Spark Plug Wires

Be Environmentally Friendly – Money Saving Tips for Good Car Maintenance

Car fuel prices are fluctuating and escalating through the roof. Research shows the average age of vehicles to be 9 years. So is keeping your old car and stretching your work horse even further being environmentally friendly? How can we do that without having to spend more on maintenance?

It is a natural course with your car engine wear and tear affecting performance and car fuel consumption gets rises. Check out the following good practice car maintenance to enhance the longevity of your vehicle:

Cars are like humans, you need to keep them in tuned with the seasons. Remember to change to winter tires and add anti-freeze. Plug in your electric cord to warm up the engine half an hour before you start your journey.

And in summer, check your fluids too. The sun heats up and dries the fluids more quickly. Check your oil level, coolant fluids etc. Keep your car in a covered garage.

Sign Up For A Comprehensive Regular Tune-Up Package. The mechanics will do your oil change, change your air filters, check your spark plugs, radiator and fuel injector, test your brake pads, tire pressure, rotate your tires (if required) as well as tune your wheel alignment. Have the computerized system checked by your specialist mechanics. Life saving devices such as the air bags, antilock breaks etc must be checked for safety too.

Change Your Oil Every 3 Months Or 3,000 Miles. Here is a simple example to help you visualize. Imagine re-using the same pot of oil for deep-frying your French fries everyday for 3 weeks… the oil has become a thick crude of glob and your fries tastes weird doesn’t it? Same theory goes for your car. Revitalize your car engine with a fixed scheduled oil change routine.

Listen & Feel the Strange Warning Signs. Be conscious of squeaky noise, gasoline smell, and oil leaks on your garage floor. Check where the noise comes from. Early detection of car faults could save you a ton of money.

Befriend A Good Mechanic. Not only will you save money, you save yourself some anguish from unscrupulous mechanics some of whom change your good parts for bad or recommend unnecessary jobs. And now, get ready to enjoy the ride!

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Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal Excited to Join the Mazda Grand Prix This Weekend

After a six week interval from Champ Car racing, McDonald’s® driver Sebastien Bourdais and Medi | Zone driver Graham Rahal are excitedly anticipating their return to competition this weekend in the Mazda Grand Prix of Portland Presented by Joe’s Sports and Outdoors and sponsored by Mazda the maker of Mazda spark plug. Bourdais is hoping to continue his streak that earned him wins in the past two events and also make up for the lost opportunity last year to win a series-record fifth consecutive victory in Portland while Rahal hopes to add to the “firsts” that have come on this track.

According to Bourdais who has finished on the podium here in three of this year’s four races including a win from pole in 2004, “We missed a chance to win five in a row last year in Portland for the McDonald’s team. The start was really messed up last year. Basically Bruno, my teammate, thought he was in command and he should have been but the flagman just threw the green flag and the whole right side of the grid never went. It was a disaster and we ended up seventh after Turn 1. It was basically tough from there but we still had a good recovery and made it back to third. We have a very fast McDonald’s car but a little better luck would have helped at the start. ”

For the last 23 races held at the 1.964-mile road course, Newman/Haas Racing (NHR) won seven with the most recent coming from Bourdais in 2004 from pole. Mario Andretti also won the pole for the team in the first event here in 1984 while Bruno Junqueira earned for the team its fifth last year on this track.

The team was able to snap 15 top-three podium finishes out of the 23 races. The first three events of the season were held on street courses in Las Vegas, Long Beach and Houston, and on this season Bourdais is looking forward to returning to a road course after a successful test here at the beginning of the six week break in May.

Bourdais who took over the lead in the point standings after his second win of the season in Round 3 in Houston and is only three points ahead of Will Power in the standings (73-70) said, “We tested well at Portland and hope to apply that experience to the race weekend and others after it. Testing is just that; you can’t say if it’s going to work for sure. I think it is going to be nice to race on the road courses. It’s a different stretch during the season. We’ve had three back to back on the streets and after the Portland road course race it gets pretty crazy again but we’ll get back in the groove after the six week break. ”

During the six weeks interval Bourdais has remained busy and has driven a Champ Car, Formula One car and Peugeot sports car in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans that would be follow the Portland race in his hometown of Le Mans, France on June 16.

Bourdais who will travel from France to Portland, a 9-hour time difference, for the race and return to his homeland on Monday said, “I didn’t have much of a break since the last race in Houston, that’s for sure. After Houston I went to Le Mans and did a 24 hour endurance test with Peugeot (24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16), then the Portland test, go to the Bahamas for my honeymoon with Claire which we never had. Then I went to France for a test with Toro Rosso and then the Champ Car PR tour in Brussels and Paris before I came back to the States for a day before going to the test at Mont Tremblant. Then I went to the pre-qualifying test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans before I come to Portland. It never stopped. ”

He also added, “I am looking forward to getting back to a road course. Usually street races have always been my favorite but when you start off with three street races in a row its nice to take a step back and go to where racing originated – at the proper road courses like Portland. For us it was a great experience to test at Portland before the race to see how physical the place is in a Champ Car since I had never been there in a Champ Car. Although a lot of teams tested there I think it will give us a leg up once we come back for race weekend since we’ll have a baseline for the car setup. The test was great. Any time I can get in the car is good for me at this point. ”

The victories earned by Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Paul Tracy, Christian Fittipaldi, Cristiano da Matta, Bruno Junqueira, Bourdais and Oriol Servia have brought the team a total of 99 wins after Bourdais drove to victory in the previous race in Houston. The team will now focus on winning another – their milestone 100th. Also, Champ Car star Paul Tracy will make his return to the series after recovering from an injury in a practice crash in Round 2 in Long Beach which forced him to miss two races.

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Domestic Automotive Maintenance: 5 Preventative Maintenance Repairs

Preventative maintenance is important because it keeps your car running smoothly, avoiding the problems that come from a lack of care. Having your car serviced at a good foreign or domestic automotive maintenance shop is important to ensure that it gets the best care possible.

Here are some of the standard foreign and domestic automotive maintenance procedures that you should be sure to have done periodically:

Oil Changes: This is one of the most obvious, yet it is also one of the most frequently overlooked. Changing your oil and oil filter every three thousand miles keeps your engine running smoothly. Not changing your oil and oil filter often enough, on the other hand, can be disastrous: Over time, the additives in your engine oil break down, and the oil becomes thick and sludge-like. When this happens, the oil creates resistance on the engine, causing buildup and premature wear. Old engine oil can also cause the rubber seals in your engine to prematurely dry out and crack, creating leaks that can be quite expensive to fix.

There are a lot of quick-lube places that will change your oil quickly and cheaply, which may make you question the need to take your car to a good foreign or domestic automotive maintenance shop. However, it is definitely worth the extra money to make sure an experienced professional services your car. It is not uncommon for quick-lube shops to employ inexperienced teenagers at minimum wage, and horror stories (driving off without oil in the engine, finding months later that the oil plug won’t come out because it was stripped) abound.

Air Filter Replacement: Replacing the air filter is another important precaution that many people forget about. The silly thing is that this is also the easiest thing you’ll have to do on your car. Just as easy, if not easier, as filling the washer fluid on some cars. In fact, this one is so easy that you may not even have to get a foreign or domestic automotive maintenance shop to do it for you. Just make sure you get a high quality replacement filter. If you are not sure where it goes, ask. There will be a couple of clips you’ll have to undo to open the air filter box, but that’s about it.

Your air filter should be replaced once or twice a year. Every six months, you should at least check it. If it looks dirty, replace it. The better airflow your engine gets, the better it will perform, which to you means higher gas mileage and lower maintenance costs over time.

Basic Tune-Up: A tune-up basically involves replacing a bunch of inexpensive, quick-to-wear-out parts, and checking out a bunch of more expensive, slower-to-wear-out parts. This should be done once a year, but again, many people aren’t very good at making sure it gets done regularly.

A basic tune-up involves replacing (or cleaning and re-gapping) your spark plugs, replacing your distributor cap and rotor, and checking and/or replacing your spark plug wires. Other parts that might need to be replaced during a tune-up are your PCV (positive crankcase ventilation valve) and your oxygen sensor. All of these can affect the way your car runs, causing your gas mileage to go down and the carbon monoxide in your exhaust to go up.

Radiator Flush and Coolant Replacement: Your cooling system is a vital system. It prevents your engine from overheating, which can ruin an entire engine in mere minutes. Your cooling system therefore ought to be treated with respect, which means flushing your radiator and replacing the coolant every year or so, preferably at the end of summer or fall, before the cold weather hits.

The reason for flushing your radiator and replacing the coolant is that the Ph balance in antifreeze breaks down after a while, destroying many of its protective properties. Not only will it not cool to as low a temperature, but it will also begin to allow rust to form in your cooling system, which may lead to premature leaks in your radiator.

Be sure your replacement coolant is half water and half antifreeze. The 50/50 mixture has the lowest possible freezing temperature, the highest possible boiling point (meaning your coolant won’t boil on hot days), and will protect against corrosion inside the system.

Automatic Transmission Fluid and Filter Replacement: Many people don’t realize that their automatic transmission contains fluid and a filter that need to be replaced periodically, just like an engine. Unfortunately, neglecting this maintenance repair can result in parts in the transmission going out more quickly than they should, requiring you to overhaul or replace your transmission, which is a costly venture, to say the least.

The fluid and filter in your automatic transmission should typically be replaced about every 25,000 miles, which is less than a year’s worth of driving for most cars. The oil in a standard transmission doesn’t need to be replaced as frequently. Replacement about once every couple of years, unless you happen to do a lot of hard driving, such as towing.

Keeping up on these five preventative maintenance repairs will ensure that you maximize the life of your car. A good foreign or domestic automotive maintenance shop can help you keep track of the required maintenance, making sure that you don’t miss anything important.

Engine Runs Rough While Idling

Car trouble symptoms: When the car is idling the engine sounds is not normal than is used to, usually the engine sounds rough.

Diagnosing car engine problems: When your car engine encounter rough idle conditions, this is an indications that the car engine has a problem of misfiring on one or more cylinder. Misfiring cylinder has a weak compression and can cause the engine to become unbalance and sounds rough even at idling. There are several reasons why the car engine cylinder misfires, however determining those reasons can be difficult and need a lot of testing of a qualified mechanic on the actual engine, but the most common causes of engine misfiring are out of adjustments valve, a faulty spark plug wires or spark plug and a vacuum leak. These are only possibilities. In any case the car is needed to be inspected by a mechanic to determine which of the mentioned problems the culprit is.

Possible cause: Bad sparkplug/wires, vacuum leak, or out of adjustments valves.

What to do?

The first thing to do when you want to correct the problem is to consider replacing the spark plug and spark plug wires yourself or have a mechanic to do it if you feel not doing it, usually this can fix the problem. You can buy a replacement parts at any auto parts store just ask the sales person of your required model. However, if the problem still occurs, no other option but to bring your car to a reputable auto repair shop and ask the mechanic to test the engine to determine the exact problem and repair if necessary.

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Baseball Left Fielders ? The Best of the 1960s

The 1960s were blessed with a legion of good-hitting left fielders … in both major leagues.

Here are the top 10 left fielders of that decade, based on a combination of their offensive prowess and their stellar defense.

1. Lou Brock – Brock was the spark plug for a St. Louis Cardinals team that won it all in 1964. Playing in 103 games after being acquired from the Cubs, Brock hit .348 and scored 84 runs, with 9 triples, 12 home runs, 44 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Brock finished his career with 3,023 hits and, at the time, the career record for stolen bases with 938.

2. Carl Yastrzemski – For 23 seasons, all with the Boston Red Sox, Carl Yastrzemski owned left field in Fenway Park. During the 1960s, Yaz won 3 batting titles, a Triple Crown and MVP in 1967, and 5 Gold Gloves.

3. Rocky Colavito - Colavito played outfield for 6 different teams during the 1960s. He hit 45 home runs with 140 RBIs for Detroit in 1961, and led the American League with 108 RBIs as a member of the Cleveland Indians in 1965.

4. Billy Williams – Williams started the 1960s as the National League Rookie of the Year and ended the decade on the verge of setting the NL record for consecutive games played (which he did in September of 1970 with 1,117). He batted a combined .292 for the decade, averaging 27 home runs and 94 RBIs per year. 

5. Willie Horton – The Detroit Tigers left fielder was the team’s most dangerous power hitter through the second half of the 1960s, averaging 27 home runs and 89 RBIs per year. Horton’s best overall year was 1968, when he hit .285 with 36 home runs.

6. Rico Carty –In his rookie year of 1964, Carty finished second in the National League in hitting with a .330 average. He hit .300 or better in 9 out of the next 11 years, winning the National League batting title in 1970 with a .366 average.

7. Frank Howard – At his best in the late 1960s, Howard was the most feared power hitter in the American League. In 1968, he batted .274 with 106 RBIs, leading the majors in home runs (44), slugging percentage (.552), and total bases (330).

8. Leon Wagner – Wagner twice had 100-RBI seasons: 107 (with 37 home runs) for the Los Angeles Angels in 1962, and 100 (with 31 home runs) for the Cleveland Indians in 1964. Over a 12-season career, mostly with the Angels and Indians, Wagner hit .272 with 211 home runs.

9. Willie Stargell – Stargell’s Hall of Fame career was just getting started in the 1960s. From his 1963 rookie season through 1969, Stargell averaged 80 RBIs per year and topped 100 RBIs twice.

10. Tommy Davis –  Davis came out of nowhere in the early 1960s to lead the National League in hitting not once but twice (.346 in 1962, .326 in 1963). He also led the league in hits (230) and RBIs (153) in 1962.

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Diesel Cars Today

In the earlier years, diesel were only used on tractors out in the fields. Then it was used in lorries for the torque it produced. Taxis and buses then used them to gain a few more miles than the usual petrol that they were using, and finally diesel was introduced to the consumer level production cars but at that time, a diesel powered car was not as good as a petrol powered one.

Diesel is denser than petroleum and produces more energy than gasoline. Without the need of an ignition plug (spark plug) to burn the diesel, all it needs is a high compression chamber to pressurize it and it will combust. The higher energy produced by diesel fuel leads to better fuel efficiency. When comparing petrol with diesel, the latter will have a 20 to 40% gains in fuel efficiency. This is why when Audi chose to use diesel to power their R10 race car in the Le Mans, they won by cutting down the number of pit stops needed. This proves that diesel engines can achieve good racing performance with different but effective strategy used such as energy conservation and pit stop strategy.

These advantages of diesel engines also showed its performance, practicality and reliability to the public. Mercedes is one of the pioneers in diesel powered automobiles and they have started as early as the 1930s era. Their series of production cars with a CDI, TDi, or D emblem sticking out behind the car such as the C30 CDI AMG by Mercedes Benz is a proven performance oriented car. In many cases we will see smaller capacity diesel powered car being more powerful than big capacity sedans. Thanks to the high-tech turbo diesel power plant and the innovative common rail direct fuel injection, we will now have a totally different view towards diesel cars. Many car manufacturers have used the new common rail injection engines that places diesel powered vehicles on par with petrol based cars. The only drawback of a diesel engine being heavy can be solved by placing the engine to a stronger chassis, and the sluggishness of the engine can be solved with a close ratio gearbox. Driving a diesel car is a pleasurable experience, especially when you know that BMW will be introducing the new 635d with the most powerful six cylinder twin turbo diesel engine under that hood.

Apart from being a good performer on the roads, it is also considered as a green fuel. Diesel itself produces lower greenhouse gas than petrol cars. Forget the smoke from old buses and taxis because newer engines can burn diesel more completely, and catalytic diesel particulate filters can control the emission to allow greener emissions. Speaking of replaceable energy source, diesel can also be home grown or produced such as synthetic diesel, bio diesel and the lot. Being a non fossil fuel, bio-diesel burns cleaner than petro diesel too.

If you are deciding over a petrol or diesel model of a certain vehicle, take note that you may pay lower taxes in some countries on top of the higher mileage on a diesel car. So what are you still
considering about?

Billion Loss for Gm

The world’s largest automaker made the second largest quarterly loss in the auto industry history of the United States. General Motors lost a total of billion on a charge that involves unused tax credits.

According to industry analysts, GM is heavily bleeding in North America. GM is deeply hurt by peaking gas prices, problems in the housing market and fickle-minded consumers. With this current situation, GM’s restructuring efforts is hampered. Last Wednesday, GM reported their devastating cash lost.

“We continue to expect the fundamentals to worsen before they improve,” Bear Stearns analyst Peter Nesvold said in a note to analysts.

According to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst for Standard and Poor’s, GM’s loss of billion for the third quarter was the second-worst quarterly net loss in the U.S. corporate history under generally accepted accounting principles. The greatest loss was made by AOL Time Warner in 2002 amounting to .9 billion or .04 per share loss.

The damage to GM had been more aggravated as its strongest rival; Toyota Motor Corp. announced last Wednesday that its profit for the fiscal year rose by 11 percent making a billion company record. GM and Toyota are head to head to the world’s largest automaker by sales title for 2007.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told WWJ-AM in Detroit that the accounting shift won’t have a substantial impact on the business.

“I would stress no impact whatsoever on our cash position, no impact on our ability to use the tax offsets in the future, and from my perspective, really no change whatsoever in our outlook or optimism about the future of getting the business turned around,” he said.

Fritz Henderson, GM’s chief financial officer said that his company is optimistic with its cash and products significantly the money it will save from the new four year contract the automaker reached last month. The union controlled trust to support the health care benefits of retired GM workers would not affect their balance sheets by year 2010. Henderson also said that GM sees some benefits from the contract and they will probably start gaining it by next year.

“We feel good about our long-term prospects,” he said.

It seems like it’s not that bad for GM (Saab subsidiary makes Saab spark plugs). Vehicle sales were strong in other regions. In Latin America, GM poses a 22 percent volume increase and 16 percent in the Asian region.

“International and emerging markets expansion has been very positive for the company, as it establishes a dominant position in large growing markets such as China and India,” said David Kudla, CEO of Mainstay Capital Management, in a note to investors.

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Guide to Buying a Boat

You have always dreamed of owning a boat. You finally have the money you need to purchase it. Are you sure you are ready? Before you put up the large amount of money necessary to purchase a boat, make sure you are getting a good deal on a boat you can realistically use.

Features to Consider

When you buy a boat, you need to make sure it works well on the type of water you have nearby. If the water you will be boating on is small and fairly sheltered you do not need a lot of deadrise or freeboard on your boat. On the other hand, if the water is going to bring waves your way, you will need these features. If you are boating in a cool climate, look for a boat that will protect you from the elements if it gets cold or starts raining while you are on the water. On the other hand, if you are boating in a warm climate, you may want some shade from the sun, but other than that an open boat is just fine.

Should You Buy New or Used?

Just like car buyers, those who are shopping for a boat must decide whether they want a new or used boat, and the decision is not necessarily easy. New boats are less likely to need to be repaired right away. New boats often come with a warranty. On the other hand, used boats cost less and often have already received the upgrades that you might want. Used boats also do not depreciate as quickly as new boats, because their purchase price already reflects some depreciation.

If you choose to buy a new boat, visit boat shows or shop towards the end of the model year, which occurs in July. These are the best times to find a good deal on a new boat. If you decide to shop for a used boat, use online classifieds to find a variety of boats in your area. You can also shop at dealerships to see boats that they received as trade-ins. These are not as prevalent as they are in the used car world, but you can find them.

If you decide to buy a used boat, you have one important thing to consider. Boats are commonly stolen. Before you buy a used boat that has a great price, make sure that you see the owner’s proof of ownership, such as the title to the boat. If the owner does not have these, he may have stolen the boat. Find a different boat to buy.

Researching a Particular Boat

If you decide to shop for a used boat, which is the most economical option, you will want to do some research before you buy a boat that seems to fit your needs. You can call the U.S. Coast Guard to find out if the boat has had any manufacturer’s recalls. If it has, find out from the seller if the necessary parts have been repaired. If they haven’t, do not buy the boat unless the recall period is still in effect and you can get the problems fixed.

Inspecting the Engine

Never buy a boat unless you have thoroughly inspected the engine. If you do not know much about engines, have a mechanic or technician who is knowledgeable about boats do an inspection for you. Boat engines work much harder than car engines, so you need to look at the engine carefully. Keep in mind that boats that run in salt water are prone to more corrosion than those that run in fresh water.

Check all hoses, gaskets, and plugs for signs of leakage. Inspect hoses and belts for signs of cracking. If they are brittle, they have not been well cared for or are old. Check the bilge for oil, as this can be a sign of an oil leak. Inspect the sacrificial anodes for signs of wear and corrosion. Check the engine and gear case oil. If they are very dirty, the boat has not had the normal maintenance done to it. Boats that were run hot will have a white residue on the engine. You can inspect the spark plugs to see how well the engine has been serviced. Poorly serviced engines will have burnt or poorly gapped spark plugs. Be sure to inspect the propeller, rudder, and drive for signs of damage caused by hitting something that was submerged underwater. While this does not mean the owner was negligent, these are damages that could cost you significantly as the boat’s new owner.

Consider Hiring a Professional

A marine surveyor is someone who can do the necessary inspections on a boat you are considering buying. You will probably find that your insurance provider or your loan officer requires you to have a surveyor inspect the boat. If not, you should hire one to do an inspection before you buy the boat.

Besides inspecting the engine and body for normal problems, a marine surveyor knows all of the laws regarding boat safety and manufacturing. He will know if add-ons that the owner has put on the boat are safe or not. You can find independent marine surveyors using the classifieds or phone book. Be sure that you are present for the surveyors’ inspection, so you can ask questions about his findings.

Take It for a Test Run

Before you buy a boat, ask for a “sea trial.” Take the owner along with you and take the boat for a spin. Ask the owner to keep the engine cold before you arrive, so that you can make sure that the boat starts well with a cold engine. Maneuver the boat through a variety of tests, such as forward and reverse, turning, accelerating and slowing down. Be sure to take some waves at various angles. If the water is still, make some circles with the boat to create waves. These tests will help you know whether or not the boat handles well. If it does and it passed the inspections process, you have found the right boat for you!

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Regular Tune Ups Improve Your Gas Mileage

The correct maintenance of your vehicle is the quickest way to improve your gas mileage. Some sources say that a poorly tuned car can lose up to 20% fuel  efficiency.  But what is a tune up? What are the normal  things that should be done during a car tune up? How often should a  tune up be done and why?

A tune up is done to your car to replace and maintain parts that wear   out through usage. Tune ups will insure that your car will continue to  run smoothly, continue getting its normal gas mileage, and prevent  severe damage the engine and other major components.

All cars need regular tune-ups about every 30,000 miles. In cars made after 1996 there are some things that do not need to be done during a tune up. It is just a waste of money to do them.  Check around with different mechanics and make sure that you do not have to pay for unnecessary items.

You or your mechanic should include the following in the tune up of your car:

1.Replace the air filter with a new one. If you drive on dirt roads you should consider changing the air filter more often than every 30,000 miles. It is very simple and you can do it yourself in just a few minutes at home.

2. Replace the fuel filter; both fuel filters, if your car has two. Replacing  the fuel filters every 30,000 miles is the best preventative measure  you can take in protecting your car’s fuel system. You can also put in a fuel injector cleaner every so often as recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Change the spark plugs. When spark plugs get old, the spark can not  jump over the wires and ignite the fuel properly. Your car will get  sluggish, start poorly and get poor gas mileage with old spark plugs.  Some of the new cars with platinum spark plugs will only need to be  changed every 60,000 miles.

4.Replace the spark plug wires. Having the wires changed is more  expensive, but many times these wires get old and need  replacement.

Some cars should have a new distributor cap and a new rotor at the  time of a tune up (this applies to older vehicles without electronic  ignition). To determine if you need a new distributor cap the mechanic  will inspect the cap for cracks or black lines or if any deterioration has  occurred. A new rotor will be needed if the mechanic finds any  cracks, carbon tracks or burning.

5.Check the oxygen sensor. Your engine may be using too much fuel  because the oxygen sensor is not working. Replacement intervals  can range from 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The check engine light on most modern vehicles mainly has to  do with the emission control system, which the oxygen sensor is a  part of. If this light is lit, you most probably do have a problem and  your fuel economy is suffering.

6.Get a valve adjustment if your car has adjustable valves. At this time  have the mechanic replace the valve-cover gasket because it is quite  common for these covers to begin to leak. A leak in this cover can   result in oil accumulation around the top of the engine.

7.Cars older than 1979 need to have the points and condenser changed (this is done on cars without electronic ignition). Cars with electronic ignition should have the ignition timing checked.

8.Cars that are fuel injected should have the throttle plate cleaned and /   or have the air-fuel mixture adjusted. If your car has a carburetor it may need an adjustment.

9.Have the fluids under the hood checked. Even though you should be  doing this on a regular basis more often, having it done during the  tune up getting the fluids checked is important.

10.If your car does not have an automatic transmission, have the clutch  adjusted.

11.The battery should be checked during a tune up. The battery terminals and cable ends should be cleaned. Corroded terminals can keep your car from starting. If your battery needs water to be added, the mechanic should fill it with distilled water during a tune up.

12.The positive crankcase ventilation valve should be replaced during a  tune up. A clogged PCV valve is a problem when it causes your car to stall or run poorly.

Keeping your car in tune will not only result in better gas mileage and  better performance, but will also ensure a longer life and less major  mechanical repairs.

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A Simple Solution To Your Car – Increase Gas Mileage

There is a simple solution to the rising cost of gas at the pumps, and it is as close as your kitchen sink. No, I don’t propose installing your kitchen sink in your car, unless you plan on washing dishes while you drive.

But take the tap water from your kitchen sink, and put that in your car, and we have our solution.

”What?” you say, scratching your head in confusion. “This isn’t ‘Star Trek’!” Relax. I’m not proposing a futuristic design for a car. This isn’t a water car. But I am talking about water as fuel. There is technology available today, that has actually been around for nearly a hundred years, that would allow your existing car to use water as fuel.

Think of it this way. Water contains fuel already. What is water? Two parts oxygen to one part hydrogen. Hydrogen is a gas, right? And gas is flammable. And your car is an internal combustion engine, which means it runs when something inside it is exploding. Not blowing your car up, just “burning”. Gas burns in your engine when exposed to oxygen and a spark from your spark plugs.

So, how to get the hydrogen in water to explode in your engine (okay, “burn” might be a safer word to use. I don’t want you picturing in your mind your car blowing up!). By using a process to separate the hydrogen from the oxygen in water, then reintroducing it to oxygen in the engine, the hydrogen burns, thereby producing the energy your car’s engine needs to run. water as fuel, simply put.

After the hydrogen burns with the oxygen, the original oxygen returns to the air. How environmentally friendly is that? What’s more, when the hydrogen mixes with the new oxygen inside the engine, to create energy, because hydrogen and oxygen are reunited, you are left with water coming out of your tailpipe! Pure, safe water as fuel.

There are some claimants out there who say that they have ways of producing engines that run all the way water as fuel, with no gas needed in the mixture. This is true, that technology does exist. But what they don’t tell you is that you would need to have a carful of water in containers to run the engine. Where would anyone sit? Unless you want to drive a water truck around (not very sexy), then that would not be a suitable alternative for the “everyperson.”

Then there are the water as fuel conversion kits going for anywhere from 0 to 00 on the market. Who wants to spend that much money, when we are already spending that much at the pump? The idea is to start saving money, not spending it, right?

Don’t worry. There are alternatives to these expensive versions of the water as fuel solutions. There are low-cost kits on the market that you can use to do-it-yourself, by simply visiting your local hardware or grocery store, picking up the parts you need, and allowing your existing engine to use water as fuel. And no, your car won’t appear in a “Star Trek” movie anytime soon.