Feb 25

Tips on How to Save Gas
Fuel economy-maximizing behaviors or more popularly known as gas saving tips have been at the forefront of most drivers’ concerns thanks to the looming oil crisis. Basically, it is defined as a set of methods that drivers can utilize, in order to optimize their automobile’s fuel economy. There are many ways that energy is spent needlessly through driving. These include inefficient engine use, aerodynamic drag, friction, excessive braking, and many more. However, there are two general categories on how to save gas, which can be either basic or advanced. The former can be done by most drivers with little or no professional help, while the latter ought to be done by an experienced hypermiler. Basic Techniques The first thing that every driver should do in order to improve gas mileage is to inflate the tires to the maximum. This way, a smaller amount of energy is needed to move the automobile. In line with this, there should be minimum cargo as much as possible to remove the burden off the engine. Additionally, maintaining optimum speed should help significantly, which is usually measured in the 35 to 55 mph range. Aside from that, the driver should also pay attention to braking and acceleration. That means braking and acceleration should not be sudden and they should be minimized as much as possible. Another way to save gas is through coasting. That means the engine is still running, although the transmission is set to neutral. Bear in mind that fuel is still consumed when coasting, although far less than the driver would in normal driving conditions. These basic techniques are recommended for the average user and these are also far simpler to execute as opposed to the advanced techniques that are discussed below. Advanced Pulse and glide is one of the most commonly used fuel saving tips by the advanced hypermiler. This method consists of driving to a certain speed limit called pulsing, which is then followed by a period of gliding. These two steps are repeated in order to maximize fuel economy. However, it is advised that the gliding stage should be done when the engine is not activated. Another sophisticated fuel saving tip is called drafting, which is otherwise known as slipstreaming. This technique involves two or more vehicles that are aligned in a close group, in order to decrease the overall effect of drag. This happens because the lead vehicle’s slipstream is utilized by the ones that follow it. Drafting is an effective way to increase gas mileage both for the lead and tail automobiles. Most hypermilers use this method when trailing larger vehicles and has was shown to increase Miles Per Gallon(MPG) efficiency by at least 11 percent. Overall, it is imperative for each driver to learn different ways on saving gas without having to spend on another part or accessory to accomplish it. However, enough caution ought to be considered whenever these techniques are used to prevent accidents or costly engine damage.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Tire Safety: How Old Is Too Old?
When thinking about tire safety, it is important to consider two things: age and use. Vehicles driven daily are typically driven 15,000 miles a year. But there are situations where cars put on even fewer miles. This includes: being driven only on the weekends, never driving in the rain, show cars, and cars that are stored for extended periods of time. So, some tires on these types of cars put on less than 100,000. But it doesn t mean that they are safe tires. Tires deteriorate over time and can age out wear out before they wear out. In a statement from the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) issued on June 5, 2001 regarding the age of tires they state, “BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tires should not be put into service if they are over 6 years old and that all tires should be replaced 10 years from the date of their manufacture.” Tire age can be accelerated by a variety of environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure and coastal climates. Poor storage and infrequent use of your vehicle are other things that can accelerate tire age. If you keep your tires in ideal conditions, the tire age can go as high as 10 years from its manufacture date. But ideal conditions are the exception rather than the rule. And the worst part is that you cannot tell the safety of an old tire just by looking at it since there are no conclusive tests for the safety of tires without destroying the tire itself! Due to this, some European car manufacturers of high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans have hedged their bets, stating in their owners manuals that the tire age should reach no higher than 6 years. How Better Rubber Makes Tires That Are Safe There have been a lot of changes in rubber compounds since Charles Goodyear discovered how to cure rubber when he baked a combination of natural rubber and sulfur on his family s kitchen stove. Thus, he would convert an unappreciated raw material into many useful products. Goodyear cross-linked sulfur with polymers that, when exposed to heat, would help make rubber durable and at the same time maintain its elasticity. The main focus of new research has been finding tire age inhibitors. Sulfur molecules are one such tire age inhibitor that is reactivated every time they are exposed to heat, making the rubber harder. Nowadays, rubber in tires has oil in it that tends to migrate into the tires under tread/casing and evaporate into the air. In the process of this, the tire compound releases oil and gets harder. If you can t quite visualize this, go into any tire store and take a big whiff. You ll smell the oil there. Before curing, most tires are coated with a mold release agent that is makes it easier to remove from their mold after curing. If it s a little hard to visualize, think about spraying Pam on a fry pan before pouring on the batter for pancakes. This increases the safety of tires because some of the mold release agent gets cooked onto the surface of the cured tire, which prevents all the oil from evaporating. What Is The Right Tire Age? In most cases, most street tires are good for 6-8 years if maintained properly. Don t forget though that this includes the time the tires spent from the manufacturer s plant to the dealer to you. So, keep this in mind when you are determining tire age. Most tires get to you anywhere between 3-6 months. Some stay longer with the tire manufacturer, but generally all tires that go on your car are less than a year old. So, you should not get an old tire from any tire manufacturer. Which Tires Last Longest? If you want to buy a tire based on how long it will last, you have to consider thread compound. The more aggressive its compound the shorter tire life. Below is a list of tires from longest-lasting to shortest-lasting: Max Performance Ultra High Performance tires DOT-legal competition tires Bottom line: if you want to avoid safe tire issues go with tires that last long and properly maintain them.Bob Martin says Don t buy any new tires until you take a serious look at this today http://www.discount-tires-online.com/TireRatings/tire-rating-guide.htm This article is a copyrighted work and does not come with reprint or resale rights and may not be altered or changed in any way including the resource box. The site owner acknowledges that by using this article they accept this condition. The only exception being to bold the appropriate copy i.e. headlines and subhead text.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com