General Vehicle Maintenance

Regular vehicle maintenance or preventative maintenance, if you will, can go a long way in making sure your vehicle runs at optimal condition. For example, no one truly enjoys the trips to a mechanic because our brake pads are worn down to the rotors or drums and we have to spend more time and dollars to repair the brake system. What little time it takes to make sure we do the “regular” things to our vehicle, makes the time well spent. The pay me now or pay me later cliché, in this case, is never more true. The following tips will aid you in keeping your vehicle ready to take you wherever you have to go.

Enough can’t be said about regular oil changes and oil filter replacement. Personally, I have oil changes every 2,000 miles. The recommended schedule is every 3, 000 miles. Because of my prompt attention to regular oil and filter changes, I have a 1978 Buick LeSabre with 195,000 miles on it and in 2006 it still runs like a dream. It should go without saying but a lubing of the chassis or “lube job” some call it, should be performed at the same time you have the oil changed.

The air filter, when dirty, is a common problem when you notice your car has less power and is using more fuel. A simple check of the filter will give you an idea of how dirty it is. Mechanics will almost always agree that this simple step can go a long way in improving your vehicle’s performance. Air filters are instrumental in decreasing the amount of dirt, dust and other damaging contaminants going into the engine. Simply put, your vehicle runs less efficiently when the filter is clogged with dirt and grime. Filters should be replaced every 3,000 miles. Also, have the air filter changed when you have an oil change performed on the vehicle to save time or an extra trip to the mechanic.

And while we’re talking about filters, the fuel filter is probably the most overlooked or forgotten item for regular checkups. Auto experts don’t understand why this happens but it does. Remember the Buick I just mentioned? I have had the fuel pumps and fuel filters checked regularly on that vehicle. I can honestly say I get approximately two more miles to the gallon when I calculate mpg/number of gallons of fuel used after I have replaced a fuel filter. Whenever you happen to notice or think to yourself, “I sure am using more gas lately”, check the fuel filter.

Regular replacement of the brake pads is also very important. Many expert mechanics will agree that all parts to the brake system are the most important safety features on an automobile. You must be able to stop your vehicle quickly and safely. All brake pads will wear out eventually. If you start hearing squealing like sounds or the feel of the pedal upon braking is “mushy”, you need to consider that the brake pads are beginning to become worn out. The responsibility of the brake pads is to provide friction with the pad to make braking or stopping possible. Brake pads can be easily diagnosed for wear and tear with regular examinations.

operating in a dance with the distributor and ignition coils. Many things can indicate problems and spark plug wire malfunction. There may be corrosion at the wires or connectors. Resistance can increase as the wires get older. The material encasing the wires may be shredding or wearing out.

The first sign of trouble generally comes when you start noticing a missing or stuttering type action when the vehicle is operating. There’s a significant tugging like symptom that feels to you that your vehicle can’t get the energy to move. Always keep your spark plug wires clean. Always troubleshoot for wires that look worn out or are not properly applied to the spark plugs. Replacing your spark plug wires will mean efficient starting and less ignition type problems that can follow because of worn spark plug wires.

Wash Me! Well maybe this one isn’t actually vehicle “maintenance” per se, but doesn’t a clean vehicle make you feel better? Again, have you ever noticed the vehicle seems to run smoother when she’s clean? Having the engine steam cleaned on a regular maintenance plan can also go a long way in extending the life of your engine. Engine cleaning will keep the corrosion and grime from building up on your spark plug wires too. It will help when you are looking over your engine for leaks, unplugged or loose wiring and keep the corrosion off your vehicle’s battery.

While these aren’t the only “regular maintenance” tips available, you can always research your vehicle’s handbook for other ideas that can help extend its life and keep it running in optimal condition.

Diesel Engines: Tap the Advantage!

If you own a diesel powered vehicle, you probably appreciate the inherent qualities of this type of engine. More torque, better fuel economy, easier maintenance are some of the attributes of owning a diesel powered vehicle. Still, some motorists complain about the engine’s weak power, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. What you may not know is that a diesel engine can be tweaked to produce more power without harming fuel economy. Let’s take a look at diesel engines and what you can do to squeeze out more power.

Thanks to the work of one man, Rudolf Diesel, we have a choice when it comes to driving. Besides hybrid or rotary engines, the chief way most vehicles run is via a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. However, with Diesel’s 1892 patent of the engine that bears his name, diesel power has played a significant role in powering buses and trucks across North America. Some passenger vehicles, particularly pick up trucks, are also diesel powered giving motorists an option to gasoline.

Diesel engines have the following advantages over their gasoline counterparts:

Diesels use air compression to create combustion versus the air/fuel mixture required by gasoline powered cars. This attribute means that diesel engines do not require spark plugs and thus do not have to be tuned up.

Diesel fuel has a higher fuel density than gasoline resulting in fuel economy increases of 20-30% over comparable gasoline powered models.

Diesel engines are cheaper to maintain as they have less parts vs. a gasoline engine. The lifespan of a diesel engine is also significantly longer.

If it is torque you need, particularly for pulling a boat, camper, or equipment, than a diesel engine has the advantage. A diesel engine is definitely slower especially when starting from a dead stop, but when climbing hills or going over bridges, your diesel powered vehicle can definitely handle the challenge.

So, why aren’t more vehicles built in North America diesel powered? A few reasons including:

Stricter emissions control standards. Diesel engines pollute more, so not many manufacturers have improved upon the technology to produce an engine that is environmentally friendly. However, several upcoming engines from VW and others may change all of that.

Not enough power. Yes, a common complaint, even with turbo diesels, is that the engines are not powerful enough. North American drivers are accustomed to getting on the highway with a minimum amount of effort. With a diesel engine, it can take as much as twice as long to get up to full speed.

Fortunately, several aftermarket product developers are helping motorists squeeze out more power from their diesel engines. Performance programmers, made for specific diesel engines, are helping motorists see a nice spike in horsepower as well as increases in torque. The beauty of some of these aftermarket parts is that they don’t harm fuel economy. In fact, some claim to help improve it.

Yes, the number of diesel powered passenger vehicles presently on North American highways is presently very small; however with newer, cleaner and stronger engines on the way, you may soon find yourself opting for a diesel powered vehicle too.

How To Choose Good Floor Mats For Your Car

If you are in the market for good floor mats for your car, consider the after market options instead of those available for purchase through your automobile dealership. In most instances, these after market additions are much cheaper than those items sold directly through your automobile dealership and they have more options for quality products. Typically, there are many different manufacturers of after market accessories for cars, including floor mats that make products specific for different makes and models of cars. For this reason, you are sure to find a floor mat the best fits the exact dimension of your car without having to go through the dealership.

For starters, look to a well constructed floor mat that properly fits into your vehicle. Choosing a floor mat that is too small will not properly protect the floorboard, while choosing a floor mat too large can potentially cause a slipping hazard when entering or exiting the vehicle, or even cause the driver to have an accident if the mat becomes bunched underneath the pedals. Be sure to know the make and model of your car and look to a manufacturer that uses this information in their product development.

Next, choose a floor mat out of an appropriate material. Generally, the choices range between floor mats made of carpet and those made of rubber. If you are looking for style, then choose a carpeted floor mat, but ensure the mat has a stain resistant coating like StainMaster or a similar protective product. Also, choose a carpet color that matches or coordinates well with the interior of your vehicle. Choose a rubber floor mat for hauling or for easy clean up. Especially for truck beds and trunks, having a rubber floor mat can prevent your load from moving when the car breaks or accelerates.

Finally, choose a floor mat that best goes with the interior of your car. The car customization field has grown to dramatic proportions, so consider choosing a mat that is customized to fit your style. These customized mats can include everything from your name to the number of your favorite race car driver so that your car is unique and individual. For example, have a carpeted floor mat embroidered with a specific design or some other customized element to make your vehicle stand out from the rest of the crowd. Also along this customizable line, most manufacturers produce floor mats in a wide variety of colors that can match or coordinate well with the interior of your car and allow you to create a specific look. Whatever your needs and desired look, be sure to first ensure your floor mats are made of high quality materials that will hold up to the wear and tear of constant use and periodical cleaning.

Get the Best Deals on Used Cars

Buying a used car is quite an experience.  The person who is planning to purchase a used car should have some knowledge about the cars, their value and negotiating skills to strike a deal as otherwise he or she will be taken for a ride by the used car dealers and other private car sellers.  Buying a used car makes the buyer save lot of money as any car that grows older has a higher depreciation value even in a good condition.  Also, the person can go for his dream car with a better performance and, safety features for a rock bottom price.  Doing a little bit of research and checking with lot of car dealers will enable the purchaser buy a used car with the best deal possible.

Used cars can be bought from either car dealers or direct from the owners or from auctions made by government firms, or from police car auctions or repossessed cars can be bought from financial institutions.

It is good to buy used car from a car dealer or person who has good reputation and brand image in the automobile industry.  There are many kinds of sources from which a used car can be purchased.  All the avenues should be checked in order to strike the best deal.  If the purchaser is very particular in getting a car of his choice, the car dealer can be informed about the required features of the car, make, model, color and willingness to pay to get a car of his choice.  This will make the search easier for both the car dealer and the purchaser.

The working condition of the used car which is being purchased cannot be known just by seeing the car. It needs to be test driven to get the feel of the performance of the car on various road conditions and traffic.

The maintenance record of the used car needs to be checked thoroughly. If it is not available it can be got from the place where it is usually repaired or maintained to find any discrepancies. If the purchaser does not have enough knowledge about cars, help from a mechanic or person with sound knowledge on cars can be taken to inspect the car while purchasing a used car.

Internet is a good source of information regarding used cars and help from people who have purchased used cars can be asked for guidance on making the best deal.  The best tips are that the car is not purchased on the same day of enquiry. Enough time should be taken to look around for best used cars and also negotiations will only happen if the purchaser shows interest in buying and keeping the decision open for some time.

It is not advised to ask for a monthly payment plan for buying the used car, as many dealers make up the cost and will give a very attractive plan but the buyer may end up with huge costs on purchasing the car.  The interest rates they charge, the term for repaying the amount, all kinds of fees and the overall cost can all be manipulated. Hence all the details possible should be gathered and checked to find out how much it would cost at the end of the purchase.

Car Washing 101

Cleaning a car is a piece of cake, right?

It is if you follow the procedures suggested by the Car Care Council. While it’s the most basic procedure in car care, it does require some thought.

Research shows that 52 percent of American car owners wash their cars less than once a month, with 15 percent never washing their cars. An estimated 37 million cars smell because of interior garbage, according to a consumer survey conducted by the International Carwash Association.

To get started, you must have the right supplies for the job:

* finish-safe wheel cleaner;

* a soft brush;

* a 3- to 5-gallon bucket;

* liquid car-washing detergent;

* a hose with pistol-grip nozzle, if possible;

* car-washing mitts or soft all-cotton towels;

* several all-cotton towels or synthetic chamois for drying.

Give the car a good rinsing from top to bottom, including the wheels and inside the fenders. Always clean the tires and wheels before washing the body, and don’t use the same mitt for both. This way you’ll avoid contaminating the vehicle’s paint with debris from the wheels and tires.

Use a good tire cleaner with a stiff brush to improve the appearance of your tires. Next, clean the wheels with a wheel cleaner that removes the brake dust, which often blackens the front wheels.

To wash the body, use a product sold specifically for automobiles; household cleaners can strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish. Starting at the top, wash one section at a time, thoroughly rinsing away the soap before moving on to the next section. Work your way down toward the front, sides and rear of the vehicle.

To rinse, start at the top, and let the water cascade down the surfaces of the vehicle. To avoid water spotting, dry with a chamois or similar product.

Then follow up by waxing, which not only protects the finish but also makes subsequent washing easier. Before proceeding, use a car cleaner to remove contaminants embedded in the paint.

Once the surface is clean, apply the wax, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Best and Worst Baby Car Seats

With so many baby car seat models being sold, many new parents feel overwhelmed and stressed out about which one is the best choice.  It’s such an important decision!  The last thing you’d want is to have your child in a baby car seat that does not provide the maximum amount of protection for your child in the event that you have a car crash.

One of the great things about the Internet is that you can research virtually anything in the comfort of your own home.  Sure, there’s a lot of trivial, useless stuff out there, but there’s also a lot of practical information we can use in our everyday lives.  When it comes to researching something like a baby car seat, consumer protection organizations often have elaborate websites that are the perfect places to get what you need.

Consumer Reports is a famous organization devoted to giving consumers detailed information about products of all kinds – including your next baby car seat.  In May, 2005, the good people at Consumer Reports conducted a detailed test of several brands of car seats.  They wanted to find the best (and worst) baby car seat being sold, based on crash protection, ease of use, and proper vehicle fit.  Here are the results for both infant car seats and convertible car seats.

Best & Worst Infant Baby Car Seat

An infant baby car seat is made for babies up to about 20 lbs. (birth to 9 months).  In this category, the best baby car seat was the Britax Companion.  It rated ‘Very Good to Excellent’ on crash protection, ‘Very Good’ on ease of use, and ‘Excellent’ on vehicle fit.  The only drawback with this model of baby car seat was price.  At $170, it was among the highest priced seats on the market.

The baby car seat that scored lowest (of those tested) was the Evenflo PortAbout 5 (Premier Comfort Touch).  It rated only ‘Fair to Good’ on crash protection, ‘Very Good’ on ease of use, and ‘Excellent’ on vehicle fit.  While it scored among the highest in the latter two categories, the primary concern with any baby car seat is protection, and this one just doesn’t pass muster.

Best & Worst Convertible Baby Car Seat

A convertible baby car seat is designed for children up to about 35 lbs. in rear-facing models and up to 40 lbs. for front-facing seats.  Among these child seats, the Evenflo Titan 5 scored an impressive ‘Excellent’ rating in both crash protection and vehicle fit.  It rated ‘Very Good’ on ease of use.  Overall, this is an excellent baby car seat!

The worst score in this category was given to the Britax Marathon baby car seat.  The only real problem with this model is the latch, which had some problems and drove the ratings down for crash protection and vehicle fit.  It’s still rated ‘Excellent’ in several categories, so even this baby car seat isn’t a bad buy.  You just want to be sure that the latch works properly in your particular vehicle.

How Hybrid Cars Work

A hybrid car is such a car in which two types of motors are synchronized to provide power to the wheels. The most popular combination is the one in which the gasoline engine is assisted by the electric motor so that the gas engine is periodically shut off in order to reserve fuel.

Usually hybrid cars are subdivided into two major categories.

In the first type, only the use of electric motor propels the engine at very low speeds. The electric motor has the inherent ability to assist the engine when more power is required. It helps out the gasoline engine even while climbing or passing a steep road. The Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota Prius fall into the initial category.

The second of its kind requires extra horsepower for its gasoline engine to drive while in rapid acceleration or when moving up the hill. It utilizes that excess power only from the electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine. The Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid are ideal examples of the second category. These two engines do possess some resemblances as well.

When electric motor is used to assist the gasoline engine, both of the hybrids extract power from the battery depleting power, which in turn gets simultaneously self-recharged from the gasoline engine. Hence a hybrid car does not need to be plugged into a power source to recharge its battery, which is the most important aspect of hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars usually utilize sealed nickel metal hydride batteries, a technology which is popularly used in laptops and cell phones. These batteries are easy to make, cost effective and long lasting thus making it ideal for a higher valued car.

Hybrid engineers more than often have opted for unconventional design facets to maximize aerodynamics inside the engine, giving rise to its slim structure. These car units originally have very low (ultra low) drag coefficient due to sleek configurations, which make the cars slippery. All carmakers strive to reduce drag, as a vehicle with less drag requires less power as well as fuel to move.

The electrical system is monitored by an onboard computer system. The system is program controlled in such a way that when the vehicle is coasting downhill or the brakes are applied, polarity of the system is automatically reversed as the motor actually turns into an energy generating unit. This process is popularly known as regenerative where the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy stores up power into the battery.

All hybrid cars normally shut the gasoline engine off during road signals so as to conserve fuel reserve. The phenomenon is called idle stop characteristics. It cuts electrical consumption down during idle condition other than fuel saving and emission reduction. On pressing the accelerator paddle, the gasoline engine resumes work getting assistance from electric motor. The process being silent and seamless, the loss or delay in overall performance during this time is almost negligible.

The hybrids are manufactured by a special forging process termed as shot peeing, which reduces friction in the sidewalls of the cylinder thus increasing efficiency.

Hybrid cars, thus, by virtue of their technological advancement, exceptional fuel economy and marginal gas emissions, can be easily termed as the next generation cars.

Helpful Tips For Buying A New Car

Buy a new car can be fun and exciting, but it can also be very stressful. After all, it’s a big decision. If you are organized, armed with the knowledge and understand the game, you’ll find the experience much more enjoyable, so here are some tips for buying a new car.

Start with the basics. Decide what type, size and price range fits your needs and then move on to the details of the deal.

The invoice price is what the dealer paid for the car, excluding incentives for the vehicle manufacturer. The sticker price is the price the dealer wants to pay for that car, including any optional packages that may be in that vehicle.

Find out the invoice cost of the car. This is the key to the kind of operation can be obtained. Once you know what the dealer paid, you can better negotiate with the dealer. The dealer usually will not give this information, so you’ll have to play detective and round until it yourself.

You can obtain this information by spending less than $ 20 and call the Consumer Reports New Car Price Service. It is a good investment because it usually results in a saving of $ 1,200.

Now is the time to prepare for negotiations. Ask the salesperson to discuss the basis of marks in costs. Never negotiate out of the price tag. You’ve got the invoice price and that is what the negotiations off. What kind of operation you can get depends largely on the supply and demand.

If the car you are seeing is a huge demand, but not many of them available you could end up paying the full sticker price. In other models, you can land by paying only $ 500 over invoice and that it would be a good thing!

Beware of “for just a few” game. It is a game to sell services and goods are often not necessary – undercoating, fabric protection, rust proof, glass engraving, additional guarantees, etc. Some of these services are nice, but most are not required. Be careful because it can quickly add a couple thousand dollars for their expenses. Therefore, do not get caught in the “just a few dollars more, you can have”

If you have a vehicle you are going to trade, do not revealing this information to the seller until the price of new cars has been established and agreed. In this way the price they receive for their trade is the real amount being offered more than some inflated figure on paper. Then you can decide if you really want to trade your vehicle in. Often, the private sale is a better choice.

Keep your stress by knowing what you want before you begin. When it comes time to get your financing in place to know what size payment you are comfortable with their work, and to comply with the terms that the payment size. Again, do not get caught up in game sales.

These tips for buying a new car will have relaxed and smiling throughout the process.

Five Tips On Making Your Car More Fuel Efficient

With gas prices sky high most individuals who are interested in ways to make their car more fuel efficient and save as much money as possible. While there are no fuel saving tips that will keep your car full of gas without filling, there are some tips that can really help you save money on fuel over the long term. All of these tips focus on making your car more fuel efficient.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #1 Drive When You Crank Up
This might seem obvious, but as soon as you crank up your car you should drive off. However, many people crank up and leave the car idling for a while. Instead of this, when you crank up drive off and only keep your car running when it is absolutely necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #2 Don’t Ride the Break
Many drivers hit the break more often than is necessary. Additionally there are quite a few drivers that slow down for a braking car when they could easily switch lanes. Not riding the break can increase your fuel efficiency by up to 30%, so this is a great tip you should follow.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #3 Turn Off Your Car
If you are going to be stopping for more than 10 minutes you should switch off your car to keep fuel efficiency at its peak and not burn more gas than is necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #4 Don’t Turn Off Your Car
If you are only stopping for a brief moment or less than 5 minutes then don’t turn off your car because the amount of gas used to crank up is more than you would burn in that short period of time.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #5 Inflate Tires Properly
Too many drivers never think of their tires, unless one goes flat. However, having tires that are properly inflated can save fuel and make your car more fuel efficient, saving you money. Because of this, you should check your tire pressure on a regular basis.

While gas prices don’t seem like they will be dipping considerably in the next few months every tip to help you make your car more fuel efficient is helpful. So, follow the above fuel tips and you will see that over time your car really is more fuel efficient.

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