Cylinder Heads
In my experience, most consumers could save themselves costly repairs to their motor vehicles by recognising the common signs of cylinder head damage. A cylinder head can blow up from something as simple as the car overheating on a hot day. Another common cause for damage to a cylinder head is to let the motor run dry without water on a long drive.
The signs that something is wrong with your cylinder head can be white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. Maybe the motor won’t start as easily if the cylinder head is damaged. Have you ever heard a car misfire when it is started. This is another sign of cylinder head damage. When you check the water levels in the radiator look to see if there are frothy white bubbles. Please don’t do this when the motor is hot as the water will be boiling and can seriously burn you. The cylinder head can cause the radiator to crack.
What can you do about it. Well, the sooner you get it seen to by an automotive specialist, the better it is for the vehicle motor and also your hip pocket. the damaged cylinder head can cause other damage to the motor if it is left untreated which will result in a bigger bill and longer time off the road.
Protect the Exteriors of a Car
Aim for a Spotless Exterior
First and foremost, one must wash away the external debris using water and hose. The biggest enemy to the exteriors of a car is bird droppings, which being acidic in nature, may ruin the car paint. In order to remove boulders & squirrel remains, one must pre-soak the vehicle using a mild liquid soap, spray, and a car wash sponge. Thereafter, each section must be taken and rinsed off thoroughly for about eight to ten minutes. This will help in keeping the color of the car intact.
Prevent the Vehicle Against Sun Damage
The sun rays may cause oxidation and premature fading of the paint of the vehicle. Hence, it is advisable to always park the car in a shaded area. This will not only increase the longevity of its paint, but will also protect its headlights and rubberized trim. Wax protection is one of the most effective ways of maintaining the glossy look of the vehicle. Further, if one wants to give extra protection, then use of auto paint protection film kits is an ideal proposition.
Give Extra Attention to the Wheels
When it comes to the wheels, one must take extreme caution. To get rid of mud and grime, the tires must always be cleaned with a reliable protecting agent. It is of utmost importance to give emphasis on the wheels, as it safeguards not only the health of the car, but also the lives of the ones riding in it.
Windows and Windshields are not to be Forgotten
One must ensure to clean windows and windshields on a regular basis. A mixture of vinegar and water is a natural process to do away with the dirt. One can also use commercial products for cleaning these parts of the automobile. Rear view and side mirrors must also be cleaned for getting a clear view while driving.
Buying a Commercial Vehicle
There are various types of vehicles available in the market, but a good buying decision always stems from a thoughtfully prepared budget. Here, it is important to determine the return on investment, break-even, and the utility one can derive from the vehicle in the long run. All these factors have a direct implication on the budget.
Features – Needs Vs Wants
If one does not select the features of the vehicle cautiously, one may land up indulging in a costly proposition. It is important to note here that even minor adjustments to the truck might lead to huge costs. One should ensure that the features sought for, are an absolute requirement for the optimal performance of the vehicle.
What will be the primary use?
It is essential to outline the primary purpose of the vehicle. Once the primary attributes are defined, the rest of the features can be woven around those aspects. Will it be a heavy duty cargo carrying vehicle or a lightweight pickup van? Then, the frequency of use, mileage, and the safety facets, are to be considered in arriving at a prudent decision.
Will there be a secondary purpose?
At times, ice-cream trucks are also used to haul raw materials, such as milk and fresh fruits, to the factory. On similar lines, one should paint a long term picture for the possible functions the vehicle may be used for. This helps in reducing costs of making tweaks to the vehicle in the future. Of course, it also aids in increasing the return on investment.
The dimensions and build
After determining the budget, the primary job, and the secondary uses, one may now move on to the dimensions and build of the vehicle. Transporting medicines may not require much space, but it is essential that the entire system is refrigerated. On the other hand, transporting furniture may require a larger area as well as a decent payload handling capacity. Hence, it is important to know the contents of the cargo and the features required for securely delivering it to the clients. Accordingly, one may decide the dimensions of the vehicle to be purchased.
Get Good Fuel Economy
Always use the accelerator, brake pedals and other driving controls respectfully and smoothly. Sudden, swift and rough acceleration and sudden braking will harm your car’s fuel economy figures in the long run. Always combine multiple short trips for lowering overall fuel consumption of your car. Every time you run the engine, your car will automatically require fuel. This is why frequent and short trips are best combined into one or two longer ones.
Fuel economy depends heavily on how your car parts air while on the move. Fuel economy is highly affected by open windows even at high speeds. Keeping your window partly open is also a no-no in this regard. Higher drag will result in your fuel tank draining out much faster. As opposed to mainstream perceptions, you will save more fuel with your windows pulled up and the air conditioner running inside.
You should always take care to shift to the highest gear possible without any knocking of the engine. Fuel is consumed more while accelerating in lower gears. You should always shift down in case the engine is not pulling instead of just flooring the throttle. Shifting up at around 2,000/1,500 for petrol and diesel respectively is the best bet for getting sufficient speed and better fuel economy.
Clear excess baggage from your car including a deflated and unnecessary spare tyre, child seats which are not required anymore or even other bags and other stuff you usually carry. Keep your boot and interiors free clean and empty and you will certainly get fuel economy benefits.
Do not keep your car idling unnecessarily. This will only burn fuel without any traveling in the bargain. Suppose you are waiting for someone or at a traffic stop and you keep the engine running. This will give you 0 kmpl while fuel will be consumed all the same. Switch off the engine at traffic stops or while waiting somewhere.
Always get your oil and air filters cleaned as per the service schedule. Replacements are also necessary in particular cases. Sticking to your service schedule is a must since serviced and maintained cars consume less fuel.
Do not drive in rush hour if you want to save on fuel. Start a little early and plan your route carefully in order to avoid congestion as much as possible.
Diesel Injectors
An apparatus for fuel injection: Each cylinder of a compression ignition engine is connected to a fuel injector and therefore each cylinder has its own diesel supply line which carries the diesel from the diesel tank to the diesel engine. The fuel injector consists of a nozzle and a nozzle holder.
- Diesel supply line: Each cylinder of a diesel engine has its own diesel supply line which carries the diesel from the diesel tank to the CI engine.
- An intake valve: The role of an intake valve is to suck air into the combustion chamber. The air blends with the condensed diesel thus strengthening the combustion.
- Diesel engine exhaust valve: It plays the important role of eliminating the emissions produced by the diesel combustion chamber.
Once the fuel comes in contact with the injectors, it becomes extremely pressurized. This pressure is created by a little pump that the injector is connected to. This little pump enables air to pass through the injector, consequently pressurizing the fuel. The highly pressurized fuel enters and flows down to the body of the nozzle holder and finally into the nozzle passage. A diesel injector has a needle valve that is closely connected to the spring located in the body of the injector. The compression nut stresses the spring to produce spring pressure and injector opening pressure simultaneously.
Once the needle valve opens, the fuel is sprayed by the diesel injector through the tiny nozzle situated in the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder. The cluster of little holes in the nozzle ensures its equal distribution into the combustion chamber of the cylinder. The tiny holes are specially designed and arranged to break the fuel into tiny drops so that they can burn readily.
Next, the air intake valves carry air into the combustion chamber and gets combined with condensed diesel thus intensifying the combustion. Now the fuel engine exhaust valve gets rid of the emissions generated by the fuel combustion chamber. The return diesel line gets rid of the surplus diesel fuel by bringing it back to the fuel tank from the fuel combustion chamber.
Keeping Car Clean Internally
- Don’t allow eating in the car. Crumbs are a nightmare to get out of nooks and crannies, even with an industrial strength vacuum.
- Be cautious about liquids. Sometimes hydration is important when driving but ask people to use a cup rather than swig out of bottles in order to reduce spillage risks.
- Only allow water to be consumed. If someone drops a cup or bottle of water in your car, then it’s a minor nuisance. If they drop a cup of sticky sweet red fruit juice (etc.) then it’s going to be a much bigger staining and removal challenge.
- Don’t allow pets in your car. If you’ve ever spent hours trying to get pet hair off your seats and carpets, then the sense of this recommendation will be self-evident.
- Keep a sick bag at hand when travelling with younger children. A child can be fine one second and in the blink of an eye, they’ll start vomiting for no obvious reason. Your notice is likely to be minimal and pulling up isn’t always possible in time. A receptacle of some sort could save your upholstery and a very unpleasant cleaning job afterwards!
- If you can, choose leather or faux-leather upholstery. It’s much easier to clean and often harder to stain. In fairness, some modern fabric seats are good too but still probably not as ‘wipe-able’ as leather or simulated leather.
- Keep an emergency seat cover in the car. This is invaluable when your kids have come back covered head-to-foot in mud and you can’t exactly ask them to sit undressed in the car for the drive back home.
Portable Car Tent
Whenever you need to park your lovely beauty outside. Your car will thank you for this. If you are waiting for someone in your car, it can never get better than this. If you are planning outdoor activities, your car definitely needs the car tent. Also, it is helpful when you go on business trips. All in all, you can use this car protection almost everywhere because it is useful for different occasions. This tent can protect your automobile from ta variety of elements. For example, your vehicle will stay protected from things like dust, sap, acid rain, and bird droppings. Ultimately, this equals fewer car washes and your car stays looking great longer, saving you time and money.
It is made up from a superior kind of material which does not hurt the surface of the vehicle at all. The bottom is made up of soft TPU circle which allows no scratching. The high-tech frame is made up from military grade hardened material fiberglass. The frame is made to be tough, strong and aging resistance and to ensure the stability of this item. It comprises of a battery which is required to charge once a month, making it very convenient.
This tent changes the temperature inside of the car for 35 degrees, simply covering it and making a shadow on the top of the car roof. It will be like under the big tree with the wide shade. If you are picnic lover, you will be happy if you know that they will make the same tent for the outdoor activities for the people and their tables and outside beds.
Avoid Car Accidents
- Avoid the left lane: If it’s a multilane, avoid taking the left or “fast lane”. Instead, take the centre of right one because it will give you the chance to quickly change lanes in case of any emergency. Also, most accidents happen on the right lane.
- Keep your eyes focused: Never just see what’s immediately in front of your car only; look further ahead. Look for any traffic movement several cars ahead. This will give you time to react if any unforeseen events arise.
- Beware of blind spots: Make sure to adjust your rear and side view mirrors accordingly so that you have a panoramic view of what’s behind you. If something is not showing in the mirrors, turn around and see it so that you don’t miss anything. If there is a big truck behind your car, ensure that you don’t get into the blind spot.
- Keep your hands in 9 and 3 o’clock position: Most individuals take the lazy route to handle their car. They place the hand at 12 o’clock at the top of the steering or both hands at the bottom of it. But this is the wrong thing to do. Keeping your hands in 9 and 3 o’clock position will give you much more control of the car in case you want to take a quick manoeuvre.
- Get your seat closer to the steering: Shift your seat toward the steering so that you hand can rest on the wheel. This will ensure that your hand doesn’t get much fatigued and you can easily manoeuvre your car.
- Keep your car’s limit in mind: Whether it’s a vintage car or a sports one, a driver should always know what his/her car is capable of. To avoid accidents, one must always know what limits the engine, tires or brakes have. If you don’t know the limits, you can easily over stretch the car and end up in an accident.
- Maintain your vehicle: Needless to say; you have to maintain your car in the proper condition in order to work properly. Service the car frequently and use only high-quality motor oil sot that the car doesn’t break down in the middle of the road.
- Avoid practising at night: If you are new to driving, avoid doing it at night. At night, due to decreased field of vision, you will have to employ a far more defensive approach in your car. Also, never go down a dark road with malfunctioning head and tail lights.
Keep Car Looking And Running Like New
One of the most important things to know about automobile ownership is that a record of ongoing upkeep will be diligently tracked by all licensed providers. This is done to give prospective car buyers a better understanding of routine upkeep for the different, used cars that they consider. Before purchasing a used car, most people request vehicle history reports. These reports list any accidents that cars have been in as well as all of the services that they have received.
Due to this fact, taking your car to a local shop for servicing and car is a great way to ensure a good resale value. Comprehensive records of diligent maintenance help people feel more comfortable about these investments. They know that well-maintained cars are a lot less likely to break down than are vehicles that are hardly cared for at all.
It is important to always buy premium fuel for your car. Paying a little bet extra for a top-quality fuel can have a remarkable impact on your engine. These options tend to be cleaning burning and this means that they leave behind a lot less sediment that can cause interior components to become coated, slow-moving and more likely to wear down.
Getting the oil changed in a car is especially important. Your mechanic can put your on a regular oil change schedule based upon the amount of driving that you do and the type of driving that you subject your car to. Most people need to pay for these services every six to twelve months. Your provider can additionally check and top off all fluids during these visits.
When small accessories break down or break off, have them replaced right away. Efforts like these protect both vehicle aesthetics and resale values. Broken or chipped mirrors, missing hood ornaments and damaged dash accessories or floor mats are easy and inexpensive to replace. You can even work with aftermarket sellers to get customised replacements so that your vehicle better suits your needs and personality.
Tyres should be rotated every six months. If you go to a full-service mechanic, this is something that can be handles along with you oil change or regular tune-ups. Tyre rotation ensures even wear and tear on the treads and will give you a lot more traction on the roads, even when they are slick, wet or icy. It can also minimise the likelihood of serious auto accidents and extend the lifetime of these important vehicle fixtures. When tyres are rotated, brake pads can be checked and changed as need for maximum stopping ability.
Truth About Mud Flaps
Great for off-roading
Mud flaps are also recommended for off-roaders since they usually drive on harsh road conditions and always come in contact with road rocks, mud, and other road particles. It comes in different styles which can be matched to the vehicle.
There are different brands that offers this automotive part. It is available in different shapes, sizes, and colors, and even materials used. Some custom-made mud guards are constructed using plastic or rubber.
What mud guards should you use?
Both styles are made with protective backstop that prevents particles thrown by tires when driving. The plastic splash guards are commonly seen on cars while the rubber flaps are usually found on truck and heavy-duty vehicles. Plastic-made guards are durable enough for lightweight cars. It can withstand harsh weather conditions and prevent road particles that may cause dents on some part of the vehicle. On the other hand, the rubber material is as durable as plastic but more flexible, so it’s good for bigger sized vehicles to provide greater coverage. The rigid mud guards can get stuck onto the tires, especially for bigger sized vehicle at high speeds. The rubber ones can sail out of the way because of it flexible construction.