IN TIP-TOP SHAPE

BUCKET OF CAR CARE PRODUCTS IS A SHINING IDEA FOR XMAS GIFT

 Story provided by Eagle One

Eagle One makes it easy to select a Christmas gift for the person who gets enjoyment out of keeping their vehicle clean and shiny at all times.

The 5-gallon bucket is filled with detailing products for total care that are formulated to make the job easier with great results.

Included are products for paint, interiors, wheels and tires, plus a handy detailing guide with unique tips.

The bucket comes with NanoWax, Car Wash, Wipe & Shine, All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Tire Shine, 20/20 Glass Cleaner and Tire Swipe Dressing Applicators.

It is available online at www.eagleone.com. Cost is $29.95, plus shipping and handling.

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CAJUN SHINE ALL PROVING POPULAR FOR AUTOS, HOMES

                                                Story provided by Cajun Shine All

It’s s a product that began as an innovative automotive cleaning accessory, but is now proving effective for many other uses in homes worldwide. Cajun Shine All is a water-based all-purpose wax, polish and protectant all in one – and is the only product of its kind on the market. 

What sets Cajun Shine All apart is that, unlike many other cleaners and waxes on the market, it has no harmful petroleum distillates, alcohols or ammonia and is environmentally safe.

 

The product’s proprietary formulation contains micronized waxes, polymers, anti-static moisture and dirt repellents, and ultra-violet blockers. The Cajun Shine All Detailing Kit comes with two specially-designed ultra fine microfiber cloths and one 12-ounce bottle of Cajun Shine All wax. One cloth is used to clean and simultaneously apply the wax, and the second cloth is used to easily buff it to a blazing shine. Only 2 ounces of Cajun Shine All applied with the cloth effortlessly cleans, waxes and polishes a midsize car all at once. Because Cajun
Shine All eliminates the need to wash and dry a vehicle before waxing, it saves 50-80 gallons of water per car wash. And unlike wax that has to be buffed and polished, Cajun Shine All is applied quickly and continues to bead water for up to six months after just one application. The finish left behind even repels dirt and dust so a vehicle stays cleaner longer. Between applications, the use of a Cajun Clean All cloth dampened with just water quickly cleans a vehicle and restores the shine. It is safe on leather, dashboards, glass and carpet.
     

In addition to being used on cars, trucks, boats, campers, motorcycles and lawn tractors, Cajun Shine All has been found to be very effective in cleaning home items, such as TV’S, computers, stainless steel kitchen appliances, flat-top stoves and ovens, countertops, windows, mirrors, furniture, jewelry and more.

 

The Cajun Shine All 12-ounce Detailing Kit sells for $17.95 and is available at www.cajunshineall.com

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SEND YOUR KID’S CAR BACK TO COLLEGE WITH A VOODOO RIDE SHINE

Story provided by Voodoo Ride

If you’re sending a child back to college with a car for the first time, the odds of them keeping the car clean are pretty slim. However, by giving that car a complete Voodoo Ride wash and polish before turning over the keys, you will help to protect your investment while it is away from home.

“We recommend every parent give their child’s car a good wash and wax before sending that car off to college,” said Chris Ferraro, president, CEO and co-founder, along with Dale Earnhardt Jr., of Voodoo Ride. “The last thing your child wants to worry about is keeping their car clean.  By giving that car a “Voodoo Ride” cleaning before school starts, you can keep the outside of the car protected and the inside clean for those weekend trips home to do laundry.”

Voodoo Ride manufactures a complete line of automotive surface care products including Mojo (all surface speed detailer), Shoq (tire and wheel cleaner), Hypd (high gloss tire finish), Silq (synthetic liquid polish), Hexx (scratch remover), JuJu (concentrated car wash soap) and Jakd (micro fiber cloths). 

To learn more about Voodoo Ride products, visit www.voodooride.com.

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TIA ADVISES CONSUMERS — WATCH OUT FOR THESE 5 MYTHS ABOUT TIRES

 Story provided by TIA                                                                      

With the price of oil and rubber at, or near all-time highs, keeping your tires in proper working order has become even more critical. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) wants to dispel the top five common myths about tires in order to help consumers get the most out of their tires.

Top Five Consumer Myths About Tires:

Myth # 1: “Just because a tire has low tread depth, it’s still OK to drive.”

Fact: Driving on tires that are below 2/32” tread depth is not only potentially dangerous to you and others on the road, you are not really saving money, because it can drastically decrease your ability to drive in adverse conditions, such as rain or snow. The results could be far more costly than the price of replacement tires. Consumers should visually inspect their tires (including their full-size spare tire, if applicable) and check tire inflation pressure every month.

Myth # 2: “If you increase tire pressure to the maximum recommended tire pressure, or even overinflate them, you will get better gas mileage.”

Fact: While this myth is increasingly popular with “hypermilers,” the truth is that inflating tires at, or beyond the maximum recommended pressure can not only increase tread wear prematurely, it can also make tires more susceptible to impact breaks from such things as potholes. Tires need to be inflated to the pressure indicated on the vehicle’s tire placard, commonly located on the edge of the driver’s door, the doorpost, glove box, or fuel door.

Myth # 3: “If your tire becomes punctured by a nail or other foreign object, it can be repaired without taking the wheel off the car.”

Fact: The only correct way to repair a tire is by taking it off of the car. On-the-wheel repairs do not ensure the tire’s structural integrity, and there may be damage caused by the puncture that will not be detected. TIA advises consumers to ask their tire repair professional if they are repairing tires on or off the wheel before agreeing to the repair.

Myth # 4: “It’s OK to drive a car with one or more tires that have a slow leak, as long as you stop frequently to refill the air.”

Fact: This is potentially dangerous, because water can seep into the penetration and cause permanent internal damage to the steel belts. Any leaks – whether slow or fast – should be repaired by a tire service professional IMMEDIATELY.

Myth # 5: Using petroleum- or silicone-based tire cleaners/shines won’t damage tires.”

Fact: Many popular tire cleaners/shines contain petroleum or silicone products, which will damage the rubber. Tire manufacturers add a wax-based protectant that helps to protect the tire against ozone, which will cause the tire to begin to crack and dry rot. This wax protectant is forced to the surface every time a tire is flexed as it rolls. The silicone ingredient in many common tire shine products dissolves this wax protectant, thus increasing the tires vulnerability to dry rot. Consumers are advised to read the label when shopping for a tire cleaner/shine, and make sure there are no petroleum- or silicone-based ingredients.  

For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.

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10 MINUTE PRE-TRIP CHECKUP CAN PAY OFF

Story provided by Car Care Council

Car Care Council offers three suggestions for a traveler's 10-minute pre-trip checklist: " Check all fluids. There are several fluids, in addition to antifreeze, that require attention, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids and windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

" Check hoses and belts. A belt that fails can affect the electrical system, air conditioning and power steering, as well as the cooling system. Cooling system hoses may be deteriorating from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal condition might need to be replaced.

" Check the tires. Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment. Also look for bulges and bald spots.

Not only can a pre-trip inspection help reduce chances of costly and possibly dangerous road trouble, it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home, with one's own technician who knows the vehicle. Especially important, it provides peace of mind. While no inspection can guarantee a car's performance, it's comforting to know proper precautions were taken.

For more information, visit www.carcare.org

GET 'JAKD' FROM VOODOO RIDE

Story provided by Voodoo Ride

Using Voodoo Ride's new micro fiber cleaning cloth Jakd when you wash your vehicle, may get you "Jacked" up to keep your vehicle clean all year long.

Jakd micro fiber cloths sport high-performing, wedge-shaped split strands to remove dirt particles while protecting surfaces from ugly scratches. Superior to cotton and terry cloth, each Jakd fiber is split into 16 separate micro fiber strands and is several hundred times smaller than a strand of cotton. Jakd is highly absorbent, lint and streak-free, retains six times its weight in water and is machine washable up to 500 times.

Voodoo Ride is a Chicago-based company that produces and distributes a complete line of premier vehicle appearance products. It was founded in early 2007 by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Christopher Ferraro, former president and CEO of VentureBrands LLC, a marine and automotive surface company. For more information, call (312) 944-0465 or visit www.voodooride.com.

MAKE THE RIGHT CONNECTION WITH JIFFY-TITE CARBURETOR KITS

Story provided by Jiffy-tite

Dripping fuel, scarred up fittings and time-consuming wrenching can make installing a carburetor a real pain. Why make installing and testing more work than it has to be? The Jiffy-tite Quick-Connect Carburetor Kit saves time and makes changeovers a breeze. Unlike an old fashioned threaded fitting set-up, this innovative kit allows you to connect or disconnect the fuel line(s) in seconds with no tools.

There's no wrenching required for a high flow, 100 percent leak proof seal. To connect, pull the socket collar back and insert the male plug on the fuel line. Then release the collar. Just listen for the click and the carb is ready to go. Disconnect with a simple pull on the collar and the valve design keeps the fuel safe inside the line, and without having to drain your fuel bowl.

The Quick-Connect design works with most of the popular high-performance carburetor applications on the market. Designed to be lightweight for race applications, Jiffy-tite Carburetor Kits are sold standard-valved in either AN size 6 or 8, with aluminum washers, and are available to work with 7/8" x 20, 9/16" x 24 and 5/8" x 20 applications in a variety of adaptive styles.

For more information about Jiffy-tite Quick-Connect Carburetor Kits or any of their Quick Connect fittings, call Jiffy-tite Motorsports at 1-888-605-7788 or visit www.jiffy-tite.com.

ASK MEINEKE JOHN!

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR FUEL DOLLARS GO FURTHER

By JOHN TAYLOR

* AIR PRESSURE IN YOUR TIRES

Tire pressure should be checked when the tire is cold (meaning the car has not been driven in a couple of hours). There is usually a sticker in the drivers doorjamb that indicates the manufacturer's recommended pressure. I read an article a couple of years ago that stated about 40 percent of all the wasted fuel in the United States was due to low air pressure in automobile tires.

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TURTLE WAX OFFERS TIPS TO PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR VEHICLE

Story provided by Turtle Wax

With the rising price of gas and food, a difficult job market and declining home values, the last thing many Americans are thinking about is purchasing a new vehicle. In fact, according to Autodata Corp., overall U.S. automotive sales fell 14 percent in April 2008, marking the lowest automotive sales volume since August 1998. Now, more than ever, it is important for consumers to protect the value of their investment with proper vehicle maintenance, including up-keep of appearance.

Most consumers know that proper performance maintenance, such as regular oil changes and tune-ups, influence a vehicle's long-term drivability. But when it comes to determining a car or truck's sale or trade-in value, appearance is as important as what is under the hood. The condition of a vehicle's exterior and interior is a strong indication whether it has been well-maintained and can significantly alter its worth.

To keep vehicles looking great and help protect their value, Turtle Wax offers the following maintenance tips:

* Wash your car every other week. No matter the season, regular washing helps prevent bugs, tar, road grime and other damaging elements from eroding the finish and becoming a long-term fixture on the vehicle's exterior. Do not use dish soap to wash the vehicle - dish soap dulls the finish and strips the car of shine. Instead, choose a car wash product with a clean rinsing formula that is safe for all finishes.

* Apply car wax as needed. Not only does waxing help restore color and shine, it leaves behind a protective barrier to help prevent scratches, swirl marks and other imperfections that can permanently damage the vehicle's paint and finish. Water will bead on a properly waxed surface. When beads do not form, it is time to apply another coat of wax. For best results, select a wax or polish that offers long lasting protection and durability.

* Pay attention to other exterior surfaces. In addition to the vehicle's finish, protecting and cleaning wheels, exterior plastics and molding will help keep your car looking like new. Use a wheel product to remove and help prevent buildup of break dust and road grime, which can permanently adhere to wheels and rims. For plastic and rubber surfaces, use a product that will restore and protect the materials' finish.

* Don't forget the inside counts, too. It's just as easy to notice areas of neglect on the interior of a vehicle. To prevent stains and permanent discoloration, clean interior surfaces, including carpeting, upholstery and inside door panels on a regular basis. Similar to car wax, interior products will leave behind protective barriers, making the surface easier to clean next time around and more difficult for stains to set in.

For information about available car care products for interior and exterior surfaces, visit www.turtlewax.com.

NEW 5-OUNCE MOJO JUST AS MAGICAL

Story provided by Voodoo Ride

Customers have spoken and Voodoo Ride has listened. Voodoo Ride is now offering a 5-ounce bottle of its all surface speed detailer Mojo because customers requested a smaller-size bottle that they could take with them wherever they go. It can fit in the glove compartment or in a motorcycle's saddle bag.

Mojo is an all-surface speed detailer that was developed with sophisticated polymers and synthetic protective compounds that allows it to instantly clean, polish and protect any solid surface on a vehicle's interior or exterior, eliminating the need to use a different cleaner for each specific application. Researchers developed Mojo's unique formula throughout several years of testing in extreme environments where Mojo demonstrated that it could perform in even the harshest conditions.

Mojo is safe on clear coat, paint, chrome, carbon fiber, molding/trim, glass, mirrors, plastic, rubber, aluminum, vinyl and leather. Unlike any other detailer, Mojo leaves no greasy artificial residue, repels water, and contains UV inhibitors and anti-static properties that repel dust.

For information, call (312) 944-0465 or visit www.voodooride.com.