Empire Covers Blog

Although most winter storms don’t produce this much ice, it is still a hassle getting ice off your car, especially early in the morning when it’s the coldest outside.  There are ways, however, to help make this process a little easier for you.  First, turn your car on and your defroster on low but high heat.   Then, clear the car of any snow.  After that, spray a defrosting solution on the surface of the car.  Lastly, scrape the ice off with a scraper or a credit card.

If scraping is not for you, there are other easier and less time consuming alternatives to this.  A car cover is a great way to prevent ice from building up on your car.  At EmpireCovers.com, we sell covers that will protect specifically from water and snow.  If a layer of ice does build up on the car, you can pour some hot water on your car to melt it.  Check out our selection of covers at Empirecovers.com and end your ice problem today!

The time of year is upon us for holidays and family gatherings, which can mean long trips in the car. The day before thanksgiving is the busiest driving day of the year, when millions make the pilgrimage home for the holiday. Although we all enjoy spending time with love ones, a lot of time on the road can be stressful and even dangerous. There are a few things you can do, however, to make your long road trip this winter safer and more enjoyable for you and your family.

The first thing you should do is make sure your car is prepared for winter driving. Change your oil, check the pressure of your tires, flush your cooling system, replace antifreeze, and clean your head and side lights. You can do these things on your own, or you can take your car into your local mechanic and they can do it for you. Preparing your car for the winter can save you a lot of time and help prevent an accident. These are simple things you can do to ensure you get where you need to be without any road bumps!

Once your car is in shape to make the trip, make sure the roads are too. Check in advance to see if there are any road closures or traffic delays. This is often the first week of real winter weather, so roads can be unprepared and slick. The federal highway administration is a great resource for checking traffic and road conditions. Check their site, www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm, for traffic information and links to other traffic sites. Check the weather forecast before you go, and try www.drivecast.com for the weather along major interstate highways.

Traveling with children can be also be stressful. Make sure they have enough to do so they do not distract you while you are driving. Games, music, and coloring books are great ways to keep kids occupied during long trips. Make sure they wear a seat belt at all times so they do not wander to the front of the car and distract you. Don’t let them get bored; write a list of things to do/bring the night before so you don’t have to scramble during the drive.

Don’t forget to take breaks. We often rush to get to places, especially if it’s a long drive. Taking breaks is important because it keeps us alert and responsive. Even a five minute break can make a huge difference. Also, don’t speed or rush to your destination. It is always best to take things slow to avoid unsafe driving. Getting there safely should be your top priority.

Make sure your car’s gas tank stays full. During long trips, this can be difficult. Avoid going below the quarter tank line if you can. This will make sure your fuel-line doesn’t freeze and that you don’t run out of gas in cold weather. Don’t take a chance with your gas tank; keeping it above a quarter will save you a walk to the nearest gas station in freezing winter weather!

A few other tips include using getting a good night’s sleep the night before, avoiding drug and alcohol consumption before diving, and keeping an emergency kit in the car. These are simple things you can do to help you arrive at your destination safely. Be cautious and take breaks often. Our cars have to battle the winter road so we don’t have to, don’t forget to give thanks to your car this thanksgiving!

Winter can be a wonderful time filled with holiday cheer and snowflakes. It can also be extremely harsh. Plants, humans, animals, and even cars feel the brunt of winter furry. Although it may not seem like it, Old Man Winter can be incredibly cruel to your vehicle. Aside from ice build up, fluids and hoses can freeze up, not to mention those cold leather seats at 7 am! There are a few precautions one can take in order to help prevent the damage that winter can do.

Most importantly, buy yourself a high quality, weatherproof car cover. We recommend the Empire Waterproof or the Max cover. Both of these car covers have high water resistance to block out snow and ice. (Note: In unusual circumstances, a layer of ice may form between your vehicle and the cover. This layer of ice must be thawed before removing your cover. You may expedite this process by pouring warm water over the cover and gently lifting it as the ice begins to melt. If any resistance occurs, repeat the process.) The cover can also be protected against wind by installing grommets that come with it. By tying it down, you can keep fierce winter winds from blowing your cover off.

Secondly, make sure your car is in working condition before winter sets in. A broken down car on the freeway in 30 below is never a pleasant experience. Also, be sure to ask your mechanic to flush your cooling system and replace the coolant. If you want to do this yourself, aim for a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water inside the radiator. This way the mixture won’t freeze in cold temperatures. The cooling system not only works to keep your engine from over-heating in the summer, but it works to protect the engine against corrosion.

Making sure you can see should be a top priority to ensure safety. Replacing your windshield wiper blades is an easy way to improve your visibility on the road. Experts recommend that you change them once a year. Also, make sure your wiper fluid is full and to make sure your windshield doesn’t build up ice during a storm, try adding some antifreeze.

Get your oil changed. The oil in your engine will change depending on how hot or how cold the engine is running. Due to the fact that outside temperatures will have an effect on the internal temperature of the engine, be sure you have oil that will hold up when it is cold outside. A mechanic or your owner’s manual may recommend using a thinner, less viscous oil in the cold months.

When was the last time your checked the pressure of your tires? It’s extremely important because the traction on the tires keep you from sliding on frozen winter roads. Traction can be vulnerable in wet, icy, or snowy weather. In colder weather, the air in tires decrease, making you more susceptible to sliding on the road. Check your owner’s manual for target tire pressures.

These precautions are important to preventing damage and ensuring safety on the road, but the most important thing you can do is drive safely. Slow down and be aware of everyone on the road. Don’t let the weather bog you down this winter, take these steps to ensure you and your car’s safety.

Daylight savings time is now among us, making most nightly commutes a dark one. This is can be dangerous for drivers due to decreased visibility on the road. In fact, most fatal accidents happen at night than any other time of the day. As with driving any time, alertness and common sense should also be used at night. Other than practicing safe driving skills, there are things you can do to your car to increase visibility and safety. The following are steps you can take to ensure your drive is safe in the dark.

Make sure your mirrors are clean and free of any scratches or abrasions. You should also check your mirrors for steam, frost, water droplets, or tarnishes before you start driving. Because we use artificial light sources to see at night, signs, pedestrians and other vehicles can be difficult to see. Keeping your mirror and windows clean allows you to see the road and others around you more clearly.

Your car’s light sources are crucial for driving at light. Make sure all of these lights are in proper working condition before you start driving. This includes headlights, tail lights, corner lights, signal lamps, and license plate lights. Often times we find out too late when a tail or headlight is out. After checking for functionality, make sure they are aimed correctly. Then, make sure they are clean of any debris and dirt. Dirty headlights can severely affect your visibility on the road.

A car cover is an easy way to make sure your car stays clean between uses. You won’t have to worry about cleaning before you drive because our covers keep dirt, dust and other contaminants from getting onto the exterior of your car. Follow these instructions for a safer night commute this winter!

Do you track a lot of dirt and grime into you car?  Rubber mats are a great way to protect the carpet of your car.  They are also a great way to add style.  You can get custom car mats for your car with car logos, sports team logos, or even your nickname.  These mats come in many different sizes, colors, and styles and they are availible for almost every vehicle.  Protect and spice up your car today with some custom floor mats from empirecovers.com.

sun damage on car

Don’t let the sun do this to your car, protect it with on of our sun proof car covers.  Three layers of Endura Plus provide superior breathability, very high water resistance and UV protection; choose the Max for a snug fit with superior thickness, protection and strength!

as you can see they look like dumbo ears and they really have no purpose at all. Why do people want to pay extra for a car cover with dumbo ears?

Tips on Washing your Car

In this economy, car care has been placed low on the list. Fewer people are running their vehicles through the local automated car wash due to the high cost of gas, and pretty much everything else today. However, washing your car is incredibly important and is a very easy DIY job. So rather than spend your dollars at the car wash, do it at home with these simple tips!

Washing your car will preserve your it for longer and keep it looking new. If you continue to keep your car clean and in good condition, it will increase the resell value if you ever plan to do so. There are many products available at your local auto supply to wash your car. Since there are many afforable options, stay away from common liquid dish detergents. These products are designed to remove animal or vegetable fat from stoneware. This means they will also remove the wax that is protecting the finish on your car.

To make your wax job last longer you might want to use a product that is specifically designed for washing your car. These types of soaps are usually pH controlled and some contain gloss enhancers and some have small amounts of water soluble wax. Check with an auto-care specialist to find the right product for your vehicle.

To wash your car: Start with a large clean plastic bucket; fill it with cool or tepid water and add a small amount of car wash soap. Never use hot water – it will soften the wax (like how a flame softens the wax in a candle), which may cause it to be wiped off. Just remember that less is more when adding the soap to your water. It is best to use liquid car soap and not the powder form. The powder may not dissolve all the way and tiny particles can get in your sponge and scratch the paint.

Make sure that you try to wash the car in the shade, and be sure that the car is relatively cool to the touch. When a car is cool, it will allow water to evaporate off quickly. Spray the car down (with your hose on a gentle setting) to thoroughly wet the surface. It is best not to use a power sprayer that may grind the dirt into the car’s finish and cause scratches. Wash one section at a time so the soap won’t dry on the paint.

There are different types of products you can use to wash the car, such as a wash mitt, wash pad or sponge. Make sure to dry the car as soon as possible. We recommend using completely clean, 100% cotton towels. Make sure there is nothing on the towels that could scratch your paint. Things like dried paint or glue can be very abrasive. Use the towels to gently blot the excess water off the car. You could also use a specially designed car chamois to dry the wet spots.

Bird droppings are disastrous to a paint job and should be removed as soon as possible. The droppings are highly acidic and will peel the paint right off of your car. A handy tip to remove bird droppings between washes is a bottle of seltzer water. With the cap off, shake up the bottle and hold your thumb over the top. You will have an instant water hose to rinse off the droppings until you can perform a proper wash.

By washing your car regularly and with the right tools you will be able to keep your car’s finish looking like new. For those times in between washes, keep your car covered and protected with a high-quality car cover.. This will not only preserve all the hard work you’ve put into your car and keep it protected from dirt, grime, moisture and anything else that happens to land on your car.

This is my first video people. It will get better. I am the head of marketing and development for Empirecovers.com. We sell automotive accessories and car covers. We are going to use these as training tools and to make the website more interesting. Thank you and please email me at Jake@empirecovers.com.

I don’t always have it covered but i try to cover it as much as possible. Car Covers are great. The grainy picture is because it’s on my black berry but it is a nice car and great gas mileage on it. I compete with my friends and i usually get around 50 miles per gallon. Somehow one of my friends gets 54.2 miles per gallon. I have no idea but the hills of manayunk make it harder for me to get it that high i think. If you have cool pictures of your car that you want to share i can give you a free car cover or discount on a max cover. I am going to try to update this post as much as possible and make it as interesting as possible. This is the president of Empirecovers.com.
Jake