AlloyGators help protect alloy wheels

Pothole damage, or risk of pothole damage is the number one reason motorists in the UK are heading to their local workshop and getting a set of AlloyGators fitted to their vehicle, writes Trish Whelan.

The claim is made in a survey undertaken by AlloyGator who manufacturer this alloy wheel protection system.

Rather than stumping up for expensive alloy wheel repairs, many motorists across the water are instead choosing to protect their alloys.

The product may soon be available here in Ireland as the company are currently in discussion with a potential Irish supplier, but in the meantime, motorists here can purchase the product via the AlloyGator website, www.alloygator.co.uk. Cost in the UK is around £59.95 to purchase a set for DIY fitting. Extra to have them fitted.

This is a patented alloy wheel protection system designed and manufactured in the UK which, the company say, gives 'unrivalled protection to the alloy wheel and tyre against scuffs, scratches and other wheel damage'. It is made of super tough nylon giving superior protection in all conditions and is available in one universal size to suit up to 21-inch Alloys. The AlloyGator sits between the alloy wheel and the tyre, protecting it and enhancing its appearance, and in some cases covering existing damage.

Even smaller innocuous looking potholes can cause serious and costly damage like ruined tyres, broken suspension components, failed parts in the steering system and damaged alloy wheels and wheel trims.

It is available in nine different colours, black for discreet protection, silver that make the rims/wheels look larger; and a range of other colours to complement the colour of the car.

To see the AlloyGator product in action visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ITp2f0nNis

Checking underneath your car's bonnet

Do you know what lies beneath the bonnet of your car?

Driver training specialist IAM Drive & Survive is this week advising on checking under your bonnet as a recent poll in the UK showed that 70 percent of people there struggle to complete simple maintenance tasks like checking a vehicle's oil levels. We're sure the result would be the same in any such poll here in Ireland.

Their advice on fluid level checks is:

* Use your dipstick to check the oil level by first parking your car on level ground. Then remove qand clean the dipstick, dip it back in and check where the oil comes up to.

* If your oil needs topping up, try not to over fill as this can cause excessive pressure in that area of the engine as well as oil leaks.

* Avoid mixing different kinds of oil - check your owners' handbook to find the correct oil for your car.

* Your washer fluid will usually be in a white container, through which you should be able to see what level the fluid comes to. This can be topped up with washer fluid or water, but must be at least 50 percent washer fluid in winter.

* Wait until your vehicle has completely cooled before checking the engine coolant level - ensure that the liquid is not below the cold indicator line to avoid overheating and damage.

During the winter months, the thought of sheltering under your bonnet from the pouring rain to check your car's fluid levels is not a pleasant one. Rain or shine, it is important to keep your fluid levels in check, as well as your lights, tyres and windscreen wipers.

How to deal with bird 'bombs'

You know the problem only too well. Your car has been bird bombed and the paintwork looks awful. But mind how you remove the offending mess.

Research from UK car care experts, Autoglym, reveals that bird dropping 'acidity' has no effect on paintwork of vehicles, as is commonly believed.

Autoglym's researchers discovered that as the paint lacquer cools, overnight for example, it contracts, hardens and moulds around the texture of the bird dropping. To the naked eye, this moulding at a microscopic level appears as dulled or etched paintwork.

The company warns motorists to act fast, and with care, to prevent lasting damage to the paintwork.