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Optimizing Your Gas Mileage

If you stay on top of your car’s maintenance, you can not only extend the life of your vehicle, but also enjoy better gas mileage for as long as you own the car.  Even people with little to no auto mechanical knowledge can follow these tips to optimize their gas mileage in any vehicle they own.

Repair Manual

Before anything else, invest in a repair manual specifically made for your car’s make and model.  This manual can help you understand more about the way your car operates and items you will need to take care of it.  And when you do need to have your car repaired by a certified mechanic, you will not be completely clueless as to what he is talking about, reducing your risk of getting ripped off.  These manuals can be purchased either through your car’s dealership or at most auto parts stores.

The following are a few procedures and helpful tips you can use to keep your car running great and consuming less gas mileage too.

Once Per Week

Take a look at all of your vehicle’s fluids and top them off whenever necessary.  Fluids you should pay attention to include radiator fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, windshield wiper fluid and of course, engine oil.  Each one is essential to the operation of your automobile, with the exception of windshield wiper fluid.

But the wiper fluid is important in its own right as a dirty windshield can be a safety hazard.  However, only check these fluids when the car’s engine is completely cooled off; otherwise, you may burn yourself.  If any of the above fluids appear to be dirty or emit a strange odor, it is time to have them changed.

Twice Per Week

Check your tire pressure by using a pressure gauge that you can buy at all auto parts stores and even some gas stations.  The tire valve caps will need to be unscrewed in a counter clockwise motion and then removed.  After you do that, insert the pressure gauge in the valve itself to view the pressure reading.

Take a look at your repair manual and compare the numbers to find out the ideal pressure for your car.  Be aware that the best time to do this is when the car has not been driven for several hours and the tires are cold; this will ensure an accurate reading.  When tires are warm, the rubber expands, causing an inaccurate pressure reading.

If the reading shows excellent tire pressure, you are all set but if it seems to be under or over inflated, it is time to drive it to your nearest mechanic or service station where the problem can be taken care of in a few minutes.

What You Should Know About Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is often a key car repair tip many people overlook, especially in relation to gas mileage as the tires are not part of engine maintenance.  However, tires that are set to the proper pressure can save you money spent on gasoline as it will help your car run more fuel efficiently.  Also, it prevents the car from pulling to the side due to being over or under pressurized.

Looking Into Hybrid Cars? What You Need to Know

Hybrid vehicles contain two separate engines in order to conserve the car’s fuel consumption–a traditional, gasoline-powered engine and an electric, battery-operated motor.  Both the gasoline and the electric engines work in conjunction with one another to reduce the overall fuel consumption of a vehicle.

Higher Gas Mileage and Lower Fuel Costs

Those who own a hybrid car enjoy using typically half of the fuel consumption of people who drive standard, gasoline vehicles.  Most hybrids allow drivers to get at least 60 miles of driving time per gallon of gas.  This means hybrid owners will not spend nearly the amount of money as their gasoline-powered car driver counterparts.

Other Advantages of Hybrid Cars

Because the government is trying to push environmental reform, they bestow hybrid car owners with certain benefits not enjoyed by gasoline car owners, such as free car pool lane entry, no cost parking in some areas, and discounts for toll gate fees.

And those who are concerned about the logistics of powering the car’s electric engine should not be.  Hybrids actually run slightly different from 100% electric cars in that there is no need to charge the electric engine’s battery from a home electric outlet.  Instead, the particular braking system of hybrids allow the battery to charge by capturing the released energy outputted by braking.

Higher Retail Prices

Even with the many advantages afforded by hybrid cars, there are a few downsides to owning one with the biggest disadvantage being their expensive retail price.  It takes a little bit more cash to purchase a hybrid car; however, manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to bring the cost down for consumers.  But this seemingly costly disadvantage is negated by the fact that the cost of hybrid ownership is usually less expensive than owning a gasoline only car, which means a hybrid’s cheaper running cost will eventually even out the hybrid/gasoline playing field.

Heavier Weight and Lower Speeds

The specialized batteries used in hybrid vehicles are heavier than standard car batteries.  Because of these cars’ extra weight, manufacturers install smaller sized internal combustion engines.  These engines are specifically built using lightweight materials with aerodynamic properties in order for the car to move as fast as possible, meaning hybrid cards do not have the typical driving speed of their gasoline car rivals.

A Slightly Increased Risk of High Voltage Electrocution

Another hybrid car disadvantage deals with its electric engine and how it can increase injury risks in severe auto accidents.  But it is the hybrid’s effective electrical engine that stores a great deal of high voltage power in its battery.

Unfortunately, this means there is a slightly increased risk of high voltage electrocution.  And because of this, good samaritans and medical personnel may not be able to reach the driver and his passengers.  This is not to say that hybrid cards are unsafe, far from it.  The risks of electrocution are so miniscule that almost every hybrid currently available on the market is relatively safe to drive and enjoy.

Keeping Your Car Clean Inside and Out

If you have a great car you are proud of, you want it to look its best inside and out at all times.  This is why you need to learn more about what you can do to maintain its impressive looks and superior running engine.  Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Inside the Engine and Car Tips

Whenever you are on the highway, try to keep your cruising speed at around 60mph; this will help your car run smoother, longer.  To increase fuel efficiency, always use the type of gasoline recommended from the manufacturer and makes sure your trunk is cleaned out and not weighed down.

Outside on the Car’s Exterior Tips

Although an engine that runs smoothly is vital to a car’s overall value and performance, the car’s exterior is important too.  Anything from the paint on the body to the leather on the seats must be maintained on a consistent basis.  The following are some great tips to keep your car looking like the day you bought it off of the lot.

Cleaning the Body–Start by rinsing the collected dust and dirt off of the car.  Then, you wash it with soapy water and a soft sponge.  Once you do that, rinse the soap off and wash the tires.  After you wash the tires, dry them using a clean, soft cloth.  If you neglect to dry them, the wet spots left behind will collect dust and leave a dirty spot after it dries.

Polishing the Body–Every month you need to use a special chemical made specifically to remove dirt and bugs from the car’s body.  This chemical acts like polish also and can be bought at any auto parts store.  Besides the polish, makes sure to buy a quality wax to use on your car once every two months.  Although you can pay to have this done at most car washes, you get better results when you do it yourself.

Tires and Other Parts–You always want to make sure your tires are well taken care so they can stay durable and strong.  There are specialized cleaning products you can use on your tires to keep the dust at bay.  This also goes for other parts such as those made from wood veneer, vinyl, and plastic.

Maintaining the Interior–Even though it may not be directly visible from the outside of the car, you also have to maintain the car’s interior.   A car that is dirty on the inside does not impress.  To help you do that, invest in some seat covers.  Periodically remove them to wash and while they are being washed, vacuum the seats.  Once the seat covers are dry, you can put them back in your car.

Windows and Carpets–All windows should be cleaned with an appropriate cleaner, using a lint free cloth.  Mild cleansers are ideal for the dashboard and surrounding, hard surfaces.  Keep the carpet vacuumed and purchase a set of rubber mats to prevent the dust from settling and dirt from becoming ground in the carpet.

Car Safety Features and Advancements

The issue of car safety is on everyone’s lips these days.  With the countless number of crashes that are due to the malfunction of some manufacturer’s vehicles–think Toyota–other car makers are taking appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles will not be slammed in the evening news.   The following is a list of typical safety points one will find in newer cars.

Stability Control

Stability control assists drivers in avoiding devastating crashes by using electronic computerized technology.  This feature comes into play when a driver loses directional control and steering.

Anti-Lock Brake System

This system is essential in preventing skidding by stopping wheels from locking up while driving on icy or slippery roads.  This brake system advancement enhances directional and steering control.  An anti-lock brake system, or ABS, will pump the brake automatically in instances of sudden stops in order to help the driver gear his concentration toward steering.

Backup Sensing System

This feature is fairly new in car safety technology; it creates a warning signal when the vehicle approaches a car too closely.  This warning signal operates from a sensor that is installed in the rear portion of a car.

Airbags

Airbags have been around since the first one was placed in Oldsmobile Toronados in 1973.  They automatically provide a cushion to protect passengers from the impact of a crash.  Airbags can be found in doors, steering wheels, dashboards, and the backs of seats, depending upon the year, make, and model of the car. Read more »

Buy a Reliable Used Car with These Tips

To prevent yourself from having the headache of owning a poorly running used car, use the following tips.  And of course, keep a close on the price sticker; if it is far below fair market value, it is probably because someone is desperate to get that clunker off of their hands and into someone else’s.  Do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of.  Here is what you need to know.

Tip One: Stains and Puddles from Leaks

Peer at the ground underneath the car.  If you see any stains or fresh leaks, it is a good indicator that something is wrong with the car.  Rust colored stains are a sign of radiator leakage, purple puddles of liquid are due to transmission leakage, and black or brown stains and puddles are either from leaking transmission fluid or oil.

Tip Two: Know Why They Are Selling

If you are purchasing a used car from a private seller, always ask them the reason behind them selling their car.  While they may need to get rid of it for an emergency requiring cash or they are ready to upgrade their ride, there is always the possibility that they know their car is junk and they do not want to bother putting the time and money into fixing it.

Tip Three: Rebuilt Vehicles

Examine the car’s seams and make sure all gaps line up from top to bottom.  Any gap that appears uneven may be due to accident damage; this also holds true for small dents.  All car panels should match in terms of paint color.  If the car’s owner has had a custom paint job or he has installed a body kit, there may be hidden damage to the chassis.  Other areas to observe are plastic parts, mirrors, lights, and engine bay edges that have been sprayed.

Tip Four: Disclosed Issues

Request that the car’s owner discloses any known problems and defects.  If your inspection uncovers more problems that what was originally disclosed, who knows what else he or she is hiding; it may not be the right car for you. Read more »

Alternative Fuel for Vehicles–Pros and Cons

Every hot button issue in society and the government will always be controversial.  Everyone has their own opinion and list of pros and cons they want to discuss.  And this is no different in regards to the issue of operating vehicles with alternative fuel sources.  However, the subject still remains divided down the middle between supporters and naysayers.  So the only way for you to make up your mind on the subject is by learning about the facts and forming your own opinion.

The Pros

First of all, alternative sources of fuel burns cleaner than fossil-based gasoline, which makes alternative fuel better for the planet.  Environmental impact is also an important issue on the “discussion table” since the world is currently facing problems like global warming and oil spills.  This is why alternative fuel is being explored; people are looking for ways to head these problems off at the pass.  Alternative fuel decreases the release of negative pollutants into the air and the water.

Another positive aspect of alternative fuel is the fact that it gives drivers increased gas mileage than its fossil-based fuel counterpart.  In hybrid cars, drivers can bump up their miles per gallon by at least 20% after a period of regular alternative fuel use.  And with the high gas prices drivers are paying, this fuel more than pays for itself.

Because the government wants people to cut down on their pollution output, they are offering consumers tax incentives for purchasing alternative fuel vehicles.  They realize that there are many positive points to using this type of fuel, causing them to find ways to entice consumers to switch over.  If you buy one, not only will you be helping the environment, but also getting a tax break.

The Cons

Even though alternative fuel seems like a wonderful idea, there are some negative aspects too.  While there might be less cons than pros, consumers still need to know them in order to make an informed decision.  For starters, vehicles that use alternative fuel are usually more costly than ones that run on gasoline.  And although the government provides tax incentives for alternative fuel vehicle owners, the retail price for these vehicles ranges anywhere between 10%-40% more than their gasoline vehicle rivals.

Another downside to the alternative fuel market is that these energy sources are not in as big of a supply as traditional vehicles.  Even though some places offer E85 fuel, which is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, it is simply not as readily available to the public as the gasoline found at every fuel station.  This means that those people who are determined to use E85 in their cars must many times drive a great distance just to get gas.

Even though society can debate the negatives and positives of alternative fuel for vehicles until they run out of breath, your personal opinion will come down to how committed you are to the environment as well as what you feel you are capable of doing to hinder the terrible effects caused by released gasoline byproducts.

Ditching your car in favour of a hire car!

As the recession bites and cost of owning a vehicle increases, more and more people are opting to ditch their cars in favour of a short term rentals as and when they need them. The benefits can be enormous but you need to weigh up all the options to see what’s right for you.

The first obvious benefit is that you no longer have to pay road tax or insurance. These will be included in the price of the rental. For some drivers without a ‘no claims bonus’, the cost of insurance can stretch into the thousands so this can mean a significant saving.

Another benefit is that freeing up your parking space can generate extra revenue! If you live near a town or city centre, or near to a popular attraction or sports ground, you may be able to rent y our parking space or driveway online. Parking in some city centres can cost hundreds or pounds per month, so savvy commuters may jump at the chance to get a discounted space, even if it means a slightly longer walk to work. Read more »

Flying car Flies Off the Shelves

A car manufacturing company have managed to get approval for their flying car from US aviation officials and it has already had orders despite not yet having been manufactured. The car is called a Terrafugia Transition and it looks like an ordinary car and can drive on the roads but can also take off and fly when at a suitable location.

The car was designed as a light sport aircraft and therefore needed to be under 1.320lb in order to fit this FAA classification. Unfortunately this was impossible because when used as a car it needed such a lot of safety equipment such as air bags and roll cage, which made it heavy. However, it has been given special exemption and is allowed to be flown despite being 120lb over the minimum weight limit for this vehicle classification. This classification means that it only needs 20 hours of flying time so the licences are easy to obtain.

Terrafugia Transition

The car is a two seater and can be driven on a road and reaches reasonable speeds and 30mpg. When it is required to fly, its wings can be folded down and the propeller switched on and  it is ready to go. It will need a runway or long stretch of flat ground to take off, like a normal small plane. In the air it can reach 115mph and cover 460 miles as well as being able to carry 450 lb, so a great way to beat that traffic jam and if the flight is too turbulent or visibility so poor it is forced to land, then it can just be driven home again.

The car plane is not cheap and once it goes on sale it is expected to cost £130,000. The manufacturers are pleased with the response they have had so far as they have already had 70 orders.

All About Hydro Powered Automobiles

Although the thought of utilizing water in a direct manner to act as fuel seems a little farfetched, there are actually hydro powered kits that are available to the public and made specifically for automobiles. These kits take the hydrogen found in water and use it as a gasoline supplement for today’s standard vehicles. This kind of hydro power can give drivers better mileage.

Reasons to Use Hydro Power

Real hydro powered cars are not like the futuristic 100% hydrogen vehicles people hear about in science fiction. And they do not operate on tap water alone.  Even so, there are still many benefits of hydrogen/gasoline cars.

Anyone who drives knows exactly how costly gasoline is and how filling up their car puts a nasty little dent in their budget. Hydrogen cars get much better driving mileage than those that run on gasoline, equaling big savings for consumers.

And the use of gasoline comes with a lot of strings attached. The Western world’s dependence on foreign fuel sources means that it has to rely on Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Venezuela for energy. These countries’ hostility toward Western nations coupled with their internal instability makes it scary to be so dependent on these oil rich nations. Any method the Western world can use to reduce their dependence will benefit society in the long run.

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans can not live without having a constant supply of gasoline because they do not live in places where alternative fuel sources are in abundance. This means American citizens must suffer through long work commutes, rush hours, traffic jams, and routine errands that require automobile travel. Even though public transportation is available in many larger towns and cities, not everyone has access to it.

Pollution is also another worry. The byproducts that come from burning gasoline produce smog and global warming. But with hydro powered vehicles, society can benefit from a reduced amount of air pollution.

Hydro Powered Vehicles Explained

The key to using the same kind of water found in everyone’s kitchen faucet for car fuel is in water’s hydrogen. Water’s molecular structure is two parts hydrogen plus one part oxygen. By removing the hydrogen from the water and combining it with the gasoline used to run cars, one is left with a hydro power hybrid vehicles.

Believe it or not, hydrogen is an extremely desirable fuel source since it provides a great deal of energy and burns said energy without almost any pollutants. However, vehicles that can be operated on hydrogen alone have not been developed yet and after they are, it will take some time to make them readily available to the public. This leaves consumers with supplemental hydrogen fuel, which is still a viable, safe alternative.

Hydro Powered Kits for Cars

There are hydro powered kits now on the market that are designed for today’s standard vehicles. These kits use the power of electricity to transform regular water to hydrogen and oxygen when needed. Currently, thousands of consumers across the world have bought these kits and used them to turn their once gasoline powered vehicles into hydro powered ones.

Think You Know Your Car’s Real Value – Check Here First!

A lot of car lovers think that they know their car’s real value, but this isn’t the case at all. They either underestimate the value of their car, and thus lose money on a sales transaction, or they overestimate and end up scaring away buyers that really would have paid them a fair value for the car in question. If you think you know your car’s real value, then you might be surprised to find out how to really discover your car’s value in a concrete way. In other words, by the time you finish reading this guide and putting the tips here into practice, you might see a sharp difference between what you thought your car’s value was and what the true value is.

If you’ve ever asked “how much is my car worth“, the answer can get pretty difficult to find. However, all you really need to do is look at an online valuation tool. Instead of having to sort through outdated tables that might not even be valid anymore, the rise of the Internet has given quick, convenient ways to get a rough estimate of what your car’s value will be. If you go on authorized price tables, then you are much more likely to see those prices reflected in the sales signs you see around your area. On the other hand, there are times where cars simply don’t become just cars anymore — classic cars are a great example of this. While a beat up classic car might not be worth as much as one that’s been carefully restored using original parts, you can still sell it for a pretty penny to someone that’s looking for a restoration framework to follow. It just depends on what’s needed and what isn’t needed.

The Internet is the best place to go when you really want to know a car’s value, because you can not only look up the information fast, but you can also keep the information with you by printing it out. You don’t have to drag a laptop around jus tot make sure that you know how much the car you desire is really worth.

Even if you’re satisfied with the car you have and you have no plans to sell, it’s never a bad thing to know exactly how much your car is valued at!

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