Vinyl fade

I have vinyl seats. My car is only 8 years old but there’s a lot of what seems to be fading on my back seat. It looks older than the rest of the seat (and my other seats). I’m assuming it’s sun damage from parking in open lots every day. Can anything be done?

Vinyl does fade. And the backseat is a prime fade area for the reason you mentioned. Here’s what to try (and it usually works well, depending on how much fading there is and how hard you work at this).

Buy vinyl protectant. Slather it on the area liberally and leave it about 12 hours. Wipe off the excess then buff, long and hard. You should see improvement.

If it’s not yet at an acceptable level, repeat the process (and the wait time). You might have to do it a third time. It’ll improve each time. One aspect of servicing intervals that has been historically standard is the assumed average of driving 12,000 miles per year. I drive much less than that, about 5,500 miles yearly. There are many types of service offerings, from the lube, oil and filter, to things that are serviced at 30,000, 60,000 or 100,000 miles. My question: what are your recommended services for those who drive less than half of the 1,000 miles per month? Are some based on miles and others on months? I do oil changes every nine months or so, or less than 5,000 miles, just because. The car is 12 years old.

Some service manuals specify service intervals according to not only miles driven but months passed, which can be helpful. But yours might not.

Your oil change approach is good. Degradation and contamination occurs over time as well as over miles, and you’ll keep ahead of bad happenings by continuing with this, especially with an older car.

As for hoses, other fluid changes and the like (the things you’ll be looking at for your 100,000-mile servicing): that service would occur at about year nine with normal driving; you’re already at 12. I’d probably do it at 85,000 or 90,000 miles. Same reason: degradation over time. I’m conservative. Don’t like things going bad on me unexpectedly.

What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ ctwfeatures.com.