Reviews of Maintenance Products

[crash6x86]

Roto-Tec Drilled/Slotted Rotors

BAD!

Rotors wear very easily and the slots were worn away within 25,000-30,000kms.

They worked well when they were Brand New.

PREACH IT MY BROTHA!

[RazorDX]

Product: Simple Green Car Wash

$2.97 at Wal-Mart, also can be found at most auto-parts stores.

My take: I had an opinion on this wash as soon as I added water to it in the bucket... don't put this on your car! It doesn't lubricate AT ALL! However, it is great on wheels and wheel wells. Don't use it on your paint though. I'd personally recommend using a capful and a gallon of hot water to wash your wheels/wheelwells BEFORE you wash the rest of the car. Dump your bucket, and use your regular car wash soap for the rest.

Simple-Green allpurpose cleaner works great for engine bay detailing, from what I've heard. I just used it to clean up kitten poop, and I can personally assure that it does quite a job of that.

[RazorDX]

Product: Meguiers NXT Generation Car Wash

Cost: Around 6 or 7 dollars IIRC, it can be found at almost any parts store. Wally world may even have it.

My take: The best car wash you can get for under 10 dollars. All I can really say is try it, you won't be disappointed.

[xGibbyx]

Product: Nu Finish Car polish

Cost: 7 or 8 dollars...I think.

My take: Extremely great product. I live in mississippi and it's too hot to do anything...well, I was actually able to apply this polish in the middle of the heat, no buffing or elbow required. Just wipe it on with a "damp" cloth and wipe off with smooth rag after it "hazes". The amount of shine and protection was and is amazing.

[MikeKey]

Originally Posted by mandi

These are some of the parts I have used....

-Mobil 1 Oil and Filters.
Expensive, but the best oil and filter you can buy on the market. But you pay for this.

I have to strongly disagree with this. This mobil 1 is the best has been lingering around car sites for awhile as a consent recommendation, but if anyone checks, even mobil 1 synthetic is not fully synthetic anymore. A few years ago if you recall Exxon bought Mobil. thus ExxonMobil is the new company name. Exxon went about making changes to much of the oil product line up. IE Formulas and inclusion of petroleum products in their synthetics, thus not fully synthetic.

Mobil 1 is just over priced but there are others out there that out perform it. If you really wanted the best you'd say Amsoil.

Their filters aren't wonderful either, thats like saying K&N is the best becuase of the name. Their oil filters aren't amazing either. Just name recognition.

PureOne and AC Delco, stick with those two brands on most GM cars and you're set.

If you got money, buy Amsoil.

[wjjeepman34]

Originally Posted by mandi

These are some of the parts I have used....

-Mobil 1 Oil and Filters.
Expensive, but the best oil and filter you can buy on the market. But you pay for this.

Royal Purple!!!!!

[moushie89]

I installed a puroil fuel filter from advance auto parts and put in gumout hi-mileage fuel system cleaner in the tank and noticed immediate increase in fuel economy 3-5 mpg. In my opinion the fuel filter works just as good as the factory AC Delco but Advance didn't have one in stock so I took the off brand and it performs well. I have had wonderful luck with the AC Delco PF46 oil filter as well

[moushie89]

This product is awesome!! a 1 step tire shine cleaner and polish just spray on and let it do its thing (Black Magic Tire Wet Foam). Makes my tires look spankin new and sharp!!.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Turtle Wax ICE paste wax and detail spray. Good god, I love these. The wax does better (IMO) than the Meguire's Gold Class paste, and you don't have to worry about hitting badging, plastic or rubber trim with this stuff. And the detail spray works wonders, although you MUST use a microfiber rag to clean it, otherwise it streaks.

[rob2867]

Recently put a set of BF Goodrich Winter Slalom snows on my wife's Odyssey. I originally wanted Michelin X-Ice Xi's but they were no longer available, so I gambled on the BFG's. I was VERY pleasantly surprised with their performance in the snow. They are far better than the Michelin Arctic Alpins which they replaced. The only "problem" is that according to BFG's website, they're only available at BJ's and Costco.

[goodoldpapa]

I have always got great results from these. My dad used these products also. I've tried different brands, but for me personally, they work best.

[ENGGUY]

AMSOIL and their filters, good. Wix and napa are one and the same for filters, good.
Redline oil, good. Royal purple, good. Brad Penn oil, good. Joe Gibbs oil, good.

Mobil 1 low on the list, used to be, good. Purolator used to be good now made in china.
NGK and Denso spark plugs, good, Japan. AC and Champion used to be good china? I don't think anyone in the us makes a spark plug for car applications.

Any part made in china pretty much is junk mexico runs a close second.

[Richard Craneum]

Originally Posted by ENGGUY

Any part made in china pretty much is junk mexico runs a close second.

You would be surprised how many good things also comes from China and Mexico. For example VWs (specially this one) are build in Mexico, Brazil. BMW builds stuff too in South Africa. These 3.4 V6 has many parts build in Mexico along with sensors and harnesses. I had stuff build in Japan that are nothing but junk.

What you have to watch out is for the copycats that are based in China building substandard items, the same goes to Brazil...

All boils down about for who are building and what quality mechanism are in place. In some instances, Rolex was selling the watches that can not pass their final test to a company in China and they sold them under a different name and they looked almost like a Rolex, but not as accurate.

Some instances, non compliant items are destroyed to prevent the damage to the product reputation, but that comes at a loss.

Location is immaterial, is just for who are make them for.

Another example, during Carbon Fiber prepegs, they do not meet the Aerospace manufacturer's requirements are sold to sporting goods or to make hoods for cars and such. These items are not going to be submitted to the mechanical stress created on an Aircraft, so... they are sold to them and sold to you as "Aerospace" grade materials.

[nothingaboutme]

These 3.4 V6 has many parts build in Mexico along with sensors and harnesses.

And look at what happens to these engines :p (lim leak) he he, I know what you meant though. Not all things from mexico are bad.

[lazytitans]

Meguiars Clay Bar Kit
Part Number: Canadian Tire's car detailing section
Thoughts: We'll it took almost a solid hour and a half to go over every surface panel by panel, but I got it done. AMAZING. I would do section by section and rub my hand over it each time before and after, it really does as advertised, makes it feel like glass. Downside is the price, at close to $30 cnd it's a little pricey, good thing its a twice a year job though

K&N Drop In Air Filter:
Part Number: Canadian Tire parts listing book
Thoughts: So far so good, I'm thinking it didn't do much for performance, but compared to the old dirty bug infested filter it had in her before, can't complain

Cheers

[Richard Craneum]

My GA is an 01, the car seems to be handed from so many people, the paint is pretty scratched, no rust holes or nothing like it. Just scratched from people placing crap on the roof, trunk and so on and dragging it. You kind of get the picture. However, when is washed it looks decent.

I am wondering...

What kind of product/s can I use to remove the scratches with? I understand there is no miracle solution but some that will help to remove and/or enhance the looks. I am going to paint the car on the same Green color but that will be later.

[bruizer320]

how deep are the sratches, if they are pretty light (trail pinstripping) as we called it when we went 4x4, then the sratch out liquids actually do a pretty good job wal mart carries some, had good results with alot of them on a black vehicle. if they are pretty deep like you can see primer, metal or are pretty wide then youd have to do complete body work to cover it up well. unless you just wanna rattle can them till you paint the car.

[Richard Craneum]

Ranges, for to deep ones on one fender to multiple light ones around the hood trunk and doors.

[bruizer320]

Well deep ones only sanding and repainting will help those however the scratch out produts will work on the very light ones.

[Billy the Kid]

Maker: Charlie Sutherland in North Carolina

Product: Charlie's Soap 17oz Spray Bottle

Part Number: 42.100 at JapanWoodworker.com

Your Opinion of the product: One of the very best cleaning products I have ever used. I sprayed it all over my engine bay, waited a bit, then hosed it off. It worked GREAT!

Anything else you feel that is important to include: Originally developed to easily remove tree sap, and I take a bottle with me to Boy Scout summer camp.

It cleans everything. This is the only product I have found that actually cleans off cosmoline!

It is nonflammable and is certified biodegradable. It can be used without gloves and is non-corrosive.