Category Archives for "Car Detailling"

I had the chance to carpool with a friend and I learned something new in the process. When he started the car, I noticed that the engine sounded as if the gas pedal was depressed. I looked at the RPM and saw that the idling was at 2000 RPM.

I found that really unusual so I did some research. I found out that one of the reasons for high idling is a problem with the idle air control valve.

Your car’s engine is the life of your vehicle; without it, your car will not function. Car owners should take extra care and make sure that the engines are clean and kept in the best condition.

As time goes by, carbon deposits, sludge, and grime may get in your engines, which affects fuel efficiency and your vehicle’s overall performance. One of the overlooked parts is the intake manifold.

You might be wondering, what is an intake manifold? When I was interviewing people and asking them what they knew about the intake manifold, they had this puzzled look on their faces. That was my first reaction as I was speaking to a mechanic.

Well, an intake manifold, also known as an inlet manifold, is part of the engine that acts as a passageway for air and fuel. Its main function is to evenly distribute air and fuel mixture to each intake port within the cylinder so that the engine will run.

Think of a steam engine that runs on coal. Coal is burned in the steam engine to give the train energy and make it run. The process for vehicles is almost similar. The intake manifold serves as the “combustion area” where fuel and air are “burned” which makes your car move.

How Does the Intake Manifold Work?

One of the biggest problems that vehicle owners may encounter is a dirty intake manifold. When this happens, carbon builds up and lessens the motor’s air intake. The air and fuel ratio should be perfectly balanced so that it efficiently burns the fuel as you step on the gas pedal.

Intake Manifold

Therefore, if the air and fuel are not properly combusted, you burn more fuel as evident on the black exhaust fumes. This also affects fuel efficiency and causes air pollution.

When the Engine Control Unit (ECU) senses that there is more fuel intake than air intake, it adjusts by taking in more air. The sensors will give out an inaccurate reading, which affects fuel efficiency and loss of horsepower.

When the intake manifold is not working correctly, you burn more fuel than is needed because there is less air intake. On the other hand, you waste more fuel because there is less air and doesn’t properly burn the fuel.

Car owners should make it a habit to have their intake manifold inspected when they notice that the exhaust smoke is too dark and the car emits dark exhaust fumes. You will also notice that you tend to consume more fuel when the intake manifold is not functioning properly due to carbon deposits and sludge build up.

If you are comfortable doing so, you may clean the intake manifold by yourself. So, here are some simple steps on how to clean intake manifold without removing it from your vehicle.

Here is a quick video on how to perform the steps.

What You Need

With the introduction of advanced cleaning products in the market, cleaning the intake manifold is easier, and you don’t have to dismantle the engine to clean it. However, make sure that you are confident and skilled to perform the steps. All you need are the following:

Power Foam Intake Cleaner

via Amazon

This power foam is made especially for cleaning the throttle and intake manifold and remove carbon deposits, grime, gum, and varnish. Most power foam sprays are safe for fuel injectors, catalytic converters, and emissions-control devices. We recommend you try Sea Foam SS14 Cleaner and Lube, or Amsoil Power Foam

The Other Things You Need

• Screwdrivers and wrenches – for unscrewing or removing the tubes/hoses
• Household gloves – to protect your hands from any harmful chemicals and the heat of the engine
• Surgical face mask – to prevent yourself from inhaling toxic fumes
• Clean microfiber cloths or any cotton cloths – these will be used to wipe off excess liquid from the engine.

Steps on How to Clean the Intake Manifold

Before starting the process, park your car in a shady and well-ventilated area, but not in a secluded place. Put on your work gloves and your face mask for protection. When cleaning the intake manifold, you may also need to clean out the throttle since this is also attached to it.

In most cases, you may also need to clean the pistons after cleaning the throttle and intake manifold. If you choose to do so, be sure to cover and remove the spark plugs so they don’t get wet.

Conclusion

We’d love to hear your thoughts about this article. If you have some additional tips and if you have tried this, please share with us your experiences. We always love to hear creative ideas from our readers. Don’t hesitate to share your feedback on the comments section.

Please share this article with your friends and other car enthusiasts. If you have suggestions for articles or questions about cars, please send us a message, and we’d love to find the answers for you.

Mold is one of the worst things that could inhabit your car. Mold is a form of fungus that forms due to moisture and warm temperature. Since it is a fungus, it is harmful to one’s health and can cause severe allergies even death.

There is one type of mold called black mold or Stachybotrys chartarum and chlorohalonata species, which are fatal even by just inhaling the spores. Be careful when leaving your car out in the open, especially if there is no roof above it.

Have you ever parked your car after a night out with light booze and accidentally scraped your car on the garage door? Have you ever parked your car and then came back to it with scrupulous-looking paint on the side?Alternatively, have you ever been in a minor accident where you or another vehicle came too close to each other?

There is one common effect you get from these mishaps – paint transfers or paint scuffs. Paint transfers, otherwise known as paint scuffs, result when another vehicle or another solid object such as gates or posts scratch against your car.

A review on the best car seat protector for car owners, especially for those who have kids. You will learn about the things to look for before even buying this item.

Owning a car requires knowing how you could maintain its cleanliness and sometimes, it could be very challenging, especially when we talk about the car seats. This is the part of the car that is very susceptible to dirt and food spills.

I remember a friend of mine has a kid and accidentally spilled her food all over my car seat! That was such a wake-up call for me to do something about that seat to prevent it from happening again. 

This is why I would like to help you out today should you have this experience and even before you encounter more mess to clean on your precious car seat.

Car air purifiers are small devices that you can plug into your car’s lighter slot.

Car air filters are meant to clear the air from allergens and odor. They make the air inside your car breathable, especially during cold weather. It also keeps away odor, dust particles, exhaust fumes, and other bacteria.

Choosing an effective car air purifier will contribute to a healthier driving experience and will also benefit you and your family.

Don’t think that when you are inside your car, you will be free from allergens, dust, and pollen. The particles may enter your car as you open the door or through the air vents.

Driving is an activity people find both a privilege and a headache. It is a privilege to drive since you get to places without relying on other drivers or public transport.

It is a headache when you go on long drives through rough terrain and hot weather or get stuck in traffic, and nobody else can drive.

Sounds familiar, right? I’m sure most drivers experience this.

On top of cramped legs and irritability, you also get to experience back pains because of sitting too long. Some drivers who have Arthritis, Sciatica, or Scoliosis tend to avoid driving because of the discomfort brought about by sitting too long.

Sometimes, you can’t help avoid jerky movements while driving, and this adds pain and discomfort to back pains.

True, it is difficult to adjust your weight once you drive due to the many movements you make such as stepping on the pedals, shifting gears, and steering the wheel. These actions may at times cause exhaustion if you have the above conditions.

An in-depth review of the best fuel injector for your car that is efficient and cost effective. Know more about this product as you read on.

Every car buff or automotive enthusiast knows the value of clean fuel injectors to help keep an engine running smoothly and increasing its overall life expectancy.

If you own a car, then you likely want to keep it in tip-top shape so that it remains reliable and doesn't cost a mint in repairs. To do this, we will want to clean the fuel injectors.

Having this done by a professional mechanic is costly and likely overkill in all but extreme situations. For the rest of the time, the way to get this done is by using a fuel injector cleaner.

Are you one of those people who get too obsessive-compulsive when it comes to your car? Have you ever experienced just cleaning your car and then the rain leaves water spots on it? I know the feeling.

I have many times inspected the shiny, black paint of my car with a magnifying glass only to find water spots on it! Annoying, right?

Water spots on car.

Water spots are created when rainwater or tap water evaporates and leaves residues. Water contains calcium and minerals that may damage your car’s paint. Rainwater, on the other hand, may contain acid.

Drying the car after being exposed to water may help but will not totally eliminate the water spots. So, I searched the web trying to find the best way to deal with water spots. I keep asking my fellow car enthusiasts, “how to remove water spots from your car?”

I got a variety of answers and some of the methods were too expensive and not guaranteed. Anyway, I found these simple steps on how to remove the water spots from your car. They may look tedious but I guarantee you that those annoying water spots will disappear.