Archive for January, 2010
Are Alloy Wheels A Blessing Or A Curse?
Car Buyers love Alloy Wheels but they are easily damaged and expensive to replace. Is there an alternative?
Why do over 50 of all new cars have alloy wheels? Because buyers love the way they make their cars look. However recent statistics show that 51 of vehicles have suffered kerb or pothole damage to alloy wheels. Are they repairable or is an expensive replacement always necessary? Who can the car owner turn to for impartial advice and professional repairs? Read On
Whats it wheely all about?
Why do over 50 of all new cars have alloy wheels? Well for the techies among you alloy wheels are lighter than standard steel wheels thus reducing the cars unsprung mass which benefits handling and dynamics. They dissipate heat generated when braking more effectively but most of all they look pretty and can transform the appearance of any car.
So pretty but oh so easily damaged!
Great care must be taken when driving over humps and potholes soft aluminium alloy is easily flattened if you hit a hump or hole at speed. Much damage can be caused at slow speeds so it is advisable not to run up the kerbs when parking. A flattened front rim may cause steering wobble at slow speeds but similar damage on a rear wheel may cause a drone at high speed.
You Have Been Warned!!!
Alloy Wheel Refurbishment
We all know that sinking feeling you get when you or your missus! scrape your lovely shiny alloy wheels a long the kerb! The resulting scuffs and scratches are unsightly ruin the appearance of your car and if left unattended especially during winter can cause the wheel to corrode.
The cost of replacing the most basic factory fitted alloys will cost you at least 100 replacing wheels fitted to the BMWs Audis Mercedes and Porsches of this world can set you back as much as 500 per wheel!
Relax dont worry most typical alloy wheel kerb scuffs and scratches can be removed by an alloy wheel refurbishment specialist and returned to original condition in less than 2hours for between 40 and 60. In many cases the work is carried out on site at your convenience.
Depending on the level of damage sustained only the area of damage on the wheel is sanded down sometimes deep scratches may need to be filled with a special alloy wheel gel. Most alloy wheel refurbishers mix their own paint to ensure a perfect colour match and blend to leave an invisible repair.
Full wheel refurbishment where the tyre is removed the wheel stripped or blasted back to bare metal before being painted or lacquered is usually carried out at workshop premises and sometimes requires 2/3 day turn around. The finished result however can be better than the original.
Before and after pictures can be seen at http://www.look4carcare.co.uk/alloywheelrepairs
Alloy Wheel Care
Even though there are hundreds of alloy wheel cleaners and polishers on the market most top alloy wheel manufacturers recommend regular simple care and attention. Rinse off dirt and grit that might scratch the wheel and then simply wash with soapy water. Some recommend applying a good quality car wax or specialist wheel wax to keep the shine and help grime and brake dust to slide off more easily.
How to find a local technician
Look4CarCare is a national online directory featuring technicians who can carryout minor repairs to full Alloy Wheel refurbishments. Using the website www.look4carcare.co.uk you can search for your nearest supplier using your postcode.
Alternatively follow this link to see a list of all the Alloy wheel repair technicians featured http://www.look4carcare.co.uk/alloywheelrepairs_list;y
About Look4carcare
Look4CarCare is a national online directory of SMART Repair suppliers in the UK. It also aims to be the informational focal point for SMART Repairs and associated industry news. The Look4CarCare website allows car owners to find suppliers offering the exact SMART repair that their car requires anywhere in the UK. Services currently covered by the valuable online resource include: paint scuff and scratch repairs; windscreen repairs; paintless dent removal; leather repairs; fabric repairs bumper repairs; dashboard repairs; alloy wheel repairs stone chip repairs.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;For Further Information Contact
Mike Jeffers
Look4CarCare
Email: infolook4carcare.co.uk
Website: www.look4carcare.co.uk
Advice On Dangerous Driving
In fact most accidents occur within just fifteen miles of home most serious accidents involving hospitalization or death also happen near home and the most likely cause is nearly always some kind of dangerous driving by either the injured or the other driver.
Most official advice on dangerous driving relates two factors excessive speed and use of alcohol or drugs which are very often elements that play a part in people being charged with a dangerous driving offence and managing to get themselves into a position of totting up 12 points on their license.
Alcohol related accidents can be avoided by simply not drinking and driving but of course that is only half the story because other road users may opt to get drunk and still get behind the wheel. One way of avoiding this is to not drive later in the evening especially in the early hours on Friday and Saturday nights.
Speed is another form of dangerous driving that is easy to cure for yourself by simply slowing down but again it does not avoid others who choose to drive at excessive speeds. About your only defence against other speeding drivers is to remain constantly alert checking your rear mirror for cars coming up behind you at a high rate of speed and being particularly cautious at junctions.
There are many other minor mistakes that we make every day that can easily become dangerous driving situations that could see us totting up 12 points before we know it and then receiving a ban. One simple infraction is simply not leaving sufficient gap between our vehicle and the one in front especially at speed in an instant that can result in a serious incident.
Another quick way to a dangerous driving conviction is when not taking proper care when overtaking especially on fast single lane roads. Not judging the distance and speed of oncoming traffic correctly can easily put you in a position where you are facing an oncoming car with no way to pull back into your own lane. Most driver deaths are head on drivers side to drivers side collisions that happen under these exact circumstances.
To avoid totting up 12 points on your license avoid excessive speeds at all times be prepared to have your details available to avoid being charged with failure to give details. It is always important to take on board proper official advice on dangerous driving and not work on the assumption that you have been driving for years and know all there is to know and that is sufficient to avoid a dangerous driving situation.
About the writer: Darrell F giving some advice on dangerous driving and how to avoid totting up 12 points.
24 Gas Saving Tips That Helps You To Save Gas And Improve Your Engines Performance – Part 1
Besides having a source of free gas or converting you car to run partially on water there are some tips that can certainly help you in your fight at the pump. The following list of tips if you follow them will increase fuel economy. You just have to implement them.
1. Check your air filter
A clean air filter is the key to good fuel economy. A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; remove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can’t see light coming through it you need a new one. I use KN filters which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive better air flow than throwaway paper filters plus they’re better for the environment.
2. Get back to nature
Consider shutting off the air conditioner opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer but at lower speeds you’ll save fuel. That said at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.
3. Use the correct tires for your vehicle
New wheels and tires may look cool and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires chances are they’ll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires keep the old ones. For long road trips the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.
4. Drive only when you have to
Not a popular thing to say on a car site I know but the fact is that if you can avoid driving you’ll save gas. Take the train carpool and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car always ask yourself: “Is this trip really necessary?”
5. Avoid High Speeds
As your speed increases your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph 100 km/h Vs 75 mph 120 km/h will reduce fuel consumption by about 15.
6. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard
By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking fuel economy may increase by as much as 20.
7. Use A/C Sparingly
When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used by about 20. The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.
8. Keep Windows Closed
Windows open especially at highway speeds increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10.
9. Service Vehicle Regularly
Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
10. Use Cruise Control.
Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas. It can save you up to 4 MPG.
11. Avoid Heavy Loads and get the junk out of your trunk.
Remove the sandbags junk from your trunk and pack lightly for long trips.
The rule of thumb is for every extra 100 pounds you lose 1 mpg. Remove the weight and save gas.
12. Avoid Long Idles
If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;The author has created a review site that provides you with the most indepth analysis of “>http://waterforgasreviews.com/Water4Gas.html”> Water Conversion Guides on the Internet. go to:http://waterforgasreviews.com/Water4Gas.html”>www.” target=”_blank”>www.”>http://waterforgasreviews.com/Water4Gas.html”>www. waterforgasreviews.com orwww.squidoo.com/waterforgasreviews
