3rd
March
2008
There are many who are looking forward to retirement and would like to spend their time seeing the country from the inside of their home away from home. Most are also shocked at the average 5 or so mpg that RV’s get, and they end up with their dreams dashed. Well there are also some other factors that they aren’t aware of. There a few modifications that can be made to dramatically increase power and fuel economy of RV’s and Motorhomes.The first upgrade that comes to mind is the performance chips or module. Most people aren’t aware that these are available for such big engines. Most of these chips and modules are available only for diesel motorhomes but there are also a select few for the gas versions. These performance modules and chips alter the fueling in many ways. They can increase timing which tells the engine to inject the fuel slightly sooner to improve the efficiency of the engine. They can also do what is called duration which tells the engine to hold the injector open longer, to add more fuel. The last way is called pressure which tells the engine to increase the pressure in the fuel lines slightly to put more pressure up against the fuel injector, this creates a finer mist when injecting into the cylinder and helps a higher percentage of the fuel to be burned. Most modules and chips use a combination of these methods to increase power and economy.The only other modification that the average person would do to a Motorhome or RV to increase power and economy is an exhaust system. There aren’t really any companies that make full exhaust systems so to have one custom made can get a little expensive. The best alternative is the aero turbine muffler made by aero exhaust. This muffler has a straight through design free from the baffles and restrictions of the average muffler so the exhaust can flow more freely. The Aero Turbine Muffler also works similar to a jet engine due to its inner design. The Jet like insides speed up the exhaust as it flows through which dramatically increases performance and economy. The muffler comes in a resonated and non resonated version. They both are dyno tested to give the same results, the only difference is the sound. The non resonated version has a deeper throatier tone, the resonated version is closer to stock sound levels although it still has a deep throaty tone to it.
posted in Maintenance |
3rd
March
2008
While for some drivers the thought of driving defensively can sound demeaning, the fact is that defensive driving can often be the difference between becoming involved in, or avoiding, a fatal accident. But even exceptional drivers can be helpless at the hands of reckless or drunk drivers who happen to cross their paths.What Are Defensive Driving Skills?Defensive driving skills are those which let you compensate for the careless or irresponsible behaviors which can endanger all the other responsible drivers around you, and defensive driving skills often result from simply operating your car with common sense and keeping your eyes and ears open for the first signs of trouble developing among the drivers around you.Common sense-based defensive driving will let you, first of all, avoid trouble when someone else on the road decides to do something stupid. You can learn defensive driving skills through a defensive driving education program, designed by expert drivers especially to save responsible drivers from the irresponsible ones. You will be introduced to defensive driving methods which will let you recognize and avoid potentially dangerous road conditions, so that you remain aware of what is going on around you and can respond appropriately to any difficulties.The Specifics Of Defensive Driving CoursesThe best defensive driving courses give you specifics on how to stay out of accidents and improve your safety while driving. They will give you tips on little things which can make a big difference in your safety, like how keeping your tires properly inflated will optimize your car’s performance. They will instill in you the habit of regularly checking your mirrors, directionals, headlamps and brake lights, and windshield wipers to determine if they are working properly.You will learn that defensive driving means staying away from the sides of large vehicles, which can prove difficult for their drivers to control. If you someone who has to drive a large vehicle on a regular basis, defensive driving will mean you keep well clear of other traffic.Defensive driving skills include knowing how to change lanes safely, and to know where you are going before you begin your trip so that you do not end up swerving across lanes of traffic because you are about to miss your exit.There are many schools offering defensive driving classes in every metropolitan area, and there are also online courses on defensive driving. Anyone who drives can learn the art of defensive driving, and if all drivers did, the stresses which come from spending hours in traffic would be a thing of the past!Knowing when and where to do defensive driving is crucial if you want to use your defensive driving skills to avoid accidents or the kinds of situations which can easily lead to accidents. You put good money and a lot of time and effort into your defensive driving course, and knowing where to use your defensive driving skills will pay you back in no time!
posted in Driving Tips |
3rd
March
2008
For many newer drivers car insurance is more a pain than a benefit, with the pain part being located in the higher premiums they have to pay. Here are some of the main reasons car insurance is important.The state in which you live in and drive in probably requires that you carry a certain amount of car insurance on your vehicles. The amount of car insurance that you must carry as a minimum on each vehicle varies from state to state.States will also mandate what type of car insurance is required. In some states, you only need liability, while other states may require more.Drivers should understand that in many states if you are pulled over by the authorities and found to be without car insurance you run the risk of having your vehicle impounded on the spot. In some states it is literally illegal for the police to allow you to continue driving once they know you do not have the proper automobile insurance.In addition to having your vehicle impounded you may also find yourself being charged heavy fees and fines by the courts. Of course, in addition to all these troubles, you may have your driver’s license suspended or revoked for a certain amount of time.Car insurance protects you from personal liability should you be in an accident. Aside from the legal requirements, this is the main reason you want car insurance. If you are in an accident and you are at fault you can be held personally responsible for the costs of medical bills if a person is injured and major monetary awards if a person is killed. These costs can all but ruin most families.It can mean selling your home, selling your stocks and bonds, or selling other assets in order to pay the costs. It can also mean years of future payments in the event you cannot pay them all at once, which most people cannot do. Depending on the amount of the rewards, you could spend the rest of your natural life paying them off.But what about you? What if you are hit by someone who does not have insurance? If you do not have insurance either, chances are good you will be faced with your own medical payments. You can, of course, sue the other person but what if they are destitute and cannot pay? Your own car insurance will usually help with those payments.In addition, depending on the type of car insurance that you have, your vehicle can be repaired or replaced, thus saving you the out of pocket expense of replacing it yourself.The last reason for having car insurance has to do with repair of the other vehicle if you hit someone. As you know, vehicle repairs can be very expensive. If you are shown to be at fault in an accident you may be required to pay for the repairs or the replacement of the vehicle that you hit. Again, this is money that has to come out of your pocket.As an aside to this, you are also responsible for any real property damage that you might cause. For example, if you run into a house and cause a wall to collapse, you would be required to make payment for those repairs. One single accident can all but force you into bankruptcy court if you are not protected by car insurance.
posted in Insurance |
3rd
March
2008
The Aero Turbine Muffler accomplishes four main things. It increases fuel economy, it increases horsepower and torque, it reduces exhaust gas temperatures, and it improves engine longevity. I will explain how it accomplishes all this through its design and inner workings.The mufflers that come on most of today’s vehicles are full of baffles and restrictions. This creates back pressure on the engine that decreases performance, economy, and engine longevity. Aero Exhaust has created the Aero Turbine Muffler; this muffler has a straight through design and the inner workings of a jet engine. The muffler works like a jet engine to increase the flow of the exhaust as it flows through. This makes it so the engine doesn’t have to push the exhaust away. The aero turbine actually vacuums the exhaust away from the engine. Getting the exhaust away from the engine and letting it breathe freely dramatically increases performance and engine longevity. It also reduces exhaust gas temperatures which makes it safe to add other performance modifications and run more power. Most importantly is the economy increase, especially with today’s gas prices that are only on the rise. Thousands of users are experiencing huge increases in fuel economy on gas vehicles and diesels alike. Most are experiencing about a 15% increase in economy and there are even some getting up 25% better economy. With the straight through type design of the Aero Turbine, most would expect it to be extremely loud. The swirling motion that the muffler adds to the exhaust as it flows through muffles the sound, and lowers the exhaust tone. So you end up with a deep throaty sound. It also comes in a resonated version, which has a built in resonator in the front of the muffler. Both versions have identical performance and economy increases, the only difference is that the resonated version of the muffler is closer to stock sound levels, although it still has a deep throaty tone to it. The non resonated version has more sound to it. The Mufflers work on all gas and diesel vehicles from cars to trucks and all the way up to even motor homes and RV’s.
posted in Driving Tips |
3rd
March
2008
There Are Three Kinds Of Motor Insurance Cover: Namely Comprehensive Cover, Third Party Cover And Third Party Fire And Theft Cover For the young driver, comprehensive insurance cover can be very expensive. Unless the young driver is driving an expensive car and to whom money is no object (e.g. like it is for a premiership professional footballer), it will make more financial sense for the average young driver to take out third party cover or third party fire and theft cover. As is in the case for most young drivers, the cost of comprehensive cover far exceeds the value of their cars. For example, a comprehensive cover for an ordinary car could cost as much as £2,500 (depending on cost of the car, make and model) whilst the price of purchasing an economical second hand car (so that the young driver is able to build up driving experience) could be anything up to say, £1,200. In the latter situation third party fire and theft insurance cover would be better bargain as it would cost the young driver anything up to £1,700 (depending on the cost of the car, make and model) thereby saving him/her around £800. Third party only insurance cover would cost even a smaller amount as the young driver would not be insured for fire or theft to his car.However do bear in mind that:With comprehensive cover the young driver is protected even if an accident was or was not his/her fault as the insurance company will pay for any repairs to his/her car. If, for some reason, it cannot be repaired, then the insurance company will pay for the replacement car. If the accident was not the fault of the young driver (second party), his/her insurance company will pursue the insurers of the other driver (third party) to recompense.With third party or third party fire and theft cover, the young driver is only protected when he/she has caused the accident and for the repairs or replacement of the other driver’s car. But he/she will not be covered for any repairs or replacement of his/her own car. However if it transpires that the other driver was the cause of the accident, then the young driver is entitled to claim for the cost of repairs or replacement of his/her car from the other driver’s insurance company.The cost of motor insurance can be very steep for a young driver and the type of cover best suited for his/her needs depends on the cost, make and model of his/her car. Motor insurance premiums differ to a great degree (there are over a hundred insurance companies to select from) so it is very important to visit a comparison website to acquire the best deal possible.
posted in Insurance |
3rd
March
2008
In reality that should not be the case, as that is something that is out of our control. The thing that people should be thinking about is how they can increase their fuel economy because that is something that they are able to control. I will address a few techniques that can be used to save money at the pump.The first thing is driving habits. If you accelerate rapidly you will burn more fuel. You should gradually and smoothly get up to the desired speed. Also the faster that you go, the more that the atmosphere pushes against you. So it is important to keep control of your foot on the freeway. Fuel consumption doubles between 55 and 75 mile per hour, so if you can keep it closer to the 65 speed limits in most areas your fuel economy will increase. Take for example the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest production car in the world. For it to get up to 155 miles per hour it only requires 270 horse power for it to get up to that speed. The faster the car travels, the more that the atmosphere builds up in front of it. For it to reach its top speed of 253 miles per hour, it requires another 730 horse power to go that extra 100 miles per hour. The same can be said of the average car, the faster you go the more mother nature tries to hold you back. So keeping the speedometer at 75 or below is crucial to improving fuel economy.Another way to increase fuel economy is adding a higher flow air filter or cold air intake to the car. What this does is add more air to the same amount of fuel which helps it to combust and use a higher percentage of the fuel putting more power at the wheels instead of out the tail pipe. There are also computer chips and modules that can be added to almost any engine that alter the fueling to make the engine perform more efficiently.One of the best ways to increase your gas mileage it to improve the flow of the exhaust. So you want to open up the exhaust and let the exhaust flow more freely. The mufflers that come stock on cars are in most cases very restrictive and full of baffles. Most people aren’t willing to pay for a full exhaust system for each of their cars, as the up front costs for most are a bit much. There are other options though. One of the best out there is the aero turbine muffler which works on gas and diesel vehicles alike. It has a straight through design free from the baffles and restrictions of stock mufflers. It also has the inner workings similar to a jet engine, so as the exhaust flows through the muffler the speed of the exhaust increases. This takes pressure off the engine and sucks it away making it so the engine doesn’t have to push it away like it normally would. This also reduces exhaust temperatures and increases the engines longevity. All of those things add to the fuel economy by making it easier for the engine to do its job. Some people are experiencing up to 25% increases in economy simply by adding the aero turbine muffler.. Also one would expect a straight through muffler to be loud, but with its jet like insides and the swirling or tornado like motion that it adds to the exhaust, the sound is muffled.In conclusion, the only way to change how much we spend at the pumps is by changing the way we drive, and how hard the vehicle has to work to do its job. This will only become more important as time goes on as the prices of fuel will most likely only continue to climb.
posted in Future Fuels |
3rd
March
2008
There Are Many Professions That Require You To Drive As A Part Of Your Job. These professions could include anything from traveling to another office in the company to being a traveling representative for a company. Many companies recognize this element of employees work and provide company cars or compensate their workers for the extra money spent in petrol.The problem is that if your employer does not offer a company car suitably insured and you have to use your own car instead then you are putting your car insurance at serious risk. Under normal car insurance cover you are permitted to drive to your place of work or to the train station car park, if you use your car for anything more than that with regards to your occupation then you need to apply for extended cover in the form of declaring the car will be used for business too.If your car is not covered for Business Mileage then the insurance company may not cough up when you make a claim whilst using your car for work. This means that if you go on a training course or transport the day’s takings to the bank then you could be putting yourself at extra risk.So why are people not being offered company cars for work? Well in a growing number of cases where companies offer company cars the workers are declining them due to issues over tax to be paid on them. For a long time now over two thirds of workers have claimed back mileage allowance from their employers, but employers have not informed employees that they need to include business use in their car insurance.All insurers will ask when applying for car insurance quotes what kind of usage the vehicle will be involved in whether it’s personal or business and this is a factor that is fairly inexpensive to add to your current policy, in some cases it doesn’t add anything extra. In future make sure that no matter how frequently you use your car for work you remember to add business use to your car insurance as well as letting your employer know that they should inform all employees using their own cars needs extra insurance cover.
posted in Insurance |
3rd
March
2008
They aren’t all tiny small cars which are given for Christmas, but large 1/5th Scale RC Cars such as Petrol Buggies which uses actual Petrol from a petrol station with a mixture of Stoke Oil which means they can be very cheap to run.Alternatively you can get Nitro Cars, which use a fuel you need to buy from Model Shops and a bit more expensive than Petrol. You also get the Electric remote control cars which we all grow up with and get given to us as a present from our parents at birthdays or Christmas.There is a great amount of fun to be had with any remote control cars but the people who grow to love them even more are able to fix and service their Model Petrol Cars with any part they need available to buy from the Model Shops as well as many forums on the internet which specialize in this Niche Hobby.Cars can range from small entry levels cars from £80 or so, to the large Petrol RC Cars which costs around £300. With the popularity of this hobby, prices have fallen over the last few years but still remains a subject where there is so much to learn it can be baffling.Inside of these RC Cars, you will find many car parts you find in a normal sized road car such as a carburetor, gearbox and shocks.As well as Petrol RC Cars, you can also get a range of other types of vehicles. These include Remote Control helicopters, Remote Control Planes, Remote Control Boats, RC Tanks and general Remote Control toys such as robots.Many of the other vehicles also include modifications which given them more of a realistic approach. For example, there are many fiberglass RC Boats which suck in water which passes over the engine and is pushed out the back which is used to cool the heat. This water coming out of the rear of the boat gives a very realistic effect.Please do remember the safety aspects of all remote control vehicles. Cars are not as bad as people can hear them, but with planes and the speed they go people may not see or hear them until they are close by and a out of control plane could be very dangerous if it hits someone. The same goes for remote control boats and especially children near water. Make sure you keep a close eye on children as a RC Boat is a very fascinating thing to them. These petrol and nitro cars are for enjoyment so do enjoy them but be careful to.
posted in General Information |
3rd
March
2008
The police forces in England have, for some time had Automatic Number Plate Recognition System cameras at their disposal but until recently had not realized just how widespread the problem of uninsured drivers was ( some estimates put it as high as 2 million ) and just how effective the ANPR system can be in detecting these law breakers.
London police have been engaged in operation Reclaim since the end of 2007 and have been surprised at the high number of expensive cars they have seized due to them not being insured. The trigger for the increase in ANPRS policing has come from a recent change in legislation which allows a beat officer to impound a vehicle whereas previously this was the duty of a specialized traffic officer whose time could better be spent on more serious offences.The system works by photographing the number plate of each passing car and through special software comparing the car registration number with the database of 35million legally insured drivers provided by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. If the photographed car is not on the database the vehicle is stopped and if the driver cannot produce proof of insurance the vehicle is impounded. Owners have 14 days to reclaim their car and pay a fee of £105 plus £12 per day . They also face a £200 fixed penalty fine and up to six penalty points on their license. Simultaneously the system also checks the DVLA database to see if the vehicle is taxed and has a current M.O.T. certificate as it has been found that offenders driving without insurance very often have no tax and don’t bother with M.O.T. tests. Each of these offences also carry fixed penalty fines and penalty points on their license so it is conceivable that, under totting up rules a driver could lose his license immediately.Cars that are stopped and found to have no insurance are impounded and if the owner fails to pay the necessary fees and fines to have it released are either crushed or sometimes auctioned. Surprisingly some of these cars are high end luxury and sports models. It is thought that the owners of these, faced with very high premiums decide to risk driving without insurance, reasoning it is cheaper to risk being caught and pay the fine than pay thousands each year to be insured. Now however if they are stopped they will lose their car as it is so much easier for the police to seize it. The police hope that this new deterrent will be enough to convince these owners that insurance is absolutely mandatory.Five
London boroughs are trying the scheme now and it should be extended to cover the whole capital by the end of 2008. Other forces are following suit with North, South and
West Yorkshire forces joining Humberside in a crackdown on this type of offence. The days of the uninsured driver look to be numbered, which has got to be a good thing for all motorists as a collision with an uninsured driver costs the innocent party though no fault of his own.
posted in Insurance |
3rd
March
2008
They show you the way and warn others about your actions preventing accidents and keeping things in the safe side. There are many different lights available today - some for general use and some for special purpose.The primary function of the lights is to provide safety and convenience to the driver. Mercedes made their lights to be one of the most important things in the car. Without the lighting assembly installed a Mercedes is as safe as a blind driver.Lights give the ability to see during darkness providing a good illumination. If your lights are good enough the dust on the road or the foggy day won’t be such a big obstacle. Rain-filled weather conditions will be a piece of cake for you too because even if you feel like swimming in the whole water around you there will still be enough visibility for you keeping you informed about everything that is happening around you.The Mercedes tail lights are another very important lighting system that is available for you when you drive. They are attached at the front and rear part of your vehicle. They come in pairs - left and right. The signal lights or also called turn lights are usually yellow in color and they are one pretty important part of the Mercedes tail lights. They are available to indicate if the vehicle is turning and on what direction it will go next. Everyone who is interested in knowing where you will turn will see indication of that before you turn no matter if he is in front of you or on you back.This simple thing prevents collisions with other cars or accidents with the people walking on the streets. It is good for these lights to be used not only when you make a turn but also when you change lanes because sometimes other drivers will not see you on time especially when you are in the blind zone. It is also considered polite because you provide information on your action and let others know you intentions and the way you will achieve them.One very important aspect of these tail lights is the emergency condition. If you push the “hazard” button beneath the dashboard you will activate a simultaneously blinking of both - the left and the right tail lights. This will inform the people around you that you are having troubles with your car. When an emergency instance occurs the people around you should know that you may not have the full control over your car and accident is likely to occur. Warning them with the lights will help them manage the situation and it will safely let you call for help.On the side view a parking lights are available. They make the vehicle more visible and they are pretty useful when going into intersections or making turns. It allows drivers to see others from greater distances and keep them informed on what is going on around them. This is very important especially in low visibility because of fog, dust and rain or any other thing which could reduce the visibility. On breaking situations the parking lights could also serve as a break lights.One pretty cool solution for Mercedes lights is called Euro Altezza Lights and it is available for many models. It will add the sporty look to your car and it will enhance the prestige of the vehicle. These are performance tail lights with clear or smoked lens in red or amber color provided by special lamps.To benefit from and use the wonderful features of these lights you should insure proper replacement when necessary. You may want to check up with your service provider from time to time to see if everything is fine. This is important because many things on the road could damage or reduce the effectiveness of the lights. For example this could be the dust. Stray objects, snow or rain could become hazardous too. Everything that is interfering with the lights could become a problem. You could not keep all problems away but you could see if you lights need special care after the busy day.There is also a way available for you to protect you tail lights from all the scratches and damages that could happen on the road. With all the stones and stuff flying around it is impossible for something to not hit your tail lights. The solution for you could be to use a proper protection.The Mercedes tail lights guard will keep the scratches to their minimum saving you money on replacement parts. This protection unit is usually made by durable steel designed to fit your tail lights perfectly. The easy installation will help you buy it and install it yourself.This protection will not only help you protect you tail lights. It could add the look you want for you car. Mercedes have that sleek look when you buy it but is it what you want? And what about some cool rugged look to tell the others about you sporty way of living?The tail lights guard will not reduce the illumination of your lights and it won’t help for any dangerous situation to occur and it could be a fine investment. Buy it once and you may not need to wander if you lights are good after a long ride. No matter if you want style for you car or simply some protection the tail lights guard is what you need.If you are a car style enthusiast you should know that there is nothing cooler than a nice lighting system for the car. It doesn’t matter how nice your hood is looking or what a nice wheel rims you have. The lights are what get the attention. This is so even during the day. Just imagine some nice reflection from a car and what it could feel like even in the bright sunny day.
posted in General Information |