Why Buy a New Vehicle - Biodiesel will Extend the Life of Your Truck , S.U.V. or Auto Engine Greatly

Biodiesel can extend the life of your engine whether it is in your diesel equipped auto, truck, tractor, bus or highway rig. Biodiesel can increase the longevity of your engine by up to 100 %. Costs are reduced â€" whether it be for maintenance or vehicle replacement. The engine last longer , breaks down less frequently resulting in longer vehicle life spans , greater reliability and overall less vehicle costs â€" again be it diesel equipped auto , car, truck ,tractor or highway rig.
How can this be so? The improved lubrication properties of biodiesel over regular vehicle diesel fuel results in increased parts longevity by up to 100 %. As a result commercial vehicles may be used for decades as well as travel millions of miles. Increased engine longevity translates into reduced maintenance costs, longer life spans and overall increases in reliability.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats and cooking oils that are processed so that it can be added to diesel fuel as an additive. You cannot just mash up these fats and mix them with your diesel fuel. It is not as if any old Alvero character can make biodiesel in his garage at home. If the biodiesel is not prepared properly in a qualified industrial process â€" the contaminants of water, glycerols and other trace elements can well clog up your fuel injectors or even an expensive injection pump. Properly done biodiesel is a safe and beneficial fuel additive â€" now being routinely recommended and touted by major vehicle and diesel engine manufacturers.

Prepared properly in a commercial setting. and bought commercially you can be assured that not only will the biodiesel will be safe for your engine to use â€" but will even give the benefits of much greater engine life , enhanced reliability and lower maintenance costs overall.

Biodiesel is added to the regular diesel fuel. The percentage added depends on the climate the vehicles or autos will be used in. In warmer climates â€" such as tropical or Florida type climates â€" a percentage mixture of up to 20 % can be used. A 20 % biodiesel percentage in a truck driven up North to Edmonton Canada in the cold of winter will thicken up in the cold Alberta winter weather.

In such a cold winter temperature a biodiesel mixture ratio of 5 % would probably be used. To increase the blends of biodiesel used commercial vehicles such as trucks and busses can have fuel heaters installed â€" either inline fuel heaters of fuel tank heaters.

Why go to all this trouble for biodiesel ? First of all biodiesel is a renewable resource â€" crops such as soybean oil or canola can be used instead of scarcer and more expensive petroleum oil based products. Using biodiesel doe mean that we use less regular diesel, however the percentages of biodiesel use are relatively small. For example most diesel manufacturers recommend only 5 biodiesel (B5 mixed wit 95 % regular diesel. Of course again in colder climates such as Edmonton Alberta the percentages may be eve less. Biodiesel is also good for reducing emissions and pollution levels of sulphur, carbon monoxide as well as overall tailpipe smog pollutants.

However as with most good things in life there are disadvantages to the use of biodiesel as a vehicle fuel additive. First biodiesel has slightly less energy than regular diesel fuel, so that the larger the percentage content of the Biodisel in the fuel â€" the less power the engine will have to deliver. Fortunately at the low percentages of biodiesel being used as a fuel additive this is not a major issue.

In addition biodiesel spoils with time. If the biodiesel is too be stored for a long period of time â€" then additional additives must be added.

As a result of its benefits to reducing petroleum oil use and increasing engine life and reliability biodiesel has a bright and emerging future in our transportation and automotive industries.

The use of biodiesel â€" an alternative renewable fuel, is fast on its way up.

by Terry Vostor

100 Years of Automobile experience

Display that badge of more than 100 years of unmatched craftsmanship; adorn the keys of your GMC brand of SUVs, pickups, vans and trucks with exclusive GMC Keychains. These lovely trinkets are available in circular and rectangular Chrome, oval black metal, silver or gold plated leather, and elegant stainless steel (e.g., a miniature steering wheel, the 'Teardrop' and the 'Valet' designs).
GMC, formerly General Motors Truck Company or GMC Truck, is the second largest division of General Motors (GM), next after Chevrolet which is the largest division and ahead of Pontiac, the third largest division. GMC is also a brand name of vans, SUVs and trucks manufactured by General Motors.

GMC traces its beginning from Rapid Motor Vehicle Company founded by Max Grabowski in 1901 which General Motors acquired in 1909. It was then renamed the General Motors Truck Company, later shortened as GMC Truck. Also in 1909, General Motors also acquired Reliance Motor Car Company which was merged with Rapid in 1911. The name GMC Truck first appeared in 1912 New York International Auto Show. The merger produced 22,000 trucks in that same year, with only 372 units contributed by General Motors.

GMC Truck manufactured in 1916 the first truck that managed to cross more than 3,800 kilometers from Seattle, Washington to New York City in 30 days. In 1926, the travel time from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States was dramatically shortened to just 5 days and 30 minutes. This 4,000-kilometer feat was achieved by a two-ton GMC Truck that traveled from New York City to San Francisco, California. GMC Truck recorded 600,000 trucks manufactured for US Military use during the Second World War.

In 1925, GMC started manufacturing buses when General Motors acquired control of the Chicago, Illinois bus manufacturer Yellow Coach. The stiff competition faced by GM in the 1970s-80s forced it to stop manufacturing buses. In 1987, GM sold its bus models to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation, and later to NovaBus.

The GMC automobile brand has 2008 models for SUVs, trucks (pickup, light-duty and medium-duty) and vans. The SUV models are the Acadia, Yukon, Yukon Hybrid and Envoy. The pickup models are Sierra (1500, 2500HD and 3500HD) and Canyon. Models of light- and medium-duty trucks are also available. The Savanna is GMC's van model and it comes in four variants (Passenger, Cargo, Conversion and Cutaway). There is a so-called Denali Line for Yukon, Sierra and Envoy models.

GMC and Chevrolet trucks generally look the same. GMC generally use to have a different trim, larger engines and higher price. The main difference between GMC and Chevy is the four-piece headlights installed in it, compared to Chevy two-piece headlights. This variation is evident until 1972 and faded in 1973 where the two GM brands had their models began to look exactly similar. The only difference hence is limited to trim and price. GMC Sierra is rebadged as the Chevy Silverado. GMC Jimmy is Chevy Blazer, Yukon is Tahoe, Sprint is El Camino, and so goes a long list of GMC-Chevy sister models. Until 2007, the Silverado and the Sierra showed diverse designs in terms of body panel shape and overall appearance.

GMC is sold alongside with Buick or Pontiac by most GM dealers, in lower volumes compared to their Chevy counterparts. In the truck category, GMC are regarded as a higher grade, or professional grade of its equivalent Chevy trucks. GMC offers more options and standard features that Chevrolet counterparts are considered entry-levels. More or equivalent volumes of GMC trucks are sold in Canada.


by Bernabe Almirol

Starr Wheels Just Can't Get Any Better!

Being one of the best rims in the world and providing unique styles to fit any style and taste, Starr rims are definitely a unique variety of chrome rims for any kind of car or truck. Quality performance together with intricate attention to details makes Starr rims one of the very best brands and a top choice among people from all walks of life.
Starr makes a wide variety of different rim designs to meet the preferences of just about everyone. If you prefer a bright and shiny rim Starr makes many different styles. If you prefer a brushed chrome finish Starr makes a wide variety of those too. You will be amazed at the variety of limited rims that are available to you online. It is easy to upgrade your car and once you've viewed your car in its new treads you will never go with stock rims ever again.

When you purchase Starr rims, you are getting a true bargain. You can drive in style with the knowledge that you paid a lot less than these rims seem to be worth. People who purchase Starr rims are trend setters who will only own the top products.

If you want your car to stand out you might consider upgrading to custom chrome rims. These rims come in a wide variety of sizes and patterns, any one of which will draw positive attention to your car. The best thing is that not only do these rims look great but they are also very strong and will last the life of your car.

Starr guarantees you'll love your rims. In the unlikely event that the product doesn't deliver what you were looking for Starr offers warranties on everything they produce. This complete warranty may be viewed online at the Starr website.

Starr is a well-respected maker of rims, and is therefore sold in most major automobile parts stores. Starr has a long and proud history of delivering the best quality and latest styles of rims for its customers, and a customer who buys Starr rims once will do it again and again. But don't take our word for it. Go to your local parts store or Starr wholesaler to see what the fuss is about.


by Ben Pate

Bio Diesel Comparison Chart

Bio diesel is cost effective when compared to diesel. Diesel is extracted from crude oil whereas bio diesel can be made with the help of any vegetable oil, used oil etc. Diesel is available in all fuel stations. But bio diesel does not take the form fully so it is available in selected stations only. In Germany and other European countries, bio diesel is available in more fuel stations.
Diesel is suitable to most of the vehicles. Bio diesel is also suitable to all diesel vehicles. Sometimes some old vehicles need small modifications. Diesel vehicles produce much air pollutions. They are harmful and they lead to global warming. But bio diesel as they are produced from vegetable oil they never produce air pollution.

Diesel is produced from oils imported from other countries. Bio diesel on the other hand is manufactured from vegetable oil and agricultural wastes available in your own country. In fact you can manufacture bio diesel from any vegetable oil which is abundant in our country. US use soy oil, Malaysia uses Palm oil and India is using neem oil, castor oil or rice bran oil. Mostly these oils are cheap and so bio diesel costs less than ordinary diesel. As you can prepare this domestically you need not pay the taxes.

What About The Environment?

Bio diesel manufacturing and utility is increasing day by day since it reduces the dependency on imported oil. And another important thing is that bio diesel never cause any harmful pollution. They are environment friendly which is not a feature of ordinary diesel.

Bio diesel is the best alternative for diesel. It is compatible with all diesel vehicles with little or no modifications. You can convert the vegetable oil to bio diesel by adding methanol and lye. You need to invest some amount in bio diesel equipments like heaters, cleaning equipment, filtration equipment etc.

Is it safe?

Diesel is safe fuel but it is not biodegradable. So if any drop spills out then it will pollute water and soil. But bio diesel is bio degradable. So it is safer than ordinary diesel. You can handle, store and deliver bio diesel in the same equipments used for diesel.

Bio diesel processing equipments are available in online and you can get them easily. Bio diesel consumption is increasing nowadays and Europe is leading in bio diesel consumption. Other alternative fuels to diesel are not that much effective as bio diesel. Bio diesel reduces the import duties that are spent on diesel. It also minimizes particulate matters. SO it will help to reduce global warming.

Bio diesel is a combustible liquid yet it is safe. It is the only fuel that meets the requirements of clean air act. It will give the same power of diesel while you run the vehicle. It is 7 % less than diesel but it is not a problem on road use. In fact you may not notice this small difference. You should remember that winter may cause bio diesel to freeze and you may have starting troubles in winter season. Adding little petroleum will solve your problem. Irrespective of some disadvantages bio diesel is the cheapest fuel and it can control the spread of lung diseases and cancer which are caused by ordinary diesel.

by Simon Rohde

Sears Tires - The Only Tire Selection Guide

In this article I will share with you the first part of the Sears tire selection guide that I can impart with the sears tires lovers. I will explain the different types of tires and their pros and cons.

First, I categorized the tires by its different methods, which are categories by performance, by the type of vehicle they will be used on and lastly by special usage categories. On this part 1 of my article I will share with you about the category by performance.

Under categories by performance I divide it again into three portions which are all season tires, second performance all season tires and last the ultra high performance all season tires.

All Season Tires, is also know as all weather tires. This tires (sears tires) are best for : most passenger vehicles (Most new vehicles are sold with all weather tires); year around good performance in all kinds of weather; lowest tread wear;decent traction; most comfortable ride and for most economical (prices)...But, it is no high controlled-handling for extremely wet or snowy roads. If you live in regions with very wet or snowy condition, consider other tires. When it comes to cost, it is typically ranges between $30 to $90 per wheels. This all season sears tires are usually available for tires sizes in 13, 14, and 15 inches.

Performance All Season Tires: These tires are best for better handling for wet and snowy surfaces and lose some ride comfort to get better traction. But... since softer materials is used to get better traction, tread are usually higher and somewhat less comfortable ride. The cost of these tires are usually from $50 to $140 dollars per wheel and it is available in sizes 15, 16 and 17 inches. These kind of sears tires is usually for passenger and light truck or SUV vehicles.

The Ultra High Performance All Season Tires; these are best for sports cars and other high performance vehicles, best for greatest control and handling, best cornering; best for increased speed rating and summer condition. But again....they have the quickest tread wear, and not designed to be used in very wet and snowy condition.People typically switch to all season or winter tires during winter months. The cost of these tires usually ranges from $80 to $180. § If your wheel rims are small, you may have extra cost of replacing them as well. These tires are also available in 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 inches and for the used of passenger vehicle, light trucks or SUV vehicles.

http://sears-tires.blogspot.com


By Bernardita Riza Quejano

How To Fiberglass - Making And Modifying Your Own Bumper

First you would surf around the web looking for inspiration. You need to have an idea of how the final project is going to look like.

Ok now you have a general idea of how it’s going look. What I did was remove some of the original plastic leaving a big hole in the center of the bumper, this way I was able to create my own grill.

After you have prepared your bumper it’s time to hot-glue green floral foam bricks to the existing bumper. (Green floral bricks is the kind that people use to make flower buckets in)

Now to the messy fun part: designing your new bumper.

Take a rasp and start sculpting your bumper, you can really quickly shape the foam. Now you’ll have a chance to see the piece that you visualized in your mind. (Hopefully)

The main drawback of the foam blocks is that they are not very flexible, so you will end up with a lot of gaps between the blocks. But don’t worry we have a solution for that.

It’s time to bring out the duct-tape. This will protect the foam from resin and also from absorbing any moist, and finally it will close all the small gaps between the foam blocks. Make sure to cover all the foam with duct-tape, we don’t want any of the foam to start melting. Now it’s time to start preparing the fiberglass part.

Firstly I would cut my fiberglass mats into smaller parts to make it easy to get into all the corners and curves on your new bumper.

Things you need:

Polyester resin

MEKP hardener

Fiberglass cloth of various weights

Good rubber gloves

Cheap stiff-bristled brushes

A mixing bucket and measuring spoon

Acetone (to clean up with)

Paint sticks (both for mixing and for propping up fiberglass)

Before you start to apply the fiberglass, brush a small bit of resin onto the bumper. This will help the fiberglass to stick to the bumper. It will make your progress a lot easier.

Ok now you’re ready to apply your fiberglass cloth. Find a good starting position, place your cloth and start to add resin on top of the cloth. You should apply enough resin to moist the entire cloth, this is tricky. You don’t want too much and again not too little, you have to take it slow and learn on the way.

Lay it piece by piece, just make them overlap a little to strengthen the finished product. Continue until you have at least three layers.

Well the only thing that’s left now is to let it harden up. Read the instructions on the resin for your hardening time. I like to leave it for about 24 hours, just to make sure.

Make sure to visit my How To Fiberglass blog.


By Jesper Pedersen

Convert Your Car to Run on WATER

After watching the famous documentary "Who killed the electric car" I was very upset - such a great project, so much potential - yet another failure. I will not discuss the reasons of the failure, as they will vary a lot from one person to another. However, it is the time now to invent something else, something new, a new source of energy for our cars.

Current gas price scares many of us - yet we keep on driving, not asking any questions. At the same time, there are people who push for the fuel economy with all their force, people invent, try, fail then invent from scratch. Recently I was watching Fox News and saw a report on a car that runs on water.

Is this possible?

The creator claims that his developed invention converts water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). Also called Brown's gas or Hydroxy burns better than regular gas at our fuel pumps and provides more energy. Some developers of this system which is now available for sale at a very low price claim that our engines are very poorly designed and only use 20% of the gas. The other 80% is wasted on heating, pollution (unburned gas). If we count the gas price as $3 per gallon - we actually use 60 cents of it and waste $2.4 per each gallon. This system is believed to boost the fuel economy of any car up to 207%! The system is a simple add-on to a car and you can install it by yourself. It is very simple to put it on or take it off - without any trace. This system saves you over 1200$ a year reduce the pollution and your engine will work quietly. Five minutes of maintenance is required weekly - a simple check-up to make sure everything is well.

I have not tried it myself because the car I currently drive is owned by my company, consequently the gas is paid for but when I get my own car I will make sure I use this little update to save me some money and to save us the Earth!

Start the fuel economy NOW! Convert Your Car To Burn Water and increase the fuel economy up to 207%!
Click here and find out how YOU could save thousands of $$$ on gas, every year!


By Alexandre Sol

How to Pass a Road Test - Important Tips to Remember Before you Take The Driving Test

You may know how to drive well, but there are some important tips you can keep in mind that will make your driving test go more smoothly. Here are some of those important tips. These tips helped me and my two teenage sons get our licenses the first time we took the test.


1. First of all, before you leave home check your turn signals, brake lights and headlights. These will be tested before you even leave the parking lot for your road test. You don't want to have your test rescheduled because the lights weren't working would you? Also make sure you have any paperwork that must be turned in, and take your learner's permit with you.

2. Get to the testing location on time. Most license bureaus are quite crowded and there are sometimes long waits beyond your appointed time. Bring a book to keep you occupied in the lobby if this happens to you.

3. Either leave your cell phone at home or turn it off. The middle of your road test is not a good time to receive a phone call. Try to relax with your examiner. Be friendly, but let him do most of the talking. Remember, he does not know you, and he is about to go into traffic not knowing if you can drive safely or not. He may be as nervous as you are!

4. Once you get in the car with the examiner listen to him carefully. He will not ask you to do any maneuvers you haven't already become familiar with in your driving manual. Hopefully you'll have studied it and practiced a great deal. If you are unsure what it is he wants you to do, ask for clarification. He would rather you understand his request than have you do something wrong, or dangerous.

5. Be prepared with the maneuvers many people have trouble with. Practice parallel parking every chance you get until it becomes second nature to you. Three-point turns are also difficult for some. Go over these and anything else that gives you trouble. Remember the rules for three- or four-way stops. Go to a location where you can practice these, but remember to watch out for other drivers. They aren't as freshly tutored in the rules as you are.


6. Keep your eyes on the road as much as possible when you are driving. Sounds stupid but little things can make a big difference when it comes to a road test. Remember to check your speedometer often but don't stare at it, look at it briefly and get your eyes back on the road. Do the same with your rear-view mirrors. Your examiner needs to know that you are aware of the traffic around you. When you do these things it tells your examiner that you are prepared to react in case of an accident or unexpected move by another vehicle.

7. When braking, brake as evenly as you can. Use your turn signals at all times when making lane changes, or right/left turns. Do what the examiner asks you to do with as much finesse as you can muster.

8. Another important tip to remember is, don't think too much. Concentrate on the driving and what you have to do. If you have had sufficient practice, you know what to do and you know what to remember remain calm and you WILL pass the test.


9. Always remain clam. Trust your examiner and trust you self. Going into the road test with the either a positive or negative attitude makes a big difference in passing your road test. If you go into the test with self doubt you will get nervous and you will have a greater chance of screwing something up.


10. Practice is the most important thing to passing a road test. Driving lessons with someone is an absolute must , with enough practice driving will become easy as reading, walking, talking and breathing.

What made the difference between passing and failing the road test for my two teenage sons were the get ready to pass videos. These videos are made by a reputable company endorsed by Honda and The Motorcycle Safety Institute for safer driving. They take you step by step though every aspect of the road test for both cars and motorcycles and give you insider tips that WILL help you pass the road test. Their website also provides a FREE study guide & free quiz! As well as a FREE preview video.


How to Pass a Road Test - Get Ready to Pass Videos

By Skyler Thompson

Fuel Addatives And Effects On Fuel

We tested a common additive, Torco, to see if it could add performance to your vehicle or increase mileage. Before discussing this product, lets first address key differences between a racing fuel and pump fuel. The one everyone thinks of is octane. Under the US octane rating system AKI (Anti-Knock Index) pump fuel is graded as (RON+MON)/2. Meaning if a fuel had a RON (Research Octane Number) of 96, and a MON ( Motor Octane Number) of 90 its AKI would be 93. Race fuels can be graded on any of the standards AKI, MON, RON. So what is octane and why is it important for performance? Octane is what gives gasoline its ability to resist pre-ignition. As displacement, compression, boost, RPM, go up it becomes harder to keep the fuel mixture from igniting prematurely.

If under load or high heat, you experience knock with 87 octane, stepping up to 91 octane is logical step for both performance and longevity. If you experience no knock or timing pull at 91 there is no benefit to you stepping up to 93 or higher. Raising the octane further would only serve to decrease mileage. The additives that raise octane have less energy than the base fuel, effectively lowering the BTUs of the fuel. That is you will make the most power and have the best fuel economy with the lowest octane that is capable of preventing knock under your specific conditions.

Another major distinction between race and pump fuel is RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure). The easiest, overly simplified, way to think of RVP is as a system to rate the tendency for the fuel to want to evaporate. The lower the number the less tendency the fuel has to evaporate. In general racing fuels have a much lower RVP than would be found in pump fuel due to the poor starting characteristics that come along with low RVP fuels.

Burn -speed is another major difference. Race fuels are blended towards a specific application. The desired burn rate in a Kart at 16,000 RPM is very different than the target burn rate of something like a big-block V8 at 9,000 RPM. Too fast of a burn and you may experience less than optimum power. Too slow and your valves may be opening before maximum pressure is reached.

Without going into further detail such as specific gravity, dielectric constant, and numerous other variables, you should now have a basic understanding that there is a lot more to fuel than just octane. Altering these variables randomly can serve to be counter productive. For the purpose of objectivity lets look at one of the most common indicators. Octane.

Torco advertises that it can raise 93 pump to 107 when used in the highest concentrations. Tested in the highest recommended mixture we saw an AKI of ~99 though a secondary testing method. 8 full points from 107 if you assume Torco was implying 107 AKI and not 107 RON. This would mean it was raising 97RON to 107 RON. If you standardize the results on AKI you will see that 107RON is actually fairly close to 99AKI. This is much better than you could hope for with the more common additives such as with xylene or Tulene. If you assume $3.00 per gallon of 93AKI pump and $17.50 for a can of the Accelerator that works out to $6.50 a gallon. With race fuel such as VP and Sunoco in the $5.00 neighborhood this does not make since. On the other end if the spectrum, you could mix 1 can with 20 gallons. In areas where only 91AKI is available, this makes a little more sense at ~$3.80 per gallon to end up with 93AKI.

So an additives replace race fuel? No. Do they have limited applications? Absolutely. If you have a legitimate need for slightly more octane this is a great way to go. If you are tuning a highly modified engine for maximum power stick to race fuels.

For more on the ratios of additive and how they effected octane see the graph at:http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/torco_accelerator.html

By Drew Shielly

Electric Car Designs - What Is Missing?

There are yearly contests for engineering students, as well as high school students that can enter their electric car designs that promote the development of this automotive technology. Despite the fact the electric auto has been manufactured, and forgotten there is a continuous push for more optimal designs that can utilize battery or solar power to move a vehicle.

El Car Designs Do Not Differ that much from Conventional

Electric cars look like conventional cars aesthetically, both when it comes to exterior and interior. The same great and pretty designs are available, and friends and family will hardly be able to tell the difference. However, some new and simmering are emerging even today that promise better efficiency because unlike conventional cars which essentially only stress their aesthetics, electric vehicles also focus on the insides.

A question many people ask is; what exactly makes electric car designs different from other designs of conventional cars? Well, most electric automobiles bypass the use of gasoline and an engine completely although some have a secondary engine and storage tank in case the battery dies. Rather than using gasoline as a primary source of power, electric car design call for the usage of electricity like the name implies. A huge battery, made from materials like lithium ion - which is similar to performance batteries found in electronics like notebook computers - powers an efficient electric motor. New designs allow electric vehicles to travel up to fifty miles or more on a single charge.

Neat Usefulness

While conventional cars can easily travel 250 miles on a tank of gas, electric cars don't yet have the ability to go even close to hundred miles on a single charge. Keep in mind though that electricity is still much cheaper than gasoline. Nuclear power, hydroelectricity, and other sources of power, can power an electric vehicle indirectly by empowering the lines that the vehicle is charged from at a cost as low as about one cent per mile. The most fuel efficient conventional automobiles still cost around 7.5 cents per mile. It's unlikely that conventional engines will become significant more efficient, which is why research and development has occurred with regard to alternatives such as fuel made of hydrogen and other chemicals as well as electricity

Electric car designs should not be confused with design of hybrid cars. Hybrid cars utilize technologies from both conventional and electric cars to achieve slightly better fuel efficiency while lowering emissions, but they will probably never be as efficient as electric cars. Several families own two or more vehicles, so they would still have a long range car for vacations and business trips. For a car that's cheap and efficient for everyday transportation, an electric vehicle is the perfect solution.

Terry Bolton is an internet publisher of automotive stuff. Read his useful and popular articles about how to find cheap used cars and car parts


By Terry Bolton

Find Cheap Auto Parts - 7 Tips

Finding cheap auto parts should be the aim of every car owner and enthusiast. Below are listed 7 tips that will help you find the cheap auto parts you deserve.

1. Know what you are looking for. The most important point is to know what you need. To many people set off looking for parts before they really know what they are looking for. Do your research and make sure you have a good idea of what the going rate is, how can you get cheap parts if you don't know how much they are!?

2. Shop around. There is a ton of money to be saved on your parts if you are willing to shop around. If you are buying from a dealer then it is a good idea to tell them if you have found the part cheaper, they will usually be more than willing to give you a better price.

3. Buy from the right auto parts store. If you aren't in the know it's quite difficult to spot a good store from a bad one. A good auto parts store will clearly display their contact details as well as displaying details about their stock. They should display which models they supply stock for and everything should be priced. The typical worker should know the stock inside and out and should know exactly what you need.

4. Try and buy used. This isn't always a good idea but on certain things it is usually easy to get a great deal on part used stock. If you hunt around you may find the part you are looking for at an amazing discount due to the fact that they are no longer new. If you have an old car this may be your only option.

5. Buy online. The advent of the internet means that you no longer need to visit scrap yards to get hold of used or salvaged cheap auto parts. There are many online sources from ebay to specialist scrap yard sites that will submit your part request to numerous sites for free, you then just sit and wait for them to come to you.

6. Price comparison sites. You should make full use of price comparison sites, they really will find you the cheapest main dealer in the country and it costs you nothing.

7. Use your gut instinct. Whichever methods you use you should always go with what feels right, if the salesman seems a little pushy then walk out the door.

Finding cheap auto parts can be time consuming and laborious but can save you a ton of cash in the long run and it is always worth trying to save money.

Dougal Kay has always owned and restored cars. Save heaps of money on your next car from the Government car auction.

By Dougal Kay

Aluminum Made Harder Than Steel?

Anodizing is a common process in the finishing industry for electrolytic treatment of metals to form stable films or coatings on the metal's surface. Anodized aluminum or magnesium, for example, are typically associated with functional coatings like hard anodize, also known as 'hardcoat'.

In this process, unlike electroplating, the work is made the anode, and its surface is converted to a form of its oxide that is integral with the metal substrate.

Generally, it's agreed that the ceramic oxide coating consists of two layers:

The initial layer, which forms right at the surface, is called the barrier layer. It is a comparatively thin, dense, and nonporous form of aluminum oxide.

Next form the outer, heavier layers of the anodic coating. They are more porous and are stacked somewhat like parallel tubes extending through the layer, from the outermost surface down nearly to the barrier layer.

It's important to recognize that, unlike plating, whose thickness accumulates by depositing more and more onto the outermost surface, the anodic layers form by oxygen transfer from the underlying aluminum surface and force existing layers outward.

This means that oxides newest forming are always located between the metal surface and the last, most recently formed alumina oxide. Consequently, the greater the thickness, the lower the density of coating at the outermost surfaces, based on longer solvent action of the electrolyte. Consequently, for maximum wear resistance, more is not always better.

A factor to consider in your design, such as close tolerance bores, bearing diameters, dowel holes or threads, is that the resultant growth portion of the coating is a fractional percentage of the total coating thickness. Hard anodize, for example, will typically result in 50% penetration and 50% buildup.

Keep in mind that buildup is normal or perpendicular to the surface and sharp corners should be rounded to avoid chipping.

To anodize aluminum, one of the most important factors influencing oxide formation is composition of alloy. Reaction of all the various possible alloying or impurity constituents can result in coating voids or disruptions, while other constituents may themselves oxidize in the conditions of anodizing and lessen the intended properties.

Depending on electrolyte, a wide range of thickness can be obtained. Coatings produced in sulfuric acid electrolyte, for example, can be as low as 0.0001 inch (2.5 um) to as high as 0.003 inch (75 um).

Anodic coatings have a definite cellular structure. Imagine individual cells with pores down their centers totaling millions per square inch. This makes for excellent dyeing and sealing. Sealing processes make the coatings non-absorptive and include, immersion in boiling de-ionized water, steam, or nickel acetate.

De-ionized water is often preferred as a sealing solution for its ability to react with anhydrous aluminum in the outer layers of the film. A mono-hydrate of the oxide is formed, which occupies greater volume than the alumina from which it was formed. The result is a reaction to close down and plug the pore structure.

Structures of hard anodizing can be supplemented with a variety of materials, including Teflon (PTFE) waxes, oils and other compounds, to lower friction or add release (nonstick). And because these compounds penetrate the ceramic, their added surface growth is oftentimes negligible.

Want to make a better product? Or simply, make it faster, more reliably, with less scrap? Where ever your surface engineering takes you William Gunnar shares your goal in surface performance!


By William Gunnar

Car Battery Tester

Today's automobiles are sophisticated machines with GPS navigation, LCD screens, DVD players and iPods. However, all of these 21st century technological wonders are still at the mercy of the car battery and the automobiles electrical system. Car batteries have improved over the years but the technology is basically the same. Most of us do not even think of our car battery until our reliable car refuses to start and we are stranded in a parking lot. A modern car battery tester can evaluate trouble with your automotive battery and determine the correct course of action a technician needs to take.

Car battery testers use the BCI adjustable load test as a measurement to decide if your car's battery is usable or needs to be replaced. The car battery tester measures the voltage drop when an applied load that is ½ the car battery's CCA rating is used. The load is applied for at least 15 seconds and the voltage drop is measured. The voltage should not drop below 9.6 volts for the battery to be considered good. (Also the ambient temperature should be around 70° F) For example, you have a battery with Cold Cranking Amp rating of 600 CCA. You would apply a load of 300 amps for 15 seconds. If the measured voltage does go below 9.6 volts, the battery is still good. It is possible to use a car battery tester in differing temperature conditions, but you must compensate for the difference in your calculations.

If the car battery has been completely discharged, you will have to recharge it using a suitable car battery charger. Do not attempt to use a quick charger type battery charger if yours is in this condition. These types of automotive battery chargers use a high current to get you fast results. This high current can damage the sensitive plates in your battery when it is in a fully discharged state. Another method to avoid is just to get a pair of jumper cables and jump start the dead car and then let the alternator recharge it. Your car's alternator is not a car battery charger and it cannot recharge a totally discharged battery without getting damaged.

Be sure to let the battery cool down to room temperature. People often forget how hot it gets inside of an engine compartment, especially in the summer months. That goes for cold weather as well. You may have to let the battery warm up to room temperature. Batteries perform differently at temperature extremes and that's why its important to use room temperature as the standard to accurately measure them.

Jason has been in the construction equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years. He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the automotive and industrial industries. - Automotive Tools


By Jason Miller

Don't Buy A Hybrid - Convert Your Car To Hybrid!

Convert your car to run on water - is this for real? Well, it depends.

There is no way to run your car on water alone - you will need gas, in fact you could use both; gas and water. This will greatly increase gas mileage and decrease the pollution.

Using water for energy is nothing new; in fact, over 90 years ago scientists such as Tesla started testing water for energy. Nikola Tesla was able to discover the hidden energy in water but for many political and other reasons his discovery was not considered as important and with time was completely forgotten.

The general demand for gas is huge - this is why the governments do not invest into developing alternative fuels. You might have heard of the electric car - if you did, you know the reason for which this car disappeared from Earth. The Hydrogen-on-demand system is not being officially developed and advertised for same political related reasons, however, you do not need the government to do anything, and you could convert your car to run on water by yourself, at home.

Converting your car does not necessarily mean "difficult". The system consists of a few simple bolt-ons and some tubes. It does not modify your engine or the car's computer, when removed it is completely untraceable.

The system transforms water to HHO - the Browns gas which allows the engine to burn gas more efficiently. It does not only give you better gas mileage, the system also reduces the engine's noise and vibration which results in smoother gear shafting. The pollution is greatly reduced when the system is used because the gas is actually burned by the engine and not wasted through the exhaust system as unburned gas.

The use of the system gives you access to certain IRS credits - just as if you were buying a Hybrid.

If you are interested in converting your car to run on water, this site offers a step-by-step guide to the conversion.

Don't buy any water systems from ebay or other places! Click Here for your step-by-step guide to converting your car to burn water as fuel.


By Alexandre Sol