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12 Bonehead Basics of Car Maintenance
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You know, That Guy who thinks that the best way to keep a car from overheating is to roll down the window. That Guy who hires the neighborhood kid to wash his car 'cause he’s allergic to “going outside and doing things.” There are lots of ways to be That Guy, but only one way not

to be: by regaining your self-sufficiency and learning the basics about car care. Using STP® is a good first step. And while we can’t do the rest for you, we'll give you a few pointers. Check out the tutorials. Take a look at the videos. And get under your hood. Good luck, and Don't Be That Guy.

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  • Aug
    19
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    Bumpers Don’t Have to be a Grind

    Posted in: Tips and Tricks: Exterior, Car Knowledge
    Shaq Diesel
    You, too, can fix this bumper.

    It’s that time again, chief. Millions of school kids are getting ready to head back to school. Likewise, it’s time for That Guys all over to learn how to do things for themselves.

    Nothing back-breaking, we’re just talking basic stuff that involves a little effort and getting your hands dirty.  Stuff like, oh yeah, making repairs on your car rather than overpaying a stranger just so you can channel surf on the couch all weekend.

    One example of an easy, cheap, do-it-yourself repair involves straightening out small dents in the plastic bumpers that cover most vehicles nowadays. There are some creative, cheap solutions to an otherwise expensive problem. So, go on, pardner, fix it yourself, even if some solutions are as low-tech as that mid-90s video game you can’t bear to throw out.

    First step for straightening out bumper dents: Remove the plastic bumper by finding the screws, usually located under the trunk latch or the front tail lights. Then use one of the following methods:

    1) Hairdryer: I know what you’re thinking—“A hairdryer? On my car? I thought our role model was John Wayne, not Vidal Sassoon?” Well, self-reliance is all about checking your vanity at the door, amigo. Use whatever works, even if it comes from unlikely places. So, turn the hairdryer to “high” and place it as close to the dent as possible to heat it for about one minute. Next, put on rubber gloves. Then take an air duster can and spray the dent with liquid carbon dioxide for 10 seconds. Watch the dent pop out, due to the temperature difference between the liquid carbon dioxide and the plastic. Finish by wiping off the liquid carbon dioxide with a cloth.

    2) Boiling water: The very definition of That Guys is that they’re so helpless they can’t even boil water. Let’s prove ‘em all wrong with this solution, which is as simple as it gets. Boil about one gallon of water until it’s bubbling hotter than the tempers of Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough at the ’79 Daytona 500. Then take that boiled water and slowly pour it on the dent, spreading the water around evenly to cover the dent. The next part is even easier: sit back and watch the dent pop out, sort of like you in your teen break-dancing days, only with no embarrassing MC Hammer pants.

    3) Heat gun: By now, you’ve seen the secret formula. Heat=Fixed dent. A heat gun is basically a hairdryer on steroids. It’s a heavy-duty tool and some models heat to temperatures reaching nearly 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, and they’re most often used in construction work. For larger dents, use a heat gun the same way we suggested you use the hairdryer above. Just to be safe, use durable work gloves made of cloth or leather when using the heat gun, due to its dangerously higher temperatures.

    Once you’ve fixed the bumper’s dents, you haven’t only improved your car, you’ve also started the more complex, but no less important, process of restoring your self-reliance. Just like checking out your engine—it may sound difficult, but it’s easy once you get in your garage get to work.

    You’ll save some dough, sure. More importantly, take a big whiff of that glorious mix of grease, sweat, and pride. It’s the sweet smell of hope that one day you’ll leave your That Guy-ness behind

    That’s it for now, chief. See you on the road.

    —CD, STP® Blogger

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