How to Change Oil

Some people in life like to get their hands dirty, and others just like to spend money. If you decide to change oil yourself in your car or truck, just know you will get grease under your fingernails and oil all over your hands. You will get your tools dirty and will sweat in a hot garage for about half an hour.

Others, however, prefer to pay the price to change oil and be done with it. It’s clean, it’s fast and for the most part, it’s professionally handled. The average price to change oil is about $30, though if you hire an unsavory mechanic the price might go up.

Another consideration is whether the mechanic is a professional and will do a good job. Sometimes if you pay a mechanic to change oil he will do the job for a fair price—but then later you find out there’s an oil leak. Oil leak if you’re lucky! Hire a bad mechanic and you could even have serious engine trouble.

When hiring a mechanic, make sure good communication is established, a set price including labor, parts and any extra services, and that the mechanic is reliable and respected in the community. Does he have his own shop and does he do plenty of business with satisfied customers?

Along with the worry of hiring a good mechanic, the $30 charge is simply too much for some drivers and they decide to change oil in their vehicle for free—with just a little bit of effort and one spent afternoon. They save roughly a $100 a year and have the satisfaction of knowing the job was done right.

There are other issues to consider when you decide to change oil in your car yourself. Do you have quality tools? Do you really know what you’re doing? While you can learn how to change oil over the Internet, to do it properly takes study and practice. Don’t skimp on $30 if it means sending someone unqualified to do a professional’s job. Your car could suffer because of it and wind up costing you hundreds of dollars to repair.

Another factor to consider is oil disposal. The safest way to dispose of your oil is to keep it properly contained and find a local shop to take it off your hands. Don’t just dig a hole in the ground, toss it in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The EPA can give out large fines for improper oil disposal.

Would you like to know how to change oil yourself? Ask a mechanic you know to teach you. While simple instructions can be found online, it’s a procedure you really have to understand and perform correctly if you want your car to function properly.

About the Author:
Dan Sherman has started an information based website to offer advice on topics similar to those discussed above. Visit him at his website by Clicking Here (or go to http://www.mymotor.info).
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Ten Commandments for Preventive Car Tire Maintenance

1. Tire Pressure Check: Tire pressures should be routinely checked on cold tires, including spares and caravan (or trailer) tires. It’s a bad practice to let out air or ‘bleed’ air from the tires when they are hot (Just after a drive or so!) . Recommended pressures have been calculated by taking cold tires into account and hence tire pressures show a higher value when hot.

2. If any or most part of the tread is worn out, it is time to replace the tire. Sometimes it might be prudent to change and then for a tire rotation cycle. It helps if you can check with your local automotive technician and then do as he recommends. The check must always extend to all the tires, including spares and auxiliary ones.

3. Check for wheel balancing and alignment regularly since irregular wheel alignment can cause considerable damage to the tires and also hamper driving efficiency by altering handling characteristics of the car.

4. The insides of the tires must be scrutinized thoroughly in case of impacts due to pot holes or other obtrusions or in the case of punctures.

5. While parking the car, avoid parking on patches of oil, gasoline, diesel, lubricants and other such solvents as they are bound to damage the tires.

6. Tires tend to last longer when proper speeds are maintained and are loaded appropriately. Unduly loading the vehicle and driving at higher speeds than recommended can be dangerous and might damage the tires beyond repair.

7. Follow the tire rotation cycles as close to those recommended as possible. This affects tire life.

8. Tire life also depends on road surfaces, driving habits and style and speeds. So it might help if you can make sure that the surface you drive on are commutable and that you drive at optimal speeds and go easy on the handling part.

9. Use recommended tools to load and unload tires on axle end shafts or rims. Check for damaged or bent rims while loading tires and use proper tools while doing the same. Non compliant tools can only mar and damage the tyres and are sometimes even dangerous to work with.

10. General tire condition has to be checked regularly by rated experts for increased life and safety of the car tires. Unsafe car tyres would only mean suicide and there is no reason to be living on edge with something as negligent as not checking for the safety of your vehicle’s tyres.

About the Author:
Barney Garcia writes about on Ten Commandments for Preventive Car Tire Maintenance to visit :- sports car rims and tires
Article Source: http://www.articles411.com

New Sensor For Vehicles To Make Its Own Mark

There is yet going to be another company who would be out to make a mark in the automotive industry through one of its newest products. This company is SmarTire Systems Inc. and it would be sending out a new product that would be of great use to tire pressure monitoring systems.

According to an announcement released by SmarTire Systems Inc., they have just recently filed an application for a patent in the country. Their patent would be for the external valve sensor which can be actually used in the previously mentioned tire pressure monitoring system. Of course, such would be as essential as having the right kind and right size for your Ford Crestline parts. As per the new external valve sensor, it would also be important so much so that people and vehicle owners would be able to know just how under inflated or over inflated their vehicle's tires actually are.

"This technological innovation further strengthens our product position and directly addresses the needs of the commercial market," explains David Warkentin who holds the vice president position for SmarTire Systems Inc.'s sales and marketing division. He even further adds, "SmarTire's external valve sensors will reduce the installation costs of tire pressure monitoring systems and enable faster implementation for large fleets during retrofit in the aftermarket. Although our current products are well received at the OEM level and in fleet trials, market research indicated that a percentage of the commercial vehicle market would be slower to adopt tire pressure monitoring systems without this complimentary solution."

Indeed, such an invention would be marking its way in the automotive industry milestone. And SmarTire Systems Inc. is certainly proud to be able to mark such an invention. On behalf of the company, Warkentin does conclude, "We are pleased to be the first to introduce this technological milestone. It is the result of extensive industry collaboration and product development that builds on our existing technology. Adding this to our patent portfolio is in line with our goal to build and protect the intellectual property that forms the basis for our products. Patent production will help us maintain and extend our dominance in this market."

As per the real purpose of the SmarTire external valve sensors, these were actually designed and crafted with the commercial vehicle industry in mind. The company does say that this new invention of theirs would actually be able to help those commercial drivers be able to make productive use of their time. And for those who are interested in this product, you would do have to wait up until the second quarter of next year for this is when they would be entering the market for sale.

About the Author:
Chuck Smith, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles and news. He has a degree in Automotive Technology.
Added: 25 Oct 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/40396.html

Cooling System: How It Affects Your Mazda Car’s Performance

Just like human beings, the car needs to dissipate heat in order to avoid overheating and exhaustion. During combustion, the engine produces large amount of heat—about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is too much for the engine to bear so a cooling system is needed to keep it at a normal temperature. Cars usually overheat due to a damaged part in the cooling system, especially the radiator, the heart of the cooling system. It is therefore necessary that all its auto parts must be in proper working condition to ensure that the whole system works efficiently. Aside from the radiator, the cooling system is composed water pump, freeze plugs, head gasket, thermostat, hoses, heater core, fan clutch and radiator fan. All these auto parts have special roles to perform thus the absence of one could significantly affect the whole cooling process and of course, the engine’s performance. Take for example the hose, this may seem to be just an ordinary part but once broken, the coolant can escape and so it’s no longer possible for the system to cool the engine. Even just the cap of the radiator is important. It holds the pressure in the cooing system; thereby, affects its stability. How does the cooling system of your Mazda work? The coolant, which is a mixture of anti-freeze and water, is the one that absorbs the heat from the engine. It is drawn by the water pump from the radiator and is pumped through engine block and the cylinder head to absorb the heat from the engine and its parts. It goes back to the receiving tank of the radiator through the radiator hose. The radiator has tubes that contain large amount of water and has fin area to allow outside air to pass through. As the coolant spreads over the top of the radiator tubes, it transfers heat to the air. The performance of your Mazda car is greatly dependent on your cooling system. No matter how gutsy its engine is, it can’t work normally without a cooling system. The engine can even be inutile in an instant if it overheats and all other auto parts under the hood can also be damaged. They could melt as the engine burns the fuel inside the combustion chamber and the pistons in the cylinder could expand extremely that they can no longer move to complete the whole process in the engine. Your Mazda car can possibly overheat as well. Engine overheating is one of the most common problems auto users encounter. You can avoid this by adding water to your radiator. So if you notice a problem on a particular part in your cooling system, consult the best auto mechanic in town. But if you think the problem is worst, you may as well replace it right away. Mazda Parts are everywhere to be found. Auto parts stores like www.innerauto.com offers you Mazda parts (www.innerauto.com/Mazda_Parts/) like Mazda radiators, Mazda radiator support, Mazda Bumpers, Mazda radiator fan and Mazda coolant tank. This incredible auto parts site also offers other replacement Mazda parts such as Mazda Tail Lights, Mazda rear view mirror, Mazda euro headlight, Mazda headlight molding, Mazda Wheels, and many other auto parts. You can find here auto parts for Mazda 323, Mazda 626, Mazda Miata, Mazda MX6, Mazda Protégé and Mazda RX7. Auto Parts Inner is also one of the recognized auto information resources on the net. As an expert in this field, they offer simply the best auto parts with very efficient service.

About The Author:
Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto related. He is currently employed as a market analyst by one of the top car parts company in the area. His automotive articles provide valuable source of information for auto enthusiasts like him as well as to those in need of automotive research. www.innerauto.com
This article was posted on September 07, 2005
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Consider switching to winter tires

When it comes to tires, Canadian motorists are advised to remember the famous nickname given to our fair country – the Great White North. Canadians still on the fence about installing winter tires should know that unpredictable and cold weather can create dangerous driving conditions that can catch even the most experienced drivers off guard.

"Your tires are the only part of the vehicle that actually make contact with the road and, therefore, are an essential safety feature," says Ron Margadonna, Michelin's Product Marketing Manager. "Only winter tires can provide superior safety and control during the ever-changing winter weather road conditions involving ice, snow and slush."

Despite the advice from tire experts and driving associations, Canadians tend not to think about winter tires until the snow has fallen. In fact, according to a Michelin survey conducted in 2002, only 40 per cent of Canadians who drive passenger cars, light trucks, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) considered installing winter tires last year.

"What's surprising about the research is that motorists in Canadian cities where winter conditions can be the most extreme appeared less likely to install winter tires than motorists in more temperate areas," explains Margadonna. "For instance, while it's no surprise that 87 per cent of Quebec City residents considered installing winter tires, the number drops to 27 per cent in Winnipeg and 37 per cent in Edmonton. Even more surprising, 36 per cent of Vancouver's coastal city residents considered installing winter tires – in a city that is generally more temperate."

Since the inception of all-season tires, many drivers decided not to use winter tires, which were knobby, noisy, unattractive and specifically designed for driving in the snow. Also, drivers were not satisfied with the tread life, comfort and control or performance of winter tires during both wet and dry conditions.

New technology led to the re-birth of winter tires, like the Michelin Alpin winter tire line, which is especially designed to offer a longer tire life and a better traction in rain and wet conditions. It was also designed to offer improved traction and safety in the snow, ice and slush, while handling well with the comfort and control of high performance tires.

So, before the snow starts falling in your part of the Great White North, find out more about winter tires. Getting a grasp of the new winter tire technology will help you maintain your grip on an icy road.

- News Canada

About the author:
News Canada
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Electric Vehicles and How They Work

With all of our oil problems, the idea of the electric vehicle has risen from the ashes. Here is a guide to electric vehicles and how they work.

Most of the people in the world will either drive or ride in a vehicle in their lifetime. Most of these vehicles will be powered by an internal combustion engine, which will run on either gasoline or diesel fuel. While these vehicles have been the standard for nearly a hundred years now, new engine types have started to make an impact on the vehicle scene, which include electric and hybrid engines. Electric engines are the cleanest engines available to consumers today, so it's important to learn about electric vehicles and how they work.

Electric vehicles usually look just like “normal” vehicles on the outside, except for the lack of a tailpipe (and exhaust system). Internally, however, and under the vehicle, a big difference can be seen. There is no gas tank (as electric vehicles do not burn fuel) and battery packs are often found either under the vehicle or in the trunk. These batteries are the same type that are used to start a gasoline powered vehicle, only there are many more of them used in conjunction to store energy to power the vehicle. There is also a regulator attached to the batteries to make sure that the amount of energy produced and used by the vehicle is constant, and that none of the batteries burn out.

Another interesting thing to note about electric vehicles and how they work is the fact that almost everything besides the engine in an electric vehicle is the same as that in a gas powered vehicle. The transmission, brakes, climate control systems and air bags all function in the same way. The electric motor itself is the true difference. There are three types of electric motors that are available on the market today: the AC Brushless (good top speed, but low acceleration), the AC Induction (ok top speed, best acceleration, but highest price) and the Permanent Magnet (middle of the road in performance). Any of these motors can be used to create an electric vehicle.

While an electric vehicle moves, the momentum generated while braking can be used to charge the batteries for power. Called regenerative braking, this specialized braking system can help you recover up to 15% of the energy used for acceleration by applying the momentum generated in the braking process to the batteries. While this does not provide enough recharge to fully run your electric vehicle, it can help to extend the amount of driving you can do.

There are other aspects of electric vehicles and how they work that can be discussed, such as battery types and other additions to make your vehicle more energy efficient. Electric vehicles may not be the speediest or easiest to maintain vehicles available today, but with new technology being developed all the time, electric vehicles will eventually become a great alternative to polluting combustion engine vehicles.

About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with Solar Companies - information on renewable energy.
Article Submitted On: September 14, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com