Oil is one of the most essential fluids in your car. Without it, your engine won’t run for long before burning up. The lubrication provided by motor oil reduces friction, heat and wear. Regular oil and filter changes are essential to a smooth-running, long-lasting engine.

So what kind should you use? Beyond brand names (like Pennzoil oil) and weights (5w-30, 10w-40), there are five different types of motor oil. And odds are the manufacturer that built your car has specific recommendations as to what type to use.

• There’s conventional oil. It does what any oil should do by actively cleaning out sludge to keep your engine running cleaner, cooler and longer.
• If your vehicle is older and has 75,000 miles or more, you should consider high-mileage oil. It’s specially formulated for older, higher mileage cars, not only reducing sludge but helping to reduce leaks and burn-off.

• If your vehicle is a truck, minivan or SUV, you should consider a synthetic blend oil at your next oil change and everyone after. Synthetic blend oil is better than conventional oil for severe driving conditions, including trailer towing.
• For an even cleaner clean inside your engine, synthetic oil is the way to go. It’s also formulated for severe driving conditions and keeps pistons cleaner than the toughest industry standard.
• And finally, the fifth and finest of the motor oils available today…ultra synthetic oil. Nothing keeps your engine closer to factory clean. Check your owner’s manual to see which oil your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. Pennzoil formulates its synthetic blend, synthetic oil and ultra synthetic oil to be dexos approved, General Motors’ new and rigorous standard for motor oil for its 2012 and newer models.

Can’t find your manufacturer’s recommendations? No problem. Pennzoil oil has an online selector that will help you determine the right type of oil (conventional, high mileage, synthetic blend, synthetic oil and ultra-synthetic oil) for your vehicle.

And remember, not all oil change places are alike, either. Mr. Clean Car Wash never charges shop or disposal fees, and any oil change service (they offer five—one for each type of oil) comes with a free Pro Interior & Exterior Wash! Click here for full details.

Jumping in the car and taking a ride with your best canine or feline friend can be a treat for you and your pet. Unfortunately, the resulting flyaway hair and paw prints can make your car less than pristine. The good news is there are solutions for preventing pet damage to your auto’s interior, including getting a car interior detail.

Common pet damage to car interior
Fido and Fluffy don’t mean to, but they can cause trouble with your car’s interior. Common damage to your vehicle when an animal is on board includes hair and fur that becomes lodged in your upholstery and on the floor, nose and paw prints on the windows and doors and even scratches, tears, holes and rips in the seating from wayward claws and nails. A pet can also become car sick and vomit or have an accident that can result in the need for odor control management.

Prevent pet damage
Protecting the interior of your car from pet damage is your first line of defense. Safeguard your upholstery from fur, stains and scratches with seat covers, which come in plastic or cloth. Before purchasing, ensure that cloth seat covers are machine washable. To protect the car’s mats and carpeting, use hard plastic floor mat covers or floor liners made of nonslip rubber. Remove seat covers and floor mats when your pet isn’t riding with you and store them in the trunk.. As soon as pet fur does invade your car’s interior, prevent it from working its way into the floor and cloth upholstery by removing it with a lint brush.

Regularly groom your pet
A well-groomed pet is less likely to get a car interior dirty or full of fur. The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog at least every three months, but if your pet is a frequent car traveler, monthly bathing could be preferable. Brushing or combing daily, especially prior to a car ride, is another good way to prevent your animal from spreading fur, dirt and body oil stains. Grooming also helps ensure that your dog and cat are free of fleas and flea dirt, the latter can stain upholstery and flooring. During grooming, ensure that your animal’s nails are also trimmed. This will prevent your pooch or kitty from scratching or puncturing your car’s interior.

Protect your vehicle with regular detailing
While preventing animal fur and stains is possible to a certain extent, the only way to keep your vehicle looking and smelling its best is with a car interior detail. Regular interior detailing also helps ensure that problems like torn seats or pet accidents don’t become worse than is necessary. For instance, proper and prompt treatment of vomit and urine accidents leads to less chance of ongoing odor and permanent staining.

If your pet travels with you often, and it’s been awhile since a car interior detail, visit Mr. Clean Car Wash today to learn more about how a car interior detail can make your car look and smell great.

You love your car’s leather interior. Odds are you even paid a little extra to have leather instead of cloth or vinyl. The thing is, leather isn’t a buy-it-and-forget-it deal. Your leather car seats are a lot like your own skin. They react to cold, heat, humidity and dryness.

In the same way you condition your skin differently in changing seasons, you need to take care of your car’s leather interior on a seasonal basis. And no matter the season, you want to be sure of the basics:

• Clean the seats before you cleanse. That means vacuuming up dirt and loose debris from the seats so you don’t scratch or tear the leather in the next steps.
• Remove deep-down dirt and stains. Then go for an all-over clean.
• Condition. Just like with your skin after washing, this can slow down the natural processes that make your leather look dry and tired.

And, just as you wouldn’t use just any products on your skin, you want the best for your car’s leather interior–products that will clean, cleanse and condition.

What’s that? You love your car’s leather interior, but you’re a busy bee and can’t imagine where you’ll get the time to give your investment the care it needs, especially several times a year? Well, the good news is that caring for your car’s leather interior doesn’t have to be a do-it-yourself project. The professionals at Mr. Clean Car Wash not only have the tools, products and experience, but they’re able to do it in less time, getting you back on the road to your family, work and life in a beautiful-looking, soft-feeling, great-smelling leather interior year-round.

Read more about some of the best automobile interior leather care products here.

And what’s better than getting your car’s leather interior cared for and saving money, too? Click here for coupons!

You probably have heard of people getting their cars detailed and wondered what that means. Is it just a fancy word for a car wash? No. Good detailing starts with a good car wash, but it goes far beyond that. It’s like the difference between dusting your home and doing a good spring cleaning. Both are important, but that spring cleaning goes a lot further. And so does detailing.

When you take your car in for detailing, a full-service car wash is followed up with deep cleanings such as a clay bar that can remove fading, scuffs and gunk from road tar and bird mess to tree sap. Polish removes old wax buildup and new wax gives your car a deep, long-lasting shine and protects your paint’s clear coat finish from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Your tires and wheels are cleaned, polished and dressed.

But that’s just the outside of your car. Detailing also makes the inside of your car, truck, SUV or minivan look its best, with cleaning and shampooing for the carpet. Your seats are given special attention with a solution for cloth and conditioners and tanners for leather. The hard surfaces like your dashboard and door panels are scrubbed to remove dirt and stains, then protected with a vinyl dressing.

And a good detailing can cover other things like defogging your headlights and a lot more.

Best of all, a good detailing makes your car look better longer. It’s not the same as a car wash or a replacement for your regularly scheduled car wash. It’s something you should add to your car care that enhances the value of your vehicle and your enjoyment of it. Learn more about the detail services available at Mr. Clean Car Wash and our detailing promotions here.

Your vehicle is an investment through and through. That is why keeping dirt and stains at bay is a priority. Whether you carpool kids to school each day or travel with your dog to the park each weekend, odors are bound to arise. While using your favorite air freshener to keep things smelling good is a great idea, it is just a temporary fix. Have you ever noticed that underlying smells reoccur just a few days later? Using an odor eliminator is a better and more long-lasting alternative to an air freshener. Here are some ways to get rid of pesky odors for good with some help from the pros at Mr. Clean Car Wash.

Wash Away Dirt And Grime

Many times odors start on the outside of your vehicle. Mud and other contaminants can easily make it into the interior of your car while you’re getting in and out. It’s important to keep your car’s surface clean at all times to prevent tracking in odor-causing particles. Visit a Mr. Clean Car Wash location and choose a wash based on your needs. An exterior cleaning will help remove outside odor-causing debris and prevent it from reaching your vehicle’s interior. Options include a:

• 1000-point soft cloth wash
• Thorough under body wash
• Single shine polish
• Cascade of Clean foam bath
• Spot-free rinse

Get An Interior Detail

Having your vehicle’s interior cleaned by a professional at Mr. Clean Car Wash helps target hidden dirt and odors that are lurking in corners and on surfaces. This includes many options such as:

• Thorough vacuuming
• Wipe down of console and dash
• Window cleaning
• An odor eliminator treatment

A clean interior space helps reduce stubborn scents, while the odor eliminator actually counter-balances unpleasant smells that are hard to eliminate such as cigarette smoke and pet accidents.

Clean The Vents

A lot of environmental odors can easily reach inside your interior car space once you turn on your vents. Your car’s vent system can also harbor mildew and encourage mold growth. This can lead to permanent odors that are hard to eliminate with just a normal air freshener. Sprays, plastic odor diffusers and scented hanging fresheners will only provide a temporary fix to car odor. Ask your car care specialist at Mr. Clean to install a new cabin air filter and follow up with odor eliminators to get rid of bothersome smells permanently.

Choosing An Odor Eliminator Over An Air Freshener

Mr. Clean Car Wash techs use a variety of odor fighting cleaning solutions that leave your vehicle smelling fresh long after application. The main difference is that an odor eliminator directly targets bacteria-causing odor that’s tough to beat. Choosing this form of odor control helps eradicate the problem rather than masking it like an air freshener would.

A spray of your favorite tropical breeze air freshener will only temporary send the scent through the air—it doesn’t target embedded odors. Using an odor eliminator helps to neutralize and resolve heavy duty odors and leaves your car’s interior smelling clean and refreshing.

No two drivers use and care for their vehicles the exact same way. That is why car care is different with every driver and their vehicle. Because of this, your car needs maintenance tailored to its specific wear and tear. When you call up the pros at Mr. Clean Car Wash, be specific about your summer driving habits and any upcoming road trips that you may have planned. This will help individualize your car care service experience so you get the most value for your dollar. Here are a few packages that you’ll want to ask about.

Tire Care When Traveling

If you think you’re ready for the road just because you bought a new set of tires, you’re wrong. A specialist at Mr. Clean Car Wash, will make sure your tires are filled properly and safely ready to move down the road. This reduces your risk of tire blow out and ensures that your tires will last well beyond a long, summer road trip.

Transmission Servicing

Planning on pulling an RV along with a lot of travel equipment? Suddenly placing a lot of weight behind your truck, can place stress on wheel axles and the rear differentials. Not only that, your truck’s transmission will face additional stress. You can avoid your transmission slipping or failing while you are far away from home by having your transmission serviced. The car care team will hone in on your truck’s transmission and service accordingly by performing a 4WD Transmission servicing. This includes:

• A transfer case servicing
• Front and Rear differential service
• Auto transmission service and fluid top up

Fuel System Specifics

If you plan on traveling during the hot months of summer, you’ll need to take special care of your vehicle’s fuel system. Protect vital engine parts with a full-service fuel system inspection. Cleaning out the fuel system and adding fuel additives will help your car get better fuel mileage and improve overall performance.Services available at Mr. Clean Car Wash and Oil Change Plus are:

• Fuel Filter Replacement
• Fuel Injection Cleaning

• Throttle Plate Cleaning

Total Engine System Package

Using your vehicle daily in the city with stop and go traffic, can affect brakes and also the temperature control components of your vehicle. Having a total engine system package will help target major areas of possible concern. Mr. Clean’s technicians can do a radiator flush and an oil system cleaner to help keep your car’s engine cool during a hot July road trip.

Call today and talk to a Mr. Clean Car Wash technician about existing and expected wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine. Prevention will help reduce your risk for a breakdown as you drive to your summer vacation destination.

It may be surprising, but a clean car is just as important to maintenance as an oil change. Keeping a vehicle well maintained not only helps keep up the value of the vehicle, but protect it from outside elements. Here are some ways to keep the clean after the wash.

The ideal way to protect a car from getting dirty faster after a wash is by parking in a garage. A garage provides safety from the elements, tree branches and dirt that may get swept up in the wind, as well as UV rays. A carport is also a good option because of the overall shelter it provides. Shelter from the elements is the primary way to ensure a cleaner vehicle, but this may not always an option.

A car cover may also be an option if a garage or carport. Car covers help to protect from elements like UV rays, and act as a barrier between the elements and the vehicle. However, a car is only as clean as the car cover. If the cover is not kept in a place that is clean and void of elements, it can transfer dirt and grime to the car it is covering. Car covers can also attract moisture underneath, which can cause a problem, especially if mixed with dirt. Also, when a car cover is consistently removed from the vehicle it can often scratch the car in the process.

No matter what the protection options are, getting regular car washes will help keep a vehicle clean and relatively free of dirt that can scratch, or damage, the car body. Don’t limit the clean to once or twice a month, sign up for unlimited car washes with Mr. Clean Car Wash to ensure a well-maintained vehicle every time. Right now, save $5 off your next visit when you purchase a Signature Shine Full Service Wash.

It’s no secret that many factors go into determining if a vehicle is running out of life and that it’s time to upgrade to a newer model. High mileage, age and daily wear and tear all count toward the demise of a vehicle and its engine properties. Motor oil is the blood that an engine needs to thrive and survive. The more miles it has, the harder it works, so keeping fluids in check, especially oil, will help ease the stress on the motor. It’s very important to routinely care and address issues that could potentially lead to engine failure as you tack more miles onto your odometer. Keeping up to date on oil changes and vehicle servicing on a frequent basis is the best way to make sure your engine starts every time. Here are a few things to pay attention to with your high mileage vehicle so that you get the most out of every mile.

Lock Up Of Engine Components

One of the main threats to your vehicle, especially if you have over 75,000 miles on the odometer, is engine failure. Many vehicle models can withstand well over 150,000 miles with minimal problems as long as routine engine maintenance is performed. Choosing a high-mileage oil helps prolong engine life and prevents part failure due to additional lubrication. Specialized high mileage oil contains additives and conditioners that prevent oil sludge, over-consumption of oil and additional engine wear and tear. Visit a Mr. Clean Car Wash today to treat your engine to a high-mileage oil change.

Prevent Valve Leakage To Conserve Engine Oil

Cars with a lot of mileage are at a higher risk of leaks. As the engine ages and becomes worn, seals can easily leak. This can quickly lead to engine failure or cause parts and components to break or require repair. Using oil like Pennzoil which controls engine oil additives and conditioners to each oil change can help prevent erosion within a high mileage engine’s seals. This will keep a high mileage vehicle on the road longer. Ask a car care pro at Mr. Clean Car Wash what the best type of Pennzoil oil would be to boost the longevity of your car’s engine performance.

Rust And Wear Leads To Oil Loss

You may think that rust has nothing to do with the mechanics of your car’s engine, but that’s not true. High mile, older model vehicles are prone to rust. Once you have erosion inside of the engine, can result in broken seals, bearings and more wear on the oil pump. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is by frequent washing to remove salt, dirt and other environmental contaminants that eat away at paint and metal. As part of a normal maintenance plan, don’t forget to replace the oil filter and have the oil pump checked every 3,000 miles if you have a vehicle with higher mileage.

Pulling and Towing

You may be thinking that you can wait a little longer than 3,000 miles to have an oil change on your vehicle, but don’t put off an oil change or servicing, especially if you will be towing or traveling. If you routinely pull or tow trailers or other items behind your high-mileage vehicle, it’s at a greater risk for parts and engine breakdown due to oil sludge buildup. With high mileage motors, it’s important that you take special care of your vehicle both inside and out. Consider:

• Frequent car washes to remove under body dirt and clean your engine
• Complete oil system flush and high-mileage oil change to prevent oil sludge buildup
• Coolant servicing and fluid top-up

Dropping by and talking with a Mr. Clean Car Wash specialist will help you get the right care based on your specific vehicle engine needs. No appointment necessary.

Frequent oil changes is the best way to keep your high-mileage car on the road for years to come. Contact a Mr. Clean Car Wash near you and ask about specials and savings to help get your vehicle on track.

One of your main priorities is likely taking care of your vehicle from top to bottom. While keeping it clean and looking its best is important, so is caring for your vehicle’s exhaust system. Emissions testing is important because it checks for defaults in your vehicle’s exhaust system, including the catalytic converter to make sure that there are no leaks and that the entire unit is working properly. Mr. Clean Car Wash centers offer emissions testing, along with other important maintenance services that can help improve engine performance. Here are answers to some common questions regarding emissions testing and what you need to do to stay in compliance.

What Is Emissions Testing?

An Emissions test measures the amount of exhaust emissions within the engine of your car. Results are recorded during the test during different cycles in relation to specific conditions that your engine operates under. The main goal is to check for pollutants and excess exhaust that could mean your engine is putting out more waste into the air than the average vehicle. The results are calculated right away after the test—allowing you enough time to have these issues fixed before you renew your vehicle’s registration.

When To Set Up An Emissions Appointment

You may be asking yourself when is the best time to get an emissions test done? A general rule of thumb, is just before your birthday each year. If you live in Texas, an initial safety inspection and emissions test called Air Check Texas, must be given before you register the vehicle. Some Texas counties, including Galveston and Fort Bend require annual emissions tests thereafter. The Georgia Department of Driver Services requires any vehicles that are three years or older to have a passing emissions test before you can register that vehicle every year. An exception would be if the vehicle is 25 years or older. The Georgia Clean Air Force recommends that you should set up an appointment with a certified emissions service center, at least three weeks in advance of your birthday, so that you can make sure you have enough time for an inspection and to make any necessary updates or needed repairs. Visit your local Mr. Clean Car Wash to have a certified and thorough Emissions test on your vehicle.

Take Strides To Combat Air Pollution

Not only can pollution exposure affect your health significantly, especially if you have respiratory issues, it also damages the environment. Examples are:

• Breakdown of the ozone layer
• Damage to wildlife, trees and plants

• Production of acid rain
• Crop and soil contamination

• Damage to aquatic life

Emissions testing is one way you help the environment, but frequent diagnostic testing at a Mr. Clean Car Wash can help too. This includes oil changes, transmission servicing and periodic fuel filter replacement.

Protect Your Car From The Elements

Just as much as your car can release greenhouse gases into the air, it also needs to be protected from it. Here are some ways that the pros at a Mr. Clean Car Wash can help you out:

• Frequent washes with the Monthly Unlimited Wash program to wash away pollen and pollutants that lead to oxidation
• Air and cabin filter replacement to help reduce toxins from entering your car’s interior

• Under body rust inhibitor to help combat decay and exterior deterioration due to salt and environmental toxins

All are important factors when it comes to emissions release and protecting the Earth’s air.

Wether you live in Texas or Georgia, be sure to schedule an appointment today with Mr. Clean Car Wash to ensure your vehicle is safe to be on the road.

Believe it or not, a car wash can be a difficult thing. Especially when considering all the components of a professional car wash. Taking note of the details can make all the difference in a superior clean and shine. One way to ensure careful consideration is in accountability and a second eye, which is why two finishers are better than one.

First of all, time is a huge consideration to both the finisher and to the customer. Everyone has busy schedules and places they need to be at a certain time. Having each finisher dry their own side of the car allows for efficiency and time management. The car will be done in half the time and helps to “Clean Cars FAST!”

In fact, one of the selling points of a full-service car wash is that it takes the same amount of time to go through the tunnel no matter what level of wash selected. No need to sacrifice time for quality.

Then two finishers begin drying the car after it exits the tunnel giving an all around clean in half the time. The process is mirrored on both sides, getting the car finished faster than if only one person was doing the job. Having a finisher man each side not only gets the process finished faster, but also lets the finisher pay attention to detail on their designated side. The system helps the finishers to work as a team that gets the customer in and out faster, respecting their time and money. Also, having a designated side encourages team effort because both finishers know where to focus in order to get the job done in the most efficient way. Only having one person on each side really helps maximize clean and quality.

When it comes to getting a car clean fast, Mr. Clean Car Wash is the place to go. Find out more about Mr. Clean Car Wash’s processes and procedures, and understand how a car can be cleaner simply with an extra hand.