Kamis, 09 Februari 2012

madysoto: Car Battery Cleaning Made Easy

madysoto: Car Battery Cleaning Made Easy: Did you ever go to jumpstart your car, and notice that you can barely see your battery underneath all the gunk? This 'gunk' is actually ...

Car Battery Cleaning Made Easy

Did you ever go to jumpstart your car, and notice that you can barely see your battery underneath all the gunk? This 'gunk' is actually battery corrosion, which is formed by acid condensation. Since this is formed by acid, a basic chemical solution will do the cleaning trick. Battery acid is actually very easy to clean away with a common household item- baking soda! But still, precautions must be followed. This article will inform you step by step how to clean the battery while keeping safe.
First, you will need to gather supplies for this project. Most of these items you may already have in your home.
  • Safety glasses or goggles
  • Box of baking soda
  • Adjustable pliers with insulated handles
  • Screwdrivers with insulated handles
  • A small, stiff-bristled brush (an old toothbrush will work just fine!)
  • Assorted small open-end and box wrenches
  • Small metal or plastic scraper
  • Special battery tools, including a cable puller and cable terminal cleaning brushes
  • A turkey baster or small funnel
  • All-purpose household cleaner in a spray bottle
  • Sponges or clean cloths
  • A source of ample clean water such as a garden hose or a large bucket and sponge
  • Rubber gloves for protecting your hands
There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when getting ready to clean the battery. First of all, you safety glasses and gloves must be worn to protect your eyes and skin from sulfuric acid that can linger in the corrosion deposits. Also, this material can eat away at your car's paint, so keep it away from that as well.
Because the amount of dirt and corrosion on batteries may differ from one another, battery cleaning will vary, so some of the steps below may or may not need to be performed. Sometimes, to thoroughly remove severe corrosion and dirt, you may even need to remove the battery from the vehicle.
First, scrape off any white or greenish corrosion deposits with the stiff-bristled brush or small metal or plastic scraper. Next, use the solution of baking soda mixed with water, approximately one heaping tablespoon to each pint of water. Carefully apply it to the outside of the battery and its cable connections with the turkey baster or small funnel. Then, you can use your brush to work the baking soda solution into the heavily corroded areas. If you find that the cable clamps or terminals are badly corroded at the battery, you can disconnect them for easier cleaning. For this, you may need to use pliers, assorted wrenches and a small battery cable puller to disconnect them. You should disconnect the negative first, followed by the positive.
Then, use your battery cable scrapers or brush to remove the corrosion from the terminals, battery posts and hold down clamps and brackets. Flush these parts with your baking soda solution to rid them of any trace of corrosion. After this, wash the outside of the battery, the cable ends and the hold down parts with a liquid cleaner in a spray bottle. After that, use a sponge or rag to get off any remaining dirt or grease. After everything is clean, dry off the battery and all its parts with a dry rag or cloth.
The final step is just reinstalling any part that was removed and tightening everything so it is secure. Reconnect the battery, positive cable first. You're done! You're battery is now safe and clean. 

source: http://www.enginestar.com/remanufactured-engines.html

Importance of Oil Change in Vehicles!

 
Changing vehicle oil on a regular basis is an extremely important task which offers a number of benefits to vehicle owners.

Oil plays an extremely important role of providing lubrication in the engine. Apart from lubricating engine parts, the oil also performs other important roles like cleaning of engine, reducing pollutants, stopping the formation of sludge and cooling the vehicle. But, if it is not changed on a regular basis, it can result in engine failure and engine wear and tear thus causing huge loss in terms of vehicle performance.

Some of the major benefits offered by oil change include improved gas mileage, improved engine stability and life, increased performance etc. All the benefits have been discussed below in detail.

Improvement in gas mileage

This is one of the major benefits offered by routine oil change. If the engine oil is not changed from a long time, it becomes less viscous and starts losing its ability to lubricate and protect elements of engine. As a result, friction occurs between moving parts of the engine thus causing wear and tear. The more will be the friction, the more the engine needs to work in order to overcome that friction. On the other hand, new oil is extremely viscous, smooth and allows engine to move smoothly with smallest friction.

Improves engine stability and life

This is another important benefit offered by regular oil change to vehicle owners. It improves the life of the engine thus making it functional for years to come. Oil change on a regular basis keeps engine clean. Clean engine shows less signs of ageing and offers an excellent performance for a longer time period.

Increased performance

We all know that performance of a vehicle majorly depends on the condition of the engine. If it is good, performance increases.

Stops noise produced by vehicle

Regular changes of engine oil also prevent the parts of an engine from coming into contact with each other. This helps in reducing the noise made by the vehicle. Moreover, it also reduces the temperature of the engine.

Thus, it becomes clear that regular oil change offers a number of advantages to vehicle owners. Getting oil change performed by an auto service centre is a good decision. There are many auto service centers offering such services to vehicle owners. One needs to do a deep research in order to find a reliable service center which uses quality products and motor oil. Individuals can take help from internet in this regard.

source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_5431.shtml

Parts Of Your Auto Air Conditioning System


If your auto air conditioning system is giving you problems, you probably need the help of a specialist. However, sometimes you can fix some of the more minor problems yourself, or at least arrange for a stopgap measure until you actually get the time to visit a car repair shop. For that you need to be familiar with the inner workings of your auto air conditioning system, and be acquainted with the more common problems that such systems face.

The first thing you need to realize is that the A/C in your car is basically just a fridge. You have mostly the same parts, with a design change. Given below are the most common parts of a car air conditioner:-

The Compressor: - The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant and circulates it throughout your car. Compressors usually malfunction if there is a leak in the system

The Condenser: - The condenser's job is twofold. First, as can be guessed from its name, the condenser cools the refrigerant by removing excess heat from it. Second, it catches any debris coming from the compressor. Condensers are expensive and cannot be replaced frequently; at least not without causing a severe dent in your pocket, so it's better to clean and repair them when necessary.

The Refrigerant: - This is what collects the heat from inside your vehicle and dumps it outside. In modern cars it's a substance called R134a, whereas older cars have something called Freon. Freon has been gradually phased out because of the damage it causes to the ozone layer.

The Expansion Valve: - This is a type of nozzle that controls the pressure and flow of the refrigerant.

The Evaporator: - This transfers the heat from your car to the refrigerant, effectively cooling your car.

These are the basic parts of your car air conditioner, and while knowing them will not allow you to do the work of a skilled auto technician, they can help identify the more common A/C related problems and decide which one needs immediate attention.

For those looking to fix their auto air conditioning, Tucson has quite a few options. However, the one name that most auto enthusiasts of the area trust is Brakemax. They provide complete car care of the highest quality, and if you love your car and would not entrust it to anyone but the best, you need to visit brakemax.com and check out their services immediately.

source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_5441.shtml

SteelSeal Head Gasket Sealer

Steel Seal Head Gasket sealer. An ingenious product that claims to be able to seal blown head gaskets and even small cracks in your cylinder head.

Popular Tire Types


When you walk into a Fox Lake tire shop you may notice that you have many options when choosing your tires. Even within the major categories of tires there are more sub-categories to sort through. So even though you may know what driving situation you find yourself driving in most, you may still have trouble choosing a tire. Here is a quick breakdown of the different kinds of tires so you know what to look for at your Fox Lake tire shop.

All Season Tires (Passenger) – All season tires are exactly what they sound like. They are made to be used all year round. They are build to be a balance between grip, performance, longevity, noise reduction, and wet weather safety. The rubber these tires are made of is harder than other tires in order to increase it tread life. These tires are often the original tires on new cars because how mutli-use they are.

There are a few varying performance levels for these tires. Ultra high takes away some traction for higher speed performance. High performance tires are great for sedans and sports coupes. And grand touring tires are good for longer riding.

Touring Tires (Passenger) – Touring tires are a combination of all season tires and performance tires. These tires can be used on most cars and minivans. While the look like performance tires, they have the handling, tread life, and smooth ride of all seasons.

The main difference found within the touring tires category are the varying stability and traction as well as the look of the tires. When shopping at a Woodstock tire store, just keep in mind your driving situation to help you choose a touring tire.

Performance Tires (Passenger) – These tires are designed for speed demons. The rubber of these tires is softer to increase traction and handling when speeding around corners. These tires also have wider treads than all season tires so they make better contact with the road.

Ultra High Performance Tires (Passenger) – These tires are rather self-explanatory. They have the best high speed traction and control of any tire. They also have a high speed rating of 150mph. They are made of a very soft rubber for the best grip on the road, though they give up traction for this grip.

Original Equipment Tires – These tires are the ones found on new cars. Car manufactures work with tire makers to produce the best possible tire for the car so when the new owners take it off the lot the ride is smooth. They also request the tire makers to put more markings on the tires to help the new owners buy new tires when the time comes. You wont find these at your Woodstock tire store.

Snow Tires – These tires are specially made for cold weather and snowy conditions. They are made of soft rubber so that they can grip the icy ground and they also heat up to melt the snow under it. They are made with more sipes than traditional tires so that they can move the snow out from under them so they can reach the road.

These are not tires you want to use year round. When the snow melts, make sure your switch your tires back to other tires meant for dry roads.

All Terrain Tires (Light Truck) – Many light trucks and SUVs use all terrain tires. They are made with stiff side walls in order to prevent punctures. They also have large block treads to give them a lot of traction on mud, sand, and dirt.

Mud Terrain Tires (Light Truck) – These tires are specially made for off roading. They have even larger block treads for driving through mud, dirt, and sand and they are also wider which prevents the tires from sinking into the terrain.

source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_5457.shtml

8 Must Know Tips Before Buying A Radar Detector

Radar detectors are electronic devices designed to detect radio waves. Radar detectors detect radio signals across a range of wavelengths ---X, K, Ka and Ku. Radar detectors are used for a variety of purposes across the world. Radar detectors help alert motorists regarding speed traps and radar guns. Radar detectors are also used in tracking, fishing, and exploration.

When buying a radar detector consider:

1. What you are going to use it for? State of the art radar detectors are expensive so you would need to have a clear idea of what you would like to spend.

2. Think about whether you are going to install the radar detector yourself or are you going to have it professionally installed.

3. It is important to choose a radar detector manufactured by a well known electronics company and a radar that can detect a wide range: Ka, K, X, and so on.

4. Try and get a radar detection unit that has a minimum of 100db. Ideally a unit with a memory function is desirable.The more sensitive a radar unit is the more beneficial it will be.

5. Look for a radar unit with a clear display that can be seen at night. Find one that has an adjustable volume as well as mute option.

6. Ask for a long range detector with high sensitivity.

7. Find out what the technical specifications are as well as the pros and cons of the radar detector.

8. Try and get a radar detector model that has a city/ highway mode. This will limit false alarms greatly.

9. Look for radar detectors with extra features like Vg-2 Alert and Vg-2 Non-detection. These features are valuable in states where using radar detectors is illegal.

10. Ask whether the detector has a voice feature this will ensure that the driver is not disturbed.

Radar detectors retail between USD 100-200 . choose a well known brand like BEL, Escort, K40, or Valentine One. They manufacture radar detectors using updated technologies and take market competition seriously.

Radar detectors can be bought retail or online. Online sites sell the best radar detectors at the most affordable rates. You can mount radar detector on the windshield, dash, or visor. If you want a radar detector custom mounted you will have to spend over a 1000 dollars. Experts recommend an easy to remove mounting system so that you can use the same radar detector in different cars.

Take the advice of experts on the best detector to buy and its placement. Electronics are being constantly upgraded so find out aspects like the frequency in your area and the kind of speed detectors that are in use by the police before making a purchase.

Before you invest in a radar detector find out what the laws in your state are.

source: http://www.1855radardetectors.com/

Angel Eyes for your ride's headlights

Want Camaro angel eyes? Why not try angel eyes on your BMW Headlights?

source: http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Angel-Eyes-for-your-ride-s-headlights/1954772

History Of Porsche


The start of Porsche didn't start with the first Porsche car it actually started much earlier than that back in the 20th century. Check out the interesting history of Porsche.
1900: Ferdinand Porsche invented the wheel hub motor which made the Porsche name famous around the world. The Lohner Porsche Electric Car was displayed at the Paris Expo.
1928: Daimler Technical Director F. Porsche developed the Mercedes SS and SSK super charged sports car.
1931: In Stuttgart Ferdinand Porsche founded the Porsche Engineering Office.
1936: In the backyard of the Porsche villa in Stuttgart extensive testing was done on the first VW prototypes.
1938: Ferdinand Porsche directed the first VW assembly lines in Wolfsburg. The type 60 had seen the finishing touches and was read for production. Too bad that WWII interfered with the plan delaying the production of VW until 1946.
1947: Ferdinand Porsche Jr's next design was a Grand Prix racing car created in Gmünd, Austria.
1948: Ferry Porsche build's Porsches first sports car the 356 which is based on the VW parts. This roadster is the first to wear the Porsche name.
1949: The Torino Motor Show features the 12 cylinder Cisitalia race car with it's 385 bhp at 10,600 rpm. This car's top speed was an impressive 186 MPH and the four wheel drive gave great control. It was definitely the talk of the era impressing a considerable number of sports car buffs.
1950: A new chapter in the Porsche legacy begins back in Zuffenhausen where they finally become an independent auto factory. This change resulted in some considerable changes to the way Porsche did business.
1951: Ferdinand Porsche Sr. dies at the age of 75. It was a sad day but Porsche as a company didn't miss a beat with family continuing on. The 356 gets it's first international win in the 1100 CC class.
1953: The Fuhrman engine is presented in the Porsche 550 Spyder. This 1.5 L four cylinder engine has an impressive 110 BHP that definitely turned heads.
1956: Commemorated the 25th anniversary of Porsche and at the same time the 10,000th Porsche produced hits the streets.
1961: A new Porsche is in the works that included a 6 cylinder engine. Ferry Porsche's son Ferdinand designed the body.
1963: The 911 is presented at the Frankfurt International Automobile Show. The rear air cool engine concept is retained.
1964: The production of the 911 begins and so does the production of the 911 coupe.
1969: These were the year of the 914-4 and 914-6 mid engine mount sports cars. Both showed at the Frankfurt Motor Show and both win the World Championships for the working class.
1970: The 917 with its 4.5 liter 12 cylinder boxer engine is introduced to the world and it wins almost every competition it enters.
1971: The Weissach Research and Development Center work begins.
1972: Porsche goes public.
1974: The 911 Turbo is the beginning of a completely new Porsche era.
1975: The 924 is introduced. This is the first transaxle sports car and the engine is at the front with the transmission and drive wheels at the rear.
1977: The 928 production begins in Stuttgart. It had a light alloy V8 engine with transaxle configuration combined with the Weissach axle.
1982: The 956 is the most successful sports car of the time.
1982: Porsche Type 956
1985: The 959 spearheaded the technology of the era with only a limited number built and it was the first sports car to win the Parkis Dakar
1988: The 911 Carrera 4 was launched.
1989: The tiptronic four speed automatic transmission was introduced and what was neat about this transmission is could be operated manually or as an automatic. This was the first time it was seen in the 911 Carrera 2.
1993: The first Boxer concept car was launched and it was shown at the Detroit Auto Show. It was also where the new 911 Carrera was launched.
1995 The new 911 Turbo came to market staring it bi-turbo engine. It was the first production car to have an onboard diagnosis II and the lowest emissions of any car on the market.
1996: The production of the new Porsche Boxtser mid engine roadster begins.
1997: The 911 was released with a water cooled six cylinder boxer engine.
The history of Porsche never ceases to amaze the world with their uncompromising quality and sexy sporty cars that still today attract an elite market that has a true understanding of sports car class.
The Porsche of today is still about the sports car. But today there are innovative solutions to technical problems. Today's Porsche has amazing handling, agility, electronic gadgets that are improved over the past, better fuel economy, a higher safety rating, and even an environmentally friendly build.
The Porsche price range is wide starting at around $107,000 and going up over $300,000 so there's a car for every budget. 
source: http://www.porschesworld.com/

Space Saving Small Cars


With petrol prices continuing to increase and cars becoming more expensive to run, people are turning to small cars to solve their problems. These cars have gained incredible popularity due to their compact size, cost and fuel efficiency. These cars have contributed in a major way to the modern car industry and almost all of the major manufacturers around the world offer a range of compact vehicles.

The size of the car ranges from 4400mm and 4750mm long for convertibles, 4100mm and 4450mm long for hatchbacks. Small family cars based on sports utility vehicle design range from 4400mm to 4750mm in the international based models and for the U.S. models it is 4200mm to 4500mm. The considerations of compact cars in Japan are under certain conditions and they are as follows: the vehicle needs to be 3.4m long, 1.48m wide, 2m height with an engine capacity of 660cc to 2000cc, 4.7m long, 1.7m wide, and 2m height. There are no special considerations for hatchbacks, minivans, SUV’s or CUV’s. They run on either diesel or petrol with an engine capacity of 1.5 litres to 2.4 litres, some are 1.3 litres to 1.4 litres units for economy models, within an absolute range of 100 bph and 170 bph.

In the year 1950, the compact class was introduced, built on a 2500mm wheelbase and to it were added hardtops, hatchback and station wagon designs. The “compact” term was coined by the American motor industry, and is now used all over the world. It was between the 1958 and 1960 when modern compact cars were greatly expanded. During the 1960’s small vehicles evolved into slightly smaller versions with 6 cylinder engines, with two-bench six-passenger sedan but were among the smallest in North America.

Consumers today seek vehicles in the U.K. that are fuel efficient as well as fun to drive and for this reason the sale of small cars are at an all time high. Manufacturers are coming up with new ideas and innovative designs in this sector which is proving extremely popular. According to information in 2010 these smaller versions of cars made up about one third of the overall car sales.

Over the next few years, with fuel prices expected to steadily increase even more, the sale of small cars is set to rocket. Not only do small cars save you money in terms of buying them, running them and fuelling them, buy they save a lot of space on the driveway and in the garage.

Source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_5468.shtml

Rabu, 08 Februari 2012

Scooters A Versatile And User Friendly Mobility Device

Scooters, the name itself brings to our mind a vehicle, which is usually a two- wheeler and helps us to be mobile. A scooter before used to be motorized scooter but from time to time there have been various upgrades on scooters and now we have many types of scooters that are available in the market. With the upgrades a lot of different accessories are also available for the scooters.

First let us see the various kinds of scooters that are available in the market:

Electric scooters: Electric scooters come in different sizes from small and portable to full-sized and rugged. Apart from a two-wheeler electric scooter also comes as a three-wheel travel scooter or a four-wheel travel scooter. These scooters also have a backrest to ease your back. These scooters are not only comfortable but also portable. It is amazing to note the speeds that these electric scooters can achieve and the ride is also smooth. Now you can ride around on an electric scooter and do your work in style.

Zap scooters: These are a stand up electric scooter that reaches a maximum speed of 12 mph. It has a powerful motor and a stability of a three wheel that makes kids and adults love it.

Tri King, the Buzz Around and the Feather lite are additional name brand three wheel scooters you have the option of reviewing. The prices on many of the three wheel scooters are similar. You should review the size of the motor, consider if you are purchasing new or used, and you should also include the price of shipping or delivery when considering the costs of your new three wheel scooter.

Razor scooters: Razor scooters are motorized scooters that are available for the kids. These scooters are available for the age group 5 yrs and above. They are usually small sized and portable vehicle.

Gas powered scooters: These kinds of scooters run on fuel and have got an engine. These scooters are motorized scooters also known as mobility scooters. They are stylish and light weighted vehicles. They are also reliable and sophisticated by nature.

Basically, gas scooters electric scooters and gas-powered scooters are by far the best-engineered, trouble-free scooters in the world. These gas scooters and electric scooters are made of the highest quality, materials, and components. The braking on these scooters is handled by powerful, highly technological front disc brake that stops exactly when you want it to. These scooters are designed for demanding riders who love a machine with handling capabilities and that will facilitate just about any type of maneuver one may desire to perform. And, should you crave for more performance; fear not, your craze for these wheelers can be satisfied with scooter parts and accessories that will thrill your soul. You can have your own custom made versions having knobby off-road tires, as well as graphically done footboards, complimented with extraordinary colors and cool paint schemes.

Source: Free Article

Refresh Engine with Radiators

Automotive radiators are the important components of a vehicle's cooling system. A vehicle's cooling system is intended to protect the engine from the destructive forces of too much heat. Radiators take charge of removing excess heat from the engine even under the most extreme conditions. Cooling the motor helps it last longer, taking the vehicle to the distance. If the system isn't in good repair, simple tasks such as sitting idle in rush-hour traffic can cause a vehicle to overheat even when temperatures drop below the freezing mark.


Radiators extend engine life, and keep the vehicle's engine at a safe and efficient operating temperature. Without passing the hot coolant through the cool metal grates or cooling cores of the radiator, the incredible heat under the hood of the car or truck would cause the vehicle to very rapidly overheat, potentially leaving the driver stranded. Intense heat could also destroy other parts of the engine that can be very costly to replace. The radiator is a heat exchanger designed to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. After which, it transfers the heat from the fluid inside to the air outside, thus cooling the engine. This heat-dissipating device is connected to channels running through the engine and cylinder head, through which pumps a liquid.

On some cars, the radiator fan is electrically driven and comes on automatically even after the engine has been turned off. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery before starting to work to keep away from injury. Since the engine works harder than most of auto parts, it has a tendency to overheat; therefore, it needs a cooling system that would keep it operating at the right temperature. Radiators protect the engine from the destructive forces of too much heat.

When you find a leak because of a rock, a hose, or sometimes because of an accident, replace the radiator to allow motor to continue working and be cooled as it should. Overtime, dirt, dust and rust can build up and clog the essential components of the car's radiator. Therefore, routine maintenance can slow this process and makes the life of the radiator temporarily longer. Timely radiator replacement is also important when the current car radiator wears out.

Be aware of the serious responsibility that comes with driving and car maintenance. Reduce much of the risks with cars by simply being safety conscious and always check radiators to guarantee protection and long time performance of automobiles.

Source : Free Article