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What to do When Your Car Is Faded

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What to do When Your Car Is Faded

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Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays at the beach is a given for us humans. But those same UV rays can also damage your car, causing it to fade over time. You likely don’t think about your car’s paint job until it starts to get noticeably lighter. This is due to the oxidization from the UV rays of the sun. On top of that, extreme weather due to snow, hail, high winds and rain can all have an impact on the hue of your car — not to mention the critters that can really do a number on your paint job.

Here are some tips on keeping your car’s paint job looking new year after year:

Come up with a washing schedule: Prevention is key here, so the best way to protect your car from the sun and environmental damage is to keep up with a consistent washing schedule. Praying for a rain storm isn’t going to help. You need a good clean that can protect your top coat from existing and future damage. Top coat is like sunscreen for your car, and keeping it as clean as possible is like giving it SPF 50 protection. However, that top coat is also the most vulnerable to sand, salt, snow and acid rain.

Restore the paint job: Once fading begins, you may think it’s too late to be saved. Not true. You will have to break out the elbow grease but restoration of your paint job is absolutely possible. First, you’ll need to thoroughly wash and dry your car, then use a clay bar to remove the junk that’s contributing to the dullness factor. Clay is designed to “fix” a contaminated surface — one that is plagued with tiny bumps in the paint that can detract from its smoothness. All that embedded debris can cause small imperfections in your finish that the clay bar can pick up and remove, says Dr. Beasley’s. Doing this will provide a prime surface featuring a tighter seal to the wax making sure it looks better and lasts longer.

Polish after claying: The clay bar is great, but it’s no substitute for polishing your car. Do this in a shady area, out of direct sunlight. Make sure your car is cool to the touch and not hot. Work in small, concentrated areas and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Normally, you would use a foam applicator but once light oxidization and fading has occurred, it’s best to use a microfiber applicator pad for car polish application.

Wax your car regularly: If a clean top coat adds an extra layer of protection for your car, adding wax gives you yet another protective layer that prevents dirt from harming your car. Not only does it make your paint job look beautiful and shiny, it can give you a whole new level of SPF protection that can complement the efforts of your washing schedule.You have four types of wax products to selection from: liquid, paste, spray and wipe-on, wipe-off. The paste and liquid formulas seem to work the best when a car is faded or oxidized car paint. Ideally, you should wax before the winter, then keep up with maintenance every two to three months.

Take it to the pros: If all of the above methods don’t work and your car’s finish is too badly faded, oxidized or damaged, you may need a complete paint job. Whether as part of collision repair or a simple desire to get your paint job restored, professionals have the right equipment, tools and paint to bring that luster and sheen to your car that you miss so much.

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Contact Lofton Motorsport’s In Tulsa

Located conveniently on Tulsa, OK. Lofton Motorsport’s is your first choice for paint restoration, collision repair and auto body work. Contact us at (918) 747-7566 to schedule an appointment

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Why Car Dents Can Pose Big Problems

Take care of dents right away.

When you consider potential car damage that can occur as you’re out and about, dents and scratches may not stress you out as much as more severe damage, but they can cause big problems down the line. Many vehicle owners put off repairing these issues because they assume the problem is so small it won’t make a difference; other drivers attempt to DIY the repair and end up causing more damage than if they had just left it alone.

Both of these methods of dealing with exterior car damage can have a lasting impact on the functionality, appearance, and value of the vehicle. Here are some good reasons why those small car dents should be promptly and professionally repaired.

 

Dents Are More Affordable to Repair Early On

When a dent or scratch first shows up, the repair necessary to fix it is likely relatively small. However, when you let these issues fester, the damage to the auto body can increase over time. For instance, scratches in the paint can get deeper the more you drive and wash your vehicle.

Advanced auto body damage makes your car look unsightly; plus, untreated defects can cost much more to repair, as the affected area will ultimately become larger than it first appeared. Thus your auto body repair technician may find it more difficult to match the paint due to aging, translating to a higher price tag for you.

Dents Harm Your Car’s Exterior

While you may assume dents are simply a cosmetic issue, unrepaired damage can adversely affect your car’s paint job and structural integrity. Let’s say you experience a scratch in the summer but don’t get it repaired till spring. It will likely get wider and deeper, posing even more serious issues in the case of dents, such as paint removal, exposure of the internal components to sunlight, and debris collection. In the worst cases, your car can develop an expanding area of rust or other corrosion – all stemming to one simple scratch.

Dents Mask Serious Damage

Most dents are the result of some kind of collision. After a fender bender, you may see the dent and thank your lucky stars that’s the only damage you sustained. However, many types of damage aren’t visible at all. Even a low-speed car accident can bend the car’s frame slightly or knock the wheels out of alignment. While you wouldn’t see a crumpled frame when observing the aftermath, the damage has been done, threatening the structural integrity of the car as well as your long-term safety.

Dents Reduce the Car’s Value

A dent can impact your car’s resale value. Vehicles with cosmetic damage are worth less than cars without this damage. To make sure you get the full value of the car that you deserve when selling, get the auto body work done by a professional.

Contact Lofton Motorsport’s in Tulsa

To schedule your appointment for dent or scratch repair, contact us at (918) 747-7566!

Air Conditioning
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Signs Your Central Air Conditioning Needs Recharging

If your Air Conditioning suddenly stops giving you the cold air you expect, it is a very good sign that your central air conditioner needs to be charged. Regardless of the model you have, air conditioners cannot run faultlessly for life. Sooner or later, one part or the other becomes affected. When this happens, it is highly advisable to let a professional get the Freon charged and conduct maintenance to save you money in the long run.

Call us Today to Schedule an Appointment

(918) 747-7566

How to Tell Your Air Conditioning Needs Recharging

Because there are several things that can go wrong with Air Conditioning, it is important to make sure that a low charge is an actual problem. When the central air conditioner needs to be charged, the first thing it does is blow out warm or room temperature air. Simply place your hand in front of the vent that releases air into your home and feels its temperature for a few minutes.

Checking thermostat readings is also a great way to detect charging problems. If your thermostat seems to be broken or malfunctioning, try to reset it and turn on the conditioner to check for any temperature changes. Broken thermostats are not necessarily a sign that you need recharging. When in doubt, it is better to call a specialist to diagnose the problem properly.

How to Conduct an Inspection At Home

Some maintenance tasks can be done at home while others require professional help. Learning the difference between the two can help you save money, time and prevent you from causing further damage to the system.

Fan

Apart from checking the thermostat and the temperature of the air coming out of air vents, you can do a visual inspection of the fan. When you turn your air conditioner, the fan should automatically start moving. If not, it might indicate a problem with the motor. Placing your hands inside can be very dangerous. This is a problem only professionals should fix.

Filters

It is quite easy for air filters to get clogged with dirt and debris. If you know how to check filters safely, make sure they are clean and unblocked. Sometimes all a cooling system needs to get up and running again is a thorough clean.

Frost

Leaking coolants tend to cause malfunctions in many air conditioners. Fortunately, leaks are easier to detect because they cause frost to build up on tubes, motors and other parts of the system. Should you notice a leak or frost build up, contact us immediately to help you fix the problem. Coolants are gaseous in nature and might cause harm when handled inappropriately.

If you manage to clean and sort out minor maintenance tasks without getting your air conditioner back in shape, most often than not, it means you need your Freon charged.

DIY vs. Professionals

Recharging the cooler at home seems like a great way to save money, but it is dangerous and should never be done yourself.  Owners lack the professional knowledge to do it properly, not to mention the licensing.

Professionals are the correct option here. Not only can they charge your system properly, you can also score other maintenance checks during the service appointment. By checking your entire system, they can diagnose and recommend the right solutions for your problem. You can easily avoid costly mistakes and prolong the life of your cooler at the same time.

Signs Your Central Air Conditioning Needs Recharging

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