How to Make Your Car Last Longer

By Aaron Walker on June 17No Comments

passing-cars

Our cars are one of the most expensive things that we own. We rely on them to get us to where we need to go and depend on them to keep us safe. Even though you can’t control ownership costs like gas, repairs and insurance rates, one thing that you can do is make your vehicle last longer. Use the tips below to make your car last longer, and help keep your ride in good condition.

Oil Change and Air Filter

One of the first things that your mom or dad taught you after getting your license was probably how to change your car’s oil and oil filter. Unlike the complex and long process of drilling for oil, which requires wire line wipers, changing your vehicles oil and oil filter should take less than a half an hour. All you need is a socket wrench, new oil filter and a quart of oil.

You know when you need to get oil changes, but do you know when you need to change your air filter? If your air filter is clogged, your engine will not be performing properly, and this will negatively affect your car’s fuel economy. To be safe, check your air filter regularly to make sure it is not clogged with debris.

Coolant

Another way to take care of your car and make it last longer is to maintain your coolant system. Make sure your car has the proper amount of coolant. By doing so regularly, you will avoid having to get your radiator repaired, which could cost you a nice chunk of change.

Under Pressure

Tires are one of the most neglected parts of the car. As a driver myself, I can say that I do not pay my tires much attention. Yet, it is very important to keep your tires at the right inflation pressure. It’s not only just a safety issue; when your tires are not inflated properly it will hurt your vehicles fuel economy.

Keep It Clean

You want to make sure that you take care of the exterior of your car. By regularly washing and waxing your vehicle, you will keep it looking good longer. This goes for the interior as well. Clean up stains and messes immediately, because the longer you wait the harder they are to remove. Use a vacuum to clean your floor mats and the carpet of your car. Consider using some car care products to help with your clean-up efforts.

Drive Safer and Smarter

If you didn’t know already, the way you drive also has an effect on your car. How you drive affects your gas mileage, and the wear and tear that your vehicle gains.  So, stop speeding up to stop signs/stop lights and slamming on your brakes. By driving smarter and safer, your vehicle and engine will last longer.

Complete Regular Checkups

One of the easiest ways to make your vehicle last longer is by taking it to get serviced regularly. Find a repair shop and mechanic that you trust, and let that repair shop service your vehicle all the time. Think of it as you going to see your doctor for your yearly checkups. When you get sick, you don’t go to different doctors each time, and your car shouldn’t either. By doing so, your mechanic will get to know your vehicle and be able to service it properly each time you bring it in.

The tips above are some of the easiest ways to keep your car running longer and safely. By checking your vehicle regularly, you will be more likely to avoid large repair costs. Think of it as a balance. You depend on your car to get you from point A to point B, and it depends on you to maintain it and keep it in good shape in order to run smoothly•

Categories : car maintenance
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What Your Car Is Saying About You

By Kandace Heller on May 31No Comments

 

      A car is more than just a vehicle to get from point A to point B. Purchasing and driving a specific car can be gateway into the find of the consumer who owns the vehicle. Consultants and psychologists help car companies advertise how a car brand or product can be marketed to a particular population. At the same time, these consultants and psychologists can analyze the character, behavior, and other traits from a person based on what kind of car they own. Here are some insights on what your car is saying about you.

Car Color


The color of the motor vehicle can often reflect the owner’s personality. Some psychologists have argued that the color white is associated with people who have a youthful personality. In contrast, a black color could reflect sophistication on the part of the car owner. Other colors, like green, reflect a person who is at their pace culturally, while blue reflects a happy or practical personality.

Attention Grabbing


Beyond color aesthetics, certain car purchases are to grab attention. For example, the entire subset of luxury vehicles may provide a superficial insight on the wealth of a person because of those car brand’s expenses. But, there is a general truth with luxury vehicle: owning one is a sign that the owner is very well-off and wants to invest in desirable car traits that are beyond necessity. In addition, sports car owners are often trying to show an attractive and fast car over and beyond the car’s practicality.

Focus on Practicality


Vehicles like mid-size vehicles to hatchbacks can tell people that the owner cares about other issues in life than their car’s aesthetics. Mid-size vehicles are usually advertised to be beneficial for families, which is why many mid-size owners purchased their vehicle to drive their kids or large families around. Hatchbacks and fuel-efficient vehicles show that the owner cared about fuel mileage as well as the environment when they made their purchase.

Car Accessories


Aesthetic or practical add-ons to a motor vehicle may sometimes give a peak into the owner’s personality. Tire experts in Halifax, such as those at Star Tires Limited, say that wheel rim choices tell a lot about the person who buys them. Owners that want an efficient, fast car usually go with large rims while owners that want fuel efficiency go with lightweight rims.

Conclusion


Consumer science and psychology offers interesting insights in the buying habits of individuals. Over the last few decades, many experts are able to theorize and develop frameworks that can tell people (and advertisers) what a specific car brand or aesthetic will mean about a consumer’s personality. Although not every consumer will fit these molds, some interesting personality findings can be shown when the consumer’s car choice is analyzed.

 

 

Categories : car, cars, drive

Keeping Your Rubber Tracks Like New

By Darren on May 30No Comments

rubber tracksWhen it comes to using heavy equipment, it is no secret that keeping rubber tracks in good repair can be a challenge.  However, it is critically important to keep maintenance up on them, because the costs of replacement are just too high (especially if you’re still paying retail price and not contracting through a dealer like OnTrac, who averages about a quarter off the list price on tracks for nearly every brand and type of heavy equipment.

To help you get the most out of your purchases – and keep your tracks working and looking like new – we scoured the Internet to find the best knowledge resources we could, then put our heads together, brainstormed a collection of maintenance tips came up with this handy guide to rubber track maintenance.  Let’s get started.

  1. Get the right kind of tracks.  This seems like it’s too obvious, but you would be shocked to learn how many folks out here order the wrong rubber tracks – either for their equipment, or for the surface on which they’ll be operating.  If the equipment will be operating on mud or on uneven terrain, you might need a different tread pattern to give it maximum grip; if the surface is particularly rough, such as sharp, rocky terrain, gravel yards or agricultural areas with leftover stubble, rubber tracks might not even be the best solution – you might have to go with steel.
  2. Make sure the tension is correct.  Without maintaining the right tension, you’re increasing the amount of wear on your tracks (while decreasing your equipment’s efficiency and effectiveness.)  The owner’s manual has all the information you need about rubber tracks – but you can also get the information you need from your dealer or distributor.
  3. Watch your turns.  Your operator should be fully versed in the operation of whatever heavy equipment he or she is using, but a gentle reminder never hurts:  Donuts and turns that are hill-traversing, zero-radius, or particularly fast or sharp wear out the tread unevenly, as does driving the equipment at a higher speed.
  4. Keep your undercarriage in good condition.  You know how tough it can be to keep large objects out of the undercarriage, and to keep it clean and ready for use every single time (especially in places with a lot of mud or on surfaces packed with debris, like grass or crop fields).  Luckily, there is already a handy guide to keeping your undercarriage totally clean and in good repair – which will also help to keep your treads like new.
  5. Rotate the tracks.  To keep the tread wear even, switch them from side to side every now and then.
  6. Forget Armor-All.  If we had a dollar for every time we saw people “maintaining” their rubber tracks with Armor-All (which is designed for tires, not heavy-duty industrial rubber) we’d have retired already.  Ask whomever manufactures your rubber tracks for their list of approved protectants.
  7. Never leave you rubber tracks sitting out.  If you’re not using the machine, the rubber tracks should come off, and go into storage somewhere that is cool and dry.  If tracks are left out in the sun, or in wet, muddy areas, they run the risk of damage or uneven wear.
  8. Always replace rubber tracks in sets.  If one of your rubber tracks breaks or is damaged, you have to replace both of them.  This is a tough one, because it is expensive, but it’s a crucial part of keeping your rubber tracks – and your equipment – in tip top shape.  Running a new track on one side and an old track on the other can cause alignment problems for large equipment like asphalt pavers and excavators, and you’re definitely not going to get even tread wear if you don’t replace your tracks in sets.
  9. Never overload your machine.  There are all kinds of great reasons not to exceed the weight capacity of your equipment, including avoiding engine damage and keeping safety at the forefront of your operations.  However, exceeding the capacity of not just your machine, but your rubber tracks, can lead to costly repairs and damage.

There you have it – nine tips to help keep your rubber tracks working like new.  Did we miss any?  Want to share your thoughts?  Let us know in the comments.

Featured images:

Gabe Coeli has recently started working with rubber tracks and has some tips on how to keep them clean and new.

Categories : cars

Here Comes the Best Opportunity for People Looking for Wheelchairs Accessible Vehicles

By Ryan Holman on May 29No Comments

Are you suffering quiet a bit because of being physically disabled? Wish you have owned a vehicle in which a wheelchair is installed. In such cases, you can surely come up to opt for wheelchair accessible vehicles. This is surely the best option for people who are looking for a convenient vehicle which can help them in moving from here to there despite being physically challenged.

Wheelchairs Accessible Vehicles

This amazing opportunity of hiring a wheelchair vehicle is now open for all those who are in need of becoming independent and dont want to rely upon their relatives, family and friends to take them in their car for their local outing. These amazing wheelchair cars are available at a very reasonable price for people who are disabled and not able to manage few things in life. Read More…

Categories : car, vehicle, vehicles
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Hyundai i20 – The most loved hatchback

By Ryan Holman on May 29No Comments

Hyundai i20 can be termed as one of the most loved cars to have rolled out of the factories of Hyundai Cars in India. Ever since its launch in 2009, this car has done remarkably good business in the tough Indian market. Often outselling its nearest rivals, the i20 has managed to gain popularity among car buyers due to its stylish looks, large cabin and loads of extra features. The i20 is a complete package in itself that the car became an instant hit among the Indian car buyers.

hyundai-i20

Following the successful run of the original version of Hyundai i20, Hyundai came up with a facelift of the car in 2012. This time it became more sleek and stylish. The Hyundai i20 sports more of a European look with its large headlamps, thin grille, redesigned front bumper, new tail lamps, spoiler and chrome door handles among others changes.

Read More…

Categories : car, Car Reviews
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5 Unbelievable Future Vehicle Technologies to Start Believing

By Aaron Walker on May 22No Comments

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Although we still don’t have flying cars or mainstream jetpacks, the present is quickly looking more like the future in the automotive world. We also don’t know exactly what the average production vehicle will include five or ten years down the line, however, there are a handful of ideas that appear to have a great chance of becoming a reality in the near future.

Whether they are for safety, entertainment or just plain cool, some new technologies can and should be on the road making our commutes, road trips and errand runs much better. Let’s take a look at the five best ones.

Communicating Vehicles

With testing currently going on, the idea of vehicles being able to communicate with each other seems both practical and awesome. Vehicle-to-Vehicle, or V2V, communication would work by way of sensors, signals and fancy algorithms being thought of at MIT. Vehicles on the road would have the ability to send information back and forth, such as speed, direction and location.

Think about how much safer the road could become. Just as better armadillo traps are now a more humane way to deal with unwanted animals without hurting or killing them, Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication has the potential to make the road more humane.

Instead of a car running a stop sign and t-boning another vehicle, V2V communication would allow those vehicles to “feel” or “see” each other and avoid one another either by alerting the drivers or by automatic braking. Rather than using horns to badger someone into moving over to give room for merging traffic, V2V communication could calm everything down by telling certain vehicles where others are and where to go.

Augmented Reality

This one really feels like the future. Augmented reality dashboards could make driving much safer by way of giving drivers information on objects outside the car. For example, augmented reality could see another car ahead and show the driver how far away it is right on the windshield for ease of seeing both the road and the information. If you are approaching that car too quickly and are about to rear-end it, the augmented reality system could show you an alert and guide you into another lane or to a safe area with arrows on the windshield.

This one doesn’t seem too far off either. BMW currently has a windshield display on certain vehicles showing basic information.

Airbags Inside and Out

We are familiar with airbags and how much they can do to prevent harm inside the car. Mercedes is now working on further injury-prevention through the way of airbags underneath vehicles. The airbags would deploy when an impact into another vehicle or object is imminent, causing the stopping power to double. The airbags would also keep the front of the vehicle from dipping from slamming on the brakes so that there would be more bumper to bumper contact.

Energy Panels

With more and more power coming from batteries, those batteries are going to need to be bigger or find other placements within a vehicle. That is why some auto manufacturers are testing body panels that can store energy. Those polymer fiber and carbon resin panels would be chargeable and would allow for more energy storage in a clever way.

Auto Pilot

One of the first things you might think about when you ponder cars in the future could be self-driving cars. Well, they may not be as far away as you thought. Google engineers are already utilizing and testing such vehicles with success. Radars, lasers and cameras will allow vehicles to understand road signs, street lights, speed limits, etc. allowing for the would-be driver to make better use of the trip. Also, with the average American spending 100 hours in traffic per year, self-driving would be both practical and awesome.

Technology is constantly evolving, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see these types of cars driving around in the near future•

Categories : Car Technology
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DIY Car Servicing: Not as Difficult as You Might Think

By sophie on May 20No Comments

Driving safely is much more than not drinking and driving. It also means that you should keep your car in top running condition. The best way to do this is to put your vehicle through a regular maintenance routine. How about servicing your car on your own? You don’t need to be an experienced mechanic to be able to maintain your car at peak performance. All you need is to know what to check for and how to fix basic problems. Yes, you should leave the more complex issues to the professionals. Here’s a look at some things that you can do to service your car, keep it in peak condition and save some money in the process.

How to Service Your Car:

tata-zest

There are some basic checks that you should perform on your car at regular intervals. Here is a list of things you can do yourself:

  1. Radiator Flush: Driving around in the heat of summer can take its toll on your car unless you ensure that your radiator is working perfectly and you’ve topped up on coolant. The problem is that the radiator tends to wear down and corrode with use. This can affect its ability to keep the engine cool. The best way to prevent radiator problems is to flush your radiator once a year. All you need for this is a screwdriver or pliers, radiator flushing solution, some rags, coolant and a funnel to pour liquids through. However, before you begin, you should make sure your car is completely cool. First, remove the drain plug on the radiator, and drain out all the existing coolant. Make sure you put something to collect the used coolant so that it can be disposed off safely. Now put in the flush solution and top up with water. Turn on the car and let it run till the car reaches its usual operating temperature. Now turn on your air conditioner and let it run for about 10 minutes. Turn off the car and when the engine has cooled completely, drain out the fluid in the radiator and fill in fresh coolant.
  2. Oil & Oil Filter: Most car experts say that the oil should be changed every 6,000 kms. However, check what the optimal time to change oil is for the make and model of your car. Again, the oil should be changed only when the engine is completely cool. For this you will need to use a jack to raise the car. If you don’t have a good jack, check out the Autosun 2 Ton Hydraulic Trolley Jack. This high quality, powerful device can lift up your car with ease. Once the car is raised to a comfortable height for you to slip under it, locate and loosen the oil pan. Let all the used oil drain out. Now remove close the drain plug and remove the oil filter. Make sure you lubricate the rubber gasket before you fit in the new filter and oil. Use your dip-stick to ensure you’ve filled in the right amount of oil.
  3. Brakes & Brake Pads: This is one thing that can save your life in a crunch! Experts recommend that the brakes and brake pads should be checked at least every six months. And don’t forget to check your brake fluid too. Once again, you will need to raise your car with a jack. You will also need to remove the car tires to be able to reach the brakes, so don’t forget to loosen the lugs before you jack up the car. You will need a screwdriver to open out the brake caliper and remove the brake pads. Make sure you don’t move the brake line in any way while doing all this. All you need to do then is to replace the brake pads.
  4. Cleaning the Interiors: Since this is where you spend most of your time with your car, it always helps to keep it clean. A portable vacuum cleaner is just right for this job. If you don’t own one, consider the Autofurnish Wet and Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner. This small and easy to use device makes cleaning your car a breeze. You will also need a clothes brush or a new shoe polish brush and a clean cloth. Use the brushes to loosen all the dirt from the upholstery and floor carpeting before using the vacuum cleaner. Give all other surface a good cleaning with a cloth once you have vacuumed. Air Wick makes great gel air freshners to give your car the final touch.

It is a good idea to check your air filter and tyres as well, while you’re at it. A good car repair kit, like the Emergency Kit for Car Repair by Global Gift India, is also a great idea to keep within easy reach.

Categories : car safety
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The Importance of High Quality Car Parts

By Alice on May 12No Comments

There is great need to procure high quality car parts. By replacing old and broken car parts with genuine spares, you will not only enhance the life of the car, but also will get the optimum performance from the car. You will take care of the safety aspect as well, so that you will drive the car in a safe condition and this will take care of the safety of others as well as yourself. By installing genuine spare parts you can ward off inconvenient and costly breakdowns.

Why should you select quality spare parts?

When your car is under the warranty period, it is very much important that you should use the products that are suggested by the manufacturer. You should not opt for sub-standard parts. Even though you might get spares at a lower price from other channels, you should not subscribe to such services. For example, if you own a fiat 500, it’s easy and cheap enough for you to purchase Fiat Parts through reputed online stores rather than sourcing cheap knock-off parts.

All kinds of parts are available through online retailers. The car spare parts will be listed under various categories. The most commonly replaced parts are filters, pumps, valves, cables, discs and spark plugs and these items will need to be checked regularly to ensure that they are in good working order. While some parts are to be replaced after reaching certain milestones (in terms of kilometers or miles), there are other kinds of parts which should be replaced after a certain period of time (a few months or years).

The spare parts will be listed on the website based on the make and model of the car. By clicking on the appropriate link that pertains to the Fiat car model, you will access relevant information. You can also enter the name of the spare part in the text box so that you will get information immediately. Thus, it is possible to procure Fiat car spare parts and accessories without wasting your time and effort.

How to purchase high quality car parts?

In order to purchase high quality car parts, you should locate the part on the website. You can order a spare part of the oldest Fiat Panda right through to the new Fiat Punto online. This means that you don’t have to take the time out of your day visiting a physical store, you can order your parts from the comfort of your home.

You can order every single part including cooling parts, locks, gaskets, water pumps and air filters. When you order high quality car parts which are exactly designed to meet the mechanical requirements of your car, you will have the most fulfilling experience on the road. You will not compromise with the performance and the car part will serve you well to ensure that your engine runs in good health. There will not be any need to replace the part before the stipulated period of time; therefore you will get good value for your money.

After ordering you can often expect the order to be with you within a few days, depending on the delivery option you chose. The delivery rates vary with the location of the customer and also the sooner you want to receive your part, the more you will have to pay for delivery. The delivery charges will be minimized if you are located in the UK. It’s also a good idea to go through the delivery and returns information to check whether your order will be insured and also understand what you’ll need to do if there is any problem with your order.

Categories : cars
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Process Of Company Relocation

By leo on May 12No Comments

The definition of relocation services might be simple but there are vast differences in service and nature of movement of goods among corporate clients. Relocation service accordingly differs among the packers and movers who cater to different industries. There are some companies in the arena of relocation that specialize in helping manufacturing units to relocate. Others help their corporate clients in the service industry to move offices. Some large relocation companies have different divisions. These divisions handle individual, personal and corporate relocations separately. Large relocation companies are able to provide nationwide transportation services while some even have international tie ups to move their client’s business from one end of the world to another.

Scope Of Relocation Services

There are several responsibilities that are associated with firma flytning. There is transportation required of the files, equipments and other belongings of a business. The distance to be covered also matters in such relocation services. Most relocation services for corporate clients include helping them to pack as well as to set up the new business venue. Thus, details regarding establishing utility services at the new address, setting up of networks and connections, files, archival systems and workstations becomes part of the relocation service package. In such case, the relocation companies have detailed discussions with the client to understand the full scope of work in the relocation service. Accordingly, the rates differ from the corporate relocation services.

Relocation Of Employees

Some companies form contracts with relocation services to aid the relocation of their employees. The relocation assistance may consist of securing housing or accommodation options, helping the employees to move from one address to another. When relocation involves moving to a foreign country, there are matters such as understanding the local language, customs and regulations. Such services are offered alongside with the relocation service.

Transportation And Other Arrangements

The relocation services have tie ups with ground and freight services in order to execute relocation projects of their clients. In case of industrial relocation of heavy engineering goods, not all moving companies have the expertise or the transportation to execute such tasks. Some relocation service providers specialize in such transportation infrastructure and setup. For such reasons, every company will have a set of relocation service providers to look at as per the kind of goods they need to move, the kind of transportation required as well as need of other facilities. On such company with considerable experience in relocation services is jd-transport.

 

Categories : limo hire

Four Major Benefits for Limo Hire Melbourne Customers

By sophie on May 12No Comments

Arriving in a Hummer limo certainly speaks highly the personality of an individual. However, not all can think on those lines. A limousine car is nothing but cheap and not many can have one parked at the garage. However, there is no need to lose heart, as there is always the option of limousine hire. There are rental agencies offering a limousine ride for a special event. With most of the names having online presence, one can always contact and something should work out. There is plenty to gain for someone keen for availing the limousine hiring services. Let us now focus closely on the benefits a limo hire system throws up.

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It is cost effective:

Limo hire Melbourne customers should realize that a hire option is certainly better than an outright purchase. Hence, people with financial concerns and yet having the desire to ride a limo can make a beeline for the hire alternative. Moreover, in wedding ceremonies where the passenger list is lengthy, hiring a Hummer limousine is certainly a better option than a smaller car. In these large cars, one trip may be enough. On the contrary, in smaller cars, one may have to undertake multiple trips and raise the costs in the process.

Safe:

The safety aspect is another major benefit for Limousine hire Melbourne customers. Unlike cabs, the limousine is driven be a professional chauffer. They have complete training and while driving hardly go above a specific speed. Moreover, limo chauffer has better control over the car than a normal cab driver. Moreover, the limo is a stronger vehicle in general.  They have the perfect capability to adjust shocks. One can reach the destination in a safe manner when travelling in a limousine.

Impress:

Hummer limo hire Melbourne customers keen for a business trip should realize that it is a perfect vehicle for someone keen to impress clients. Everyone loves to deal with someone who is successful. Arriving in a limo certainly creates a positive effect of an individual in the minds of a client.

Those wedding memories stay longer:

Hiring a limo is always for a special moment. Stretch limo hire Melbourne customers will relish the fact that those wedding memories of arriving in a grand limousine car stay in memory for an extended period. Moreover, the comfort factor in a limo is far superior to any other model. Therefore, it does make sense that special day a bit more extra ordinary.

Someone keen for limo hiring need not worry much as most have online presence, one can always call up and do the booking formalities. Cheap limo hire Melbourne customers can certainly focus a bit on the quote structure. Actually, there are two issues in focus. The first issue is the period of hire. The larger is the period, the more amount of money, one may have to shell out as rent. The distance travelled also has a major say on the quote structure. There are limo rental firms who also focus on the type of event. Therefore, there are plenty of issues at stake here.

Customers can even focus a bit on the feature and amenities on offer while selecting the limo hiring firm. The idea will be to enjoy the ride. Hence, a check on the amenities is essential. Now while entertainment is essential, it will be a crime to ignore the safety measures. Hence, one can always check on whether that particular firm has insurance. The idea will be to deal with well-known hire companies. Someone who needs limousine cars on a regular interval can always work out long term contracts. One can certainly get the benefit from a price discount due to the long-term nature of the contract.

Categories : cars