[warpdriv]

This could be a long running fun thread for Elantra owners.

I participate regularly in various motorcycle/car forums and this type of thread is usually a fun one. It gives us a lot of ideas of what each of us does from one day to another on our cars and also gives us ideas of what to do to our own Elantra's...

Please post here if you drove it to work, dusted it or washed it, took the engine out, pumped up the tires, turned on the lights & looked at it... etc etc, you get the idea. Nothing is too trivial to post here... Anything goes as long as it was to your Elantra GT, Sedan or Coupe... or a fun comment on someone elses activity.

So??

 

[warpdriv]

I swapped out my donut spare for one of my winter tires from storage into the trunk.... so I have a temporary spare that is full sized.

I also loosened and re torqued all the wheel lugs nuts after my oil change shop inspected my brakes last week and just used an impact (no torque wrench) to tighten the lug nuts.

 

[Lobstah24]

I stared at the front and wondered how I'm going to get all the bugs off...especially the EZ-Lip.

 

[Shawhiz]

I filled up, and chose a different route to work. Got 39.8 MPG over the 23 mile commute vs my normal 28-30ish because of less stop signs. I think my usual route may be changing..

 

[N5S-Matter]

Gas n go...10.432 gallons of E0 @ $4.259 per gallon. $44.43

 

[Brace1]

I gave it a rest, worked from home today and haven't cranked up the car so today was a good day (had her 14 months and put over 20K miles, that's with carpooling).

 

[karrb]

cleaned it, figuring out what to do first to it....

 

[Brace1]

I stared at the front and wondered how I'm going to get all the bugs off...especially the EZ-Lip.

There are a few products designed specifically for bug removal. The one I use is Poorboy's Bug Squash, it gets diluted with water (I mix at 3:1 water to product) and it's still very effective while leaving your wax or sealant intact. The key is to get them before they are dried for days and start etching the paint with the acidic bug guts.

If it has dried, you can use a wet towel and lay it there for 10 mins or so until the bugs soften then come off easily. Another alternative I've heard but never used is a dampened dryer sheet supposedly will wipe the bugs away and is safe for the paint. Maybe try that until you get a product dedicated/designed for the job.

 

[OkieRich]

Detailed yesterday, so she hit the garage after work this afternoon and looks awesome. Giving her the evening off. I dunno...maybe go spray some stuff on the tires in a bit. Tomorrow, however? Hmm...weather's supposed to be nice, she's full of fuel from stopping on the way home, looking good, and I have an itch to go somewhere.

 

[Xsolara]

There are a few products designed specifically for bug removal. The one I use is Poorboy's Bug Squash, it gets diluted with water (I mix at 3:1 water to product) and it's still very effective while leaving your wax or sealant intact. The key is to get them before they are dried for days and start etching the paint with the acidic bug guts.

If it has dried, you can use a wet towel and lay it there for 10 mins or so until the bugs soften then come off easily. Another alternative I've heard but never used is a dampened dryer sheet supposedly will wipe the bugs away and is safe for the paint. Maybe try that until you get a product dedicated/designed for the job.

Here is a hint that I read about but never tried... when traveling on a long trip place kitchen plastic shrink wrap over the front of the car (not over vent areas) the shrink wrap sticks to the metal and bugs stay on wrap...when you get home just peal off wrap and no bugs over painted area.

 

[1Bigball]

Just helped a fellow GT owner change a flat tire. Yes it was the stock tires. And yes i did say to him replace them as fast as you can.

 

[Lobstah24]

Just helped a fellow GT owner change a flat tire. Yes it was the stock tires. And yes i did say to him replace them as fast as you can.

Outstanding!

 

[Brace1]

Here is a hint that I read about but never tried... when traveling on a long trip place kitchen plastic shrink wrap over the front of the car (not over vent areas) the shrink wrap sticks to the metal and bugs stay on wrap...when you get home just peal off wrap and no bugs over painted area.

Yep, I've heard that one too: along with painter's tape (the blue or green stuff). There was some stuff I used one time, although I don't recall the name, that was a type of gel designed to be a sacrificial barrier that washed off when you got to your destination. The bugs stuck to the gel, then rinsed off pretty easily with a regular water hose.

 

[OkieRich]

Yep, I've heard that one too: along with painter's tape (the blue or green stuff). There was some stuff I used one time, although I don't recall the name, that was a type of gel designed to be a sacrificial barrier that washed off when you got to your destination. The bugs stuck to the gel, then rinsed off pretty easily with a regular water hose.

I've had that dilemma with bugs on the front when traveling from Oklahoma to Virginia, overnight. There's some real hybrid bugs in Arkansas and Tennessee. No offense intended to any members living in those areas. Whatever the chemical make-up of their body parts needs to be incorporated into some type of industrial adhesive.

I've been seeing this new 3M clear adhesive coating that you can spray on the body, then peel it off in a sheet when done. This might be a viable alternative. If it's as reliable as other 3M products, it should fit the bill.

EDIT: This, posted on another thread after I had written the above: http://www.hyundai-forums.com/147-g...sion/273897-advance-autoparts-june-deals.html

 

[OkieRich]

Just helped a fellow GT owner change a flat tire. Yes it was the stock tires. And yes i did say to him replace them as fast as you can.

Nice job, 1Bigball. Being a good Samaritan and also offering some good advice on those OEM tires. Validation: Members of this forum are a cut above most others. I stand by that statement.

 

[octavian]

I put a coat of Turtle Wax Ice on just before a trip and the bugs washed off pretty quick when I took a long rad trip last summer.

 

[patchrick]

Today, I purchased my Elantra.

 

[OkieRich]

Today, I purchased my Elantra.

Congrats, Pat! Two words: "Road Trip!"

 

[Lobstah24]

Today, I purchased my Elantra.

Yeah!! Congratulations!!

 

[warpdriv]

Today, I purchased my Elantra.

Yes, Congrats! I am sure it is a happy weekend for you.
They are pretty dang nice cars....