Engineering Magazines

The diesel engine is fast becoming on of the more economical choices for individuals. With the rising costs of fuels, it is seen that diesel is still one of the more affordable options. It in the best has generated a reputation for being very much a major source of pollution but in recent times has been cleaned up to a great extent.

The biggest advantage of the diesel engine is seen in the fact that the fuel is much more economical. The diesel engine gives a lot more than the gasoline engine for much reduced costs. There is an approximate advantage of using diesel of as much as 30% at times. There is less fuel consumed for the same task and you therefore do not have to refill your tank as often.

The reason many persons do not opt for the diesel engine is in fact the initial start up costs of installing such an engine. The extra costs are quite high for the engine and its installation. If you however look into the savings overall the diesel engine will in fact be the more economical choice.

It is seen too that the vehicle that is installed with a diesel engine will retain more value than the gasoline engine. This is due to there being a demand for vehicles that are fuel efficient on the market as the cost of fuel continues to rise. The diesel engine vehicles also tend to stay on the road longer. If properly maintained these will outlast the typical gasoline engine.

It can also be seen that the diesel engine will give a different drive from a gasoline engine. The vehicle running on a diesel engine will have more of a zip too it. The vehicles will also have more power for tasks such as towing as the diesel engine can handle more load.

There is also another downfall associated with the diesel engine. This is the fact that it is much noisier when compared to the gasoline engine. This noise level is however no where as loud as the past and is in fact quite bearable to users. In fact most of the typical drivers on the road will not be able to tell the difference between a diesel engine and a gasoline engine.

Emissions continue to be a cause for concern for the environmentally conscious. It is true that the diesel engine has come a long way from times gone by in terms of emissions but it is still dirtier than the gasoline engine. There is more visible pollution from the diesel engine and this is due to the fact that the diesel engine will throw out more particulates from the exhaust tailpipe as well as more nitrogen oxides. There is however less carbon dioxide pollution. This is a tradeoff but it is the dilemma that many persons face when choosing between the gasoline and the diesel engines.

One of the other concerns when dealing with the diesel engine is the fuel availability. The diesel fuel is commonly found at truck stops on highways bit is not as common in neighborhood service stations. It is vital that consideration be made of where you will source fuel for a diesel engine. It is also seen that there are not that many options when purchasing a diesel engine car so the choices are limited.

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.

Proper car care and maintenance helps increase the life of your car and enhance driving experience. When we say that it will enhance driving experience is not because maintenance will add comfort to the experience but because when a car is in a well-maintained condition, the possibilities of car failure reduce. This in turn enables you to enjoy a safer and stress-free ride.

In addition, a well-maintained car also improves the engine performance, enhances fuel-efficiency, and increases the resale value of your car. So, some time taken to maintain your car today will prove beneficial in the long run.

Here are the some of the useful tips for car maintenance:



The most important part of a car is the car engine. Therefore, it is very important to take good care of the engine. Inspect the engine well for ensure proper functioning of all the engine components. If any component needs to be replaced, replace it immediately. Also check the engine oil once in every two weeks. If the level is low, add oil to the tank and if you find any kind of adulterant empty the tank and reload the car engine oil. Make sure that you use the oil as recommended by the car manufacturer.

Then come to the car battery. It is a car component that generates energy to the car electronics and other high-end technologies in the car. It is linked with various components in the car through electric cables. Visually inspect these cables and also inspect the battery for corrosion.

Most of the significant car components like the dash lights, taillights, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals work on electric power. Make sure that all these are in proper working condition. If any of these lights are not working properly, it may lead to an injury or even a fatal accident.

Check the condition and working of the windshield wipers to ensure that there are no cracks in the wiper. Replace the wiper blade if required. Don’t touch the wiper blades with your hand as the oil in your fingers may hamper the performance of the wipers.

Tyre care is also very important. Check the tyres for uneven wear and appropriate air-pressure. Any kind of wear or cut on the surface of the tyre may cause the tyre to burst and incorrect air pressure may cause premature tyre failure. In both the cases, you may meet a fatal car accident.

Check the level of engine coolant once every fifteen days. Low level of engine coolant may cause overheating and hamper the performance of the engine. Also check for old radiator hoses or loose clamps periodically as this may cause the leakage of the coolant. Any leakage of the coolant may lead to overheating and expensive repairs. Replace the hoses if required.

Your driving style and habit also influences the condition of your car. To keep your car in a well-maintained condition, it is also important to follow good driving methods. Never apply abrupt braking and acceleration. Also avoid driving with your foot on the clutch pedal. Release the pedal fully while driving.

What do we all want while driving? To provide for our families, loved ones, and what have you. How do you accomplish this? There are a whole slew of roads to travel, but one main ingredient is a family car that is always 100% reliable. And if driving creates you running errands faster, to save money on gas, and decreasing air pollution, you win twice. Your 1993 Ford Tempo or whichever car, truck, van, or boat you drive needs to be performing at top capacity.

The most important thing you can do for your car is make regular auto maintenance check-ups, service all the automotive liquids. Oh, by the way, be sure to check your car’s liquids every 2 weeks. That means your oil, coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission liquids. Make checking your tires a constant too. My ex-girlfriend recently called me up and cried that one of her tires exploded driving under a freeway. Yikes. Also, don’t forget to maintain a proper fuel tank level according to your particular car’s engine (see car owner manual). A car owner manual is like the bible of your vehicle. If you don’t already have one, get one. You’ll wish you had one if your car breaks down in the desert.

Your car engine will thank you with better performance and quicker reaction times, which is an essential part of keeping you and your family and friends safe on the road. Make yourself aware of this info. It may save the life of your engine one day. It will save you money on gas and auto maintenance.

Choose the right fuel. Your vehicle is designed to take regular unleaded fuel, which will have this symbol (87) on the pump at the gas station. The 87 symbol refers to the level of octane in the fuel. Using lower grade of fuel will jack up your car engine and will cause heavy knocking, which could easily damage your engine. I drive a Ford Tempo, and my car owner manual says to use the 87 grade of gas.

Higher grade fuels will protect your fuel system from rusting and protect against fuel lock in the fuel system (causes engine to hesitate/stall and hard to restart). In addition, it will minimize fuel deposits in fuel injection system, and prevent your engine from knocking/pinging.

Higher grade fuels will also prevent the fuel system from “gumming up” when not run for long periods of time, not to mention help your, Ford Tempo perhaps, start more easily in winter while assisting in help the prevention of freezing fuel lines.

Tips to increase gas mileage include not driving at life-threatening highway speeds can dramatically lower your fuel economy. It maybe fun, but it’s the car that you don’t see that will do the most damage. Gradually increasing your speed will save you precious fuel. And the way gas prices have been, it is nice not having to cram all your money into your gas tank. Extended idling of your engine will lower your miles per gallon.

I hope theses tips allow you to spend more time with your family and friends. As well as save money on gas, and auto maintenance. Enjoy!

Soaring fuel prices have made gas-guzzling cars very unpopular. Welcome to the resurgence of the motorcycle. Why? Because properly maintained motorcycles and motorcycle engines can get between 40 and 60 miles a gallon. Smaller scooters get upwards of 90 miles a gallon, pretty good for an economy with $4-per-gallon gasoline.

Because of this, bike sales have soared. Motorcycle repair, too, can come in handy. Do you have a bike in storage that you haven’t dusted off for awhile? There’s a good chance you can be among those restoring motorcycles so that you can ride your old road hog again.

Restoring your older motorcycle to working condition starts with some basic steps:

Check Fuel

If you didn’t use a fuel stabilizer before you put the bike into storage, drain your old fuel (including tank, fuel lines and carburetor as applicable) before you run the engine, and put new in. Lubricate spark plug ports with a little oil, too, before you start things up.

Check Oil

Change the oil and filter if you didn’t do so before you started. If you did, top levels off.

How Is Your Battery?

Make sure leads are not corroded and that the battery will fully charge and then hold a charge. If it doesn’t, replace the battery.

Inspect The Chain

Because your chain transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel, it is very important that it be in excellent shape. Look the chain over for the following:

– Is the chain the proper tension? You should be able to grasp it in the center and move it about one inch in either direction, up or down.

– Are front and wheel sprocket teeth in good condition? If the teeth have grooves or “waves” in them or they show other signs of wear, you probably need new sprockets (chain will probably show similar wear and need replacement).

– Check every single section of the chain for signs of wear and for proper tension. It should move about an inch when you pull on it. Tighten the chain if it’s loose, and loosen it if it’s tight. If the links themselves are too tight, you might need to replace the whole chain.

– Clean dirt off the chain with a clean towel or rag before you apply lubricant. Make sure you thoroughly lubricate all sprocket teeth and links.

– Lubricate the chain well. Remember that some solvents should not be used with rubber if your chain has rubber parts to it. Use a proper solvent and wipe off any excess lubricant with a clean rag.

– Set chain tension properly by moving your rear wheel and axle forward or backward. Both sides of the axle should be aligned properly before you tighten things up or the chain and sprockets might wear out quickly. Tighten the axle nuts and replace the cotter pin with a new one if needed.

Fluid Levels

Brake, clutch and coolant levels should be checked as necessary. Make sure you replace missing brake fluid with a new container of the same brand you used last time. Let your bike idle for a few minutes before you take off so that all fluids circulate properly.

Tires and Suspension

Inspect everything thoroughly before you take your first ride. If you kept your bike stored upright on a kickstand, make sure your tires aren’t cracked, marked, or flat. In addition, check to make sure tire wear and air levels are good.

The PDF version of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Inspection checklist is available here: http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf. It’s a good idea to go through it before putting your old bike on the road again.

The above tips on repairing motorcycles should have you up and running in no time. So go on, and get ready to feel the pull of the open road again.

Owning a car is a one time affair for most Indians and they want their car to brand new car always. Though the task is little difficult but not impossible. With regular maintenance and proper care can give your car a long life.

One of the important things to be taken care is to check the engine, oil and coolant changes, brake functions and tires. If you detect any faults get it immediately fixed. Do a weekly check on this. Get your car serviced regularly from good mechanics.

Some of the easy steps to follow that your car runs like a new car is:

1) Follow the user manual instructions. Manufactures will have given specific maintenance instructions for every part. Use only manufacturer recommended lubricants and contact authorized dealers for replacement of spare parts.

2) Check regularly under the hood from firewall to radiator. Most modern cars are packed with expensive components. Any breakdown of these equipments could result in costly expenditure. Notice dents, rusts, cuts, spills in the components. Do not tamper without prior knowledge of repairing them.

3) Check the oil level frequently. Notice the plastic coolant overflow tank. The orange or green coolant should be between high and low marks. If it is not, add coolant after the engine has cooled down. In case the coolant has turned brown get a technician to check it.

Follow the maintenance schedule strictly.

Schedules differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. A recommendation for 10,000 miles for oil change, or 100,000 miles for cooling systems are some of the examples. A trusted technician will help you chart out a better maintenance schedule for you.

1) Inspect tire pressure: Check tire pressure usually in the morning when tires are cold. Check in petrol stations or use pressure gauges. Conduct the check at least once a month.

2) check the lights: Find out if the lights have burnt out. Lights under the hood, trunk space should be kept running at all times.

3) Change oil filter, oil and belts: For every 5000 miles or every three months change oil, filter. Impurities could get clogged in the filter or oil could have burnt excessively. Check belts and hoses regularly. Those that are older than 6 years should be changed.

4) Inspect tire rotation and wheel balancing. Check it after every 5000 miles or every three months.

5) Replace air filters and fuel filters: They could cause major problem in smooth engine functioning. You could add mileage by fitting new ones in place of old. Also service the transmission for every 25,000 miles.

6) Test the battery: replace battery if it is five years or more. Battery tends to get worn out due to over usage.

Ensure that the exterior also reflects the essence of the car.

A few tips include

1) Wash your car daily with fresh water. Dust settled on the exterior dull the shine and need to be washed. Wipe it with a moist cloth as dry cloth could leave minor scratched on the paint.

2) Remove dirt from areas which could not be cleaned during daily wash. The usual spots could be door hinges, wheel arches, nooks, under the bumpers, in front grille and underbody components.

3) Park in shade. Sunlight could damage paint causing it to fade down slowly.

4) Avoid using plastic or vinyl cover on cars during humid days. Due to this moisture is trapped and perfect conditions are created for formation of fungus.

5) Regularly vacuum clean the interiors especially the seats and centre consoles. Spray mild air fresheners to drive away bad odors. The car interiors will feel fresh every time you enter it.

6) Immediately attend to the scratches and dents. Metal could start rusting from the scratches and dents.

7) Those living in mountainous area or sea shore need to be careful about corrosion. Moisture could cause damages and leave the car looking dull.

Regularly clean chrome parts to ensure that the shine is protected. Dust, oxidization and rust could ruin the shine forever.