Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

Whether you want a camouflage vehicle for hunting, showing support for the military, hiding dirt from off-roading,or expressing your personality, there is no need to hire a professional and pay...

Painting a vehicle can be as simple as performing a quick touch-up to cover up a small scratch or as advanced as painting the entire body of a vehicle to cover up years of wear. Whether you choose...

If you live in an area that gets yearly snow, it is likely that you will end up with some calcium stains and buildup on your car by the end of winter. While most calcium stains in households are a...

There's nothing worse than painting over a ding in your car's paint only to see that you haven't quite matched the color right. Fortunately, if you know where to look, you can find a code that...

Even if you have never put any kind of decal on your car, there's probably one there anyway -- the name of the dealership that sold the vehicle, placed for advertising purposes. Why is your ride...

As painted aluminum wheels age, they can start to look dingy and chipped if they are not properly cared for, requiring that they be either repainted or refinished if they are to look their best....

Many of us have heard about acid rain and its effects on the environment, but it can also cause damage to your car. When certain elements and pollutants are introduced into the atmosphere, they...

Rust is the common term for ferrous or iron oxide. It is formed by iron and oxygen reacting with each other in the presence of moisture in the surroundings. Rusting is also a term often used to...

A spray paint booth is a vital part of any workshop that works on repairing and restoring automobiles. In general, it takes the form of an enclosed, well-ventilated structure that allows you to...

As you drive your car, you will likely get scratches, dings, scuffs or other small bits of damage that can leave marks in your paint job. While large scratches or rust patches may require a whole...

Keeping your car in top aesthetic shape may not be essential in keeping it operable, but it's still a worthwhile endeavor. One of the easiest ways to tarnish a car's appearance is with a scratch...

The process of painting a car, whether to blend in a new body panel or give the vehicle a completely new look, involves several steps and requires knowledge of the techniques and materials used....

Not only is rust on your car's frame an eyesore, but it also can cause excessive damage. Rust will weaken the frame; if it's not contained, it will continue to spread. It is critical to remove...

Many cars and especially boats have bodies that include fiberglass. Because these vehicles are generally exposed to the elements, they are susceptible to vandalism, such as graffiti. Seeing spray...

Oldsmobile is a defunct car company shut down by General Motors in the early 2000s. However, you can still find parts and accessories for the cars. If you were part of an accident, fender bender...

Ford Motor Co. utilizes paints that are suited specifically to the automotive manufacturing industry. Manufacturers understand that damage can occur to the painted surface of vehicles due to...

Rust occurs when oxygen and moisture react with metal to corrode and weaken the surface. If this process continues unabated, it can weaken the metal to a point where it will break. Light cars and...

Engine painting can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your vehicle under the hood. This is important for those that are customizing or restoring a vehicle, and one of the best ways...

If you have ever been in a slight fender bender or come back to the parking lot to see a dent in one of your car doors, you've probably noticed that there is some paint scratched into your car...

While preventative maintenance can keep a vehicle's engine running smoothly for years, there's only so much you can do to maintain the vehicle's paint job, especially on the hood. When wear and...

During the winter your truck goes through a lot. Most people drive there cars in the summer, and the trucks in the winter. Before you rely on your truck, check it over and make sure everything is...

Alloy wheels look great when they are in perfect condition, but after years of use, they often become scratched, dull and dingy looking. Short of buying a new set of aluminum alloys, the next best...

Cars sometimes get scratches and chips in their finish. Luckily, you can repair most superficial damage by touching up the paint, rather than taking your car to a body shop for an expensive paint...

Just because a truck is used for work does not mean it has to look worn out. Applying a liner to the bed of your truck will protect it from scratches. This work can be very expensive if done...

A car's surface is made from metal covered with a primer, base color and clear topcoat. Car scratches occur when an object strikes the surface of the car. If the scratch reaches through the...

Touch-up paint is necessary in a variety of situations, as a fresh paint job rarely lasts beyond the moment the paint initially dries. Things are always bumping into walls of that room or dinging...

Auto rust is a common problem for people who live in moist, salty environments, typically people who live near the beach. Nonetheless, auto rust can affect all cars in all environments. First,...

With the proper approach, a motorcycle can be painted in your garage to impressive effect. A paint job at a professional body shop can run into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but it's...

Almost every vehicle will have its paint scratched or gouged. Light scratches that don't reach down to the bare metal are not as big a problem as scratches that reveal the bare metal surface. Once...

Most motorcycle fenders are coated in chrome upon purchase. Painting your motorcycle's fender will drastically alter the look of your bike. Although simple, the process requires plenty of elbow...

For many motorcycle enthusiasts, the chrome elements on their bike are one of their favorite design features. If paint accidentally spilled onto your motorcycle's muffler or if the entire muffler...

Painting an automobile can be an enjoyable and rewarding task for any car enthusiast. It can also save the car owner some money and make a clunker look good. Here are some steps that you need to...

Cars wear with age, and the first thing people generally notice on an old beater is the terrible paint job. Cosmetic issues make a car that runs perfectly somehow feel a little less special....

MirraChrome is a type of auto body paint that produces a bright silver shine. It is designed to make the material that it is covering look like chrome. It is especially attractive because it...

Our car’s paint takes a beating from the forces of nature and the accidental things we might do. Most people don’t realize how oxidation happens, it is caused mostly from acid rain. Chemicals...

So you burrowed a friend’s car and you happen to scratch it. Well not to worry, just follow the steps below and you will be safe.

Car waxes and polish can build up over time and require removal to maintain the paint finish or prevent oxidation. A solvent can strip the pol but may also damage the paint, so a low-abrasive wax...

Eggs are the arsenal of choice for vandalism due to the almost irreversible damage they cause to painted surfaces if not dealt with immediately. House paint, car paint, painted signs, mailboxes...

Most cars these days come from the factory will alloy rims, whether they are polished or painted. In many cases, it doesn't take a whole lot to scratch these rims, especially if you accidentally...

Painting your car can give it a new lease on life. It will improve the exterior and make you feel better about driving an old clunker. Or maybe it's just time to try out a new color. Either way,...

Cars are a big financial investment. That's why car owners want them to run and look good for as long as possible. One reason is to avoid having to buy another car too soon. Keeping your ride in...

You borrowed your friend’s car and you were driving it when you happen to scratch the car. You don’t want your friend to get mad with you for scratching your car. Just follow the steps below to...

Removing scratches from plastic bumpers can be a very expensive if you take it in to an auto repair shop. There is a way, however, to remove these scratches without taking the car in and without...

Your car's paint job says a lot about the vehicle and how well you take care of it. Over time, however, the car can develop marks and scratches from everyday use, no matter how careful you are. If...

Sometimes even the coolest designs on a car can seem a little lame after a few years. Those custom graphics of flaming skulls or the twin white racing stripes running down the sides of your car...

Preventing automobile dents from rusting is quite easy, but you have to fix the dent immediately to avoid any problems. Rust forms from dents because the protective coating on the paint has been...

Car door handles take a lot of abuse. Not only are they the most touched exterior part of the car, they are also often accidentally scratched with keys, bumped by purses and briefcases and banged...

Clay barring your car will get rid of anything that is on the car surface after you have wash it. This is the best way to get your car squeaky clean. Clay barring basically removes any objects...

Aluminum rims are often cheaper than steel rims, and aluminum's light weight might also help you save money by increasing your fuel efficiency. But aluminum rims are also known for corroding along...

Remove rust from a Honda Accord quarter panel without the need for fancy tools. The quarter panel is important to fix right away because it is open and will catch precipitation, spreading the rust...