Friday, July 6, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday Maintenance Tip: Simple Steps to Save Gas Without Driving Less
Driving less doesn’t have to be a consumer’s reaction to rising gas prices, according to the Car Care Council. While consumers can’t control the price of gas, they can control how much gas they use by following some simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance.
“Most motorists don’t have the option of driving less when gas prices rise, but they can cancel out the increases by making sure their vehicle is getting maximum fuel economy,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Fuel consumption is directly related to vehicle care and driver behavior and both can have a significant impact on how much motorists pay at the pump.”
The Car Care Council offers these simple steps to save gas without driving less:
- Keep your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.
- Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by 3 percent.
- Replace dirty or clogged air filters on older vehicles to improve gas mileage by as much as 14 percent.
- Replace dirty spark plugs, which can reduce mileage by two miles per gallon.
- Change oil regularly and gain another mile per gallon.
- Check the gas cap. Damaged, loose or missing gas caps allow gas to vaporize into the air.
- Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph.
- Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Warming up the vehicle for one or two minutes is sufficient.
- Avoid quick starts and stops. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city.
- Consolidate trips. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much gas as one longer multi-purpose trip.
- Don’t haul unneeded items in the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.
“Some motorists think they are saving money when they put off needed vehicle maintenance,” said White. “What they don’t realize is that neglecting routine maintenance can end up costing a lot more. Keeping your car running efficiently and modifying your driving behavior is the best way to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy and keep more money in your pocket.”
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
‘Dark Knight’ Hits The Road In Lamborghini ‘Batmobile’
The concept of 'Batmobile' driven by our night vigilante Batman seems to be almost quaint when it comes to marketing and promoting a movie.
Said to be the most desired vehicle of the decade, the 15-feet long futuristic 'Batmobile' has been described by fans and critics as "part Lamboghini, part tank."
According to Nathan Crowley, the production designer for all the trilogy of Dark Knight movies, the movie promotional house ARG Promotions and the movie crew are all set to take the most desired vehicle to the streets literally to show their ardent fans of real car exclusively built for 'Batman' and his associates.
As part of the tour to promote the movie, the 'Bat pod,' which is a removable segment of the Tumble that rides on its own through automatic cable installations, will also likely to receive more attention from the audience. The crew of the film believe that the tour has been organised to rev up interest in the movie 'The Dark Knight Rises' and the industry experts think the season is well suited for the movie as no other big film is set for release. I
In the 2008 instalment of the movie on legendary 'Batman' has been successful to earn the box office with $1 billion and broke all the records on home video. It is indeed a dream come true for 'Batman' fans to touch and feel the 'Lmborghini which is driven by the lead actor Christian Bale in all the three movies directed by Christopher Nolan.
Courtesy of AutoWorldNews.com
‘Dark Knight’ Hits The Road In Lamborghini ‘Batmobile’
The concept of 'Batmobile' driven by our night vigilante Batman seems to be almost quaint when it comes to marketing and promoting a movie.
Said to be the most desired vehicle of the decade, the 15-feet long futuristic 'Batmobile' has been described by fans and critics as "part Lamboghini, part tank."
According to Nathan Crowley, the production designer for all the trilogy of Dark Knight movies, the movie promotional house ARG Promotions and the movie crew are all set to take the most desired vehicle to the streets literally to show their ardent fans of real car exclusively built for 'Batman' and his associates.
As part of the tour to promote the movie, the 'Bat pod,' which is a removable segment of the Tumble that rides on its own through automatic cable installations, will also likely to receive more attention from the audience. The crew of the film believe that the tour has been organised to rev up interest in the movie 'The Dark Knight Rises' and the industry experts think the season is well suited for the movie as no other big film is set for release. I
In the 2008 instalment of the movie on legendary 'Batman' has been successful to earn the box office with $1 billion and broke all the records on home video. It is indeed a dream come true for 'Batman' fans to touch and feel the 'Lmborghini which is driven by the lead actor Christian Bale in all the three movies directed by Christopher Nolan.
Courtesy of AutoWorldNews.com
Monday, June 25, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Maintenance Tip: Night Driving
- Ensure all lights work. Lights on your car are the most vital night-driving tool.Without them, you will can’t see or not be seen by other drivers, it can cause accident easily.
- Clean and clear may increase your visibility, inside and out
Windows, instrument panels, headlights, tail lights—all of these are components that increase visibility inside and outside your car. Consider regularly cleaning your dashboard and instrument panels, mirrors, windows, and windshields (inside and out) to gain greater visibility. - Adjust your headlights for maximum effectiveness
Check your headlights for proper alignment and ask your mechanic to adjust them properly. Adjusting your headlights may help you see more of the road while also protecting other drivers from wayward beams.
Keep your body in good condition
- Never drink and drive
Not only does alcohol radically impair motor skills and driving ability, but even one social drink can trigger fatigue. This can lead to an exceptionally lethal combination. - Avoid smoking when driving at night
The carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarettes has a measurable, physical effect on your eyes. These chemicals can actually make it difficult to see well and clearly, especially at night. - Stay sharp
Try chewing bubble gum to keep your mind humming. Also, drinking water and staying well hydrated may do wonders for mental alertness. - Rest early, rest often
If you’re planning a longer night-driving expedition, make sure you bank a couple nights’ worth of good sleep before hitting the road. Also, plan on making frequent stops to stretch, walk, or have a small snack or moderate meal. Some experts recommend stopping every two hours for a body/mind break.
Other Tips for night driving
- Turn on your headlights in time.
When it’s getting dark, turn on your lights in time to make sure that your car is seen by other drivers,even if you can see the road clear.
When driving at night, remember that your sight—and safety—are only as good as the reach of your headlights. Don’t assume that the road is clear. What lies beyond the pavement you can see may be sudden and unexpected hazards you can’t see. Reduce your speed, increase your following distance, and expect the unexpected, especially on darker country roads.
Turn off all interior lights. Any source of light inside the car will seem extremely bright and will make it more difficult to see.
Look to the bottom right of the road to avoid approaching headlights. (Some headlights are blindingly bright.) Also use the night setting on your rearview mirror to deflect the glare from vehicles behind you. Older drivers find it more difficult to see at night because it takes longer for them to recover from glare.
Be careful to lower the head light beam when necessary otherwise it might blind the oncoming driver. It is also necessary to switch on the headlights when you are uncertain of what you are seeing. And try not to overdrive your headlights which will make it impossible for you to stop inside the illuminated area.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Maintenance Tip: Avoiding Potholes
Potholes destroy tires, and the price of tires is rising sharply due to a supply shortage of natural rubber (yes, it still comes from trees, mostly in southeast Asia) and increasing demand from China, where car ownership is undergoing double-digit growth. Petroleum is also used in tire manufacturing, adding further to cost volatility. Blow out just one tire on one pothole and expect to pay out more – one major tire manufacturer increased prices three times in 2011 alone.
Damage from potholes doesn’t stop at tires. In a blink of the eye, you can experience $1000 of damage, possibly more, when your car hits a pothole – it’s possible to impair your car’s shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, rims and alignment as well. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the average additional vehicle operating costs due to rough roads in 2007 was $400, with higher costs experienced in places including Baltimore ($589), Concord, NH ($656), Dallas-Fort Worth ($512), Los Angeles ($746), New Orleans ($622), New York-Newark ($638), Oklahoma City ($631), San Francisco-Oakland ($705) and Tulsa ($703). Deteriorating roads and general inflation since 2007 likely pushed these costs higher.
But there are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole. A preventive strategy is more about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you. We suggest you approach it on three fronts, as follows.
Adopt smarter driving practices
You can reduce damage with vehicle preparation and driving with good sense:
- Check your tire pressure to keep it at the tire manufacturer’s recommendation. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and in a sudden bump may rupture if the wheel rims pinch it against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage as well.
- Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
- Observe the traffic ahead of you – if other cars are swerving and stopping, it’s because of a problem in the road.
- Beware of puddles – what might look like a little surface water might have a nasty, deep and sharp-edged pothole lurking below.
- Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes. Slower hits generally involve less damage, a simple matter of physics.
- Stay focused and pay attention to the amount of traffic in front, behind and alongside you. You might be able to avoid potholes but do not want to cause an accident while doing so.
React quickly, intelligently when a pothole is upon you
Assuming you drive defensively – and do not tailgate, which restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you – here is what to do if you are just about to hit a pothole:
- Brake only lightly, if at all. And do something counterintuitive by letting off on the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds not only tempts rear-end collisions but also compresses the front-end suspension system, increasing the damage.
- Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
- Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and alignment than if you hit it perpendicularly.
Reduce the damage in the aftermath
Post-impact, the right moves can at least limit the extent of the damage:
- Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. If so, minimize how much you drive on it, pull off the road as soon as you can do so safely where you can change the tire to your spare. This will minimize the damage to your wheel rim.
- Even without a flat, there may be preliminary damage. At your next stop, check tire rims to see if they were bent, if there is visible cord material or bulging. This could fail later while driving.
- Note if your car pulls to one side without corrective steering. This suggests the wheels are out of alignment and need mechanical attention.
In most municipalities, you can and should report potholes to the streets department – use a smartphone app such as SeeClickFix or SaveMyTire.com, or the local 3-1-1 or other call-in line. You might also be compensated for your loses if that pothole was reported previously and left unfixed, however rules for this are determined on a city, township or county level.
Courtesy of Pothole.info
