Issues regarding the use of dynamometers

A dynamometer is basically a tool to deliver an effective comparison or analysis of an engine output or performance. Dynamometers are a lagging indicator, which means the dyno only tells you what has occurred during the dyno run or test period. After you have applied your best engine building skills, the dyno serves the purpose of evaluating the engine's capabilities at a specified moment in time. A dynamometer mainly measures Horse Power (usually at the crank shaft but in the case of a chassis dyno, Horse Power is only measured at the rear axle), torque, RPM range over which the engine was tested, temperature and air flow (volume and velocity of the air that ventilates the engine). Some dynamometers also measure noise levels of exhaust and intake manifold pressure, fuel flow, BSFC (the measured fuel flow in pounds per hour divided by the horsepower), and pressures such as oil pressure when appropriate. Top racers own a dyno, as it is a very powerful tool. It provides valuable information about the performance of engines, transposed in a set of graphs. As dynamometers measure engine output, isolate and quantify the metrics of horse power and torque, they are very useful for elaborate performance tests. In preparation for performing a dyno test there are certain metrics that you should have or should obtain prior to planning the test. These include the minimum horsepower, the gear ratio if you are not attaching the water break to the output shaft of the motor. A good dyno allows the user to enter today's environmental or altitude conditions. When reporting, the software provides the correction factors so that each day is measured as though it were the same as the last time that the engine was tested or to a set baseline so that you always achieve a set comparison. Dynamometers are very handy and useful, but they are a very expensive piece of equipment. Many of them are also extremely noisy, even when they are running on small motors. The exhaust is caustic and therefore, dynos should be used only in properly ventilated areas. Before investing in a dynamometer, certain aspects should be considered, such as the size of the working space, the possibility of storing volatile fuels, or the access to certain utilities such as proper water supply for the water brakes. A computer and a color printer are also necessary for recording and monitoring the way the engine performs. When the requirements are met, all it takes is ambition, dedication and investing the right amount of time for making refinements and adjustments.

Read More

Is your car tires safe?

Do you know most of the car accidents are caused because of one or the other fault in the car tires? Most of the car accident reimbursement that the car owners have to pay to the accident victims or the loss they have to incur in terms of insurance money they get is all due to fault in car tires. So, when you go out to buy a car then with all the factors like performance, brand, price, appearance, comfort, and maybe even safety, do consider the performance and integrity of the car tires as well. Even if you own a pre-owned car do make sure that your car tires are in good condition and match your car type, the kind of use it is put to and the geographical demand of the area where you live. Reliable Tires Remember different kinds of vehicle require different kinds of tires. So, you must do some research on your car type and its matching tire type. Do not trust the previous owner if you are buying a used car. Make sure it has compatible car tires. Tires are good for varying conditions, last for varying lengths of time, and cost varying amounts to replace. You must know what type of car tires would work the best in your area. Conditions such as extreme heat, frequent rain or snow, or heavy winter weather are some to consider when you are looking to purchase tires, or to purchase a vehicle with its unique tire needs. Savings Buying the appropriate tires for your car ensures lowered risk of mishap thus, lower insurance premium. Again for special usage cars such as racecars you can get a good insurance premium value if you make sure you use tires specifically made for such cars. High performance tires may cost more than the normal tires but using them saves a lot of money. Driving on tires with worn-out tread can be extremely dangerous, especially in severe weather conditions. If any accident is caused in such conditions you will not only loose money in insurance but also have pay from your pocket to reimburse for the damage caused by your car and to your car. Different vehicles need different tires and also come with different insurance rates charged by different companies that insure you and your vehicle under different amounts. Thus, make sure your car tires are safe so that you are saved from insurance hassles later on.

Read More

Is Your Car A 'Lemon'?

Sooner or later we all must buy a car. And when we can, we buy them brand new.

However, most of us are stuck having to a buy a used car from a dealer or private party at some point. The downside to this is that you can get a car that at first seems like everything you ever wanted, but soon becomes your worst nightmare.

What I have come to learn is that by the time that you begin to realize that you have a lemon on your hands, it is usually too late. The car has already outlived its 90 day warranty which is often filled with loopholes for the dealer anyway. What does this mean for you? If you're like most people, you're thinking to yourself, "it means you're screwed." However, read on.

Most people who buy their cars used know that dealers set up their agreements in terms that will serve only their best interests. Buyers also assume that there is really nothing that they can do in order to get the most out of their money.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, there is a lot that you can do to protect yourself even after you have bought yourself a lemon.

That’s right: as a buyer you do have rights as well.

In fact, there are laws that are designed to protect you should you find that you get stuck with a bad car and a terrible dealer.

Did you know that now is the best time to buy a car? There are very large cash rebates, dealer discounts and employee discounts offered just about everywhere.

The recent major drop in the car industry had forced many people to steer away from buying new cars and also has prompted some of the best discounts ever from the dealerships. You need to do some online research before hitting the dealership and it could save you money and headaches.

Websites like Autoweb.com, Edmund's Automobile Buyers Guide, Autolink, Autopedia, Kelley Blue Book and CarPrice.com are just some of the sites that are currently giving up to date pricing information on new cars.

You should however make note of the dates when each rebate is set to expire so that you can take advantage of these special offers.

When you are looking for the best prices, you want to visit several different Web sites when researching pricing information for the obvious reasons.

Everything from sticker price to customer rebate information may vary from site to site. It's wise to cover all the bases. Whenever you are in doubt, contact an auto manufacturer directly.

When it comes to the basics behind the lemon laws, knowing the basics can be the difference between whether or not you get screwed or get the chance to recover the money that you spent on the car.

The state and federal statutes offer a wide array of relief for consumers who get stuck with a bad car or truck after they buy.

At the same time, these statutes provide buyers with the chance for recovery of costs and attorney fees which are a strong incentive for attorneys who would like to take up the cause on behalf of unhappy lemon owners.

"Lemon laws" basically outline all of the procedures that are used in order to settle these sorts of new car problems.

These lemon laws differ from one state to another, but lemon laws in general are designed to provide the owner with a refund or replacement vehicle should this problem occur.

For example, some states mandate a refund or a new car if a large enough problems cannot be repaired within four tries, or if the car has been out of service for around a month within the first year or 12,000 miles driven.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as; some states only provide you with the chance to make one attempt for significant safety related issues such as the brakes or steering.

Some states do not even stop with just providing lemon owners with either a refund or a new car. Some of them will, in fact, also let you recover any sort of attorney's fees that you have to deal with during your pursuit of getting some satisfaction from your purchase of a lemon.

It is always good to know that you can get some sort of return on your money when you buy a lemon. It happens so often that eventually there was bound to be some laws protecting the buyers.

What is sometimes sad about the lemon laws is that they do not necessarily help you. It all depends on your specific situation.

Read More

Is It Necessary to Change My Oil at 3,000 Miles?

When Do I change my Oil? Motor oil technology has gradually progressed since the days of the earliest automobiles. In those days, standard motor oil drain intervals were between 500 and 1000 miles, and motorists had to switch viscosity grades with the changing of the seasons. The development of oil filtration and additive technology in the 1930s allowed drain intervals to increase to 2000 and later 3000 miles, while the development of viscosity modifiers in the 1940s allowed the formulation of multi-grade oils that could be used in both hot and cold temperatures. The technology for extended oil drains is obviously available, but until now, the major oil companies have had other agendas. Marc Graham, who is president of Pennzoil-Quaker State-owned Jiffy Lube International, was quoted in a 2001 Lubricants World interview as saying, “At [PQS] we use a number internally that if we [shortened the drain interval] by 100 miles [for each car serviced], it would mean an additional $20 million in revenue for the company.” He also explained that “if we could move our customers to get one more oil change per year, it’s worth $294 million for the oil change alone and $441 million in revenue, when you include the ancillary products and services customers typically buy along with the oil change.” Vehicle manufacturers in Europe have been recommending extended oil drains for years. In fact, the average drain interval in Europe is 10,000 miles. Vehicle manufacturers in the United States are definitely coming around to extended oil drains as well. Most owners manuals from recent model vehicles recommend 5000 to 7500 mile oil drain intervals. In addition, oil life monitors have become increasingly common on today’s vehicles, allowing and encouraging motorists to increase drain intervals up to 12,000 miles, even when using conventional oil. Vehicles equipped with an oil life monitor no longer recommend oil changes based solely on mileage. The system measures engine operational data such as temperature, revolutions and speed to determine when the oil is nearing the end of its life. As time goes on, more and more equipment managers are exploring the use of extended oil drain intervals. While there are many cautions that accompany establishing an extended drain program, they can be more than offset by savings in maintenance costs and increased uptime. It has been reported that in the not-too-distant future extended intervals will be commonplace. Several engine manufacturers are said to be considering new recommended oil and filter change intervals.

Read More

Is America Ready For A Tiny BMW?

I wrote previously about Mercedes’ foray into the small car market. As strange as that may seem to many Americans, both Mercedes and BMW have long produced smaller and less costly models for the European market. Now, it appears that BMW is considering doing the same: introducing to the North American market a truly compact car, smaller than any BMW that has ever graced our highways and back streets. Is this a good move for the German automaker? Or, will it water down a prestigious brand name? Part of any automaker’s marketing strategy is to convince you, the consumer, what their vehicle line is all about. Dodge would like you to believe that they sell sporty cars and rugged trucks; Scion touts their youth oriented vehicles; and both BMW and Mercedes, like Cadillac, sell luxury vehicles. Millions of dollars of advertising is spent per year to reinforce brand image which is supported by consumer surveys of that particular sentiment. Speaking about Cadillac, in the early 1980s GM’s luxury brand briefly marketed a compact car – the Cimarron – that ultimately bombed, in part, because it strayed far from its big luxury car base. Sure, the car was little more than a rebadged and re-tweaked Chevrolet Cavalier, but it contradicted the entire Cadillac mystique. Even a slightly larger and much later model, the Catera, also failed as the car was perceived for what it really was: a remade Opel. So, now the dilemma: will consumers accept the “1 Series” BMW’s planned entry or will it cause confusion and diminish the BMW name? As a backgrounder, the current 1 Series is expected to be overhauled in 2006. Right now the car is offered as a sport hatchback, but the hatchback isn’t likely to be imported due to America’s aversion to that particular body style. Thus a sedan version is being considered by BMW for production according to published reports. I visited BMW’s U.K. site to examine the current Series 1 model. With the typical BMW fascia in place the Series 1 resembles a slightly stretched Volkswagen Golf mated to a compact BMW. The “1” comes equipped with either a 1.6L or 2.0L I4 gasoline engine, a gas 24V 3.0L V6, or a 2.0L four cylinder diesel that achieves a whopping 50 mpg fuel economy. Prices for the “1” start at just under $25,000 Equipment on the “1” is typical BMW with ABS and all the full luxury appointments. Clearly, the current “1” is not a stripped model as it features many of the amenities found on larger BMWs. In my opinion BMW must tread carefully in bringing a car of this size to the American market. Forget the hatchback and just go with the sedan with either a wagon and or a coupe being a possibility. Unlike the basic Mercedes models, the “1” may just be able to pull it off for BMW and allow the German automaker to sell a tiny BMW successfully in the U.S. Alternatively, BMW just may want to consider launching a separate brand, to retain the BMW mystique in the American market.

Read More

Is A Pre-Purchase Inspection Worth The Cost When Buying A Used Vehicle?

When people are doing research on how to buy a used vehicle, they often see information encouraging them to have an independent pre-purchase inspection done of the vehicle before purchasing it, but people may wonder whether or not it’s worth the money. It is almost always a good investment. For around $100 you can typically get a general inspection of the mechanical condition of a vehicle. It is generally a good idea to have this done even if the vehicle has been certified and inspected by the dealer. Ask your regular car mechanic to do the inspection for you. If you don’t have a regular car mechanic ask family and friends for their recommendations. Or look for certified facilities. There are also companies that specialize in pre-purchase inspections. Their services often include an estimate of what the vehicle is worth so you’ll know whether or not you’re being asked to pay too much money for the vehicle. A company specializing in pre-purchase inspections may be your best bet if a dealer won’t allow you to take a used vehicle you’re looking at off the lot (maybe because of insurance reasons). Companies specializing in pre-purchase inspections usually will come to where the vehicle is. One of the drawbacks of this type of service though is that they cannot put the vehicle up on a lift to look at the underbody for any obvious damage. But they can still do a fairly thorough job of inspecting the vehicle and find obvious problems that could cost you a lot of money down the road. Make sure to get a written copy of the inspection report, including the estimated costs for any necessary repairs the vehicle needs. Make sure the report includes the make, model and VIN of the vehicle. If the vehicle needs repairs done and you still want to purchase it, you can use the inspection report to help negotiate a better purchase price. Having a pre-inspection done can help you avoid buying someone else’s problem or lemon. Almost everyone knows of someone who has had a bad experience when buying a used vehicle – both private party and from a dealer. People may unknowingly buy a vehicle that was in a major accident, didn’t show the accurate mileage, was in a flood, or was a salvage vehicle – all things that can cost major repair dollars down the road and major headaches. Having a pre-purchase inspection done can help you avoid having your own horror story to share.

Read More

In-Vehicle Communications Systems. Valuable To Consumers, Law Enforcement

An estimated 1.3 million Americans had their vehicles stolen last year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report. After years of steady decline in the '90s, victims of motor vehicle thefts lost an estimated $8.6 billion in 2003. As police agencies across the country look for new ways to crack down on this nagging problem, consumers are encouraged to take active measures to deter auto theft. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting insurance fraud and vehicle theft, recommends a multi-layer of protection to deter car thieves. The suggestions include not leaving keys in the car, locking doors, parking in well-lit areas and using visual and audio deterrents, such as steering wheel locks and car alarms. In-vehicle safety and communication systems are another option for motorists and are becoming more common in new vehicles. General Motors' OnStar system, used by three million subscribers, uses Global Positioning System (GPS) and wireless technologies to respond to about 500 stolen vehicle requests a month. OnStar advisors work closely with police dispatchers, passing along critical information to help guide authorities to the location of a stolen vehicle. One person who realized the value of owning a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle safety system was Raiford Brown. When his 2004 Hummer H2 was stolen from the driveway of his home in Tennessee, Brown called the local sheriff's department to report the theft. After filing a police report, the sheriff's department called OnStar to assist in the recovery of the vehicle. OnStar Advisor Lewis Baldwin used the vehicle's embedded GPS system to pinpoint the its whereabouts. By then, the car had been driven across the state line into Sharonville, Ohio. Once authorities recovered the vehicle and apprehended the suspect, they learned he was also one of America's most-wanted fugitives. "Electronic vehicle locating systems can help reduce the amount of the time it takes police to locate a stolen vehicle and apprehend the suspects," said Col. Paul McClellan, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. "Our goal is to get the owner's vehicle back before it's been damaged. Citizens can help by taking the best precautions to help deter theft." For the 2006 model year, three million GM vehicles in North America will be equipped with the OnStar in-vehicle safety and communications system. The number of such vehicles is expected to grow incrementally, up from 1.4 million in 2004 and 2.2 million in the 2005 model years.

Read More