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Hydrogen can appear to be the answer to our fuel problem, unless we’ve looked at the big picture. I saw a comment to an article I was reading about a hydrogen car they were supposedly going to market next year. The person asked why we didn’t have a full-on hydrogen car in the US. I guess my question is: where are you going to get fuel? The infrastructure for hydrogen, as a stand alone system, is beyond the horizon. We should be looking for alternatives, in fact we should have started doing that in the 1970’s with the first energy crisis. Hydrogen, even small amounts, increases the efficiency of other fuels. Most automotive hydrogen is produced by splitting hydrogen and oxygen from a water source that includes a catalyst. The overall gain, from working with various systems of that type, is 5% to 8%. Any gain is good, but that’s a long ways from stand alone.

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.

Car accidents have been known to be one of the main causes of deaths among teenagers and most especially children. This is the reason why parents should take extra care in making sure that their children are safe when they are inside a vehicle, whether it may be moving or parked. With this need for car safety for children, car seats were invented and introduced.Over the years, car seats have grown to be more popular as more and more parents have taken caution and have recognized their importance. There is however different types of car seats available in the market and each one correspond to a specific child age group or where some opine it is the weight of the child that gives the more decisive basis for getting a type of car seat. It is important that parents know this in order to get the right car seat that is appropriate for their babies and their toddler.For babies, the parents should get a baby car seat that is rearward facing. This kind of car seat can hold room for babies that are aged from birth up to 12 or 15 months, whose weight can be as heavy as 10 kilograms or 22 pounds until 13 kilograms or 29 pounds. Babies are more out of harm’s way if they are protected as they are facing the rear of the car and cosseted by the seat. With a rear facing car seat safely securing them in, they are cushioned from the bumps and jolts that the stirring car may go through. The seat shields and supports the head, the neck and the spine of the baby. It is preferred to place this rear facing car seats in the rear as compared to placing them in the front of the car. It is advised to never place the seat in front when the car has a passenger airbag as this could suffocate the child; hurting them instead of keeping them safe. It is recommended that you use rearward facing baby car seats for as long as your baby can fit on it. You will know your baby needs to move on to a bigger seat if her head is as high or even higher than the crown of the car seat or if her weight is or has already exceeded the maximum.As your child outgrows his rear facing seat, you need now to get her a forward facing seat. This type of seat can hold a toddler of 9 to 18 kilograms or around 20 to 40 pounds, whose age could be between 9 months to 4 years old. The important factor with forward facing kid car seats is the harness that keeps the child safe in place. This should prevent the child from sliding off or bouncing in front out of the chair in case there is a collision or if dad accidentally puts on the brakes too hard. Just the same, it is favored that this seat be placed in the rear and to keep your toddler in such a seat until his age or his weight tells you to move on to the next level.

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.

There are a few things you should look out for when searching for an extended auto warranty. First and foremost, and unfortunately, there are a few different kinds of cars notorious for being incredibly hard to find warranties for, or in some cases, not at all. Very expensive cars will often have very expensive repairs, such as Jaguars, certain engine models in Mercedes, and Porches. You may have been told that Land Rovers also fall into this category. If you’re not in the US, often foreign cars will also prove difficult.

Fortunately, such technology exists today and one of them happens to make use of an ever abundant resource, water.This system makes use of water to supplement gasoline/diesel thus increasing the mileage drivers can achieve with the same amount of petrol. 100% water system might be possible in future but not just yet. The system converts water into HHO or commonly known as Brown gas. This gas burns cleanly and produces 3 times more energy compared to regular gasoline, pound to pound. The end product when the gas is burnt is water and oxygen. Hence, the system does not only help drivers economically, but also the environment by reducing emission of harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere.Some tangible benefits drivers can expect from using car fuel saving devices:1. Increased mileage by up to 100%. Many people who installed the car fuel saving devices testified to an increase of between 30% to 100% in terms of the distance their cars can travel with the same amount of fuel. The variation in percentage is largely dependent on car models. However, if you ask me, even 30% increase can be significant to my pocket in the long run.2. Smoother ride and boost in engine power. As mentioned Brown gas produces more power than gasoline when burnt hence the boost in power. Also, because it has the ability to remove carbon deposits as well as preventing future carbon build up, it gives the engine smoother operations.3. Prolonged lifespan of engine parts such as pistons, valves, bearings, etc.4. For some who have used to the system, they started promoting it to their friends, neighbors and colleagues, helping them to implement car fuel saving devices. The result is a secondary source of income full of potential.You may think that such car fuel saving devices are going to cost you thousands of dollars. Well, you will be pleased to know that the system can be put together using parts obtainable from your regular neighborhood hardware store. The cost to put it together does not exceed $200. It is easy to install and dismantle the system to the main engine which is not affected in any way. Therefore, drivers can be assured that warranty will remain intact.

Your car is one of your possessions that you can hardly afford to lose. Many activities now of modern living would call for the use of a car, with the pace of life now much faster compared to the days before the wheeled vehicle came into being. Moving about your day-to-day activities without a vehicle could mean a more tedious and time-consuming routine for you. Thus, it is necessary that you have the appropriate measures in your home designed for avoiding auto theft.It is best to have a completely closed and locked garage for your car as an essential part of your house. This will ensure that you sleep better, knowing that your vehicle is safe from any thief who may try to steal it. Imagine what effect it will have on you if you wake up in the morning to find out that your car is missing!A car parked inside a locked garage is definitely much safer than a vehicle parked in the open in your driveway. Insuring a locked garage for the night is mandatory to protect your main means of transportation in going to your place of work, in conducting your kids to school, in marketing for the needs of the family, and so many other movements you have to do as part of your daily routine.A pet dog sleeping in an area in your house right next to your garage is a very effective warning system that you can have as part of the security measures for the car as well as for the entire house. Your canine friend, with its strong sense of smell and hearing, will always detect anybody in the vicinity and wake you up with its barking in case an intruder comes near your place. A car thief, on hearing the dog’s bark, will likely back away from any bad intentions he may have.Install security gadgets in your garage, electronically activated, to create an alarming noise in case an unauthorized person intrudes into the building. Again, this electronic gadget is a practical warning device that not only alerts you of a potential thief, but on its own, may even scare the intruder away before he can do anything.Other instances that may expose your car to theft include those times when you park it in unattended public lots for long periods. Avoid leaving your car in these places. Even when you have to park on the road there may be instances when thieves attempt to steal it. When you park along the road turn your wheels sharply toward the curb, so when somebody attempts to take it, he cannot just drive away easily. It will be prudent to install an automatic steering wheel locking device in your car for added protection.Make it a habit always to lock your car when you park it, to make sure that if one is thinking of stealing it he cannot do it as easily compared with an unlocked vehicle.Sound alarm devices placed inside the car, with its wiring integrated with the vehicle’s electrical system, is also a practical warning system. Once there is an unauthorized attempt to open the car doors the gadget inside creates a lot of noise that attracts the people around and scares away the potential car thief. If you are within hearing distance, you can call the police right away for assistance.

Though there are lights on the dashboard to indicate any problems, it is much better to know a little bit about your car, and to keep an eye on the important fluids that are used to run the car. Everyone knows about putting enough gas in the car, but there are some simple steps that should be done about once a week. This is a very good thing to teach any teenager or other new car owner, especially one whose new car is over five years old.First of all, make a habit of checking your fluids. The older the car the more frequent the checks should be, but at least make them once every two weeks. Having a regular schedule will help in this, for example, the first and fifteenth of every month. In this way, you will have to remember if you have just forgotten to make the check or if you have just done it. Today let’s cover checking the oil.The oil level is one of the most important fluids to check regularly. There is a long thin metal piece, call the dipstick, that slides into a compartment adjacent to the engine. Most dipsticks ended in a small circular, plastic coated ring that you can use to pull it out of its tube. Make sure you see the small hole the dipstick goes into so that you can replace it there to check the oil level. First, make sure the car is parked on a level surface and has been sitting for several hours before checking the oil. This is because the oil is used to lubricate the engine, and takes a while to settle down back into the bottom of the engine. Remove the dipstick, and wipe any existing oil off it using an old rag. Reinsert the dipstick back into its small hole, all the way down so the top of the dipstick is in its normal position. Pull it out once again and notice the light or dark brown liquid that coats the bottom part of the stick. You will notice that there will be markings on the dipstick, indicating low and full levels for the oil. Depending on your car they may have the words “full” and “add”, or possibly just two notches or other notation. Generally the fluid should be somewhere near, or possibly slightly over, the full line on the dipstick (the one higher up on the stick). If not, oil should be added to the car. For most cars, the amount of oil between the bottom mark and the full mark is one quart of oil. So, for example, if you are oil comes half way between the bottom and top marks, then you should add approximately one half quart of oil. Add that much oil, wait for a few moments, and then measure it once again. If the oil level is significantly below the bottom mark, add as much as necessary to bring it up to the top mark, and then have a mechanic look at your car for oil leaks.In order to add oil to the car, there should be a small round cap that can be unscrewed, which hopefully has the word “oil” on it. If it is not clearly marked, ask a knowledgeable person where to add the oil in, for it is crucial to get the right opening. Simply unscrew the cap, add the oil (using an oil funnel if you wish to be neat), and then make sure you replace the cap securely.Other fluids to check weekly include coolant level, windshield washer fluid, power steering fluid (if applicable), and brake fluid. Also, make a periodic check of tire pressure. How to do these will be covered in other articles.

WHILST INNOCENTLY driving my car along a busy highway at peak hour the other day, looking for something to distract me from the growing impatience threatening my peace, I noticed a utility truck in the lane to the right. It was festooned with stickers proclaiming ‘this’ and advocating ‘that’. There was something about it that drew my attention… Objective achieved! I was distracted. The truck was filthy with light brown mud all over it, and there was one sticker in particular that gave the owner up. It read, ‘Thank a farmer for your next meal.’ I thought, “Yes… I will.”Bumper stickers can potentially tell us so much about the person who owns or drives a vehicle can’t they? What stickers do you have on your vehicle? It’s the same as personalized license plates. They often communicate ‘a perception’ of the driver’s personality and their approach to life. I see many cars with ‘name’ plates on them nowadays; the driver obviously seeks for all and sundry to know their name. Cars, like houses, boats, and vans can be a way of showing your character off, to exhibit your ’style.’ The stickers, badges, plates, and other devices we put on our cars communicate all sorts of things to all sorts of people, and not always what we’d expect.Here are some further considerations:  If you have a Christian “fish” on your car or any other spiritual sign, people will link your driving behavior to your faith… food for thought?   Do you have revealing information on your car that perhaps could compromise your security, for instance, names or phone numbers?   If you have values-promoting stickers or badges on your vehicle such as for safety or environment advocacy, people will expect you, your vehicle and your behavior to align to that ’stated’ value.   If you have profane stickers and badges you could expect about 90 percent of road users to have a negative attitude about you, and they don’t even know you!   If you support a cause like organ donation, leukemia research, or Alzheimer’s disease research, it pays to advertise. If you’re going to have a sticker it might as well give people information on the cause, or how to donate, or how to get involved.

Undercoating stops and prevents rust and keeps your car looking great. It’s recommended for those planning on keeping their vehicle more than a couple of years It is a thrifty job in two ways.You save the cost of having it done, and leave the body from rusting away.Undercoating is an extra dollar that an auto dealership often tries to load onto you when you buy a new car. But you need not dig into your pocket for this extra. You can do the job yourself at a total cost that is a portion of what an auto repair shop will charge you.Undercoating has two advantages. First and foremost, it will protect a card by preventing the rust that eats through a fender and through a car body. Secondly, sprayed or brushed into metal to metal cracks and crevices the black asphalt material will forestall many a squeak and rattle.Most people think of undercoating in connection with strictly a new car. However it is usually a job that pays dividends on a vehicle of any age. In fact it offers a means of curbing automobile metal rust that may have gained considerable headway on any used car or vehicle.If you decide to undercoat your car, do so before washing and polishing since some spillage may occur.First: Remove the Rust. Whether the car is new or old, all rust must be removed and the metal cleaned off before the undercoating goes in. Rust left under the coating would go right ahead with its damaging work. Work on the metal until it shines.Cleaning comes first. Getting the grime off can be the most difficult part of the procedure.Steam cleaning is probably the best way to prepare the car. If you can have this done. It will save you much effort and heartache. If not TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) can be used to loosen up the grease. A wire brush can be utilized. TSP is an inexpensive crystalline salt available at most hardware stores such as Home Depot or Rona. Mix the TSP degreaser with hot water and daub it on grease areas with a sponge or cloth.In doing this job it is important to know what to coat and what not to coat. Keep the material off moving parts, oil pan, brake lines, muffler, tail pipe, drive shaft etc etc. Apply it liberally, however under the fender and sills of the frame and under the floor. Under the fenders work it right out to the edge.To get under the fenders you will have to remove the wheels. Unless the support is very stable, remove only one wheel at a time. It never hurts to play it safe.Some undercoaters are inflammable, while wet. So work with good ventilation - and avoid smoking and open flames of course.Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or many tons of salt in this case.