Properly Prepare Your Vehicle's Interior and Exterior for the Summer

HOUSTON, July 17 -- With temperatures reaching record highs last summer(1) and even hotter days expected this year, it is important to properly prepare your vehicle's interior and exterior, as well as under the hood for the scorching days of summer.

Protective car care products can be critical in helping maintain the look and value of a vehicle's interior surfaces. Especially during the summer season, the sun's UV rays can be particularly harmful and may often lead to fading or cracking of the interior surfaces. When choosing a product to maintain the material's finish, it is best to choose one that will work well on vinyl, leather, rubber and plastics like the Black Magic(R) Pro Shine Protectant. Black Magic(R) Pro Shine Protectant contains Fadeblock(TM) -- an exclusive component that provides protection against the sun's harmful rays by diffusing UV radiation and shielding interior surfaces.

"Maintaining a vehicle's interior can do more than preserve a vehicle's integrity and value over the life of ownership -- it can also make for a more pleasant driving experience," says 2007 NHRA Funny Car Champion Tony Pedregon. "Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the vehicle's exterior finish, which is subjected to challenging weather and roadway conditions year-round."

Tires and wheels are one area that can easily be overlooked when washing and caring for a vehicle. These two components are often subjected to abuse from the elements. Road grime, dirt and brake dust can quickly collect on the wheels, and without removal, can lead to discoloration of aluminum alloys and corrosion and pitting of steel alloys used.

When removing this debris, it is important to utilize a cleaner that is safe for all wheels. If a cleaner is either too acidic or too alkaline, it may lead to hazing and pitting of your wheel metals. A product such as the Black Magic(R) No-Scrub Wheel Cleaner is pH-balanced, so it is safe to use on any type of wheel. And, the No-Scrub formula dissolves brake dust on contact, leaving your rims with a brilliant shine without all the hard work.

"While many people are often very careful about cleaning and protecting the wheels and other surfaces of their vehicles because they are the most visible, it is also important to provide protection under your hood," says Pedregon. "Caring for your engine is a vital part of keeping your vehicle in top condition, and this begins with your motor oil, which is often referred to as the lifeblood of your engine."

Properly maintaining your engine is particularly important as you travel during the summer in extreme heat, on short trips or in heavy traffic. Short trips and stop-and-go traffic are considered severe driving conditions that can increase the amount of stress to your engine. Your engine will also experience more heat and stress if your car, SUV or light-duty truck is used for towing. Changing your oil regularly is an important part of caring for your engine.

A quality motor oil such as Quaker State(R) Peak Performance(TM) can help maintain your engine in optimum condition. For vehicles that have been driven over 75,000 miles and may require additional protection, Quaker State(R) Higher Mileage Engine(TM) motor oil is specifically formulated to help restore engine response, prevent engine leaks and protect worn engine parts.

Following these tips and performing regular maintenance on a vehicle's exterior and interior, as well as under-the-hood, are critical steps in helping to extend the life of any car or truck.

(1) National Climatic Data Center