Auto Magazine

Three Improvements that Will Make Your Car More Environmentally Friendly

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/27 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Your car is a big part of your carbon footprint. Every time you drive it, your car exhausts greenhouse gases and pollution into the atmosphere.

You can change that. You don’t have to wait until you can buy a more fuel-efficient or hybrid car to make your driving more environmentally friendly. Here are three improvements you can make to the car you have right now.

Inspect and Adjust Your Tires

Under-inflated tires won’t just wear out sooner. They’ll also cause you to use more fuel. Check your tires frequently. Keep them inflated at the recommended pressure posted on the tire. Unevenly worn tires indicate a mechanical problem with your car. Have the problem fixed. That will help restore your car’s maximum fuel efficiency.

You can also replace your tires with new tires designed for lower rolling resistance. Over time, you save gas and money. When you buy new tires, your tire dealer will recycle the old ones. There are lots of uses for old tires, from playgrounds to mulch. If you have extra old tires laying around, turn them in. Recycled tires get reused.

Ditch the Extra Weight

We’re not talking about passengers here. We’re talking about the common tendency to use a car for storage. Open the back of your car. All the sports equipment, boxes of books and papers, bags of unsorted clothes and other items you haven’t gotten around to unloading is extra weight. It’s causing you to burn extra fuel all the time.

Unload the extra weight. You’ll be helping the environment. You’ll feel lighter yourself, without a doubt.

Get Your Car Tuned Up Regularly

A car that runs well burns fuel efficiently. This efficiency minimizes the carbon emissions. Take the car in to a reliable service facility, such as Speedy Brake and Apollo Muffler which does shock installation in Calgary. The service personnel will look your car over for you. Besides tuning the engine, replacing air filters and changing the oil, they can suggest other systems that might need work or parts that might need replacing.

While you’re at it, you can tune up your driving. Keep your highway speed at 55 miles per hour. At higher speeds, your car loses fuel economy. Don’t brake hard, and don’t accelerate quickly. These cause wear on the car and excessive gasoline use.

The most fuel efficiency you can get out of your car is to leave it in the garage once in a while and bicycle to work. Save the driving for another day.

Car Trouble: 5 Reasons You May Be Repairing Your Car Too Often

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/24 in Auto Repair with Comments Off

Far too many car owners find their vehicle in the shop for repairs on a regular basis. Although some car issues are unavoidable, many of the problems may be a result of improper care. Here are five reasons why you may be repairing your car too often:

Careless Driving

Driving too fast over speed bumps and pushing the pedal to the metal at every stoplight dramatically impacts the structural integrity of a vehicle. Some of the key repairs that can be avoided by careful driving include a bad wheel alignment, blown shocks, warped brake rotors, and irregular tire wear. Take the time to slow down and drive carefully to avoid common repairs.

Neglecting the Check Engine Light

Your vehicle’s check engine light is a very important component. Failing to give an illuminated check engine light the necessary attention could result in frequent visits to the mechanic. Although the cause of the check engine light could be something simple such as a loose gas cap, it could also be caused by worn spark plugs and oxygen sensors. These parts need to be replaced because they can cause a slew of other issues including erratic idling and destruction of the catalytic converter.

Subpar Quality Motor Oil

Motor oil is arguably the most important engine fluid. The consistent use of low-quality oil makes the engine more susceptible to leaks, sludge, and carbon buildup. Using high-quality products from reputable manufacturers such as Eastern Oil Company will help to keep the engine running in tip-top condition.

Failing to Adhere to the Recommended Maintenance Schedule

A vehicle is engineered with an intricate system of components. Typically, if one car part fails, the functionality of another related car part is also put in jeopardy. For example, vehicles that are equipped with a timing belt will need to have the belt changed at the recommended mileage interval. If the old timing belt suddenly snaps, it could result in very expensive engine damage.

Aftermarket Auto Parts

Although aftermarket auto parts may demand a lower cost, they are usually not as long-lasting and robust as the original parts that were installed by the automaker. The use of good parts will help to maintain the dependability of the car. You may be tempted to repair your car with low-cost parts, but this could be an expensive mistake down the road.

Although all vehicles will need a repair at some point, taking the necessary precautions will limit the number of trips to the shop. Follow these tips to keep your car in good shape and reduce your costs in repairs.

Six Rules to Safe Winter Driving

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/23 in On the Road with Comments Off

Driving is an act which needs attention and care even at the best of times. Even if you are obeying the traffic rules, it is entirely possible that a fellow driver or a pedestrian has not. In such situations the priority is to save lives and quick reaction helps. If you are driving during the winter, the level of concentration required is only multiplied a few times over. We outline a few tips for young drivers planning to drive during winters.

Winter Driving Tires –

For better control and traction, winter tires are a necessity. Snow and ice (sleet) make the roads slippery and good quality winter tires help emergency brakes or sudden change in directions immensely. With dropping temperatures the air pressure inside the tires varies too, so keep an eye on them.

Accelerate safely –

Start slow! Most driving lessons recommend it is always better to gently step on the gas on slippery surfaces so your wheels do not over spin. Similarly, plan ahead while you prepare to stop so that you do not have to brake abruptly. It is likely that you still might have to make sudden stops or your vehicles might slip a little. To prepare for such situations, secure your valuable electronics (laptop, cellphone) or loose items (coffee cup) properly so that they don’t get tossed about. Flying objects can either injure you or distract you, causing accidents.

Allow more space –

According to Driving School Brisbane it is a good practice to keep safe distance with fellow vehicles. While following a vehicle or driving next to a vehicle on multiple lane roads, it minimizes errors and accidents even if your car does not stop exactly where you wanted it to, as it frequently happens on icy roads.

Keep winter tools –

Traveling in winters can lead you to unexpected situations even if you are following safety regulations. Check your battery and exhaust before you start. Flashlights, first-aid kits, snow shovels, extra pair of winter boots, snow scraper, extra supply of cleaning liquids for windscreens, anti-freeze and booster cables are just some of the essentials which must be stocked in your trunk. You might not ever need them, but when you do need anything it is better to find them with you than being deserted in the middle of the road on a cold night.

Maintain visibility –

Most of the driving errors reported in Driving School Brisbane are majorly due to lack of visibility for drivers. When you are following a vehicle, a spray can cover your windscreen. Keep your wipers on. Also ensure your high beam lights are always on so you can see what is ahead of you.

Last but not the least; do not panic if you hit ice. The first thing to do is to get off the accelerator immediately. Remember a slower vehicle is always easier to control. Now shift to neutral gear and start steering yourself to safety. Sudden brakes will only make the vehicle slide out of control more. Stick to these driving lessons and ensure your ride in the winters is a safe one.

Mark Long is a renowned authority in winter driving. Having spent nearly two decades in Australia, he has vast experience in driving through ice and snow. Now settled in Sydney, he shares those as part of his driving lessons to young drivers.

Six Repair or Restoration Tricks For Owners of Old or Classic Cars

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/22 in Auto Parts with Comments Off

Renovating and repairing a classic car is an exciting task to undertake. However, it’s not the easiest thing to jump into for the first time. You might consider the following recommendations before setting in on any project to fix up and restore a classic or used car.

Perform a Thorough Inspection

In a well-lit area, and using a flashlight, inspect the vehicle from the inside out and from top to bottom. Remember to look underneath. Get a close-up view of what the project will entail and if the renovation is worth the time, money and effort before proceeding any further.

Establish a Budget

On a major restoration, not everyone has the financial means to pay for materials and parts all at once. Grab a parts catalog pertinent to your vehicle, sit down with a calculator, paper and pen. Whether the refurbishing time line depends on time or money, make a complete list to determine a general idea of cost. If working on a budget, prioritize the list according to needs and desires.

Consult with a Restoration Expert

After creating a list of expenses, visiting with a specialist will let you know if the calculations are realistic. Perhaps there are considerations that you have overlooked or may be able to put off until later. You might also gain insight into money saving techniques or tips. Some cars can have incredibly difficult parts to find, and sites such as www.stlouisusedcarparts.com/ can help with that. You ought to seek out the right people and resources that can help you with your restoration process.

Choose a Restoration Level

Vehicle renovation projects typically range from basic “driver restoration,” which restores full functionality and minimal cosmetic repairs to “concours” that ensures the highest degree of refurbishment possible. In between these categories includes “street show” and “show car.”

Determine Structural Integrity

Closely examine the condition of the axles, floor and frame. While a little rust is easily fixed, extensive rusting compromises the stability of the vehicle and poses a potential risk. A vehicle having these areas intact also saves thousands of dollars and countless hours in replacement if deciding to progress regardless of the car’s condition.

Solo or Team Project

Whether choosing to complete the project alone, or opting to work with friends or family members, take the time to consider all of the scenarios. Do you or any of your cohorts have the knowledge necessary to succeed? Will a falling out with team members destroy the project? Do you have access to the right equipment or the voice of experience?

After taking these tips into consideration, the next step naturally progresses toward starting the renovation process. Once completed, keep your prized possession in top shape by performing regular maintenance.

Dodge the Deception: Five Ways to Avoid Dishonest Mechanics

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/20 in Auto Repair with Comments Off

As you would expect, not every mechanic is untrustworthy, but when all of them are trying to earn a buck, it’s hard to decipher which ones are solely out for your money (and as much of it as possible). It’s impossible to tell whether or not a mechanic is dishonest by merely looking at him, but these five tactics can help you begin weeding out the less morally sound ones.

Grab Multiple Quotes

Before you sign your vehicle over to the first mechanic you go to, get multiple quotes instead. Some mechanics will charge "diagnostic fees" to avoid comparisons and early quotes and lock them into doing business, but there are still others out there who don’t do this. Find a mechanic who’s willing to look under your hood for free and give you a quote. Give them a call or check the internet prior to visiting the shop in person to avoid being pressured into diagnostic fees.

Get the Scoop from Real Reviews

If you want unbiased opinions on whether the mechanic in question is really worth doing business with, check out automotive service reviews. You can find these all over the place; check out your local forums or news sites, certified reviews on opentell.com, or even find out by merely asking around. Third parties are the best source for unbiased information. Some of these review sites also rate the company by store location, so even if you are researching a chain, you can find out about the exact shop near you.

Get a Referral from a Trusted Source

If you know someone who you trust and has adequate knowledge of automobiles, find out what their recommendations are concerning mechanics. They will likely know others who are interested in cars or work as mechanics. Additionally, take recommendations from people who have a favorite mechanic. Knowing people in the industry can be a great way to find those shops with integrity.

Stay Alert for Intimidation

When mechanic shopping, beware of the old, "I wouldn’t drive this thing for another mile" line. This is a scare tactic, and unfortunately, it works quite often. If you begin to feel intimidated and the mechanic pressures you to repair the vehicle as quickly as possible, take caution from there on out. A great idea in this circumstance is to get a second opinion from another shop without telling them what the “problem” is. This way you don’t lead the new shop’s expectations and simply see what they say. If they offer the same information, then you know it’s most likely a legitimate problem.

Ask for the Old, Broken Parts Back

This could be one of the most clever tricks in the book to avoid getting scammed by an auto mechanic. Before any repairs are made on the vehicle, tell the mechanic that you’d like the old parts back once the repairs have been made. Any honest mechanic will not see a problem with this, as he will have no use for them. Beware of mechanics that get defensive or express a significant interest in knowing why you’re interested in the old parts. They may be trying to hide the evidence.

Overall, use common sense when shopping around for a reliable mechanic. If it seems too expensive, it probably is. Get everything in writing and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Third parties are great for information, and seek out a second opinion if you don’t trust your initial quote.