Engineering Magazines

In the world of auto mechanics an engine swap is just about the biggest job you can undertake. No matter what kind of car you drive its inevitable that the engine could possibly fail. If your car has very high miles its almost a given. You have a few options if that happens. You can sell your car as is, pay to have a new engine installed, or take the liberty of doing it yourself. The level of difficulty that changing an engine has changed with automotive technology. The newer and more advanced your car is the more technology goes into making the engine work. Back when carburetors were used things were much simpler. Changing an engine basically consisted of disconnecting a few wires, motor mounts, trans mission, radiator hoses, and throttle linkage. The same basic process still applies on modern engines but it just involves a lot more work. There a many more connections, hoses and cables that need removed.

When changing your own engine the basic challenge is to disconnect everything and put it back exactly how you started. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph the age of your car is where the complexity issue comes in to play. Basically it is the same process but, the older the car the easier the process. When undertaking a job of this size you should be sure to have all the needed tools to perform the job properly. Not having the correct tools can lead to damage of parts and a lot of lost time. You can spend more time working rather than looking for the correct tool to perform the task. Overall spending a little money on the right tools can save you a lot time and money in the future. Depending on where you vehicle was made will determine whether you will need metric or standard tools. European and Asian will require all metric tools and almost all domestics will take standard.

When selecting an engine you must be very careful and be completely sure that you have chosen the correct engine. Thats not something you want to find out when installing the new engine. Again, as automotive technology has advanced so have engines. In the past if you could make an engine fit in the engine compartment you could make it work. The electronics of modern cars makes this virtually impossible without major modification. Fuel injected cars are much more complex. They involve electronic controls rather than manual controls. Basically the most important thing to remember is: Do your research. You need to know the exact model, year, and engine displacement of your vehicle.

Once you have obtained a new or used engine the real work begins. Prior to starting you need to purchase all engine fluids to replace once you have completed. Most cars will require the hood to be removed for full access to the engine area. You should mark the bolt position on the hood hinges to make for easy alignment when reinstalling. Drain all your engine fluids, drain coolant, disconnect all wiring, throttle linkages, fuel lines, and cooling hoses. Be sure to remember what you removed and where it came from. Its a good idea to take photos of all areas of the engine compartment. This will give you a good reference for reassembly. Next, remove the bolts from the motor mounts, transmission and exhaust. Once you have made certain that nothing is still attached to the engine you can begin slowly lifting the engine out. Obviously this will require an engine lift and chains. Carefully remove the engine from the engine bay and set it aside.

The installation process is basically a reverse of the removal. Carefully set the engine back into the engine compartment and bolt up the motor mounts, transmission and exhaust. Its a good idea to replace the motor mounts, belts, hoses, plugs and wires in this process. This just allows for much easier access to all of these components. This could save you a lot of time and work in the future. Reconnect the wires, hoses, and linkages. Once everything is reconnected you can move on to replacing all of the fluids. Your coolant will require a complete refill due to to the lack of coolant in the new engine. Once your fluids are replaced check for leaks and double check for loose connections. After everything has been checked and secured your ready to start it up. New engines will require a break in period. This will be detailed in your new engines documentation. You should test drive your car and watch for anything abnormal. When finished test driving check all of your fluids and top them off in needed. If everything goes as planned you should be ready to hit the road again.

This article is not really meant to be a complete guide. Its basically an outline on what is involved in the process. If you are planning on changing your engine yourself you should know what to expect. Its not a process that you want to get partly finished and give up. It is a pretty difficult task that takes time and effort. Its impossible to create one thorough guide due to the fact that almost all auto makes are unique. A good tip is to purchase a complete repair manual for your make of vehicle. There are some great publications for every make of car. You get what you pay for when you by a repair manual. The higher the price, the more thorough manual you will get. You should have a decent amount of mechanical knowledge before attempting this job. If you have any doubts you should probably leave it up to a professional mechanic. Overall be sure that you have the will power, knowledge, tools, and time before taking on a job like this. If you enjoy mechanics this will be a rewarding and educational process.

Your car is a very important investment that you would never want it to experience a breakdown especially if it is new and you are also new as a driver.

Aside from your parents’ pieces of advice on road safety, it is also better to read some tips on the magazines or on the internet perhaps. Your parents may be experts on raising kids but they may not be when it comes to vehicular concerns. There are several write ups on car safety, repair and maintenance that you as a neophyte on the road should always keep in mind.

Examples of these tips are as follows:

Read your owner’s manual first. Written there is everything about your car that you need to know and remember always. From the auto parts to the proper repair and maintenance, all are written there. It is also important to obey the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule as written there.

To ensure excellent engine performance, at a good repair shop, have your engine drivability problems corrected. These problems include hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc. It is also much better to replace dirty air, fuel and PCV fuels to ensure a real quality engine performance.

In order to keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line, place a bottle of fuel de-icer in your fuel tank once a month. Remember that moisture formation is prevented in a gas tank that is always filled.

The oil and filter concerns are also specified in your owner’s manual. Change them according to the stated schedule. Most often, they are changed at least every 3,000 miles. This is so if driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of regular short trips.

Flush and refill the cooling system as recommended in the manual. Needed to be inspected periodically are the level, condition, and the concentration of the coolant. The usually recommended concentration is a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water. If you are checking this part by yourself, do not remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled. Let the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses be checked by a reliable auto technician.

To achieve further comfort, the heater and defroster should be in good working condition.

Old windshield blades must be replaced. Buying rubber-clad or winter blades so that ice will not build up is a must in a winter season.

The brakes should be regularly checked. Consult the manual if you can replace the original ones with other brands such as EBC brakes.

Inspect the battery through professional equipment. This is the only appropriate way to detect a weak one. Remove the corrosion from posts and cable connections. Clean the entire surface. Make sure all connections are tightened. These should be your routine. Also check the level of fluid monthly if battery caps are removable.

Removal of cables might damage or loose data or codes on some newer vehicles. For further guidance, it is always safe to check your manual. Contact to acids is dangerous. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid by wearing an eye protection and rubber gloves.

Before going out with the car, check all lights and bulb. Burned out bulbs must be replaced immediately. All lenses should be free from road grime. For simple lights cleaning, a dry rag can be used.

Examine the exhaust system for leaks through putting your vehicle on a lift. See to it that the exhaust trunk and floorboards do not have small holes. And take note of this: any sweat in the exhaust is deadly. To avoid this, regularly check the system.

Worn tires are also dangerous. Regularly check them to avoid short tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping. The sidewall should also be checked. Tire pressure should be checked once a month, but be sure tires are in cool condition before checking them. The manufacturer’s recommended rotation must be followed. And remember to always bring with you your spare that is in good condition. The jack, which should also be always present in your tools area, should also be in good condition.

And lastly, in case of emergency, you need to have some equipment to back you up. Always bring with you gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, tire chains, a flashlight, and a cell phone. This will further ensure your safety especially that you are a neophyte on the road.

Reading some materials on automotive can further add to your knowledge on cars.

I am going to start this article with an obvious cliché that says that the car is one of the most important and useful inventions of all times by far, in the whole history of humankind.

Yet, getting over this aspect of the problem we land on this: how important is the maintenance to a car (owner). This is a very suitable question because there are many people that would rather buy an expensive car and not to make those indispensable maintenance changes that simply have to be done at some point, or simply there are people that do not take care of their cars but only when they do not seem to work at all anymore.

Yet, no matter if we are discussing about a car as a personal asset, a car as a public transportation mean it is suggested to avoid different difficulties that may appear when owning a car.

Try not to be one of those owners rather indifferent to their cars that simply start the car, drive and then park it. Not knowing what may be wrong with your car or how it works it makes it impossible to maintain it in a perfect condition.

Do not think of keeping your car in a perfect condition as another way to lose money – think of if you keep it in a perfect condition you will get to sell the car at a great price in a few years.

Think if you really afford not to pay the attention, you should to your car, and go for learning how to take care of it. Even if you do not know basic things about cars such as how to do a rudimentary check of your car engine, or how to check your engine oil level, the spark plug change (if it may be the case) or even the windscreen wiper change it does mean you have to worry.

All these can be learnt very easily and the Internet is full useful advice on this subject. Another important thing you should learn (if you do not already know, of course) is how to take care of your car during winter months when winter tires are required and sometimes even chains. I have listed below a few basics when it comes to owning and maintaining a car.

First of all, you will need to know how to buy a new car, what values you should look for and how to spot possible problems. This will take just a few hours because all you have to do is check car guides and see a few aspects and their meaning.

Second, assuming you do not want to buy a new car, or simply want to buy a used one too, you should know how to buy a used car and not be scammed. This way you will know how to sell it yourself in the future and obtain a good price for it.

Third, you will need to prepare some kind of a schedule based on which you will do a routine check-up. This will avoid any serious problems in the future.

Fourth, something very important is to how to change a tire because there are many people who simply do now know what to do.

And last, but not least you will need to know when the battery is flat and how you can either replace it or recharge it.

Of course, aside from these, there are a few other general aspects that you should note, but these will give you a great start.

The latest economic rescue package is not helping much for the general public, at least for a good half a year before we see effects of an slight economic turnaround. Fuel prices are still escalating, food prices has not fallen, you still need to travel to work, to school and earn a living.

This is part 2 of that endless car fuel saving tips which I have started to help us tie over the money crunch.

Below is an added list of ways on achieving fuel efficiency, conserving gasoline and attaining cost savings the easy way:

Set Cruise Control At A Fix Level For Consistent Fuel Usage when driving a stretch of long freeway (or highway). This helps to reduce the intermittent and inconsistent fuel injection by human manual driving which could cause greater wear and tear to your car.

Combine Several Short Trips Helps Save Fuel And Save Money. . Once your engine is warmed up they generate less air pollution, so keep it running over a few so combining several short trips into one can make a big difference.

Park it in your Covered garage.Yes, you can save fuel and energy simply by parking your car in a covered garage whenever possible, especially in winter and summer. You would then avoid exposing your car to harsh winter snow and ice as well as the torturing summer sun. This helps you warm up the car faster in winter and cool it better in summer.

Remove Excess Baggage. Get rid of items not required on a daily basis. The most common are golf sets, snow chains, fishing gear etc. Reload on a need to use basis.

Catch that Greyhound Bus. I am not selling for The Greyhound here, but if you have to travel across states or provinces, consider taking the coach. The scenery could do you some good, not to mention the stress of driving across unfamiliar towns and provinces.

Avoid Keeping Your Engine in Idle Mode for long periods. If you are stuck in traffic and you don’t think you are going to go anywhere in the next five minutes, you may want to turn your car off. New cars do not need to be warmed up for long period of time. So as much as your pocket can help it, change to a new car. And a New Hybrid Car at that too.

Keep Good Car Habits. Before you switch off your car ignition, remember to switch off all electrical units like the car hifi sound system, air conditioning, heating gadgets, compartment lights as well as head lights. This avoids drain on your car battery, reduces maintenance costs.

Communal car pooling is definitely a viable solution to if you could find like minded colleagues who are neighbors living within your vicinity willing to pool resources.

Avoid Rush Hour. And yes, that is the very famous but always ignored suggestion. As much as procrastination gets you, try harder. In countries where they install electronic road pricing measurement ERP gadgets, you could find yourself doubling your fuel consumption, doubling your fuel costs and your travel time. Worst of all, the electronic road pricing slaps an additional toll charge whenever you pass a particular gantry at rush hour!

There are more tips to come at the next episode of Endless Money & Fuel Saving Car Tips. So stay tuned. And also visit my site for more information on car tips and hybrid cars.

If you own a motorcycle, you should learn about the various types of motorcycle supplies in order for you to properly maintain your vehicle. Furthermore, understanding these products would also increase your safety while you are riding your motorcycle.

For certain individuals, nothing beats the adrenalin rush they get from riding their motorcycle. Hearing the engine roar and driving away at top speed can be very exciting and fulfilling at the same time. Moreover, one may even join motorcycle competitions, which further increase the gratification he would feel in owning this type of vehicle. And a huge part of this form of enjoyment can be obtained, provided that the motorcycle owner is aware of certain responsibilities he should have for himself and his vehicle. One of the fundamental responsibilities involves maintaining his motorcycle through acquiring a set of products that ensure its good performance and enhance its appearance.

These products are known as motorcycle supplies, and they are divided into a number of classifications. First are the motorcycle supplies that are attached directly to the vehicle and are required in order for it to start and run. These motorcycle parts include the engine, tires, breaks, clutch, exhaust utilities, controls such as handlebars and foot pegs, and devices that make up the electrical system of the vehicle. You can learn about the main functions of each of the said parts by reading motorcycle-related publications or visiting an auto shop that focuses on the said type of vehicle.

The next type of motorcycle supplies is the accessory. These products are used primarily to ensure that your motorcycle is well-maintained and safe. Examples of motorcycle accessories are covers, bike stands, alarms, frames for license plates, locks, and bolt kits. Other motorcycle accessories are used to enhance the driving experience. These include iPod accessories that let you connect your portable player to a speaker attached to your motorcycle, and drink coolers that let you enjoy a cool beverage while you are on the road. Apart from this, there are also motorcycle supplies that consist of the chemicals and lubricants, which you need to apply on certain parts of your motorcycle.

You need to use these products so that your engine would run smoothly and your motor will not overheat. Some of these chemicals are oil for your motor and lubricants for your chains. Other chemicals such as wax and polish are used in cleaning your motor. Moving on, another type of motorcycle supplies concerns the clothing and protective gear you has to wear while driving your vehicle. These include helmets, sunglasses and other eyewear, jackets and vests, gloves, riding pant, and boots. Protective gear and motorcycle-related apparel not only make you look “cool” but they also lessen your chance of getting seriously injured should a mishap take place.

After learning about the various types of motorcycle supplies, you need to understand certain points in order for you to make the right choice while you are in a store dedicated to the said line of products. For instance, you have to base your option according to the type of motorcycle you own. Look at supplies for sports bikes if you own such a vehicle; otherwise, search through dirt bike supplies if you own the said type of motorcycle. Also, you should narrow down your search according to the brand of your vehicle.

Engineering generally involves the application of scientific principles for practical uses. The quintessential examples of engineering are the pulley, lever and the wheel. These simple principles have had far reaching impact on our lives and this is the role that engineering plays in our lives – it makes things easier.

Engineering incorporates an extremely broad variety of disciplines. If you are looking for a career in engineering then it is important to recognise that there are a number of different branches to engineering and picking the right area at an early stage of education will help you focus your study. Engineering was originally divided into two sections, military engineering and civil engineering. Military engineering dealt with the improvement of military items such as weapons and fortifications. Civil engineering focussed on things such as bridges and buildings. The different varieties of engineering include,

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering is concerned with the design of aircraft and spacecraft and the related areas in this field of study. This branch of engineering was initially known as aeronautical engineering and focussed solely on craft that stayed within the Earth’s atmosphere. The main problems that craft face these days are the high levels of atmospheric pressure that an aircraft faces. One of the main jobs a aerospace engineer faces is managing the pressure levels and temperature whilst ensuring optimal aerodynamics and improved propulsion.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering looks at how we can convert raw materials into useable commodities. It makes the most of chemistry and physics as well as maths to convert raw materials into more valuable forms or pioneering new techniques for improving existing materials for practical use. Chemical engineering covers an enormous range of products. For example chemical engineers work to improve, ceramics, plastics, chemicals for agriculture, fuels, explosives, soap products, pharmeceuticals and food additives. So a chemical engineer could work on a wide variety of things from developing bombs to creating perfumes.

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering focuses on design and construction. This is usually concerned with structures such as bridges and buildings and infrastructures such as roads and other transport facilities. Concentrating on the development of the physical and natural environment, Civil engineering deals with structures such as dams and canals, alongside the more common structures such as buildings. The discipline incorporates a number of sub categories such as municipal engineering, environmental engineering, structural engineering, water resources engineering and surveying.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering looks at electrical systems such as electronics goods and all branches of electronics and aims to make them more useful to the individual. Electricity has been a focus of interest since the 17th century and the usefulness of electricity has improved insurmountably ever since. Electrical engineering is used in electronics, power, micro-electronics, signal processing, telecommunications and computers.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is concerned with the design and implementation of physical and mechanical systems. These can include items such as engines, kinematic chains and other similar equipment. Mechnical engineering focuses primarily on incorporating the principles of physics and applying them to practical uses. Mechanical engineering can be applied to a number of different fields. Mechanical engineers can be used in automobiles, aircraft, watercraft, medical devices and machinery.



By: Shaun Parker

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