Let’s face it – we love screaming turbo spool, revving engines, and the chaos of live drift demos. But after a full-throttle day surrounded by stunt shows and exhaust pops, your ears can feel like they’ve done ten rounds with a rotary. That’s where the Switch 2 steps in. With three modes – Quiet (26 dB), Experience (23 dB), and Engage (20 dB) – you get to dial in your vibe without killing the energy.

Priced at £59.95, they’re available now. Get yours today!
UK buyers – McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop Switch 2 earplugs.
USA buyer – McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop Switch 2 earplugs.

Why Loop Is a Must-Have for Car Culture Fans:

• At Live Events: Whether you’re trackside at Silverstone or front row for a drift demo at Goodwood, Experience Mode keeps the adrenaline high while protecting your hearing.
• In the Garage: Quiet Mode is perfect when you’re wrenching late at night and need to zone in without distractions.
• Daily Drives & Road Trips: Engage Mode filters road noise but still lets you chat or enjoy your playlist on those long motorway blasts.
• After-Parties and Pitside Chats: Swap into Engage Mode to hear your mates clearly while filtering out the background mayhem.

Finished in McLaren’s iconic papaya orange, these earplugs aren’t just functional – they look the part, too. And they’re battery-free, meaning no fuss when you’re mid-meet or road-tripping to the next big show.

Whether you’re pushing limits on the track or just vibing in the pit garage, Loop’s tech is the unsung hero you didn’t know you needed.

The post Loop Teams Up with McLaren – And It’s a Game-Changer for Car Show Season appeared first on Fast Car.

If your dad is more into torque specs than tea and biscuits, skip the cliché gifts this year. Or, if you’re a dad and want a gift you’ll actually use, just strategically leave this webpage open on your device and let your family know the hint! We’re talking about Fathers Day car gifts that are genuinely exciting—tools, tech, and detailing gear designed for men who live for redlines and rubber.

Whether he’s out there hand-washing his pride and joy every weekend or dialing in suspension settings for a Sunday blast, this guide is packed with top ideas. We’ve picked practical, performance-oriented gifts that will impress any petrolhead—whether they mod, race, or just really love their ride.

We selected each of these Father’s Day car gifts for real-world usefulness, cool-factor, and bragging rights. From garage gadgets to track-ready upgrades, this is your shortcut to making Dad’s day unforgettable.

The post Fathers Day Car Gifts: The Best Gear and Gadgets for Petrolhead Dads appeared first on Fast Car.

Work smarter, not harder. That’s a phrase you’ve likely heard countless times before. Well, I’m going to use it here because when it comes to car detailing, having the right tools makes the job so much easier. Snow foam is an essential part of the pre-wash process, and a powerful snow foam will remove a lot of the dirt and grime off of your car on its own. As a result, there will be less work involved in physically washing it, which makes your life easier. As a bonus, if your car is cleaner when you start the contact wash, there’s less chance of damaging the paint. The 10 minutes or so that snow foaming takes is absolutely worth it to not only remove dirt, but also to protect your paintwork.

Who is testing the snow foam products?

There’s a huge range of snow foam out there to choose from. As Fast Car’s Detailing Product tester, I’ve done the hard work to make it easier for you to choose which one to buy. I’ve picked eight popular snow foams on the market right now and pitted them against each other in a group test.

The biggest thing I’m looking for here is a snow foam that delivers impressive cleaning performance. I will naturally take value for money into account as well, but I want something that will do some serious cleaning, and if that comes at a slight price increase it can be worth it. That being said, there are plenty of expensive products out there that are outperformed by cheaper options, which is where this test comes in.

There are some very impressive cleaning products here, so read on to see which is the best snow foam. Make sure you get your car ready for the show season! You can check out our Fast Car Entertainment events here. 

Best Snow Foam At A Glance

• Best Overall and Editor’s Choice: Bilt Hamber Touch-Less 5L. RRP: £39.95, buy now! $59.95, buy now! 
• Approved: Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam. RRP: £13.99, buy now! $21.95, buy now! 
• Approved: Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash. RRP: £24.99, buy now! $21.99, buy now! 
• Best Value: Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam. RRP: £18.99, buy now! $30.90, buy now! 

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less – Best Overall and Editor’s Choice

• Size tested: 1.32 gallons/5 litres. RRP: £19.13, buy now! $59.95, buy now!
• Pros: Exceptional cleaning performance
• Cons: Working out panel impact ratio is fiddly

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less is about maximum cleaning, pure and simple. It’s not pH-neutral, there’s no fancy smell and doesn’t make a mountain of foam. It’s been designed to get your car as clean as possible in the pre-wash stage. And it does. There are some drawbacks, however, in that to get the correct dilution ratio, you need to work out the panel impact ratio for your foam lance. Bilt Hamber provides instructions on how to do this, thankfully, so once you get your head around the dilution, it’s a doddle. And you don’t have to worry about it unless you use a different foam lance.

You will find that you need more product than with other snow foams because of this. But that’s why Touch-Less comes in such a large, 5L container. The cleaning power is second-to-none, and it pulls dirt from your car’s panels like you wouldn’t believe. Bilt Hamber Touch-Less is the definition of work smarter, not harder. This is my go-to snow foam and the best on the market for me.

Take a look at our full review of Bilt Hamber’s Touch-Less snow foam here.

Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam – Approved

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 fl oz. RRP: £13.99, buy now! $21.95, buy now!
• Pros: Impressive cleaning power despite being pH-neutral
• Cons: Just not quite as good as Touch-Less

Gtechniq’s W4 Citrus Foam snow foam is a coating-safe pH-neutral formula. That would normally suggest it won’t perform well, however, that’s not the case here. The secret to W4’s impressive performance is that it combines a citrus degreaser with a foaming agent. A citrus pre-wash is something you can use before applying snow foam. By integrating it into the snow foam, Gtechniq has upped its cleaning power significantly. At the same time, it’s still pH-neutral, which means it won’t degrade any wax you’ve got on the paint, unlike with the Bilt Hamber product above. 

W4 Citrus Foam comes out a little watery but clings well. It really impressed me, and the combo of citrus degreaser and foaming agent cuts through the dirt with ease. Using 3.38 fl. oz (100ml) of W4 as per the instructions means you’ll get 10 washes, which is not bad. The combination of impressive cleaning power and pH-neutral formula is a real winner. Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam is another snow foam that I will be adding to my collection. However, Bilt Hamber’s product just outshone it in out and out cleaning power. However, those wanting to preserve waxes should opt for Gtechniq’s impressive Citrus Foam. 

For more advice, rear our full review of the Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam.

Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash – Approved

• Size tested: 1.034 litre / 35 fl oz. RRP: £24.99, buy now! $21.99, buy now!
• Pros: Good cleaning performance while also being pH-neutral
• Cons: Just falls short of matching the top two

I’ve tried a few of Griot’s products in the past and have been mightily impressed, so was hopeful of seeing a similar result while testing its Foaming Surface Wash. And I have to say, this is another Griot’s product that has impressed me. Following the instructions for the Griot’s The Boss Foam Cannon is best as it’s like a normal snow foam lance. That means using 1.6 fl. oz (47ml) per wash, which equates to 20 washes per litre. This makes it good value, despite the higher initial price point. 

The foam had a nice consistency and stayed on the panel for a long time. Despite its pH-neutral formula, Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash delivered impressive cleaning power. It was one of the best foams here, and this is another snow foam I will be using personally. And as a sidenote, the milky product has a very pleasant coconut smell. 

Read the full review of Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash.

Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam – Best Value

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 flz oz. RRP: £15.85, buy now! $30.99, buy now!
• Pros: A little goes a long way
• Cons: Cleaning performance is only average

Yet another multi-purpose product, Koch Chemie GSF doubles up as a snow foam and shampoo. It’s got a nice cherry scent and is pH-neutral so it’s coating-safe. With it being German, I had high hopes for this snow foam. You only need 0.7 fl. oz (20ml) of product in a 1-litre snow foam lance, which means if you’re looking for value for money, this is your champion.

At that dilution ratio, you’ll get 50 washes from your 1-litre bottle. That makes it the cheapest snow foam here per wash by some margin. It delivered plenty of foam and stuck to the panel for a long time. Unfortunately, its cleaning power was only average, and this is, ultimately, a test of cleaning power.

Read full review of Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam here.

Masterson’s Mystic Snow Foam Auto Wash

• Size tested: 473ml / 16 fl oz. RRP: £10.95 / $14.99 buy now!
• Pros: Dual-purpose foam can be used in direct sunlight
• Cons: Cleaning power is not that impressive

Masterson’s Mystic Snow Foam is another dual-purpose product. You can use this as a regular shampoo, or put it through your foam lance as a snow foam. I love the marzipan smell, it’s pH-neutral and coating-safe, and it can also be used in direct sunlight. That’s a big deal, as it promises to leave behind no streaks or spots. If you clean your car in direct sunlight, this is the snow foam for you. 

However, its performance wasn’t that impressive. We used it at its lowest dilution of 30ml (1 fl. oz), and it was okay. It took a reasonable amount of dirt off the panel, and it’s a mid-position foam in this test. At 1 fl. oz dilution, it is very good value for money, though, which might sway your decision.

Want to know more about Masterson’s snow foam? Check out the Mystic Snow Foam Auto Wash review here.

Auto Finesse Avalanche

• Size tested: 500ml / 16.9 fl oz. RRP: £9.95, buy now. $16.95, buy now.
• Pros: pH-neutral with decent cleaning performance
• Cons: Vague dilution instructions

Auto Finesse Avalanche is another snow foam with a pleasant whiff of citrus. However, there’s no mention of there being any degreasing action at work here. There’s also no mention of pH level, but Auto Finesse says Avalanche is coating-friendly. It delivered some lovely foam that really clung to the panel. After rinsing it was clear that Avalanche had done some work on the dirt.

I will say I don’t like the vagueness of the instructions. Auto Finesse says you should use 1-2” of product in a 1-litre bottle. I measured this on the six snow foam lances I tested, and it ranges from around 100ml (3.38 fl. oz) to over 500ml (17 fl. oz). I would much rather have a clearer dilution ratio. No one is going to be using 17 fl. oz in one go, so 3.38 fl. oz per wash will give you 10 washes per litre. That makes it a little expensive here, but it’s not a bad snow foam.

Read our full review of Auto Finesse’s Avalanche snow foam here.

Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball

• Size tested: 16 fl oz/473ml. RRP: £15.99 / $12.99, buy now! 
• Pros: Can be used as a shampoo and snow foam
• Cons: Poor cleaning performance

Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball is advertised as being both a shampoo and a snow foam. I like the versatility because it means you don’t necessarily need to buy a separate shampoo. But I care about performance, and sadly, Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball did not deliver as well compared to others here. It made lots of very thick foam, and it stuck around on the panel, as its name suggested it would.

However, it performed poorly here and didn’t seem to do much cleaning at all. It’s well-priced, at least. At 30ml (1 fl. oz) per wash, you’ll get just over 15 washes from 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), which means 30 per litre. Even the higher concentration of 60ml (2 fl. oz) will give you 15 washes per litre of product. However, considering its performance at 1 fl. oz dilution, which is how I tested, you’d have to use 2 fl. oz each time. Maybe it would work better then, but I’d rather stick with something that I know performs really well.

For a closer look at Chemical Guys’ Sticky Snowball snow foam, read our full review of it here.

Angelwax Fastfoam

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 fl. oz. RRP: $16.99, buy now! £12.45, buy now! 
• Pros: A decent all-rounder
• Cons: Just a bit average across the board

Fastfoam is billed as the British detailing company’s professional detailing snow foam. There’s not a lot of specific information about the formula or anything else, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I didn’t get the thickest foam, but it’s not always about that when it comes to cleaning – it’s the performance that matters. It did cling to the panel nicely, though. Post-rinse, I could see that it had taken some dirt off the panel. At the recommended dilution ratio, you’ll get 10 washes from the 1-litre bottle. It’s decent value and not a bad choice of snow foam.

Want to know more? Read our full review of Angelwax Fastfoam.

How Each Product Was Tested

I first performed a swipe test using a cotton pad on a section of the car’s panel. Then I applied each snow foam at the lowest suggested dilution ratio onto the dry panel. Some foams tell you to pre-rinse the panel, while others don’t. Tests have shown that snow foam generally performs better when applied to a dry panel, so that’s what I did. The snow foam was allowed to dwell for its suggested time, then rinsed off. The panel was allowed to dry, and then I carried out another swipe test from the same area. This allowed me to directly compare the amount of dirt remaining after using the foam.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Snow Foam

The most important thing is cleaning power and performance. This is why you are buying snow foam. There’s no point buying something that smells nice or delivers mountains of foam if it doesn’t clean properly. A large amount of foam does not automatically mean strong cleaning power. A pH-neutral foam is also worth looking at, as it won’t strip your wax or other coatings you might have applied to your car. If you like to apply wax regularly or use a wash and wax shampoo, then that won’t matter so much to you. But if you want your coating to last, it’s nice to know which snow foam won’t cause it to degrade.

Now you’ve got the right snow foam to perfect your car detailing, you’ve got no excuse not to have your car’s gleaming this show season. Be sure to check out our Fast Car Events page here.

The post Best Snow Foam In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

As a recovering wax addict, I know all too well how tempting they are. The lure of a new wax that promises ultimate gloss, incredible beading and lasting durability is impossible to resist. But away from the fancy packaging, delicious scents, and promises telling you exactly what you want to hear, how do you actually pick a good wax?

Without an in-depth wax test, exactly like this one, you’re at the mercy of the manufacturers. Every wax claims to be easy to use and perform well, but some are definitely better than others. So, for this test, I picked four liquid waxes and four paste waxes and pitted them against each other. And my test is not an easy-going one.

What makes a good car wax?

I’m looking for ease of application and removal, water behavior and value for money. I’m also going to be testing gloss and durability. Gloss is a tricky one, because, unlike polish, wax can often reduce the gloss readings on a panel. This, in fact, happened with a few of our waxes on test. If a wax does manage to increase gloss, then you know it’s adding serious shine.

As for durability, that’s something I’ll be testing over the next 3 months. Our brave test panel will be living outside over winter, dealing with the worst of the conditions. Every month, I will carry out an inspection to check water behavior to see if each wax is still present and performing. The results will be recorded here and might influence the final order at the end of the test period.

Enough chat – let’s get waxing. Read on for the results of my car wax group test.

Best car wax at a glance

• Best Paste Wax Overall: Auto Finesse Fusion. RRP: £41.95, buy now. Not available in the US.
• Best Value Paste Wax: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax. RRP: £19.90, buy now. Not available in the US.
• Approved: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax. RRP: £35.90, buy now. $35.52, buy now.
• Best Liquid Wax Overall: Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax. RRP: £32.99 ($32.99), buy now.
• Best Value Liquid Wax: Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax. RRP: £17.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.
• Approved: Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax. RRP: £31.43, buy now. $31.07, buy now.

How I tested these products

Each section of our test panel was polished with Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound. The panels were then wiped down with CarPro Eraser to remove any polishing oils and ensure the surface was clean. Three gloss readings were taken from each section using our gloss meter, and the average was calculated.

Each wax was then applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An average gloss reading was once again taken for each section. Finally, the panel was sprayed with water and water behavior was observed.

Water behavior after 6 weeks of testing.

Paste Wax Results After 6 Weeks

• 1st: Auto Finesse Fusion – Auto Finesse Fusion ranked second for water behavior in the initial test, but it’s now moved up to first place. I barely had time to turn off the hose and grab my phone before it had cleared its section. Very impressive indeed.
• 2nd: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax – Bilt Hamber, my winning paste wax, came first for water behavior and has now dropped to second place. It was incredibly close, though, and there was almost nothing between Double Speed-Wax and Fusion. Another very impressive performance.
• 3rd: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax – While Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax originally came fourth for water behavior, it’s now moved up to third. It’s performing very well at the moment, and I was impressed. Could Ultra High Definition Wax prove to be an endurance contender?
• 4th: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax – I really liked Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax in the original test overall, but it’s dropped from third to fourth after six weeks. It’s still clearly present on the panel, and it’s still clearing water, but its performance has dropped significantly. We’ll see if it can hang on for another six weeks.

Liquid Wax Results After 6 Weeks

There is basically no point in ranking the liquid waxes because they’re pretty much all dead. The only one that’s still doing anything noticeable is Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax. Even so, it’s just barely doing anything. Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax was the only other liquid wax that gave a hint that it was still there, but that’s me being very generous.

I’m surprised and disappointed with these results. All eight waxes were applied on the same day, in the same conditions, and according to their respective instructions. As you’ll see below, the paste waxes are all still performing very well. So I am very surprised to see all the liquid waxes pretty much failed after just six weeks. I wonder if they are just very sensitive to ambient temperature when applying, but I really don’t know.

Best Paste Car Wax Results In Detail

1st: Auto Finesse Fusion – Best Paste Car Wax Overall

Size: 150g RRP: £41.95, buy now. Not available in the US.

• Pros: Great water behavior, decent gloss increase
• Cons: Sticky when applying
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88.4
• Gloss change: +0.7
• Water behavior ranking: 2nd

Auto Finesse offers no fewer than 7 paste waxes, with Fusion sitting comfortably in the midrange. I chose Fusion as it’s a hybrid wax, so should deliver good durability. It’s the second most expensive wax on test, so I wanted to see what you’re getting at this price point. Auto Finesse says that Fusion is a blend of Brazilian T1-Grade carnauba and advanced synthetic polymers. This means that it will give you the warm look of a natural hard car wax but with the prolonged durability of a man-made paint sealant. Auto Finesse says you’ll get up to 8 months of protection, which is impressive stuff.

Fusion has also been designed with a consistency specifically developed to spread thinly and buff easily. And it was actually very nice to work with. It felt a little sticky when applying, but was one of the easiest waxes to buff off. Water behavior was very impressive, with Auto Finesse Fusion placing a very close second. And it delivered a decent increase in gloss, too. I like this car wax, and I look forward to seeing how durable it proves to be.

After our six week test, Auto Finesse’s Fusion car wax continues to deliver strong results.

2nd: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax – Best Best Value

Size: 250ml RRP: £19.90, buy now. Not available in the US.

• Pros: Impressive gloss increase, exceptional water behavior, includes applicator and cloth, incredible value
• Cons: Not the easiest wax to apply and remove
• Gloss before: 87.8
• Gloss after: 88.9
• Gloss change: +1.1
• Water behavior ranking: 1st
• Read the full Bilt Hamber review here.

Reading the Bilt Hamber website, Double Speed-Wax is described as a carnauba polymer paste wax with T1 carnauba. According to Bilt Hamber, the carnauba wax used provides a deep, rich, glossy, highly water repellent and detergent-resistant film. And while Bilt Hamber is not forthcoming about the polymer part, I’m convinced there’s some sort of wizardry going on here.

That’s the only way I can explain how such a cheap wax can perform so well and outperform far more expensive rivals here. It delivered the second-best increase in gloss, the best water behavior, and is less than half the price of the next-cheapest wax on test. It’s honestly astonishing.

It’s not perfect, though. Bilt Hamber says it’s easy to use, but I disagree. It’s very sensitive the applicator being overloaded, and quickly becomes sticky. It also feels a little grabby on removal. Other waxes here are nicer to use. But it’s the tiniest and only complaint I can muster. If it lives up to its promise of durability, Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax will walk this test.

3rd: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax – Approved

Size: 120g RRP: £47.89, buy now.

• Pros: Very nice to apply and remove, exceptionally slick, includes applicator and cloth
• Cons: Expensive, poor gloss results
• Gloss before: 88
• Gloss after: 87.5
• Gloss change: -0.5
• Water behavior ranking: 4th

Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax certainly impresses when you read its credentials, and Autoglym describes this as its finest wax. An evolution of the first-generation UHD Wax, this new formula has been designed to deliver the ultimate mirror-like shine, providing more detail, depth and durability. It’s meant to be easier to apply and buff while also generating an even deeper shine.

It’s the most expensive wax on test, but it also delivers a very upmarket experience. The packaging, the jar, the applicator – it all looks and feels suitably luxurious. Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax was the nicest wax to use in this test. It was lovely and easy to apply and buffed off like a dream, so it definitely delivers on that front. This wax also felt very slick to the touch.

However, it couldn’t muster decent gloss numbers, delivering a negative result, which was both surprising and disappointing. It also placed last out of the paste waxes in the water behavior test. Though it was extremely close between this and Meguiar’s. There’s still a chance for redemption with the durability testing, but Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax proved to be disappointing, especially at this price point.

4th: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax – Approved

Size: 8oz (226g) RRP: £35.90, buy now. $35.52, buy now.

• Pros: Nice to apply and remove, can be used in direct sun, very impressive gloss increase, includes applicator and cloth
• Cons: Not much
• Gloss before: 86.7
• Gloss after: 88.2
• Gloss change: +1.5
• Water behavior ranking: 3rd
• Read the full Meguiar’s Paste Wax review here.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax features a synthetic wax blend for maximum performance. Meguiar’s has refined the formula for enhanced durability and a glossier finish. Hydrophobic Polymer Technology increases surface tension for relentless water beading, and Meguiar’s says it’s also easy to apply and remove, even in direct sun. I have to say that this is one of the few waxes on test that really lived up to all the marketing hype.

First of all, it was very nice to use. It was lovely to apply, and very easy to remove. It also delivered the most impressive gloss increase of any wax in the entire test. And third overall out of all waxes tested for water behavior is an impressive result. The fact that you can use it in direct sun is also a welcome bonus. The only thing holding it back is the price, but Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax is an excellent car wax.

Best Liquid Car Wax Results In detail

Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax – Best Liquid Wax Overall

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: $32.99, buy now (£24.99).

• Pros: Very easy to use, extremely slick, good increase in gloss
• Cons: Poor water behavior
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88.9
• Gloss change: +1.2
• Water behavior ranking: 7th
• Read the full review on Adam’s wax here. 

After ceramic came graphene, and Adam’s is one of the companies to jump on the trend. Its Graphene Liquid Wax incorporates the benefits of graphene in an easy-to-apply liquid form. As a coating, graphene is claimed to have numerous benefits over ceramic. These include greater durability, a higher water contact angle, and being less prone to water-spotting and etching. So what about when a wax is infused with graphene?

According to Adam’s, Graphene Liquid Wax is designed to refresh and rejuvenate paintwork. It also utilizes the same reduced graphene-oxide ceramic resins within its graphene coating products to seal your paint and make your car more maintenance-friendly. It promises an easy on, easy off application, will fill minor imperfections, and swirls, and removes light oxidation.

Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax certainly impressed me in terms of application. It went on very nicely and was very easy to remove. Its filling and mild correction properties no doubt are what helped it deliver an impressive increase in gloss. You can’t argue with a wax that does so much. It was also incredibly slick, with the gloss meter hanging on for dear life on the paintwork. I was surprised at how disappointing the water behavior was, though. Beading was minimal, and sheeting was slow, so I’ll be keeping an eye on it. Adam’s also promises 4-6 months of durability, so we’ll see about that, too. But even with some shortcomings, it’s my favorite liquid wax here. It’s lovely to use and delivers impressive results. A solid win for Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax.

Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax – Approved

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £31.43, buy now. $31.07, buy now.

• Pros: Best water behavior of any liquid wax on test
• Cons: A little pricey
• Gloss before: 88.4
• Gloss after: 88.6
• Gloss change: +0.2
• Water behavior ranking: 5th
• Read the full liquid wax review here.

With a graphene wax on the test, I had to throw something ceramic into the mix. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax was my choice here, and it’s an impressive-sounding offering. It contains Hybrid Si02 technology, which Meguiar’s says seals the paint for long-lasting protection and delivers extreme water beading. Meguiar’s says it’s ceramic made easy, which is stretching the truth a little. But what you get is a ceramic-infused liquid wax that has been designed to last. We’ll see how durable it proves, but I can certainly say it delivers in terms of water behavior.

Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax delivered the most impressive water behavior of any of the liquid waxes on test. There was more sheeting than beading, and it was significantly better than any of the other liquid waxes here. It’s a little pricey and delivered the smallest gloss increase among the liquid waxes, but that water behavior is too impressive to ignore.

Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax – Best Value Liquid Wax

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £17.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.

• Pros: Very good value for money
• Cons: Sticky when applying, poor water behavior
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88
• Gloss change: +0.3
• Water behavior ranking: 6th
• Read the full review on Mother’s wax here. 

From Mothers, we have a simple, old-school wax offering. Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax delivers exactly what it says on the bottle. It’s made with the finest Brazilian number one yellow carnauba. Mothers says it delivers superior shine and protection, with richness and depth. In my test, it was just a pretty average liquid wax. Application and removal were so-so, with this wax feeling rather sticky.

The gloss meter just about managed to register a tiny increase in gloss. Carnauba wax is meant to deliver a rich, warm finish, so you might see that on red paint, for example. But my blue test panel didn’t look very different. Water behavior was also poor, with very slow sheeting. But it’s cheap at least, which makes it good value for money.

Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £23.95, buy now. $19.97, buy now.

• Pros: Can be used in direct sun and on wet paintwork, tasty banana scent
• Cons: Non-existent water behavior
• Gloss before: 88.2
• Gloss after: 88.6
• Gloss change: +0.4
• Water behavior ranking: 8th
• Read the full Chemical Guys wax review here. 

Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax always seems to be getting rave reviews, so I was keen to see how it would perform. Even if durability wasn’t going to be great, I was hoping for good gloss and a nice waxing experience. Chemical Guys says that Butter Wet Wax melts into the paint like butter, delivering a deep, wet look in minutes. Butter Wet Wax uses Brazilian carnauba and features a wipe-on, wipe-off formula. The company also says that you can use it to lightly cleanse paintwork, and wax and dry a wet car at the same time.

Butter Wet Wax has a lovely banana scent, and I would have been disappointed if it didn’t, based on the color. It felt a bit sticky in terms of both application and removal, though. It did manage to deliver an increase in gloss, though. But it placed last in the water behavior test. There was no beading or sheeting, and the water just sat in its test square. I wondered if I’d actually forgotten to apply any wax, but it was definitely there. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was disappointing to see. As first impressions go, Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax made a disappointing one all-round.

Car Wax FAQs

What Does Car Wax Actually Do?

On an un-prepped, unpolished surface, car wax will help to enhance gloss. However, car wax has plenty more to offer. Car wax adds a layer of protection to your paint that helps repel water, resists UV rays, heat, and pollutants and helps prevent oxidation. It also makes it harder for dirt to stick to the surface, helping to keep your car cleaner for longer and making it easier to wash.

What is water beading and sheeting?

Different waxes display different water behavior. Some give you beading, which is where you get beautiful little droplets of water on the surface of your paint. Others sheet, which means the water runs off the surface rapidly. Beading looks pretty, but sheeting is ultimately more useful. In fact, water beads can actually cause water spotting if the sun comes out and dries them, as they will leave behind mineral content.

Which car wax is best, liquid or paste?

Traditionally, liquid waxes were seen as being best for ease of application, while paste waxes were longer lasting. These days, it comes down to what the wax is made of. An old-fashioned carnauba paste wax will be massively outperformed by a synthetic liquid sealant all day long, for example. So what matters is the wax itself, not whether it’s a liquid or a paste.

What are the negatives of car wax?

In truth, there isn’t really a downside to car wax. After all, the wax protects your paintwork. The only thing we will say is that some car waxed can be difficult to apply evenly and will require more effort to apply. Alongside that, no car wax will last longer than a few months, so the process will need to repeated throughout the year. Other than that, car wax is a brilliant addition to your car detailing process.

Relevant content:

• How To Wax A Car Properly
• What Is The Difference Between Car Polish & Wax?
• How Often Should You Apply Car Wax?

If you’re reading this, then the chances are you not only love cars, but you love modified cars, too. But did you know we host car events throughout the year? Be sure to check out our Fast Car events page to find out what we’ve got coming up next. Don’t miss out on the action! 

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We all know that engines need oil, that’s basic car maintenance knowledge, but not all oil is created equal. Considering how important oil is to your engine, you want to make sure you’re buying the best. While not all oil is suitable for every engine, there are key features that every engine will appreciate.

Generally speaking, oil has three main functions in looking after your engine:

• Lubrication – Oil performs this function by providing a barrier between the metallic surfaces inside your engine that allows each part to operate smoothly without generating heat and wear through metal-to-metal contact.
• Engine cleaning – The second function oil has is that it cleans your engine too. Modern oils contain various detergents that actually clean the internal surfaces of your engine while in use.
• Cooling – Third, oil is also an effective coolant. It does this by transferring the heat away from the component parts into the oil. This then cools as it flows around the engine, reducing engine temperatures.

Pick an oil that does all of this, and your engine will thank you. Below, you’ll find each of the motor oils featured will help keep your engine happy.

One final thing before we dive into our best engine oil in 2024 piece; it’s crucial to remember that every engine requires a specific type of engine oil. Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s manual if you’re unsure which motor oil you need.

Best Engine Oil In 2024

Castrol Edge

RRP: $24.00 / £15.00.

Castrol Edge is probably one of the first engine oils you think of when high-performance lubricants are mentioned. There are plenty of reasons why Edge is so highly rated, and you can’t go wrong with this oil. Castrol Edge has been designed to deliver maximum engine performance. It offers superior wear protection and superior cleaning. In tests against rival oils, it was three times stronger against viscosity breakdown than its nearest rival. It also offers 10 times better high-temperature performance, and six times better wear protection. With impressive specs, Castrol Edge is one of the best engine oils you can buy.

Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200

RRP: $55.00 / £49.95.

German engineering in oil form, Liqui Moly Top Tec is exactly as good as you’d expect. This high-tech, low-friction motor oil is based on synthetic technology. It delivers outstanding protection against wear, as well as reducing both oil and fuel consumption. It’s also been designed for fast oil penetration, ensuring maximum protection. Liqui Moly says you can go up to 30,000 miles between oil changes thanks to this engine oil’s level of protection. Liqui Moly Top Tec also prevents deposits from forming to help keep your engine in peak condition. Many people swear by Liqui Moly, and it’s easy to see why as this is a superb choice of motor oil.

Valvoline Extended Protection

RRP: $28.32. Valvoline offers different motor oils in the UK, view them here.

As its name suggests, Valvoline Extended Protection has been designed to keep your engine safe. It protects against the main causes of engine breakdown: wear, friction, heat and deposits. In tests, it was 10 times stronger against oil breakdown versus industry standards. It also offers 50% better wear protection than the industry standard. It also delivers superior cleaning and performance, with Dual Defence Additive Technology to keep your engine in peak condition. There’s a lot to like about Valvoline Extended Protection, and it’s an excellent motor oil.

Mobil 1

RRP: $29.97 / £20.90.

Mobil 1 is another incredibly popular and well-known engine oil, and there are plenty of reasons why it’s a best-seller. It features Mobil 1’s Triple Action Formula, which has been designed to offer exceptional engine performance, protection, and cleanliness. It controls oxidation to prevent oil breakdown and maintains excellent viscosity to protect critical engine components. Mobil 1 also helps to protect against low-speed pre-ignition and timing chain wear. It will also help to keep your engine clean and help improve fuel economy. Mobil 1 helps to prevent deposits and sludge build-up and provides excellent high- and low-temperature protection. If you’re looking for an excellent all-round motor oil, you can’t go wrong with Mobil 1.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum

RRP: $32.52. Buy in the UK in bulk.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum doesn’t just offer excellent performance, it’s also carbon neutral. First of all, it’s made from natural gas, rather than crude, using Pennzoil’s patented gas-to-liquid PurePlus Technology. And it uses verified Nature Based Carbon Credits that offset the CO2 lifecycle emissions. In terms of performance, it doesn’t disappoint and gives your engine exactly what it needs. In tests, no other motor oil provides better wear protection, as well as offering superior sludge protection. It keeps pistons cleaner than required by industry standards and helps to protect against power loss. According to Pennzoil, it also improves fuel economy. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is an engine oil that can do it all. It’s also kinder on the environment, which is always a bonus.

How the best engine oil products were recommended

While the engine oils we’ve recommended above haven’t undergone our rigorous testing, they are based off of my expertise and personal experience with both factory-spec vehicles as well as modified cars. I’ve used a number of different oils throughout my driving years and written guides to engine oils and other car maintenance topics as my role as Editor of Total BMW magazine.

How to choose the right engine oil for your car

When buying engine oil for your car, it’s important that you buy the right sort. That little alphanumeric code on the front of the bottle holds the key, so let’s break it down. The first number before the ‘W’ (which stands for Winter) indicates the oil’s viscosity in cold temperatures, whereby the lower the number the less viscous the oil is. Then, the following number indicates how viscous the oil is at running temperature. For example, 5W-30 oil is freer flowing than 5W-40 oil. This is important because different engines have different requirements. Sure, it’s good to have free flowing oil so that the engine remains well-lubricated, but you don’t want it to be so thin that it isn’t effectively protecting the internal engine components.

Usually your car’s owner’s handbook should tell you which oil it takes, though if that’s not the case, you can easily research it online. Keep in mind though that the requirements will often be a bit different if you’ve tuned your car’s engine.

Then there’s the issue of synthetic versus semi-synthetic or mineral. Generally speaking, fully synthetic oil is favored by most cars, and you can read more about that below. Be sure to also check out our guide on how to do an oil change so you can replace your oil yourself saving you money.

Engine Oil FAQs

What are the three types of engine oil? 

Mineral Oil

A mineral oil is oil that came out of the ground and has then been refined to make it suitable for use in vehicles. It’s pretty basic stuff, but has the advantage of being cheap.

Semi-synthetic Oil

A semi-synthetic is a blend of mineral oil and synthetic. It’s generally cheaper than a synthetic and offers better protection than a mineral oil, but will not last as long or give as good protection as a fully synthetic.

Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil isn’t quite as simple as you might think from the name. There are three types of synthetic oils. The first is hydrocracked mineral oil. This is where a mineral oil goes through a process called hydrocracking. This modifies and refines the oil enough that it is classed as synthetic. Hydrocracked oils are the synthetic component of a semi-synthetic oil. Second, there is PAO, or Polyalphaolefins. This is generally what people think of as synthetic oil, where the oil is produced by chemical reactions. Last, there are esters. Esters are the top level oil on the market and have advantages over normal oils. They cling to metal surfaces, so the interior of your engine, gearbox or diff is coated with oil at all times. This means instant cold-start protection. They also have greater friction reduction properties than normal oils, which can help engines run smoother.

Additionally, because esters make the oil more stable, ester-based oils are ideal for hard use applications.

In automotive oils, the esters are blended with PAO and/or hydrocracked oils to produce the final product. It would work out far too expensive to just use esters on their own. Blending the esters with other oils reduces the cost and produces a more stable oil.

How thick should your engine oil be?

The first thing to consider when choosing an appropriate oil for your application is the viscosity.

When cold, you want the oil to flow well, so it gets around the engine quickly, improving cold-start protection. When hot, you don’t want the oil to be too thick as the flow rate is reduced. This lessens the protection and heat transfer capabilities of the oil.

But don’t just think it’s a case of the thinner the better. Too thin an oil will also lead to reduced surface-to-surface protection. As a result, it’s all about getting the right balance.

What does 5w-30 and other viscosity numbers mean on engine oil?

When you see the oil grade listed on the can, such as 5w-30, the first number relates to the cold flow viscosity (the w stands for winter) and is measured at 30C. The second number describes the viscosity at 100C. Although that number will be higher than the first number, the oil will always be thinner at 100C than 30C (the numbers are on a different scale). This is due the heat causing the oil to naturally thin. Those numbers are not exact points. They refer to a band that the viscosity falls into. As a result, you could have an oil categorized as 5w-30 that is almost the same viscosity as a 10w-30, or as a 0w-30 at the other end of the scale.

What oil does my tuned engine need?

Generally, what the manufacturer recommends is a sensible grade for a standard car that is used on the road. However, when you modify an engine or use it on track, the engine will run hotter than normal, leading to the oil thinning. That is when you need to consider using a thicker oil. In theory, it should run at a similar viscosity to the standard oil in a standard car. Depending on how far the car is modified, moving a grade or two thicker can be a sensible option.

Often grades like 10w-30, 10w-40 and 15w-40 are recommended as standard options. However, you can improve on those (in most cases) by using something thinner when cold, such as a 5w-30 in place of 10w-30, for example. This will help with cold-start protection.

But there are times when sticking to slightly thicker grades when cold makes sense. Forged builds, for example, often have larger tolerances than standard engines. Therefore, a thicker oil is likely to be the more sensible choice. Also, certain cars sound terrible when cold if too thin an oil is used. In those cases, a thicker oil could help.

Another thing to consider with viscosity is what the car is being used for. A daily driver that sees plenty of cold mornings needs cold-start protection more than a car used for endurance racing that experiences extreme high temperatures for long periods of time, for example.

Unless your car has one specific purpose (track use, short road trips, long journeys etc.) you’ll likely be looking at a compromise when it comes to the best grade for it.

What are engine oil additives?

Oils tend to be pretty clearly labelled as to what grade they are and if they are mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic. However, the additive pack is far less obvious on the label. Additives in the oil are very important. They let the oil do its job properly. Here are some of the additives used in a modern oil:

• Detergents – these clean the engine to stop build-ups that could lead to a lack of protection.
• Anti-wear additives – these bond to the metal surfaces, providing a sacrificial layer. The best known is ZDDP.
• Anti-foaming agents – these help to keep the oil as a liquid rather than let it build into a foam. Foaming oil causes problems with the oil pump and can lead to oil starvation.

There are several others, such as; extreme pressure, anti-ageing, viscosity improvers, friction modifiers and so on.

What is the difference between cheap and expensive engine oil?

If anyone tries to tell you that simply ‘oil is oil’, that really isn’t the case. You could have two cans of oil, both that are labelled as 5w-40 synthetics, but one could be a hydrocracked oil with a cheap/reduced additive package and the other could be a PAO/ester blend with a top-quality additive pack. There can be a huge difference in price between those oils. The difference might not be clear unless you have an idea of what all of the information on the label means.

Manufacturer approvals can also affect the price. Often to get an oil approved by a manufacturer, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars (we’ve even heard of some approvals costing over $100k). The cost of getting those has to be recouped by the oil. Some companies list their oils as ‘meeting the requirements of’ or ‘can be used in place of’ where certain manufacturer specifications are required. This saves the cost of getting the approval. However, you are relying on the oil company being honest about the oil doing what is says on the label.

Quality control also plays a large part in the price of an oil. The more it’s tested in production, the more it costs on the shelf. Some experts say they have heard of cheap oil that was tested where it was supposed to be a 5w-40 but turned out to be a 20w-40!

We’re not saying you need to pay a fortune for your oil. However, buying from reputable companies should provide you with added peace of mind that the oil will do the job you need it to.

When do I need to add more motor oil?

Generally, oil consumption is not something to worry about, unless it’s excessive. Certain engines often burn a drop of oil and suffer from no ill effects. Just keep an eye on the oil level and top up when necessary to keep it at the upper level. Forged engine builds also tend to use more oil due to the larger tolerances than standard engines. Oil consumption does vary from car to car, but the best thing to do is ask a specialist if you think you are using too much. A liter per 1000 miles is regarded by most manufacturers the normal limit, in most cases. Oil consumption can often be reduced by using a thicker oil, but too thick and engine protection is lost.

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Alloy wheel cleaners are one of those things you can never have too much of if you enjoy car detailing, especially as you go through it seriously quickly. However, if you’re spending all that money, you want to make sure that you’re using the best product you can. One that’s going to give you the best results. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive wheel cleaner guide to find out what the best alloy wheel cleaners are.

I brought together eight of the best car wheel cleaners and put them against each other to find out which one delivers the best cleaning power. These are all similar products in terms of cleaning potential, so it’s an even playing field.

What is an alloy wheel cleaner?

Firstly, though, I wanted to give some context to this piece. So what is an alloy wheel cleaner? Put simply, it’s a product that is specifically designed to lift brake dust, dirt and grime from the wheels. Using a dedicated wheel cleaner makes the job of ensuring those wheel look shiny that bit easier. It works by reacting with the dirt on the wheel, allowing you, in most cases, to simply jet wash the dirt away. For wheels that haven’t been cleaned in a while, it’s always worth using a detailing brush in order to agitate the surface further. Remember, you’ll still need to give the wheels a wash during the shampoo stage, but using the wheel cleaner as part of your pre-wash stage will save you a heap of time.

Quick detailing tip, don’t let the wheel cleaner dry on the surface of your wheels as it can lead to damage to the paint surface. Read the manufacturer’s instructions as to how much dwell time it requires and the agitation process.

Who is the tester?

Better known as Buffy, I’ve been talking and writing about cars professionally for over a decade or so now as editor to a number of different BMW magazines, currently Total BMW Magazine. While I’m most passionate about BMWs, I’m a petrolhead in general, and I love nothing more than a spotless car. Over the years of car ownership, I’ve developed a deep enthusiasm for detailing, and as a result, I’ve tested just about every detailing product out there. I have my personal favorites, but for this test it’s all about finding out which product truly is best without bias.

Best Alloy Wheel Cleaner in 2024 at a glance:

• 1st: Bilt Hamber Auto-Wheel. RRP: From £19.99, buy now. US from $37.99, buy now.
• 2nd: Autoglym Clean Wheels. RRP: From £17.49, buy now. US from $25.95, buy now.
• 3rd: ValetPRO Bilberry Alloy Wheel Cleaner. RRP: From £13.49, buy now. Not available in US.
• 4th: Gtechniq W6 Iron & Fallout Remover. RRP: From £7.25, buy now. US from $16.95, buy now.

1st Place – Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel

Size tested: One liter
RRP: From £19.99, buy now. US from $37.99, buy now.

There can only be one winner of our best alloy wheel cleaners test, that is Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel. It was an exceptionally narrow victory, and there was almost nothing to choose between this and Autoglym Clean Wheels, but in the end, Auto Wheel just edged it in terms of sheer cleaning power. The most reactive wheel cleaner in this test, it turned its half of the wheel bright purple instantly and clung on tenaciously during its dwell phase, really attacking that tough, stuck-on brake dust and dirt.

The post-rinse visual inspection and swipe test revealed that it had delivered incredible results. It also happened to end up having to deal with the dirtiest portion of the dirtiest wheel on the whole car, making its performance all the more impressive. Honestly, there’s not much more to say – it just got on with doing its job and delivered sensational results, which is what you want from any product.

Price-wise, it’s the third most expensive per litre in its standard size, but its five-litre size matches Gtechniq for price. You can buy it in a 25-litre container, assuming you have the room and are happy to spend a large amount in one go. Although that will work out cheaper per litre of usage.

There’s no fancy packaging and flashy marketing here, just an incredibly impressive product that really delivers. Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel is the best alloy wheel cleaner here, and my group test winner.

2nd Place – Autoglym Clean Wheels

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £17.49, buy now. US from $25.95, buy now.

Upon initial application, I was left wondering if Autoglym Clean Wheels was actually doing anything. Unlike a lot of the other products we tested, it’s not a reactive color-changing wheel cleaner, so you don’t really see anything happening. However, it quickly became apparent that it was definitely doing some serious work, as the dirt began to dissolve in front of our eyes.

Post-rinse, the difference was clearly visible before I’d even reached for the cotton wool pad; the swipe test confirmed what we saw. Autoglym Clean Wheels put in an exceptional performance, effortlessly shifting some seriously baked-on brake dust. We were left very impressed with how little dirt was left on our cotton pad.

In its 500ml size, it’s the most expensive product in our top four, and at £17.49 / $25.95 it’s still more expensive than the others (just) if you buy the one-litre size. However, it’s money well spent, because this is a fantastic wheel cleaner and one I highly recommend. Autoglym takes 2nd place in our best alloy wheel cleaners test.

3rd Place – ValetPRO Bilberry Alloy Wheel Cleaner

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £13.49, buy now. Not available in US.

It was almost too close to call between ValetPRO’s Bilberry Wheel Cleaner and Gtechniq’s W6, but after staring at cotton wool pads for longer than I’d care to admit, ValetPRO just took the win by the narrowest of margins. It delivered very impressive results, and the post-test swipe showed a significant reduction in surface dirt remaining.

This is the only product in our top four that can be diluted, up to 10:1 for lightly soiled wheels. This means you can get up to 11 liters of product from a 500ml bottle, and if you clean your wheels often and thoroughly, you won’t need it at full undiluted strength. And, where the other cleaners either didn’t smell of anything or stunk of chemicals, ValetPRO Bilberry Wheel Cleaner has a lovely fruity scent, making it the most pleasant to use.

4th Place – Gtechniq W6 Iron & Fallout Remover

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £7.25, buy now. US from $16.95, buy now.

Gtechniq doesn’t have a dedicated wheel cleaner, but that’s clearly not an issue. The W6 Iron & Fallout Remover put in a very strong performance and delivered exceptional cleaning, leaving very little behind on the post-test swipe. The price is reasonable, and if you commit to the five-litre container, it works out at just a fraction under £12/litre, which makes it good value if you’re happy buying in bulk.

W6 Iron & Fallout Remover is also the only product in our top four that can be used on your car’s bodywork as well as the wheels, meaning you don’t need to buy a separate fallout remover, so that’s a bonus on top of the excellent cleaning power. Using it on the body helps to lift those hard, stuck-on bits of dirt that won’t budge, so can work as an effective pre-wash to your shampoo stage.

Best of the rest alloy wheel cleaners

Four out of our eight best alloy wheel cleaners delivered very similar results and performed equally as well as each other, and these are all good products which you’d be more than happy with.

Auto Finesse Reactive

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £12.95, buy now. US From $22.95, buy now.

Reactive has been designed to, in the words of auto Finesse, bridge the gap between a wheel cleaner and fallout remover, and is safe to use on all painted, powder coated and lacquered wheel finishes. Reactive will break down dirt, as well as chemically dissolving embedded ferrous metal particles. It’s good, but didn’t quite deliver the results of our top four. That being said, it was the best of the rest, and is very reasonably priced.

Dodo Juice Deep Purple

Size tested: 1-litre
RRP: From £20.90, buy now. Not available in the US.

Dodo Juice calls Deep Purple a full-spectrum wheel cleaner, and that means it is able to tackle all manner of dirt on your rims. Based on the company’s Ferrous Dueller fallout remover, its thicker formula means a longer dwell time, which improves cleaning power and it contains surfactants to remove road grime and dirt, while a little bit of added solvent allows it to soften tar spots.

Meguiar’s Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner

Size tested: 710ml
RRP: From £12.75, buy now. US from $6.97, buy now.

Hot Rims, safe for use on all clear-coated wheels, boasts Meguiar’s Xtreme Cling foam, which means it sticks to the vertical surfaces on your wheels and won’t simply slide away, giving its powerful formula more time to dissolve the contaminants on your wheels. At under $10 for a 24 Oz spray bottle, you simply can’t complain when the results are still very good.

Pro-Kleen Troll’s Breath

Size tested: 1-litre
RRP: from £12.95, buy now. Not available in the US. Buy Pro-Kleen Troll’s Breath here.

Troll’s Breath is a pH-neutral iron contamination remover that is safe to use on just about any surface – paintwork, glass, plastic, stainless steel, wheels as well as rubber. It dissolves any contamination it comes into contact with, and it also features a degreasing agent that helps to loosen dirt and grime. It worked well on dirt, but didn’t produce quite as strong results as our top four.

Products bottled into non-branded spray bottles ready for best alloy wheel cleaners test

How we tested the best alloy wheel cleaners

I carried out a blind test by having a colleague pour all the car alloy wheel cleaners into identical spray bottles without me knowing which product was which. The spray bottles were also all set to the same spray pattern on each test bottle. The test took place over one day, using one car, and each product only applied to half of one wheel. Using a cotton wool pad, I performed a swipe test on a portion of the wheel before using each product and doing another swipe test from the same area after use.

I applied the alloy wheel cleaners from the same distance, using the same number of sprays in the same motion and pattern to ensure even and equal coverage and a divider was used during application and rinsing to ensure that there was no cross-contamination. I didn’t use any brushes, eliminating this variable, and purely measured each product’s cleaning power. We also applied each wheel cleaner to a dry wheel and followed each product’s instructions for dwell time. I elected to use a hose with a jet spray pattern to rinse off the products due to the fact that not all users have a pressure washer.

How to buy the best alloy wheel cleaner

The first piece of advice we’d give here is to not rely on how well it appears to be working. Some wheel cleaners are very good at appearing to be working hard, by changing color radically. How much the product changes color on the wheels isn’t an indicator of how well it’s performing. As a result, don’t get sucked into marketing messages and images of wheels changing to a deep purple color.

Next, get used to the smell. The chemicals used inside of the formula make for some nasty smells. Again, one that smells nice or not so great isn’t an indication of how well it performs. Almost all alloy wheel cleaners work better when you use a brush to agitate the dirt with the product. I skipped this step in my test above as I didn’t want the brush to be the deciding factor when it comes to cleanliness.

You want a pH neutral product that is safe to use on your wheel type. The above product recommendations are safe to use on any wheel type or finish. Although we would always urge that you check the manufacturer’s instructions.

For tips on using wheel cleaners, check out our step-by-step guide on how to clean alloy wheels. For more advice on detailing, check out our guide on car detailing. 

If you’re reading this, the chances are that you love cars. Did you know we host car events throughout the year? Why not check out our Fast Car Events page to see what we’ve coming up next. Don’t miss out on the action! 

The post Best Alloy Wheel Cleaners In 2024 Tested appeared first on Fast Car.

You might think that all car shampoos are equal, but that’s definitely not the case. Some will clean better than others, and others will foam up more. Some will feel slicker on the paint, and some have special features that make them stand out. Choosing a car wash soap is difficult, which is why I’ve done the hard work for you. It is my job as Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, after all.

I’ve tried a lot of car shampoos over the years, so I know what makes a good one. I’ve picked 10 shampoos for this mega group-test and they’re all really good. Honestly, there’s not one bad car wash soap here. But, some are just a little nicer to use than others. Picking the right shampoo is essential as washing your car is a core part of the car detailing process.

These are all pure shampoos with no added wax, which makes them perfect if you want to apply your own protection afterwards. Without further ado, here are the results of our car shampoo group test.

Best Car Wash Soap: The Testing Process

First, I diluted each shampoo according to the individual instructions, opting for a medium dilution ratio where a range was suggested. Then observed the amount of foam each shampoo produced and assessed how slick it felt on the panel. Next, I carried out a visual and physical inspection to see how much dirt, if any, was left after washing. The price and how much shampoo is needed per wash were also taken into consideration.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Car Shampoo

Always look for a pH-neutral car shampoo that won’t strip any wax or other coatings you have applied to your paintwork. Look for car shampoos that need less product per wash as they are better value and will last longer. Car shampoos that can be used in direct sun are fantastic for summertime washing. Any car shampoo with water-softening properties is ideal for hard-water areas. Finally, make sure you like the scent of the shampoo you plan to buy. If it triggers childhood trauma of nasty cough syrup, you’ll hate using it.

Best Car Shampoo At A Glance

• Best Overall: Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash. RRP: £12, buy now. $22.68, buy now. 
• Editor’s Choice: Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo. RRP: £9.99, buy now. $13.19, buy now. 
• Approved: Dodo Juice Born to be Mild. RRP: £11.98, buy now (not available in US). 
• Approved: Gyeon Q2M Bathe. RRP: £13.50, buy now. $31.99, buy now. 
• Best Value: Bilt Hamber Auto Wash. RRP: £19.95, buy now (not available in the US). 

Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash – Best Overall

Size: 18 fl. oz (532ml), 64 fl. oz (1892ml). RRP: £12, buy now / From $22.68, buy now.

Pros:

• Features lubricating oils and water softeners

Cons:

• You need to use more shampoo than some others

Meguiar’s offers a lot of different shampoos but NXT Generation Car Wash deserves to be noticed. In a sea of very similar pure shampoos, this really stands out from the crowd. Crack open this pH-neutral shampoo and you’re hit by a tangy citrus scent, which is delicious. What makes it stand out is a couple of impressive features. First off, synthetic lubricating oils deliver exceptional slickness. Then you’ve got the engineered water softeners that help reduce deposits in hard-water areas. These help you to achieve a spot-free finish, always a bonus.

You need 2 capfuls (0.7 fl. oz) per gallon, which is an odd measurement as that’s not a lot of water. Realistically you’ll be using 3 gallons or so, which means 2 fl. oz per wash. As you’d expect, it felt exceptionally slick on the paintwork and delivered superb cleaning. The water softeners are the icing on the cake, making it ideal for hard-water areas. Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash is another shampoo I will be using personally from now on.

To learn more, read our full review of Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash here.

Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo – Editor’s Choice

Award: Editor’s Choice
Size: 16 fl oz (473ml), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £9.99, buy now / $13.19, buy now. 

Pros:

• Can be used in direct sun and won’t leave water spots.

Cons:

• Not the most economical shampoo.

Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo is a personal favorite of mine for several reasons. It’s pH-neutral for starters and has a lush Wildberry scent. It foams up well, and the foam does last. It’s designed to be exceptionally slick, and you really do feel that when you’re using it. It also cleans very well indeed.

The biggest selling point for me is that you can use it in direct sunlight. And it will not leave water spots. This makes it my go-to summer car shampoo. I know I can wash my car even on sunny days, and get great results. The only downside is that you need 1-2 fl. oz per wash. That means it’s not going to last as long as some other more frugal shampoos. But that’s a very minor negative point. For hot, sunny climates and summertime washing, Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo is exceptional.

Check out our in-depth review of Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo here.

Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild

Award: Approved
Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: From £11.98, buy now (not available in US).

Pros:

• Loads of foam and very slick.
• Contains limescale inhibitors.

Cons:

• Lots of shampoo required for dirty cars in hard-water areas

Dodo Juice Born to be Mild pH neutral shampoo is a wax-friendly offering. It has been a staple of the company’s cleaning lineup since its launch. I can see why it’s been around for so long. I can’t place the smell, but it’s sweet and delicious – almost good enough to drink. Dodo Juice says to use between 2-6 capfuls in a bucket. This depends on how big your bucket is, how dirty your car is, and if you’re in a hard water area. How big is a capful? I measured it, and it seems to be around 0.42 of a fl. oz. So you’ll realistically need between 1.7-2.5 fl. oz per wash.

It delivered loads of foam and was really slick on the paint. Best of all, it boasts limescale inhibitors that help soften your wash water. This makes washing your car in hard-water areas that bit easier, and that’s a huge selling point. Dodo Juice Born to be Mild is going straight into my personal cleaning arsenal.

Read more about why that is in our full review of Dodo Juice Born to be Mild, next.

Gyeon Q²M Bathe Car Wash Soap

Award: Approved
Size: 13.5 fl. oz (400ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £13.50, buy now / $31.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Foamy and slick.
• Very economical.
• Good cleaning performance.

Cons:

• Smells a bit like cough syrup.

Gyeon Q²M Bathe is a thick gel shampoo that is pH neutral. You need between 0.5-0.7 fl. oz in your bucket, and that will give you loads of foam. This was a really nice car wash soap to use, forming a slick texture that made the washing process a pleasure. Gyeon Q²M Bathe also had a nice amount of foam that didn’t instantly disappear. And it cleaned really well too, as you’d expect from Gyeon. A very easy car shampoo to recommend.

For more info, check out our full review of Gyeon Q²M Bathe here.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash – Best Value

Award: Best Value
Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter). RRP: £19.95, buy now. (Not available in the US.)

• Incredible value for money.
• Cleans very well.

Cons:

• No scent.
• Not much foam.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash’s specs are impressive. It’s salt, wax and additive-free. Its anti-corrosive properties make it especially good for washing older cars that might have stone chips and exposed bare metal. What’s really impressive is how highly concentrated it is. You only need 0.17 fl. Oz in a 2.6-gallon bucket – that’s one teaspoon. Which is wild.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash might not deliver loads of foam, but it feels lovely and slick on the paintwork. It’s a pleasure to wash with and delivers excellent cleaning. Another superb product from Bilt Hamber.

For a closer look, read our full review of Bilt Hamber Auto Wash here.

Gtechniq W1 GWash

Size: 8.5 fl. oz (250ml), 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 litre), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: From £9.95, buy now / $11.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Lovely and slick.
• Solid cleaning performance.

Cons:

• Very little foam on the panel.

Gtechniq makes some excellent cleaning products, and its W1 Gwash car shampoo does not disappoint. It kicks things off with a gentle grapefruit scent – very nice. Gtechniq says to use four capfuls in a 5.3-gallon bucket, but seriously, who has a bucket that big? I’d say 3.2 gallons is more reasonable. With each capful being 0.3 fl. oz, you’ll be using around 0.8 fl. oz per wash.

It made lots of foam in our container, but there was virtually none on the surface. This didn’t impair its slickness or cleaning performance, though. W1 Gwash shampoo really delivered, and I like this one a lot.

To learn more, read our full review of Gtechniq W1 here!

Mothers California Gold High Performance Car Wash Soap

Size: 16 fl. oz (437ml), 32 fl. oz (946ml), 64 fl. oz (1892ml). RRP: From £10.99, buy now / from $12.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Smell gorgeous.
• Feels great to use.

Cons:

• Poor value for money.

Mothers California Gold car shampoo is an excellent car wash soap that’s so nice to use. On paper, it doesn’t seem that special. It’s pH neutral but doesn’t offer anything special to set it apart from other shampoos. However, on the panel, it just felt incredibly slick and was so nice to wash with. Sometimes, that can make all the difference between a good shampoo and a great one. And it smells absolutely gorgeous as well, which is a bonus.

Unfortunately, the dilution ratio lets it down. The instructions call for 1 fl. oz per gallon, which means you’ll be using around 3 oz in your bucket. That’s quite a lot of product, which means you’ll likely get just five washes from the smaller 16 oz bottle. As nice as it is to use, that makes it very poor value for money, unfortunately. So, check out our full review of it to decide once and for all whether you can justify the cost.

Auto Finesse Lather Car Shampoo

Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 84.5 fl. oz (2.5 liters), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: £21.59, buy now / from $10.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Slick and foamy.
• Cleans well.

Cons:

• Doesn’t smell great.

Lather from Auto Finesse is a strong all-round car shampoo offering that doesn’t disappoint. Its combo of advanced surfactants with highly-concentrated lubricants has been designed for easy and safe washing. Naturally, it’s pH-neutral, though I’m not sold on the smell – it’s a weird chemical citrus scent. I’m not a fan.

Auto Finesse says to use 2-4 capfuls, so that means once again measuring how big a capful is. My measuring beaker says it’s about 0.5 fl. oz, so that’s 1-2 fl. oz per wash. It makes lots of foam and serves up plenty of slickness with good cleaning. An excellent car shampoo from Auto Finesse. Find out more in this full review.

Griot’s Car Wash Soap

Size: 16 fl. oz (437ml), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £8.99, buy now / from $12.49, buy now.

Pros:

• Cleans very well.
• Smells great.

Cons:

• Not as powerful as others tested.

Griot’s makes a wide range of excellent cleaning products and its Car Wash shampoo is most definitely one of them. This pH-neutral shampoo not only looks orange but has a lovely tangy citrus scent too. The dilution ratio is 1 fl. oz per 2 gallons, so you’ll be using around 1.5 oz per wash, which is not bad at all. While it’s light on foam when you get it on the panel, it does feel very nice and slick under your mitt. It doesn’t offer any unique standout properties, but it is a solid all-round car shampoo. Read the full review here.

The post Best Car Shampoo In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Microfiber cloths are essential when it comes to detailing your car. Everyone should have a big old pile of them ready for all occasions. Whether you’re buffing, polishing, wiping, cleaning, or anything else, the right microfiber cloth will make your job so much easier. There’s a mind-boggling amount to choose from, so we’ve done the hard work for you and picked out our favorite microfiber car cloths.

For this guide, we focused on versatile cloths that can do everything well, meaning you’ll only need one cloth for all your automotive tasks.

What is a microfiber car cloth?

Put simply, it’s a cloth made from microfibers that tends to be soft, and absorbent, which can be used in a multitude of scenarios. Here, we’re focusing on its use on cars. But that’s not to say you couldn’t use them around your house, for example. Although be warned, some cloths aren’t as soft as others and could damage your paintwork.

Microfiber car cloths are an essential detailing tool. You’ll need one during all of your final detailing stages, for example cleaning the windows, or while using quick detailer or interior spray, waxing/polishing etc. When you’re cleaning the exterior of your car with finishing products, its always best to use a cloth that is soft and plush, but also one that is absorbent. We’ll go onto how to buy the best microfiber cloths at the bottom of this guide.

It’s also important to know the different between microfiber car cloths and microfiber drying towels. While both are designed to be soft and absorbent, drying towels do the absorbent aspect far better. They’re usually much larger, and far thicker, meaning they can cover more surface area while also retaining more moisture. If you’re looking for drying towels after your washing stage, then visit our guide to the best car drying towels in 2024.

Best Microfiber Car Cloths In 2023

Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel

RRP: £13.99 (pack of 3), buy now. $8.99 (pack of 3), buy now.

Meguiar’s Supreme Shine car microfiber cloths are another detailing favorite. First of all, they’re a seriously good size, measuring a hefty 40x60cm, so they cover large areas easily. They’re also plush, delivering swirl-free and high-gloss results. The thick, dual-sided pile allows them to absorb three times more than traditional terry cloths. This means you can wipe off more product with one cloth, allowing you to cover more panels in one go. The safety edging, meanwhile, eliminates the risk of scratching. You get three in a pack, making them good value, too. These are excellent microfiber cloths that are well worth a look.

Kirkland Ultra Plush Microfiber Car Cloths

RRP: £26.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.

Incredible value, high quality and versatile, these microfibers are hard to beat. Kirkland’s Ultra Plush Microfiber Cloths are the go-to for most car enthusiasts, ourselves included. You can buy various quantities, but the best value pack gives you 36 cloths for under £25 if you shop around. That’s more cloths than anyone will ever need, and, at that price, you won’t care what happens to them. They’re big, at 40.6×40.6cm, and come with a fluffy side and a shorter pile side, making them perfect for a wide range of uses. For the money, these are outrageously good car microfiber cloths, and everyone should have some.

Auto Finesse Work Cloth

RRP: £6.95, buy now. $12.95, buy now.

Auto Finesse offers a selection of sexy car microfiber cloths, but the Work Cloth is its most versatile. This is one cloth that does it all and tackles any task you throw at it with ease. You can use the Work Cloth for everything from cleaning to finishing and everything in between. This short-pile towel can be used with polishes and other abrasives for cleaning and polishing different materials and areas. You can use it for buffing and removing sealants and waxes. And you can use it on paintwork, glass, engine bays and interiors. The Auto Finesse Work cloth is super-soft and features machine-stitched edging, so you can be sure it will last. And you get three cloths in a pack, so it’s good value too. An excellent all-round car microfiber cloth offering from Auto Finesse.

Autoglym Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth

RRP: £11.50. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth here!

Autoglym’s distinctive red car microfiber cloths are a welcome addition to any detailing kit. The Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth features a specially selected microfiber weave, which means it performs really well. It’s perfect for buffing off polish and wax from bodywork and delivers a dazzling shine. Use it anywhere and everywhere across your whole car. Measuring 40x40cm, it’s a good size, too. It might be a little pricey compared with some other offerings, but this is a seriously nice cloth to use. Your detailing kit deserves a Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth in there.

Dodo Juice Rag Queen

RRP: £4.00 (or £10.00 for a pack of 3). Not available in the US. Buy Dodo Juice Rag Queen here!

Inexpensive but plush and incredibly versatile, Dodo Juice’s Rag Queen is a fantastic car microfiber cloth. As its name implies, this cloth is something a bit special, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s been designed to tackle every task you can throw at it, making it the perfect go-to cloth for everything. Made from 380gsm microfiber and measuring 40x40cm, this edgeless wonder truly does it all. With a short-pile side and a longer-pile side, it’s perfect for buffing, polishing and cleaning. Use it inside and out, on any and all surfaces, from interiors to paintwork, wheels and trim. As an all-round, do-it-all car microfiber cloth, the Rag Queen is hard to beat. Every keen detailing enthusiast should have this cloth.

How to buy the best microfiber car cloth

Believe it or not, there are a number of different areas you need to consider while buying a towel:

• How big do you need? This is tricky to answer, as needs tend to change between each user. On the whole, I like to use a few different sizes. For hard to reach areas, I tend to use a smaller cloth as it’s easier to hold. For areas like whole body panels, I’d opt for a larger cloth to ensure I can use the same cloth without needing to use a fresh one.
• Types of microfiber/thickness –  You should aim for a cloth with a GSM of anything above 350. Always do your research into the cloth to ensure it’s safe to use on glass. You’ll also notice that cloths are made with a microfiber blend. Aim for anything 70/30 and up (another popular, safe blend is 75/25, while for glass, look for 80/20 mix). The larger number refers to the microfibers.
• Towel edges – there’s some debate to be had as to whether you should be using edgeless microfiber car cloths when focusing on body panels. This is because while the cloth is made from microfiber, the edge that its sewn to often isn’t, and can damage paintwork. I’ve personally never had an issue with microfiber cloths or drying towels with edges, so I tend to just focus on the actual cloth performance.

How were the best microfiber car cloths chosen?

The above products were chosen based on my experience with a whole host of different cloth brands. I’ve been passionately detailing cars for a number of years now, and in that time I’ve sampled pretty much every product from most brands. The above car cloths are some that I’ve kept in my collection, based on their ability to softly absorb moisture without damaging glass/paintwork or leaving marks.

Microfiber car cloths FAQs

Below, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions when it comes to buying and using microfiber car cloths.

Can microfiber cloths scratch car paint?

Yes and no. Don’t be mistaken into thinking all microfiber car cloths are the same. Some are much thinner, and aren’t soft enough to use on your car. However, if you’re buying a high-quality cloth, you’ll have no issue with paintwork damage. A cloth needs to have a solid 350GSM rating or higher, with a 70/30 microfiber blend to be safe for your car.

Are microfiber cloths safe to use on glass?

Yes! But, use the same method as above when buying your cloths. To be extra safe when using cloths on glass, I would look to use a high GSM, and high microfiber blend (80/20 to be safe).

How often should I wash microfiber car cloths?

You should wash your microfiber car cloths after every use if you want to avoid paint damage. Anything you’ve wiped away from the car will sit on the towel. Therefore, the next time you use it, any dirt from the previous car detail is now being reapplied to the vehicle. Overtime, stains and the like will settle in, and it’ll be time to relegate the cloth to either wheel duties or in the bin entirely. Do not use old, dirty cloths on your car!

I dropped my microfiber cloth on the ground, can I still use it?

No! Same logic from above applies here. Dirt clings onto microfiber car cloths, and the worst offenders are the tiny stones you barely notice with your eye. But run your hand over the cloth and you’ll start to see and feel them. Those stones go straight onto your paintwork when you the cloth to buff. This is how swirl marks and small scratches appear. Chuck the cloth to one side and get yourself a fresh one. Using an extra cloth is far cheaper then fixing the paint damage. And less time consuming, too.

The post Best Microfiber Car Cloths In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Many of us dread the sight of the engine management light, or to give it the official title, malfunction indicator light (MIL). Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown, or the acceptance that your bank account might be about to take a beating. Whatever the reason may be, it’s always much better to tackle that little light with a more optimistic outlook. Not only could the Zen mindset save you a bit of stress, but on top of that, MILs often have an easy fix. It may be something, or it may be nothing, but whatever’s going on under your car’s hood, an OBD2 scanner will give you the anxiety-quashing answers you need.

Gone are the days of expensive equipment that only professional mechanics would have, nowadays you can get hold of some great OBD2 scanners without breaking the bank. In the world of modern motoring, a portable OBD2/EOBD scanner is a seriously useful bit of kit to have in your arsenal. So, without further ado, here’s some of the best fault code readers that you can buy today.

Best OBD2 Scanners At a Glance

Under £100/$100

• Best Buy: Foxwell NT301. RRP: £77.20, buy here / $89.99, buy here.
• Best Budget Buy: Foxwell NT200. RRP: £38.95, buy here. Not available in the US.
• Best Bluetooth OBD2 scanner: vGate vLinker MC+. RRP: £54.89, buy here / $62.99, buy here.
• Recommended: Autel AutoLink AL419. RRP: £69.00 (new AL519 model), buy here. $75.00, buy here.

Under $200/£200

• Recommended: Foxwell NT680 Lite. RRP: £199.52, buy here. $199.95, buy here.
• Recommended: Launch CRP123 Premium. RRP: £139.00, buy here. Not available in the US.

Best OBD2 Scanners Under £100/$100

Foxwell NT301

Award: Best Buy
RRP: £77.20, buy here / $89.99, buy here.

This is a good example of the more you pay, the more you get. When compared to other entry level options, by spending an additional 30-50%, you get a larger full-colour screen with a graphical menu, and more clearly-labelled buttons. Foxwell supplies the NT301 with a rubber-coated surround, a 92cm lead and a separate USB lead to connect to a PC for updates and generating printouts. Aside from these more upmarket features, the reader performs similar functions to its cheaper rivals, so for the extra money, you’re getting a reader that is easier to use and is larger and more colourful.

For example, it caters for the same range of vehicles, provides live and freeze-frame data, reads I/M readiness data, can clear fault codes and switch off the MIL. However, there are some additional features up its sleeve too, such as its ability to record and play back live data, or convert that data into figures or a graph. Some engine components can be tested and there’s an emissions monitor status (three different warning symbols, whereby one of them is illuminated), which can be used with the engine running to identify emissions-related problems.

When I connected the NT301 to our Peugeot 107 test car, with its pre-generated faults and illuminated MIL, the device beeped and its red exclamation warning illuminated on the front panel. The correct fault codes were displayed alongside a definition of each, with the EVAP fault being classed as pending.

Based on price and features in the low budget category, we found the Foxwell NT301 ticked more boxes than its competitors, thus earning it our Best Buy award for this segment of the market, earning it a spot on the list of the best OBD2 scanners.

Foxwell NT200

Award: Best Budget Buy
RRP: £38.95, buy here. Not available in the US.

You can use the Foxwell NT200 with all 2001+ petrol and 2004+ diesel cars with an OBDII port, although it can also communicate with many Euro Fords dating back to the mid-nineties and various American models from 1996 onwards.

Foxwell stipulates that this tool is suitable for diagnosing engine-related fault codes, but it cannot switch off a service indicator light, an airbag light, or ABS light. However, it can clear engine fault codes, enabling you to fix a problem, clear the codes and see whether it returns.

You can monitor intermittent faults live, which is useful for figuring out what activates them when the engine is running. Plus, you can monitor engine data, such as intake temperature or ambient temperature, to help identify a problem. There’s also a freeze-frame option to view recorded engine data at the point a fault has occurred, along with an I/M readiness view where you can view emissions-related checks.

Thousands of fault code definitions are stored inside this handheld reader, so there’s no need to translate them, and many manufacturer-specific fault codes are available as well. Plus the tool uses software which you can update via a PC (updates are free for the life of the tool). Any logged faults that are retrieved are displayed one at a time on screen along with a definition – our Peugeot 107 test car was correctly diagnosed by the NT200 after I had disconnected the plugs for the CPS and EVAP purge solenoid.

vGate vLinker MC+

Award: Best Bluetooth Scanner
RRP: £54.89, buy here. $59.89, buy here.

I tested the vLinker MC+ very recently and was surprised with just how versatile it is. Built by Chinese electronic manufacturer vGate is easy to use and is compatible with several apps on Android, iOS and Windows.

I put the vLinker MC+ to the test by using a test Audi A3 with a parking sensor failure. The Bluetooth scanner quickly discovered the fault (I used the Car Scanner app) as well as provided an in-depth check of the car’s systems. In fact, the scanner is far more detailed that I expected. You can display live data to monitor engine values, as well as fuel consumption and even acceleration times. Read my full vLinker MC+ review here.

Autel AutoLink AL419

Award: Recommended
RRP: £69.00 (new AL519 model), buy here / $75.00, buy here.

Supplied in a neat soft carrycase with a detachable lead (data link connector) and a 65-page user’s manual printed in a sufficiently large font, this OBD2 scanner provides all of the features offered by the Foxwell products above. This includes coverage of petrol vehicles from 2001 onwards and diesels from 2004, the ability to identify generic and manufacturer-specific fault codes, switch off the MIL and clear fault codes, display live and freeze-frame data and show I/M readiness data. You can look up fault codes (DTC) via a library with a definition displayed on-screen, and there’s also a code breaker function that provides further information on a fault. On top of that, these fault codes and information can be updated online by plugging the device into an internet-connected PC (USB cable supplied).

The control buttons are clearly labelled and comprehensive, with a dedicated I/M and a help button. The I/M button is a little frustrating because the device runs through a full language/protocol check each time, even if it has already done this.

It’s clear that for your money when compared to the other cheaper devices, you generally get a more rugged-looking reader with a carrycase and detachable lead, but is it worth the extra cash if the rest of the features seem similar to what Foxwell offers? The overall device is much easier to use, but some people may think that doesn’t justify the extra expense.

When I connected the device to our test Peugeot 107 with its two pre-determined faults, one of its warning symbols illuminated and both fault codes were correctly listed and defined under the Read Codes menu option.

Best OBD2 Scanners Under $200/£200

Foxwell NT680 Lite

Award: Recommended
RRP: £199.52, buy here / $199.52, buy here.

Supplied in a plastic-moulded carrycase with a detachable lead (data link connector), the Lite version of the Foxwell NT680 is significantly cheaper than the Pro version, so is it worth buying? Well, the Lite certainly seems to offer a lot, especially for the engine-related criteria this test is focusing on. It can cater for the usual wide range of vehicles (2001-on for petrol engines and 2004-on for diesels), and can also reset the service light. Plus, while it’s not relevant to our test, it covers ABS, airbags and gearbox faults and can also communicate with the electronic park brake on 42 marques of vehicle.

When I connected the NT680 Lite to our Peugeot 107 after disconnecting its wiring plugs for the CPS and EVAP purge solenoid, it correctly displayed a stored code for the CPS (fault code and description) and a pending code for the EVAP. I also tried connecting and diagnosing faults using the Lite’s manufacturer-specific diagnostics. This requires you to select the continent of manufacture (Europe), then the manufacturer, model and engine, which opens up various aspects for assessment: ABS, ECU, gearbox and airbag, for example. This route provided access to a much deeper range of systems and live data that goes beyond what the universal EOBD/OBDII route can do.

In this price category, I felt that NT680 Lite offered the best value for money based on the fact that it’s the cheapest device to offer an oil reset function and performs well when analysing faults and live data via the EOBD and manufacturer-specific routes. However, I also found it offered the best overall features for its price. So I chose this as Fast Car’s Best Buy for mid-to-high budgets.

Launch CRP123 Premium

Award: Recommended
RRP: £139.00, buy here. Not available in the US.

This is Launch’s entry-level fault code reader and is the only device in our test that has a two-year warranty. It’s certainly a professional-looking OBD2 scanner at a moderate price, but are looks all you get for your money, or does it offer any additional features? Launch supplies the landscape-shaped device a rubberized protective surround and a separate data link connector cable, but no carrycase.

The typical features for an OBD2 scanner are available, including diagnosing and clearing fault codes, looking them up via a DTC library, switching off the MIL, viewing live and freeze-frame data and assessing I/M monitors. This device will also cater for transmission, ABS and airbag (SRS) systems, although we’re not looking at these for this test.

I liked the simplistic layout of the screen, which begins with three menu options for Diagnose, Settings and Help. Diagnose leads to three more options for EOBD, Scan and Review. The Help options are impressive, with a DTC library and a useful explanation of abbreviations.
Our fault code testing using the Peugeot 107 was successfully diagnosed by the Launch CRP123 using the EOBD route, which correctly displayed each fault code alongside a definition.

We tried to communicate with the 107’s ECU via a manual scan approach, which requires the make and model to be selected along with the system in use. I could then retrieve and clear fault codes and view live data (data stream), although the latter option failed on our old Peugeot 107, but I could appreciate the greater potential for manufacturer-specific diagnostics that the Launch CRP123 offers.

How were the best OBD2 scanners tested?

For an OBD2 scanner to be tested effectively, the car you connect to should already be throwing fault codes. This allows the device to search the car and note down faults. As a result, we used two vehicles, a Peugeot 107 and an Audi A3, both of which had different faults. The Peugeot 107 was showing an Engine Management Light, while the Audi A3 was suffering from a faulty parking sensor. Each OBD2 scanner on test was able to identify the correct faults, while some offered a description as to what the fault was.

What is an OBD2 scanner?

An OBD2 scanner is simply a device that can connect to your vehicle’s diagnostics via an OBD2 port located in your car. The device is able to connect with the vehicle and display a variety of different vehicle diagnostics, with its primary use being the ability to read fault codes being shown by the vehicle. Fault codes can arise from all manner of different issues, covering both minor and major faults. By connecting to the vehicle, you, or a professional, is able to correctly diagnose a fault based on the code being shown. It’s a vital piece of equipment that mechanics use to resolve issues.

Be sure to check out our guide on OBD2 scanners vs readers for more information on diagnostic tools.

Looking for more tools and tech for your garage? Check these out:

• Best screwdriver sets
• Best car battery jump starters
• Best cordless ratchets & drivers
• Best tool set for beginners

Love car shows? Be sure to check out our Fast Car Entertainment events here. 

The post Best OBD2 Scanners In 2024 Tested appeared first on Fast Car.

Historically, a proper car check via typical ‘VIN checkers’ could see you forking out up to £30 per search. And when you’re as picky about your next potential ride as we are, we seldom buy the first car we see. Typically, a modified car fan will view multiple examples before finally committing to a purchase. And if you do a history check for each one, those car bills can quickly mount up.

Not any more. Thanks to Carly and its new Free Car History Checker service. Now, you can simply download the Carly App to your smartphone and check as many cars as you like, all totally free of charge.

What Info Does Carly’s Free Car History Checker Provide?

With Carly’s tool, all it takes is a vehicle registration number to unlock a treasure trove of data. Here’s what you can expect:

• Vehicle Images: See the life journey of the car through collected visuals from various sources.
• Theft Status: Insights from both UK and international stolen vehicle databases.
• Finance Status: Know if there’s any unresolved financial burden on the car.
• Written-off Information: Find out if an insurance claim branded the car beyond repair.
• Mileage History: Cross-verify logged mileages and spot any mileage tampering.
• MOT History: Detailed records of each MOT check, including pass/fail statuses.
• Damage Reports: Comprehensive details about prior damages.
• Salvage Auctions: Uncover hidden damage not flagged by insurance companies.
• Ownership History: Track how many hands the vehicle has passed through.
• Tax Status: Current taxation information.
• Definitive Vehicle Information: From fuel consumption to engine specs and performance metrics.

Knowlegde is Power

Carly’s Free Car History Checker isn’t just a tool; it’s a game-changer for both buyers and sellers in the used car market. For buyers, it is like having an detective in your pocket. One that can sift through all the records to give you a detailed picture of the car’s past. This information is allows buyers to make well-informed decisions, and arms you with negotiating power. Sellers, on the other hand, can build trust with buyers. Being transparent about a car’s history paves the way for smooth, honest transactions.

How to Access the Free Car History Checker

The Free Car History Check is accessible to all new and existing Carly users via their app (available in both free and premium versions). Grab your phone and download the Carly app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Trust in Carly

In an era where transparency can be hard to come by, Carly is setting new standards with its Free Car History Checker. By providing unmatched insights, Carly empowers every car enthusiast and prospective buyer to avoid headaches or potential pitfalls and make informed choices effortlessly. So next time you’re eying that potential new car, remember – Carly’s got your back.

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