Empire Covers Blog

Although we all love to have a clean and shiny looking car on the outside, it’s important not to forget to clean and maintain the inside of your car as well. Spring is a great time of year to check up on your car to make sure it’s working properly and running well. Winter can take a toll on your car, especially if you live in an area with snow, ice, and road salt. Now that spring is finally here and your car has had a chance to thaw, it’s time to pop the hood and get your (or a mechanic’s) hands dirty. Make sure your car is up to speed this spring by taking the following steps.

Check your tire pressure. When the temperature changes in the spring, the pressure of your tires will decrease. Proper tire pressure is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and significant cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Check your car’s manual or with the manufacturer to see what your optimum tire pressure should be.

Get an oil change. It’s recommended that every 3,000 miles you drive or every three months, you should get an oil change. This helps prevent sludge from building up in your engine and clogging it. Automotive repair shops and mechanics offer this service, but it’s easy enough for someone to do it on their own. Since you probably own a car, you understand this process very well. Spring is a good time to do it as your engine has taken a beating from the harsh winter conditions.

Flush and refill the cooling system. This increases your vehicle’s life expectancy and fuel efficiency, especially during the hot summer. It’s a good idea to check the condition and concentration of the coolant to make sure it’s up to standards. Also, replace your air filter in preparation for the summer heat use of your car’s air conditioner.

Some other things you can do include lubricating locks and hinges and inspecting underneath your car for winter damage. Use a petroleum-based lubricant on door and trunk hinges to fix any creaking that may have developed during the winter. When checking under your car, look for suspicious areas and have them fix immediately. Also, take a look at your brakes for sticky calipers or corroded brake line and your exhaust system for rusted clamps, crumpling tailpipes, or holes forming in the muffler.

Spring cleaning can be a tedious task, but it can significantly increase the life of your vehicle and make your car a lot safer to drive. Preventive care is always safer and more cost efficient since you will be catching things before they become an issue. As always, Empirecovers.com is here for you and your car. Check our site for new products and promotions to get your car in shape this spring.

Daylights savings time is almost over, which means it will be lighter out later in the morning and into the evening. Although this time can bring some of the best weather of year for us, your car can become damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays caused by extended hours of sunlight. Over a period of about six months, usually March-September, your car’s exterior and paint can corrode over this time due to the long periods of sunlight it is exposed to.

Your car’s paint finish breathes and even has pores. In the hot sun the paint’s pores expand and can absorb more dirt and moisture. Imagine having to stay outside all day in the beating sun without any sunscreen or shade. Our skin burns, dries out, and takes days or weeks to heal. Similar to skin, over time the exterior of a car can wear down, fade, peel, and rust when exposed to water. There are preventative steps you can take however, to ensure your paint and exterior lasts to its potential.

There are a many products on the market that you can use to both prevent and treat sun damage. One of the most popular products is a rubbing compound used to polish out blemishes. It’s used to remove fine scratches, oxidation, coarse swirl marks, and water spots. There are also polishes and waxes you can use on a regular basis to prevent sun damage from happening to your car. In the case of extreme sun damage, you can re-paint your car, which costs thousands of dollars.

The interior of your car can also be greatly affected by the sun. The sun is attracted to dark material and can severely damage materials like leather. Collapsible sun shades are the most popular type of interior sun protection. They can significantly decrease the temperature of your car and block harmful sunlight. Car window shades are also popular and can be used while driving.

If your car spends a significant amount of time outside, no matter what climate it’s in, you should consider protecting it with a car cover. Not only will a cover protect your car from sun, it will protect it from rain, bird droppings, dust, and mold. By covering your car, you can prevent all kinds of damage at a fraction of the cost it would be to fix it. At Empirecovers.com, our best covers for sun protection are the Max and the Premier. They are both UV treated and will protect against sun for many years. The max comes with a lifetime warranty and the Premier is covered for 5 years. Buy one at Empirecovers.com today and take advantage of our Sun Covers Sale!

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!

Although this is dirty car is being turned into a work of art, most filthy cars don’t make it out so well.  If you are concerned about your car getting dirty, or if want to make sure your paint stays in good condition, then a car covercar cove is for you.  Protect your car in all kinds of weather, whether you need it from snow, rain, or dust like this car, we’ve got you covered.

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!

Our covers don’t protect against this kind of flood damage, but they do protect against rain, snow, and ice.  We make a 100% waterproof car cover that is perfect for storing cars outside during the winter rainy season.  Buy a waterproof cover from empirecovers.com today!

Recent review from one of our recent customers:

“I had one of those other custom covers. You know the ones, custom cab and bed fit with the Dumbo ears. Well it got damaged and I needed a new cover. My truck is “my precious pride and joy” and I was unsure about purchasing a “less expensive” cover.

I live in HOT south Florida with lots of thunderstorms.
I just took the cover off today, after two weeks, expecting that I needed to wash the truck. The black interior was cool and the truck was perfectly clean on the outside!
Not a spot!

In the mornings lots of water is on the cover.
This is either from the nights rain or morning dew. I believe the shape (angled down from cab to tailgate) helps keeps water from sitting on the cover and the cover from laying on the truck. I have a black tonneau cover that’s always a huge pain to keep really clean and spot free.
Not a spot!

On the downside: I can not get the cover to fit back in the bag it came in. (Sigh) I must admit, “It HAD to fit back in the bag”, was not a needed requirement.

This cover has exceeded my expectations.
I HIGHLY recommend the Empire MAX cover!!!”

–Merlin from Boynton Beach, Fl on 10/2/2009

Order a max truck from empirecovers.com today!

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.

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!