automotive article

Batteries are an essential part of a vehicle and should not be overlooked. Without a healthy battery, the car stands still. We are responsible for how long they can support our vehicle. To extend their lifespan, we need to properly maintain them. Maintenance free batteries are slowly taking over lead-acid batteries but it is important to understand that the basic principle remains the same. We will discuss all the important aspects of a battery in this article.

How does a battery work?

Lead acid car batteries are energy storing devices made up of lead and lead dioxide plates. These plates are submerged into an electrolyte solution. The percentage of water is 65% and sulphuric acid contributes 35% to this solution. When the battery is used to start the car, it gets discharged. The sulphuric acid in the electrolyte solution gets depleted leaving a higher proportion of water. The sulfate is returned to the acid during the charging process. The battery provides high current required by the starter motor to crank the engine of the car. Once the engine is started, the battery is again recharged by the engine driven charging system. In this process, the alternator takes necessary energy from the rotation of engine through a belt to charge up the battery. When the engine is running, the alternator generates electricity for the electrical equipment of the car.

What makes a battery weak?

When the car is exposed to direct sunlight in summers for longer periods of time, it accelerates the process of corrosion and evaporates the electrolyte. This reduces the life of a battery making it weaker. So, avoid getting your car heated by sunlight by parking in a suitable shade.

A battery must be fitted properly to avoid any sort of vibrations. These vibrations over the time shake the plates around which in turn make the internal connections lose. As a result, the battery would not get properly charged.

Once you start the car, make sure to drive it for enough time for the battery to get recharged again. The alternator takes time to recharge the battery after it has released its energy while starting the engine. Otherwise, the battery will stay undercharged which is not sufficient to provide high current to the starting motor.

Keeping the headlights or music system on while the engine is shut down drains the battery over the time. Avoid plugging in a charger for a longer period of times to prevent the battery from discharging.

Corrosion on battery terminals is as harmful to the battery as anything else. Always clean the battery terminals carefully once or twice in a month. Make sure to wear gloves and eye protection. The white powder on terminals is toxic and should not be allowed to come in contact with the skin.

Signs that indicate battery replacement:

There are a couple of signs that may indicate your battery is getting weak and needs a replacement.

• The bright headlights of the car become slightly dim when the engine is turned off.
• The starter motor turns slowly when you start the car due to the low current provided by the battery.

There are a few visual signs that indicate the battery needs a replacement.

• An internal short circuit or overcharging leads to a swollen battery. If you see signs of bulging anywhere around the battery, replace it.
• Examine the battery case carefully for any damage to the battery case.

An air purifier has internal fans to pull the air in through several filters. The role of these filters is to remove different types of harmful airborne particles, such as bacteria, pollen and dust. After filtration, the air is thrown back into the room. And this process keeps going to ensure your environment is healthy.

Why Should You Go For a Purifier?

If you are new to these products and don’t know if you should use them, given below are 10 reasons to buy one.

Clean Air

With an air purifier, you can make sure that your family has fresh air to breath in. According to the EPA estimates, indoor air is much dirtier than open air. According to some research studies, it’s a hundred times dirtier. Therefore, by installing this product, you can clean the air in your rooms.

Unpleasant Odors

Another problem we face is the unpleasant odors. The smell coming from your kitchen can turn into a bad odor over time. They help clean the air and remove bad odors at the same time.

Airborne Allergens

Another reason why you should go for an air purifier is that they help remove airborne allergens. If you have pets in your home, chances are that you have airborne allergens in your home. The role of these devices is to trap the allergens and prevent them from setting in your rooms.

Neutralizing Smoke

Air purifiers can also help with the neutralization of smoke. The smoke may come from a fireplace, for instance. Therefore, you can install one of these devices to purify the air in your home by getting rid of smoke.

Trapping Dust

We know that dust is everywhere. Regardless of how you keep your house clean, know that dust will always accumulate. With an air purifier, you can filter the air to get rid of dust. This will prevent the accumulation of debris and keep the air clean.

Airborne Bacteria

Another role of these devices is to remove 99% airborne bacteria. We know that tin airborne particles, such as mild spores and pollen float around in your rooms. They can make you sick. Therefore, with the help of filters in these devices, we can remove 99% airborne bacteria.

Seasonal Allergens

We know that seasonal allergens can be problematic for many people. With air purifiers, you can get rid of these allergens without any problem.

Germs

We know germs spread sickness everywhere. They can cause flue and cold, especially in kids. An easy solution to solve this problem is to install UV bulbs and air purifiers. They can kill 99.97% germs in the air.

1. Right Dealer for Test Drive
Choosing the right dealer is important; most dealers will have a single range of autos from specified auto maker. Sometimes there is good resemblance in a SUV and a Mini Van for people transportation. There is a need to know every make and model out there. But if you’re opting to buy a used vehicle then it is different strategy. Then it’s best to choose a dealer who does not specializes in one brand of vehicles but can provide more test rides from different makers inside your desired needs. And remember you will be shelling out a reasonable fee for some broker too.

2. Second Opinion that Makes Sense
After test-driving at least 3 different auto brands things will be visible that which of the three vehicles really suits your needs. Before submitting yourself to the dealer, make sure you ask for a second opinion about the vehicle you are about to sign purchase contract. The sense prevails after a new model hits the market and the resale value of second-hand does not go down for first three years.

3. Minor Changes vs Full Model Change
This is very important to understand about minor changes Vs Full model change. Minor changes in any model cannot reflect on an overall body design change. It can be Front grill, head-lights, tail lights, interior or mechanical change in oversizing or downsizing the engine. People often clean closets, change wallpaper, or rearrange and buy new furniture; for your new car also you have to set up the stage. It’s not like buying a can of soda, so that you can throw it away if it doesn’t taste good to you but most car owners get attached to their cars.

Major changes imply that the whole design + interior + Specs are changed by the automaker. Major changes in family cars happen in about 5 years, and normally between 7- 10 years in 4-runners, trucks and buses. Japanese automakers are very dynamic and the others follow them in making the changes to their line-ups.

4. Financing your new Car
Mostly the new cars are purchased via 3rd. party financing and the dealers have a financing schemes too. There is less possibility of buying on cash basis but if one can afford then nothing like it. If you are a regular changer then a lease plan is also available at most of the dealers, say 3-5 or 7 years lease plan. Please have a chat with your tax advisor as how to approach about the financing. Like the 3 above points this is also a very important one. Sometimes to promote any model the dealers introduce very low interest rates as low as 1%-2% annually. If it is 3rd. party financing, then you have to study about the pros and cons of the schemes, because sometimes you will be paying as much as 10% annual interest which might affect your budget.

5. Insurance in Detail
Recently a senate bill 1567 has taken effect about prohibition of other drivers to drive a car owned by a family. This means that the households cannot drive family car if their name is not covered by the insurance company or if they are not the policy owner.

Same rules actually apply all over the world, but look at the individual policy about car theft and damage occurred due to nature eg; floods, hurricanes etc. Look at the payment options provided by your insurance company. Also, checkout if your car claims are handled by in-house adjusters or some 3rd. party adjusters. This will save you from a great hassle and loss of time.

emboh

Since the outdoor air quality is getting worse day by day, it’s important to take the right measures before you go out in your car. This is even more important if you travel by your car on a daily basis. The reason is that you will be exposed to polluted air on a regular basis. Here is another thing to consider: the air in your car is up to 7 times dirtier than the outdoor air. Let’s take a look at some features to consider when buying one.

The first question is what makes the air polluted? There are many air pollutants, such as smoke, gases, pollen, dirt, bacteria, mold and pet dander. The thing is that these pollutants can have a negative impact on your health.

So, what is the way out? An easy way out is to go for a car air purifier. You can buy one from your nearby market. It’s better to go for a unit that can meet your individual needs. Given below are a few important tips that can help you buy one.

Go for The HEPA Filter

HEPA is short for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor. This dust collection technology was introduced in Japan. The good thing about this technology is that it can trap and kill up to 99.97% pollutants found in the air. The size of these pollutants can be 0.03 micrometers. The problem with these pollutants is that they can cause serious health problems if you don’t take the right steps to remove them from your car.

Layered Purification

The air purifier you want to buy should have a highly efficient system of purification. For this purpose, you may want to buy one that comes with a HEPA filter, activated carbon and pre-filter. The role of the pre-filter is to remove the dust particles flying around in the air. On the other hand, the activated carbon helps reduce gaseous contaminants in your vehicle.

Since the carbon filter has powerful absorbing properties, it can help get rid of bad odor from your car. As said earlier, HEPA filter can help remove a lot of bad elements from your vehicle. And the good news is that the process can make sure at least 99.9% harmful pollutants are eliminated.

User-friendly Design

Typically, car air purifiers are designed for use in a car cabin. Therefore, make sure that you go for one that is easy to install and operate. These purifiers are quite easy to use. All you need to do is connect them to a 12V socket in your car.

Apart from the convenience factor, make sure that the product comes with enough capacity as well. It’s much better to invest in one that has Clean Air Delivery Rate of at least 25 m3/hour. This will help purify the air in your vehicle without killing a lot of time.

Automotive Floor Mats are the first line of defense for your car, truck or SUV’s precious factory flooring. That presents floor mats with the tough task of being able to withstand varying levels of abuse on a regular basis whilst providing an additional level of comfort and complimenting the vehicles interior aesthetic.

Vehicle manufacturers have attempted to solve the unique problems floor mats face by creating a multitude of material types, each aimed at providing adequate protection for a vehicle’s intended use.

Aftermarket carpet and floor mat manufacturers offer products using materials and colors designed to match the OEMs whilst offering improvements upon the originals.

What Original Materials Are Available?

Cutpile

- Cut Pile is composed of 100% Nylon yarn.

- Tufted to a 1/8 gauge cut pile, it contains 14 ounces of yarn per square yard.

- Cut Pile has been an original material in most domestic vehicles since around 1974.

- Cut Pile material can have Mass backing. Mass backing is an approximately 45mil thick EVA material. It’s a great sound and heat barrier and increases the overall appearance of the carpet after installation.

- Cut Pile material width is 78 inches.

Loop

- Loop material is composed of 100% 6,6 Nylon yarn called Raylon

- Tufted to a 1/8 gauge, Loop contains 20 ounces of yarn per square yard.

- Loop material was originally used in vehicles that were manufactured before 1974.

- Loop material can have Mass backing. Loop material width is 78 inches.

Nylon

- Nylon is composed of 100% Nylon yarn.

- Tufted to a 1/8 gauge, Nylon contains 12 ounces of yarn per square yard.

- Nylon material was originally used in the late 1960 model Fords.

- Nylon material is available with our optional Mass backing.

- Nylon material width is 78 inches.

Truvette

- Truvette is composed of 100% Nylon yarn.

- Tufted to a 5/64 gauge, Truvette contains 14 ounces of yarn per square yard.

- Truvette material was introduced in the early 1990s for Corvettes.

- Truvette material can have Mass backing. Mass backing is an approximately 45mil thick EVA material.

- Truvette material width is 78 inches.

Daytona

- Daytona weave carpet is composed of Cotton, Nylon, and Rayon yarn.

- Daytona contains 27.5 ounces of yarn per square yard and is a loop style carpet.

- Daytona weave carpet was introduced around 1954 for GM vehicles.

- Foam backing only, Daytona cannot be molded or Mass backed. It is hand cut and sewn with the utmost quality control.

- Daytona material width is 54 inches

Solving the engine blow-by problem.

This article reviews the causes and remedies of engine blow-by. Some of the service tips individuals and mechanics are using to limit blow-by are taken from web page links at the bottom of the article.

Solving the engine blow-by problem. What is blow-by?

Blow-by refers to excessive combustion and fuel vapors that have slipped pass the engines pistons. Its nasty, cooking hot vapors then mix with the engine oils in a negative way.

In years pass auto makers vented blow-by via a vent tube into the air. Vented to the air, blow-by harms and pollutes the air, causes breathing problems in the young, harms vegetation, and poisons water in lakes and rivers.

In many cases, blow-by and exhaust fumes both mixed with upper layers of atmosphere. There, a more harmful chemical reaction called smog, occurs. This happens when sunlight passes through it. Smog, a stronger poison conversion of blow-by further deepens the harmful aggravation to life and living things. Blow-by is not good!

With worldwide pressures and laws, car makers were forced to do something to stop or control blow-by, and limit harmful exhaust. It does so with anti-smog making systems for motors. We call these “emission controls” – and all engines now have them.

Normally, in a good engine, with clean internal conditions in the cylinder and combustion area of the motor, clean conditions limit combustions blow-by escape pass the pistons. What does escape is recycled back into the combustion for reuse. 25,000 fuel and combustion services keep the system clean.

Most engines require a “smog service” every 25,000 miles for a normal long life. Some brands of smog service additives also end the blow-by problem. We use those brands. At links given below.

Since the blow-by term refers to excessive amounts of blow-by pressure in the crankcase – it means, resources to properly remove blow-by are over taxed.

When it’s your engine problem – here’s how to handle its solution.

Blow-by can originate from 3 causes:

1. Worn or sticky piston rings, or valve guides. Their wear gaps.
2. A plugged up crankcase recirculating system. Can be stopped up.
3. Leaking O-rings or gaskets in the pressure side of a supercharger.

Remedies:

1. For problem one, it’s time for a new engine. [$4000 up]. However, additive treatments are available to return blow-by to normal, and gain years more good life from the engine. All at a fraction of new engine expense.
2. For problem two. The engine crankcase ventilation system is not sucking out combustion blow-by. Not sending it to be re-burnt in the combustion cycle again. This can be from a dirty PCV Valve [under $25 replacement cost], or plugged up system orifice. Its usually a mechanic who will stick a wire into the orifice, and or spray carb cleaner into the orifice to open and restore its suction of crankcase blow-by fumes.
3. For problem three. A mechanic skilled in the supercharger system will find the troublesome gasket or o-ring, replace them, and verify leakage of pressurized air into the motor has stopped. Ending that cause of blow-by.

In my shop, and in my training classes for mechanics, I demo usage of several additives to clean the blow-by PCV system. These include the Mega Power Brand Emission System Service Treatment Additives. Their product contain the ingredient power needed to clean sticky piston rings – ending that blow-by cause.

Such a service can now be performed by anyone wanting to end the problem themselves. See links below. Doing so, select product with dual, engine tune up, injector, and combustion, piston ring cleaning values. Look also for cleaners and polymers to free piston rings, and fill engine worn spaces – all aids correcting the blow-by problem.