogen Car?

Are you interested to learn how to build a hydrogen car? This car involves using water as a source of fuel and extracting H2 gas from water. So far, running a car 100% with water is found to be too expensive, and we should not be seeing cars running completely on water in the near future.

However, I have recently bought a guide called Water 4 Gas, and it has taught me how to build an affordable hybrid system to run my car on both gas and water. It has already helped my family save thousands of dollars in gas costs, and I will be sharing some of the knowledge I learnt here.

1. How Does A Hydrogen Car Work?

To have your car running on water, it needs to be able to extract a gas called Brown Gas from H2O. It is this flammable gas that is to be burned and energy extracted from it. To be able to carry out the water separation process called electrolysis, you will be building a device that allows power to be used from the car battery to separate water.

2. Do You Need To Build The Whole Car From Scratch?

No, you do not need to build the car from scratch. This system, known as Hydrogen on Demand system, only creates hydrogen gas for combustion when needed. There is no need to make changes to your car, as the device is built externally and then put under your car hood. It does not modify the way your car's computer or engine works. Instead, it compliments the engine's operations.

3. Why Convert Your Car Instead Of Just Using Gasoline?

By using HHO gas to power my vehicle, I have increased its mileage and power, as HHO gas is proven to be 3 times more powerful than gasoline.

With this system, an average driver can expect to save around $900 every year in fuel costs savings. This cost can be multiplied by the number of vehicles in a household to compute the total cost savings for an entire household.

Are you sick of expensive gas prices, and you want to run your car with hydrogen? Read the author's review of the Best DIY Water Car Guides on the internet at http://www.review-best.com/water-powered-car-guides.htm and run your car with water today!


By Judd Marshall