'Green' Car Washing Tips

5 ways to help you protect the environment when washing your car

Washing the car is often a bit of a chore, but it can be much nicer during the summer when the sun is shining and the temperature is warm. Indeed, many people find washing the car to be a relaxing weekend pastime, and it can also ensure that your car stays in top condition. Of course, everyone is under increasing pressure to act in a more environmentally-friendly manner, and washing the car is no different. Here are some ways to be "green" when you wash the car.

Wash the Car on a Permeable Surface

Try not to wash the car on the pavement or on a driveway. Concrete surfaces repel water, forcing the excess water into the storm drains. This means that any oil or cleaning fluid in the water runs straight into the water system. Washing the car on a permeable surface like grass or dirt will allow natural microbes in the soil or sand to break down some of the chemicals.

Use a Bucket Instead of a Hose

Using a hose may be simple and efficient, but it also uses a lot more water than you need. If you want to save water and energy, revert to a traditional bucket. This will reduce the amount of water that you use enormously, even if you change the water a couple of times. A quick rinse with a hose may be a good way to remove excess detergent, but use sparingly. If you must use a hose, always choose one with an adjustable nozzle so that you can reduce the amount of spray to a minimum.

The Right Time to Wash

Choose the right time to wash your car. During the summer, for example, it really isn't necessary to clean the car daily or even more than once a month. A good cleaning once a month will help protect the paint and keep the car gleaming while reducing water and detergent consumption. As much as you may like the look of a freshly cleaned car, it really doesn't need to be done that often.

Reduce the Usage of Detergents

You should also aim to reduce the usage of detergents. Generally speaking, clean, warm water and a good cloth will be able to shift normal dirt and dust and will reduce the amount of harmful chemicals that you are sending into the environment. If need be, use a small amount of detergent on particularly stubborn stains or marks.

Look for Natural Alternatives

Try and look for natural alternatives to detergents and cleaning chemicals. For example, a cloth soaked in vinegar can be used to remove dead bugs from the front of the car. Denatured alcohol may be used to remove tree sap. Sprinkle baking soda on the car seats and then allow it to rest for thirty minutes before vacuum cleaning to freshen up the upholstery too.

Cleaning the car may be satisfying but it can also take its toll on the environment too. Use these simple tips for a greener, cleaner experience.

Ask a Technician: What Happens to Car Engines as They Age?

The easy answer to what happens to car engines as they age is that they wear out. The much more complicated answer is exactly what begins to wear in an engine and when it does. The standard everyday vehicle engine is a reciprocating engine. This means that a series of pistons push down on a crankshaft, which changes the pushing and pulling motions of the pistons into a rotating motion that is passed on to the gearbox and then to the car’s wheels.

A lot of engine components either reciprocate or rotate at very high speeds and high temperatures, but modern-day engines are well built to handle this as parts that will wear out are usually easy to replace. The first thing likely to happen is the camshaft drive belt failing, and this can certainly damage your engine if the pistons smash into the valves, resulting in a big repair bill. All carmakers have a preset mileage at which the camshaft drive belt should be replaced, and some cars even have maintenance-free chain drives that do not have to be replaced.

Spark plugs are another thing that need to be replaced at a set interval, as the plugs themselves can burn out or become too dirty to work properly. These usually just screw in and out of the engine and are an easy fix.

The main wear inside the engine comes from all the moving parts. When correctly maintained, the oil in a car’s engine fills the tiny spaces between the moving parts so the parts themselves are not actually touching. Some wear does occur, especially in the early days, when the engine is “breaking in.” This is merely the process where all the different parts wear ever so slightly so that they all work smoothly together. That is why most automakers suggest that you not treat the engine too harshly or run it to extreme speeds for the first 1,000 miles or so.

In the long run, the cylinder bores will wear out the piston rings. These rings keep the oil in the engine from getting into the top of the cylinders where the fuel is being burned. That’s one of the main reasons why old or poorly maintained cars have a dark smoky exhaust – it is oil that has gone through the cylinder heads and out the exhaust.

The engine’s bearings can also wear out. These are metal inserts in the rods that connect the pistons to the crankshaft. If they begin to wear out, it’s easier and cheaper to replace the bearings and not the entire rod.

These last two types of engine wear should occur over a very long time period, unless there is some sort of manufacturing defect or a lack of maintenance, such as not changing the oil and oil filter at the prescribed intervals. Oil collects all the tiny bits of metal that can wear away in an engine and the filter removes those bits from the oil flow. So not only does oil keep your engine running smoothly, it also keeps it clean and free of stuff that can increase the wear rates.

Engines do wear out, but unlike in the old days, modern ones can last for a significant length of time if proper maintenance is carried out. 

2014 Subaru Forester, Legacy, and Outback Models Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tightened its criteria for the TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) and TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) rating this year, requiring crash prevention technology in addition to passing the small overlap crash test. Only 22 models met the TSP+ criteria—and that prestigious number includes the 2014 Subaru Forester, Legacy, and Outback.

The three models earned the TSP+ rating when equipped with optional ‘EyeSight’ technology—the first system to use stereo camera technology for pedestrian and cyclist detection. When equipped with this advanced technology, the Legacy, Outback, and Forester were also the only vehicles tested to avoid a collision in front crash prevention tests at both 12 mph and 25 mph.

Without ‘EyeSight,’ the three models were ranked as Top Safety Picks along with the 2014 Impreza (excluding WRX) and Subaru XV Crosstrek. For the first time, the TSP criteria includes good or acceptable performance in the small overlap front test in addition to the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests.

All-around safety is one of the guiding elements of Subaru design, and the automaker is continuing to explore new active, passive, and pre-crash safety technologies in its upcoming models. When you get behind the wheel of a Subaru, you can count on peace of mind—and that’s sure to have you feeling confident.