"May
every day of the new year glow with good cheer and happiness for you and your
family"
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
BMW i8 in detail. Design.
With this BMW TV series you can get a closer look at the BMW i8. This time you can get more information about the design of the BMW i8.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Be Smart About Tires: Choosing the Right Tires For the Job
Tires are purpose-built. In other words, they are built using
the specifications that are best suited to the job that the tire will
perform. These specifications determine the materials that the tire is
made of as well as the tread patterns and the overall look of the tire.
These build specifications can be broken down into the following
categories: Touring, Performance, All-Season, Light Truck, and Winter.
Touring
I'm sure you heard the term "touring", but what does that mean? Touring means traveling at highway speeds for prolonged periods. Touring tires are designed to give a quiet, excellent ride with top-notch handling at highway speeds. This type of tire has a non-aggressive tread pattern with straight ribs that allow the channeling of water. Another characteristic of the touring tire is long tread life. Long tread life is certainly a plus but the downside is that the hard compound that makes up this tire tends to freeze in winter, which in turn, sacrifices traction in bad weather.
Performance
This type of tire does a great job at highway speeds. It has an aggressive tread pattern that provides great traction and handling during cornering and aggressive driving. These tires have heavy or large shoulder lugs for cornering traction and a wide smooth face for gripping the road surface. Evacuating water is usually not a strong point of this type of tire. They are made of a softer rubber compound which aids traction but wears out quickly. Performance tires are usually short-lived. Most "Summer" tires fall under this category.
All-Season
This category includes the most versatile tires. All-season tires have a dual purpose. First, the tread patterns squeegee, or remove water from underneath each tread block maximizing rubber-to-road contact. Secondly, the tread patterns allow the "pumping" of water, ice, and snow away from the tire. These tires are also made up of a compound that resists freezing, ensuring better traction during icy conditions.
Another great characteristic of the all-season tire is its performance in great weather. They are comparatively quieter than performance tires and their blocky tread pattern allows good traction and handling in the wet and dry.
Light Truck
This type of tire is built for work. They are constructed to work under heavy loads and in rough conditions. The rubber compound is hard, ensuring durability and the steel plies help the tire resist punctures and tears. The tread patterns vary widely and is determined by whether the tire will be used on or off-road. You will find lots of variation for light-truck tires, so thinking through the truck or SUV's mission will go a long way.
Winter
This category of tire is built for inclement and severe weather. Its whole mission in life is to move and break through snow and ice. The rubber compound resists freezing temperatures and remains flexible. The treads open and close as the tire moves down the road creating a "crunching" effect on ice and snow. This "crunching" keeps the treads clean which gets them ready for the next bite, ensuring traction.
They are excellent at evacuating water. The sharp edges on the treads break through ice so that the tire can find the road or a surface that provides greater traction. If you experience an abundance of ice, snow, or inclement weather, the winter tire is your best bet.
Here's a quick guide for category characteristics.
Touring-quiet, good highway performance, long tread life
Performance- great handling and grip for aggressive driving in the dry, poor performance in wet and snow, short tread life
All-Season-good highway performance, good wet, dry, and snow performance, moderately quiet
Light Truck- good for heavier loads, hard compound, aggressive tread pattern, good on and off-road performance
Winter- great in ice and snow, resists freezing, best at evacuating ice and snow, great winter traction
Let's discuss a few other things to consider when purchasing tires.
Lifetime balance and rotation
This is a service that is offered at most tire retailers. What is it? In order for a tire to rotate properly it must be balanced on the wheel that it is installed on. You don't want the tire to "wobble" as it turns, so balancing the tire prevents unwanted vibrations from coming through the chassis which may manifest itself as excessive steering wheel shaking.
Tire rotation is moving tires from one position on the vehicle to another, for example, moving the left-front tire to the left-rear position and vice versa. Tire rotation ensures that all 4 tires will wear evenly, prolonging the life of each individual tire.
Once you pay for this service, you can have these services performed for free for the life of the tires. I highly recommend this purchase as it will save you money in the long run.
Road Hazard
This type of protection guards you against hazards that might puncture, damage, or destroy the tire during normal use. These hazards may be nails, screws, twisted metal, or pothole impacts. The replacement value is determined by the percentage of tire tread use. For example, if your tire is punctured and it has 70 percent of its tread life remaining, the retailer will give you a 70 percent of what you paid for the tire to put towards a new one. It is essentially an insurance policy. I do recommend it if you can afford it.
Mileage Warranty
This is given by some tire manufacturers and it states that the tire is guaranteed to last a certain amount of mileage as long as the tire is properly maintained. Maintenance in this case is proper rotation and inflation. You must keep good records of the maintenance performed. This replacement credit is also determined by the percentage of usage.
What type of tires should you buy?
First, determine what how the vehicle will be driven. You must also determine what weather conditions you will encounter for the majority of the tires life and usage. Do you live in an area where it snows a lot? Is it particularly rainy where you live? Do you love to drive aggressively in you weekend ride? Do you only drive your vehicle in fair weather? Do you do a lot of highway driving in all sorts of weather? Asking these questions and finding answers will help you guide you through the myriad of choices available to you.
Now that you can "speak" tires and you know the difference between the types of tires available, you can make an informed purchase. Informed consumers cannot be taken advantage of. Make the right choice for your safety and for your wallet.
Touring
I'm sure you heard the term "touring", but what does that mean? Touring means traveling at highway speeds for prolonged periods. Touring tires are designed to give a quiet, excellent ride with top-notch handling at highway speeds. This type of tire has a non-aggressive tread pattern with straight ribs that allow the channeling of water. Another characteristic of the touring tire is long tread life. Long tread life is certainly a plus but the downside is that the hard compound that makes up this tire tends to freeze in winter, which in turn, sacrifices traction in bad weather.
Performance
This type of tire does a great job at highway speeds. It has an aggressive tread pattern that provides great traction and handling during cornering and aggressive driving. These tires have heavy or large shoulder lugs for cornering traction and a wide smooth face for gripping the road surface. Evacuating water is usually not a strong point of this type of tire. They are made of a softer rubber compound which aids traction but wears out quickly. Performance tires are usually short-lived. Most "Summer" tires fall under this category.
All-Season
This category includes the most versatile tires. All-season tires have a dual purpose. First, the tread patterns squeegee, or remove water from underneath each tread block maximizing rubber-to-road contact. Secondly, the tread patterns allow the "pumping" of water, ice, and snow away from the tire. These tires are also made up of a compound that resists freezing, ensuring better traction during icy conditions.
Another great characteristic of the all-season tire is its performance in great weather. They are comparatively quieter than performance tires and their blocky tread pattern allows good traction and handling in the wet and dry.
Light Truck
This type of tire is built for work. They are constructed to work under heavy loads and in rough conditions. The rubber compound is hard, ensuring durability and the steel plies help the tire resist punctures and tears. The tread patterns vary widely and is determined by whether the tire will be used on or off-road. You will find lots of variation for light-truck tires, so thinking through the truck or SUV's mission will go a long way.
Winter
This category of tire is built for inclement and severe weather. Its whole mission in life is to move and break through snow and ice. The rubber compound resists freezing temperatures and remains flexible. The treads open and close as the tire moves down the road creating a "crunching" effect on ice and snow. This "crunching" keeps the treads clean which gets them ready for the next bite, ensuring traction.
They are excellent at evacuating water. The sharp edges on the treads break through ice so that the tire can find the road or a surface that provides greater traction. If you experience an abundance of ice, snow, or inclement weather, the winter tire is your best bet.
Here's a quick guide for category characteristics.
Touring-quiet, good highway performance, long tread life
Performance- great handling and grip for aggressive driving in the dry, poor performance in wet and snow, short tread life
All-Season-good highway performance, good wet, dry, and snow performance, moderately quiet
Light Truck- good for heavier loads, hard compound, aggressive tread pattern, good on and off-road performance
Winter- great in ice and snow, resists freezing, best at evacuating ice and snow, great winter traction
Let's discuss a few other things to consider when purchasing tires.
Lifetime balance and rotation
This is a service that is offered at most tire retailers. What is it? In order for a tire to rotate properly it must be balanced on the wheel that it is installed on. You don't want the tire to "wobble" as it turns, so balancing the tire prevents unwanted vibrations from coming through the chassis which may manifest itself as excessive steering wheel shaking.
Tire rotation is moving tires from one position on the vehicle to another, for example, moving the left-front tire to the left-rear position and vice versa. Tire rotation ensures that all 4 tires will wear evenly, prolonging the life of each individual tire.
Once you pay for this service, you can have these services performed for free for the life of the tires. I highly recommend this purchase as it will save you money in the long run.
Road Hazard
This type of protection guards you against hazards that might puncture, damage, or destroy the tire during normal use. These hazards may be nails, screws, twisted metal, or pothole impacts. The replacement value is determined by the percentage of tire tread use. For example, if your tire is punctured and it has 70 percent of its tread life remaining, the retailer will give you a 70 percent of what you paid for the tire to put towards a new one. It is essentially an insurance policy. I do recommend it if you can afford it.
Mileage Warranty
This is given by some tire manufacturers and it states that the tire is guaranteed to last a certain amount of mileage as long as the tire is properly maintained. Maintenance in this case is proper rotation and inflation. You must keep good records of the maintenance performed. This replacement credit is also determined by the percentage of usage.
What type of tires should you buy?
First, determine what how the vehicle will be driven. You must also determine what weather conditions you will encounter for the majority of the tires life and usage. Do you live in an area where it snows a lot? Is it particularly rainy where you live? Do you love to drive aggressively in you weekend ride? Do you only drive your vehicle in fair weather? Do you do a lot of highway driving in all sorts of weather? Asking these questions and finding answers will help you guide you through the myriad of choices available to you.
Now that you can "speak" tires and you know the difference between the types of tires available, you can make an informed purchase. Informed consumers cannot be taken advantage of. Make the right choice for your safety and for your wallet.
To get more help and to save money on automotive repairs, download my free copy of The Garage Insider: The Top 10 things your mechanic doesn't want you to know that can Literally save you Thousand$! Courtney Evans is the Publisher of www.GreaseMonkeyJunkie.com, the premier weekly newsletter for the DIY Mechanic.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Mobil 1 Testimonials from the 2013 SEMA Show
We visited the 2013 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center and talked with auto enthusiasts about why they trust Mobil 1 for their vehicles.
Monday, December 16, 2013
The First-Ever BMW i3 Hot Lap
When you see this electric vehicle blow by you in silence, you won't believe your eyes—or ears.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Drive Me -- Autonomous Driving Pilot Project
100 self-driving Volvo cars using public roads, in everyday driving conditions, around the city of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Possible? Yes, by 2017 as part of the world's first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project.
The project also includes fully automated parking -- without a driver in the car.
Imagine this: You leave your car at the parking entrance. It carries on, finds a vacant spot, and parks itself.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Mobil 1 & eHow: Winter Driving
Mobil 1 and eHow team up with Automotive Improvement Expert Chris Duke to share with you our winter driving tips and tricks.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
How To Maintain Car Engines For Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency of car engines is considered as an imperative and
essential factor when buying a new car, all thanks to the high fuel
prices. Most car makers have taken action to provide more fuel efficient
cars that return more than 80mpg of economy however, there are millions
of old cars that people use for their daily commute, by following the
simple guidelines below, they can also achieve maximum fuel efficiency
and the lowest carbon emissions from their car engines.
1. Keep the Engine Appropriately Tuned
It is very important to follow the maintenance schedule of the engine, for instance, replacement of air filter, spark plug and oxygen sensors, also keep an eye on any on-board diagnostics malfunctions in the Engine Control Module. The most important is to change the engine oil as instructed in your car's manual.
2. Fuel Evaporation
Fuel evaporation is another parameter that needs to be attended by tightly closing the fuel tank lids and by parking in shades, believe it or not, can improve your mileage by as much as 10 percent.
3. Use the Recommended Grade Engine Oil
The most important factor to keep your car engine at fuel efficient state is proper engine oil with low-kinematic thickness that is also referred to as low "weight" engine oil. You can get better mileage by 1-2 percent by using the recommended grade of vehicle engine oil. For instance, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine intended to use 5W-30 can worsen your fuel efficiency by 1-2 percent. Contemporary engines have such accurate tolerance that very trivial oil is often required, thicker oil, such as 10W30 or 10W40, may not lubricate as well, because it won't pour as swiftly into key oil ways and fractures. You must check the owner's manual for suggested viscosity and ask for it exclusively when oil is changed.
4. Minimise the Idling
Your engine wastes fuel when car is in idle state, simply because you are burning fuel while going nowhere. If you are waiting for someone and you know that it will take more than 30 seconds, switch your engine off because you are just burning money.
5. Keep Tyres Appropriately Inflated
You can get up to 3.3 percent better mileage by keeping your car tyres inflated to the suitable pressure, this reduces the resistance so less power is required to move the car. Under-inflated tyres can lower your engine efficiency through more fuel consumption. The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is generally found on a sticky label in the driver's side door jamb and/or in your owner's manual. Do not use the utmost pressure printed on the tyre's sidewall.
6. Smooth Driving
The way you drive your car also plays a huge role in fuel consumption, by driving fast, you might save 5-10 minutes, however by smoothing down you can improve the fuel consumption of your car's engine, if you normally drive on a motorway at 70mph, try changing it to 60mph can increase the fuel economy by up to 4 miles per gallon. Avoid as much as you can from putting your foot down on the throttle and from stomping on the brake paddle, this will not only save you on fuel costs but also money on wear and tear of brakes.
1. Keep the Engine Appropriately Tuned
It is very important to follow the maintenance schedule of the engine, for instance, replacement of air filter, spark plug and oxygen sensors, also keep an eye on any on-board diagnostics malfunctions in the Engine Control Module. The most important is to change the engine oil as instructed in your car's manual.
2. Fuel Evaporation
Fuel evaporation is another parameter that needs to be attended by tightly closing the fuel tank lids and by parking in shades, believe it or not, can improve your mileage by as much as 10 percent.
3. Use the Recommended Grade Engine Oil
The most important factor to keep your car engine at fuel efficient state is proper engine oil with low-kinematic thickness that is also referred to as low "weight" engine oil. You can get better mileage by 1-2 percent by using the recommended grade of vehicle engine oil. For instance, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine intended to use 5W-30 can worsen your fuel efficiency by 1-2 percent. Contemporary engines have such accurate tolerance that very trivial oil is often required, thicker oil, such as 10W30 or 10W40, may not lubricate as well, because it won't pour as swiftly into key oil ways and fractures. You must check the owner's manual for suggested viscosity and ask for it exclusively when oil is changed.
4. Minimise the Idling
Your engine wastes fuel when car is in idle state, simply because you are burning fuel while going nowhere. If you are waiting for someone and you know that it will take more than 30 seconds, switch your engine off because you are just burning money.
5. Keep Tyres Appropriately Inflated
You can get up to 3.3 percent better mileage by keeping your car tyres inflated to the suitable pressure, this reduces the resistance so less power is required to move the car. Under-inflated tyres can lower your engine efficiency through more fuel consumption. The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is generally found on a sticky label in the driver's side door jamb and/or in your owner's manual. Do not use the utmost pressure printed on the tyre's sidewall.
6. Smooth Driving
The way you drive your car also plays a huge role in fuel consumption, by driving fast, you might save 5-10 minutes, however by smoothing down you can improve the fuel consumption of your car's engine, if you normally drive on a motorway at 70mph, try changing it to 60mph can increase the fuel economy by up to 4 miles per gallon. Avoid as much as you can from putting your foot down on the throttle and from stomping on the brake paddle, this will not only save you on fuel costs but also money on wear and tear of brakes.
Callum Wright is an auto engine expert working for Replacement Engines UK, go to Car Engines For Sale to buy or get any advice, call on 0044 (0) 20 8596 9961.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
BMW 4 Series Convertible. Official Launchfilm.
This is the BMW 4 Series Convertible (F33) Launchfilm 2013.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles or More
The average age of cars on American roads is nearly 11 years,
according to Polk Research. Plenty of drivers own vehicles with well
over 200,000 miles. The long-term savings of keeping a car for 200,000
miles, or about 15 years, can be $30,000 or more. Clearly, learning to
keep a car well maintained and healthy is worth the effort.
1) Your Owner's Manual and Regular Mechanic Checks
a) Read and follow the owner's manual for your vehicle.
b) Find out the recommended maintenance schedule and stick to it.
c) Follow the "severe duty" maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
2) Look, Listen and Smell
a) Know how to check your car's oil and transmission fluid, and how to inflate your tires to the correct levels.
b) Pay attention to how your car runs. Any time it makes odd sounds, has trouble starting, overheats, or does not brake or handle correctly, get the car checked by your mechanic.
c) Heed warning indicator lights on the dashboard.
d) Do a walk-around of your car regularly, including checking brake lights and turn signals.
e) If you see fluid spots in your garage or parking space, park on some cardboard to check the exact source of the leak. Get the leak repaired as soon as possible.
f) Listen for out of the ordinary sounds. Note when these happen and at what speed and give this information to your mechanic. This saves them hours of trying to recreate the issue, and saves you money in labor costs.
g) When you check your oil, notice if it smells burnt. If it does, get repairs quickly and avoid needing your engine rebuilt.
h) Burnt or bad-smelling transmission fluid is a bad sign that needs mechanic attention immediately.
3) Oil Changes and Fluid Checks
a) Never skip recommended oil and filter change. Missing oil changes results in clogged oil filters and sludge that wrecks engines.
b) Use the "severe use" oil change schedule listed in the owner's manual.
c) Use synthetic oil.
d) Your mechanic will check the other fluids during oil changes. They will inspect the fluid itself and top off fluid levels. If there is a big fluid loss, mechanics can find the cause and repair it before it gets worse.
4) Transmission
a) Get your transmission fluid and filter changed according to your car's maintenance schedule.
b) Replace the fluid at least every 100,000 miles or sooner.
Regardless of how well you care for your car, accidents happen, and parts fail. However, proper maintenance keeps your car on the road longer and brings you a better price at trade-in time. It is usually cheaper to fix a car that is in decent condition than it is to make new car payments. Follow your maintenance schedule and attend to concerns quickly to keep your car running for 200,000 miles or more.
1) Your Owner's Manual and Regular Mechanic Checks
a) Read and follow the owner's manual for your vehicle.
b) Find out the recommended maintenance schedule and stick to it.
c) Follow the "severe duty" maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
2) Look, Listen and Smell
a) Know how to check your car's oil and transmission fluid, and how to inflate your tires to the correct levels.
b) Pay attention to how your car runs. Any time it makes odd sounds, has trouble starting, overheats, or does not brake or handle correctly, get the car checked by your mechanic.
c) Heed warning indicator lights on the dashboard.
d) Do a walk-around of your car regularly, including checking brake lights and turn signals.
e) If you see fluid spots in your garage or parking space, park on some cardboard to check the exact source of the leak. Get the leak repaired as soon as possible.
f) Listen for out of the ordinary sounds. Note when these happen and at what speed and give this information to your mechanic. This saves them hours of trying to recreate the issue, and saves you money in labor costs.
g) When you check your oil, notice if it smells burnt. If it does, get repairs quickly and avoid needing your engine rebuilt.
h) Burnt or bad-smelling transmission fluid is a bad sign that needs mechanic attention immediately.
3) Oil Changes and Fluid Checks
a) Never skip recommended oil and filter change. Missing oil changes results in clogged oil filters and sludge that wrecks engines.
b) Use the "severe use" oil change schedule listed in the owner's manual.
c) Use synthetic oil.
d) Your mechanic will check the other fluids during oil changes. They will inspect the fluid itself and top off fluid levels. If there is a big fluid loss, mechanics can find the cause and repair it before it gets worse.
4) Transmission
a) Get your transmission fluid and filter changed according to your car's maintenance schedule.
b) Replace the fluid at least every 100,000 miles or sooner.
Regardless of how well you care for your car, accidents happen, and parts fail. However, proper maintenance keeps your car on the road longer and brings you a better price at trade-in time. It is usually cheaper to fix a car that is in decent condition than it is to make new car payments. Follow your maintenance schedule and attend to concerns quickly to keep your car running for 200,000 miles or more.
Service Plus Automotive is a family owned business since 1991. We are focused on providing the best possible customer service experience when servicing or repairing a customers vehicle. We strongly believe in customer education and regularly show the customer what needs repairing. We are very involved in various community activities and believe in giving back to the community who has supported us for almost 20 years. For more information, go to http://serviceplusautony.com
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