Friday, March 29, 2013

The Mysteries of the Oil Change


File:US Navy 090701-N-5821P-052 Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Tony Perkins performs a routine oil change to a 42 Tow Tractor.jpg

From that very first time you sat behind the wheel of a car, there has always been that little sticker in the top left of the windshield that tells you when to get your oil changed. Often the sticker will say the name of the company that last changed the oil, as well as at what mile this company suggests you get the oil changed. While yes, it is a very informative sticker, what the sticker fails to inform us about is why. Why is it so important to get the oil changed every few thousand miles?

To begin we must first know what oil does.

Oil Lubricates. Motor oil is used to prevent the wear and tear of an engine due to metal on metal friction. Oil seeps into the different tiny nooks and crannies in the metals, allowing for the now frictionless engine to run efficiently.

Oil Cleans. Oil cleans the engine by catching dirt and tiny pieces of debris that can damage bearings and other parts of the car.

Oil Cools. Oil absorbs the heat from the different frictions and combustions happening in your car. Oil helps cool the underside of the pistons, the crankshaft, bearings, rods and more.

Now that you know what oil does, what happens if you never choose to change your oil? If you refrain from changing your oil, dirt and debris will build up in the oil and eventually, when this mixes with the different detergents and additives already in the aging oil, the oil with become thick and sludgy, no longer working as a lubricant and ultimately leading to the demise of your car. Yikes!

So, keep an eye out for that sticker on your windshield and don’t forget to change your oil!

Friday, March 22, 2013

10 Coolest Car Facts

 Funny Facts About Cars thumbnail

The history of the automobile is lengthy in America! Cars have been on the road for over 100 years across the country. Wondering what the weirdest things about cars are? Check out these fun car facts from eHow!

The Early Days

  • The first speeding tickets were given out in 1902, when the top speed of most cars was around 45 miles per hour.
  • Some of the first cars ever made used a pair of levers to steer. Steering wheels weren't introduced for several years.
  • Even before the Model T, the first popular American car was the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, which sold new for $650.
  • The first car ever produced in America for sale was known as the Duryea. Only one model is known to still exist.
  • Before the 1920s, cars didn't have gas gauges. Drivers had to estimate how much fuel was left, or risk running out.

For Drivers

  • Cleveland was the first city in the United States to get a traffic light in 1914.
  • In 1972 the average speed of cars on Los Angeles freeways was 60 miles per hour. Ten years later, the growing traffic problem dropped that number to 17 miles per hour.
  • The average American will spend two weeks of her life stopped at red lights.
  • To drive on all of the paved roads in the United States, you would have to drive nonstop at 100 miles per hour for over four years.
  • The first car insurance policy was issued in Westfield, Massachusetts, in 1897.

Read the original article here: http://www.ehow.com/about_5280598_funny-cars.html#ixzz2OHBzl0H0

Friday, March 15, 2013

Air Powered Car Tech

No one likes walking up to the pump and spending over $3 a gallon for gas. But what if you could run your car on something else, something that is everywhere and inexpensive to get? What if you could be driving a car that ran on nothing but air?! It seems too good to be true, almost like something out of science fiction, but...



“That's what Peugeot-Citroen says it will be selling: A hybrid car that runs on a combination of gasoline and air. Digital Trends has an explainer on how they think it works, but they admit they were looking at poorly translated press releases. It seems to use hydraulic power to keep the car running and powering it up to speeds of 43 mph.
In recent years, volatile gasoline prices and worries about long-term supply have sent consumers and entrepreneurs alike searching for alternate fuels and alternate energy sources to power their cars.
Companies all over the world are looking for the newest fuel that will power our vehicles in the future, under the belief that at some point, oil will start running out. In fact, here's a look at some wacky, yet plausible, fuel alternatives that are in the process of development right now that could eventually find their way into your car's gas tank.
Peugeot isn't the first company to think about using air. A small British company is making fuel out of thin air, developing a process that uses air and electricity to manufacture a synthetic fuel that has already powered a Lotus in test drivers.
This one is still a ways away. The company behind the technology, Air Fuel Synthesis, wants to build a full-scale refinery, but that could take 15 years. Still, don't bet against it. Britain's deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, recently visited AFG's testing facility and came away saying, "I feel I've glimpsed the future."

More info and a video here: http://aol.it/10EeWkK

Friday, March 8, 2013

Car Care: Spring Maintenance Check List

It’s officially March, and spring is just around the corner! You and your car may be excited to hit the road again in the nice weather, but over 9 million people break down and have to call AAA each summer. What can you do to help your car recover from the winter, and get ready for the nicer weather?



“If, like most Americans, you're not driving a fresh-from-the-showroom ride - the average age of passenger vehicles in the U.S. is just over 10 years old - it's time to give your car a little springtime TLC.
"Drivers often overlook their cars when it is spring cleaning time," says Shawn Hoelzer, master technician for CarMax, the largest U.S. chain of used car dealerships. "Following a few easy steps to spruce up your vehicle helps avoid costly repairs."
So take your car to a dealership to get checked out - or, better yet, to an independent mechanic you trust. (See Save $300 on Auto Repair.) Use this spring maintenance checklist to make sure your car is reliable and running efficiently.
Check the battery: You can't get where you are going if the car won't start. "Winter is tough on all the starting components like the starter and alternator. The battery works harder and can get drained," says Jimmie Swims, a specialist at the auto parts chain Auto Zone. Signs of a weak battery: dimming headlights or interior lights; power windows that take longer than usual to go up and down.”




“Check the brakes: Winter conditions and salt on the roads can lead to corrosion of brake parts; Auto Zone's Swims also points out that anti-lock braking systems get an especially hard workout in winter's slick conditions. Nothing is more crucial to your safety than your brakes, so get them checked. Trouble signs: pulling to one side when you hit the brakes, squeaking or grinding noises and a brake pedal that feels too soft.
Tire photo courtesy of Flickr user Bryan Alexander Battery photo courtesy of Flickr user Robert Hruzek”

Full article here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-40542866/car-care-spring-maintenance-check-list/

Friday, March 1, 2013

Car Confessions Data Chart

We all have little bits of interesting information and odd behaviors somewhere in our relationship with our cars. Some people don’t mind if you smoke in their car, others don’t always wear a seat belt (though they should), and most people have even named their car! This infographic presents the results of a poll where more than 1000 people were asked a variety of questions about their cars, so check out this infographic for the results.








More here:
http://blogs.automotive.com/car-confessions-data-chart-120407.html#axzz2M7LpmIqL

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