Spark Plug Wires

More to Learn about Kawasaki Motorcycle Parts And Suzuki Motorcycle Fairings

There is much to learn about motorcycle spark plugs. Actually, there is more than what meets your
eyes.Let us distinguish the important difference in spark plugs threaded ends. They come in four diameters and lengths. They come in nominal 14, 10, 12 and 18 millimeters diameters. Previously, there was a slight difference in thread configuration especially in different countries. However, the international standardization of the thread forms made it uniform. These new dimensions are now being followed by motorcycle parts manufacturers. http://www.idealhere.com/wholesale-Motoring_c1

Usual Errors
There can be lots of error in selecting the best motorcycle parts especially in the case of spark plugs. The very usual error is using 3/4-inch plugs in 1/2 –inch holes. The result of the same is horrible. When the plug threads are exposed in combustion, they become filled with deposits. Consequently, it will be hard to remove the plug without removing the hole threads. Quite the reverse, if you use a short plug to a deep hole, the deposit will fill the hole and it will be hard to re-install the right size plug.  

The worst error is the use of overly-long plug. The exposed threads absorb great amount of heat from the combustion process which improve the plug-nose temperatures. As a consequence, the side electrode functions as a glow plug. Early ignition or runaway pre-ignition causes higher combustion chamber temperatures that can destroy the engine.

Heat Range Demands
Hot plugs come with a long insular nose. They lead heat high into the plug body before it returns to the cylinder head. Short-nosed plugs, on the other hand, have shorter heat path. Consulting the spark plug manufacturers regarding the plug’s heat range can be of great help. This may somehow clear the cobwebs at the back of your mind regarding heat range demands.
Knowing which plugs are colder or hotter may be easy if you stick to the same brand however, it becomes perplexing when you change from one brand to another. http://www.idealhere.com/wholesale-Fairing_c111780

There is more to spark plugs than the three aforementioned aspects. There are still areas that we need to master like its installations, different plug configurations and maintenance work. Nonetheless, we have to be first acquainted with these three aspects.You must know more about spark plugs to pick the best type. Another, you have to complement your choice with your bike engine’s condition. These factors are hard to acquire and do, thus, we have to instill lots facts all at once. When you get it right, you will be greatly benefited.

Just Because the Performance is Up There Doesn’t Mean the Price Has to Be!

When comparing high performance vs. standard replacement parts, it is of extreme importance to weigh performance and durability against value and cost. Long term costs of replacing OEM items with low-priced “budget” items or after-market replacement parts can, in many cases lead to higher consumer long-term costs. It can also lead to irreversible damage to primary and connected related systems. Obviously, if a replacement part is of lower quality and of shorter durability, it will need to be replaced more often. There are costs associated with the labor to replace these parts more often, as well as time lost for actually doing the work of replacing an automotive component. There are other “hidden” costs as well associated with this practice. They may not be costs in cold, hard cash out of pocket, but they are costly, nonetheless.

A good example of this is simply shopping around for spark plug wires for my old Buick. I got in the habit of replacing the wires at least once a year, sometimes more if a problem arose. I go to the Internet and find several varieties of options online and I read the descriptions of what my choices are. They look like this:

Description: Taylor Cable 69.95
8mm Street, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, SST, Blue, Tin Coated Copper Braid, Non RFI, Blue Double Spring Locking Spark Plug Boots, High Temperature Rated To 550 Degrees, Competition Looks, GROUND SHIPPING ONLY

Description: OEM 37.41
Premium Wire Set, Spark Plug Wire Set, OEM Fit And Quality 37.41

Description: Taylor Cable 29.95
8mm High Energy, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Blue, High Temperature, Oil Resistant, RFI Suppression, 100% Silicone Boot Ends, Double Spring Locks At Plugs, GROUND SHIPPING ONLY

The first thing I notice is the huge difference in price, and like any good spendthrift, I am drawn to the cheapest spark plug wires available. Ignoring the statements about temperature ratings and RFI, I immediately think to myself, without any further research, I may want to buy the bargain set of wires. But then I think I want good wires, and the OEM brand is only eight dollars more. These are the spark plug wires that came with my vehicle, so they must be what I need. I buy them online for .41, have them shipped to my house and install them on my vehicle.

I take my old car for a ride, to see how much better it is going to run with the new wires on it. I notice it doesn’t run any better, as a matter of fact, it now has a slight miss in the engine. So I turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and make sure everything is connected properly. The miss isn’t there anymore when I start the vehicle back up, so I am happy. I turn the radio on to listen to some tunes on the way back to the house, and I can hear the sound of my engine “running” on the radio, like a whining sound, drowning out a portion of the music.

I get back to the house and look at the old wires I took off in favor of the new “original equipment” wires. They don’t look the same. The old ones look heavier and bigger. The next day, I start the car up and the “miss” is back, and the engine “whine” is still on the radio. Frustrated, I put the old wires back on the car and the problems go away. So I go back to my computer and look at custom and high performance plug wires for my old Buick, and here’s what I see:

Spark Plug Wires
Brand: Taylor Cable 8.95
8mm Street, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Full Metal Jacket, Black, RFI Suppression, Braided Stainless Covering To Polished Aluminum Covers Over Silicone Plug Boots, High Performance, Custom Appearance

Spark Plug Wires
Brand: Taylor Cable .95
8mm High Energy, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Blue, High Temperature, Oil Resistant, RFI Suppression, 100% Silicone Boot Ends, Double Spring Locks At Plugs

Spark Plug Wires
Brand: Accel .57
Custom Fit 300+ Race, Stainless Spark Plug Terminals, Complete EMI/RFI Suppression, 600F Temperature Resistance, More Spark Energy, More Power, Spark Plug Wire Set, 8.8mm, Wires Routed Over Valve Cover, Black

This time, I do a little research to find out what I do not understand about the sales descriptions offered. Here is what I find out about the difference in spark plug wires:

OEM wires generally rely on carbon conduction and are also used in the majority of stock replacement wires. This form of ignition wire is cheap to manufacture and generally provides adequate initial suppression for both RFI (radio frequency interference) and EMI (electromagnetic interference). The conduction portion is generally made of fiberglass or kevlar over which resistance conductive latex or sometimes silicone is layered over top. This reduces spark current to provide suppression. This works well while the conductor lasts, but it has a limited life. This type of conductor quickly fails if a high-powered ignition system is used. Temperature resistance is generally in the 550 degree F range.

I also find out that EMI from OEM spark plug wires can cause incorrect signals to be sent to engine management systems and on-board electronic devices. This is why suppression is so important. It works the same way that RFI can cause unwanted signals to be heard on my radio receiver. Engine running problems like intermittent misses to a major loss in power loss can be the result. I also find out that the problem can get worse with age due to corrosion of the sensors and connectors. Also, high performance wires can protect in temperatures as high as 1000 degrees F.

I went back to my Buick and looked at the ignition system. It had not been replaced by a high-powered ignition system. I ordered the Taylor custom 8.8-mm wires with RFI suppression for .57.
.84 less than I paid for the OEM ignition wires. I installed them a few days later when they arrived and have had no problems at all. In fact, my gas mileage has increased and my responsive acceleration increased. I have had them on my Buick for two years now and they still perform as well as the day I put them on.

Replacing with high performance automotive parts are generally considered upgrades and higher costs are associated with better quality and higher performance. As this exercise taught me, this is not always the case. Higher performance means value-added in the long-term. This relates to better customer satisfaction, better performance and durability, sometimes even less expense, but always a better value and a lot less hassle.

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How To Maintain Your Hybrid

It always helps to get the basic understanding of hybrids before deciding to own one. Most people know they are fuel-efficient and of course, that is true.

However, since they are not exactly the same as the mainstream vehicles we’re used to, there may be questions about whether it costs more to maintain a hybrid vehicle. Though the difference is not huge, there may be question s about what it costs to maintain the battery or how much it would cost to replace it if necessary. We cover these questions in other articles so feel free to look through the site and put your mind at ease.

The gulf between conventional vehicles and hybrid vehicles is not so huge. In fact, when it comes to their routine maintenance, the difference is minimal. The difference only really applies to the electric drive motor and the systems that control the storage batteries. In this article, we will cover the basics.

One of the fundamental differences when comparing full hybrid vehicles to conventional vehicles are their ability to shut off the internal combustion engines and operate solely on the electric motor. Because of the option, the hybrid’s engine doesn’t work as hard. This results in reduced wear and the engine lasts longer. Many hybrids employ regenerative braking systems that charge the batteries and reduce wear on brake components.

Where Exactly Do Hybrids Differ?

Hybrids differ in their drive train. The different parts of the drive train are designed to work together. If there is a malfunction in one component then all the components are affected. The internal combustion engine, electric drive motor and transmission are designed to work as one entity If one of these malfunction the function of the others could be affected. This is not a do it yourself job unless you happen to be a professional yourself. If your have any serious problems with any of the parts in the drive train, make sure you take it to a repair center certified to handle hybrid engines and their related systems.

Quick Tip:

Aside from serious drive train repairs, you can perform the other parts of your car maintenance such as checking your hybrid’s transmission fluid, changing out spark plugs and filters. To go any deeper than this is not recommended unless you are a professional with a thorough knowledge of hybrids.

The Electronics Under The Hood

There are generally separate cooling systems for the electronic modules that control the drive motor for propulsion and regenerative braking. These compartments generate great deals of heat. Having separate cooling systems help to keeps its complex heating systems from overheating.

Quick Tip:

It’s important to check the individual hoses, pipes and clamps when you do regular maintenance on the engine cooling system. You also want to check any additional filters used on the motor and battery cooling or heating system.

Be Safe – Beware The Orange

Most hybrids have dual voltage systems. Though the greater part of the electrical system uses standard 12-volt, the drive motor and other related components operate in excess of 100 volts. The safety threshold is quite low and narrow. An electrical shock with only 50 volts can prove to be quite fatal. The cables are wrapped in a bright orange casing to warn technicians or operators of the high voltage circuits. For safety reasons the system should ALWAYS be de-powered by qualified professionals if repairs must be made to any of these components.

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No Power-Poor Gas Mileage 1994 GMC Jimmy Diagnostic reply by Paragon Motors

A question came in from one of our customers that took a little time to resolve.

The problem took a little time to understand and find a solution for, as the Jimmy had been running very poorly for a very long time.

Andrew, the customer, had purchased the vehicle at an auction for about 0 . Of course, not many vehicles of that age run as well as they should, so Drew did not really expect a perfect vehicle. The fenders were rusted badly, the engine rattled somewhat but the oil pressure was fine and the cooling system was in reasonable condition.

After driving the vehicle for some time, Drew noticed that the fuel consumption was excessive, and there was poor power. At first his conclusion was the Jimmy was just old and what could you expect. However, the oil consumption was not too bad.

So, it became our task to try to get better gas mileage with this 1994 GMC Jimmy.

Our diagnostic technician confirmed the engine lacked power. Rick ran the usual tests that included the queer sensation of better power when one let off the gas pedal when accelerating. Doing this created a surge of performance that increased power and then decreased power when pushing the pedal to the floor again. Another indicator for consideration was a black drip coming from the tailpipe.

Rick also found the transmission and lock up was not reacting correctly.

As you can see there were quite a few problems that Drew did not realize existed. The catalytic converter was not plugged even though it was contaminated. It was not necessary to renew any electrical parts, such as spark plugs and wires, distributor parts or fuel filter as the diagnosis continued.

( It is Rick’s policy to fix what is wrong first before unnecessarily renewing related possibilities.)

The Electronic Control features then became the focus of attention.

On the earlier production of this Jimmy series, a two wire oxygen sensor was used. The later units had a three wire sensor. Upon further investigation, Rick found the ground wire for the oxygen sensor was broken. That was repaired.

Problem solved!  Now, lots of power and good gas mileage – 1994 GMC Jimmy.

Renew Your Ignition System

All gasoline powered engines require a spark to ignite the mixture of gasoline and air. This spark must take place at the right time and in the correct cylinder. This is accomplished by the ignition system.

There are essentially three types of ignition system used: the standard breaker point type ignition systems that were used in vehicle from the early 1900s to the mid 1970s; the electronic ignition systems; and the new distributor-less or wasted spark ignition system that was introduced in the mid 80s and is still used today.
 
All ignition systems employ four basic parts a battery to supply power for the system, a coil that is used to increase the voltage provided by the battery from 12 volts to about 30,000 volts, a distributor that directs the high voltage to the proper cylinder and a sparkplug that produces the spark that ignites the fuel mixture.
   
Point-type ignition system:

In this type of ignition system, the battery power is fed through a resistor to the primary side of the coil and is then grounded through the closed ignition points in the distributor. Causing the current to flow through the primary, windings and creating an intense magnetic field.

As the distributor cam turns, the points are opened interrupting the flow of current causing the magnetic field to collapse. The collapse of the magnetic field causes the lines of force to cut through the secondary windings. Since the ratio of turns in the secondary windings is higher than the primary, the voltage is increased to about 30,000 volts.
 
The distributor rotor acts as a selector switch directing the high voltage created by the coil to the sparkplug in the proper cylinder where the spark causes the fuel mixture to ignite.

One of the major problems with this system was the points. Due to the arcing created by the points opening and closing the points would become burned which rendered them useless after a while. Placing a condenser across the points would improve this condition but the points would still need to be replaced about every 10,000 miles.In addition to the points the contacts on the rotor and cap would also become burned and would also need replacing.

Electronic ignition systems:

In the 70s new emissions laws and the need for better reliability created a requirement for a higher mileage, reduced emissions ignition system with better reliability, which led to the development of the electronic ignition systems.

The major difference of the Electronic ignition system from the conventional ignition systems is the distributor components. Instead of a distributor cam, points, and condenser, the electronic ignition system has an armature, a pickup coil, and an electronic control module.
 
All electronic ignition systems operate basically identically current flows from the battery through the ignition switch to the coils primary windings. The primary current is turned on and off as the armature revolves past the pickup. As each tooth of the armature nears the pickup coil, it creates a signal to the electronic module to turn off the flow of current to primary side of the coil. A timing circuit in the module will turn the current on again after the coils magnetic field has collapsed which causes a high voltage in the secondary windings of the coil. The remainder of the system still functions the same as in a standard ignition system.
 
In the electronic ignition systems the problem with the points has been solved but the rotor and cap still need to be replaced periodically.

Distributor-less ignition systems:

The distributor-less ignition systems is not really distributor-less, but no longer has a mechanical distributor. It was replaced by an electronic switching system.
There are two types of distributor-less ignition systems, the true distributor-less ignition system and the wasted spark system.

The distributor-less ignition has a dedicated coil for every cylinder. The timing of the spark is controlled by an Ignition Control Unit (ICU) and the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

In the wasted spark system each cylinder is paired with the cylinder opposite it in the firing order. The ends of each coil secondary leads are attached to spark plugs for the paired opposites. These two plugs are on what is known as companion cylinders, cylinders which are at Top Dead Center (TDC) at the same time. But, they are paired opposites, because they are always at opposing ends of the 4 stroke engine cycle. When one is at TDC of the compression stroke, the other is at TDC of the exhaust stroke. When the coil discharges, both plugs fire at the same time.
 
The distributor-less ignition system has finally solved both of the reliability issues with the ignition system that has pledged automobile engines from the 1900s till the mid 80s. But there is still hope for the older vehicles; as there are a number of extremely good aftermarket conversion kits available on the market at affordable prices.

Saturn Gives General Motors a Boost

The attention given by General Motors to Saturn was repaid after the brand performed well and helped the automaker increase its May sales compared to last year. The quality offered by Saturn cars tied General Motors with the Toyota Motor Corporation for the fourth place in the Strategic Vision annual quality survey. General Motors and Toyota both trail Volkswagen AG, Nissan Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.

The study, which placed General Motors and Toyota tied for fourth, was conducted by Strategic Vision, a research firm based in California. Last year, General Motors finished fifth in the survey.

The Saturn brand in this year’s survey finished fifth among the 21 non-luxury brands in the United States auto market. Last year, the brand finished eighth. The brand trails Volkswagen, Nissan, GMC, and Honda brands in this year’s survey. One of the reasons for the improvement of Saturn on the list is their Saturn Aura model which bested popular Asian cars in its segment which are the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the Nissan Altima.

For the past years, General Motors has been criticized for almost neglecting the Saturn brand. Recently though, the Detroit-based car manufacturer introduced new vehicles to Saturn’s lineup to attract and lure in more car buyers. Aside from the Aura, the Saturn Outlook, with its European styling and reliable parts such as Saturn spark plugs, is a concrete example of Saturn’s revitalized lineup. In the past, Saturn capitalized on their good customer relations but suffered from dwindling sales as their lineup did not offer much choices and options to consumers.

Instead of just relying on the dealership experience, which they have done for some time, Alexander Edwards says, “We’re going to come out with products that are going to blow everybody away.” Alexander Edwards is the president of Strategic Vision Inc. The firm tapped 27,000 United States car buyers to get their views on the particular car brands that they have bought or are looking to buy the next time they need a car.

According to Kyle Johnson, the director of Saturn communications, the result of the survey reflects the findings of General Motors’ internal research on the Saturn brand. He added that they are “competing at a different level” with the release of their new lineup. Last year, they offered the Saturn Aura and the Saturn Sky and following the release of those cars, Saturn introduced the full size crossover SUV Saturn Outlook. Johnson pointed out the improvements that their current lineup has over their past models saying that: “The interiors have been refined, the handling improved and the body panels, which were dent-resistant plastic in the past, are now steel, allowing for better fits.”

The Saturn brand posted the highest increase in sale for the month of May. The brand posted an increase of 69 percent compared to last year’s May sales. The brand posted the highest increase in sales of all auto brands in the United States auto market. The May 2007 sales also marked the most number of cars that the brand has sold for a month in its entire history. With its increasing popularity among car buyers and the level of its quality, Saturn is emerging as a strong contender in the United States auto market.

Bmw Sauber Rookie Takes a Point

The United States Grand Prix held last Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the first race this season that BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica had to miss. The Polish Formula One driver was injured at the Canadian Grand Prix and was not cleared to participate at the seventh race of the Formula One season. Taking the spot behind the wheel of Kubica’s car was rookie German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel.

On his first Formula One race, Sebastian Vettel gave BMW Sauber the only point they have to show for after the United States Grand Prix. The German driver finished eighth which gave him and team BMW Sauber a single point. Vettel started on the seventh spot in the grid after the qualifying session.

“It was fantastic, a lot of fun but a longer race than I ever imagined it to be,” says Vettel who recorded the most number of laps run at the practice session leading to the race. “I think I am quite lucky to get away with a point as the first corner was quite tight. I had an okay start, but not a very good one. When I saw the cars were close I decided to brake just a little bit later and then caught up quickly to those in front of me. To avoid an incident I decided to cut turn two and lost a lot of places. After that I was stuck in traffic which more or less destroyed our strategy.”

With only a single point to their credit at the United States Grand Prix, BMW Sauber now only led Renault by 14 points. Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen finished fifth which gave Renault four points. But Vettel’s performance at the United States Grand Prix is a good one overall although his car’s full potential was not exhibited. The car used by Vettel is the F1.07 with a BMW P86/7 engine complete with highly reliable BMW spark plugs.

“It is good to finish the first race and better still in the points. The car was working well. I could have been a bit quicker, but quite often I was stuck in traffic and it is extremely difficult to overtake here as the other guys are not sleeping and they know how to defend. In the end when I saw the chequered flag I was quite relieved. I am quite happy for me and the team who have done a fantastic job. I can only say thank you to all my mechanics and engineers who were supporting me,” says Vettel.

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld, on the other hand, was forced to retire after his Formula One car suffered from a hydraulic malfunction. Before that problem, Heidfeld was performing well. “I had a good start and overtook Kimi,” he said. “On the first stint my speed was okay, and it was only in the beginning that Felipe Massa could pull away a little bit. Later when I was braking for turn one the rear wheels just locked and I spun. When I wanted to get going again, I couldn’t get a gear, which was why Heikki Kovalainen could pass me,” the German Formula One driver explained.

BMW Sauber’s Technical Director summed up their team’s performance saying: “Sebastian gave away his chances for a good result in the first corner after the start… At least in the end we scored one point.”

Senate Fuel Bill Would ?kill? Michigan

Automakers and Michigan lawmakers were regrouping Friday in the wake of the approval of a Senate bill that increases corporate average fuel economy mandates by 40 percent by 2025.

The passage of the Senate bill would gravely injure Detroit automakers. This is why the automakers had lobbied hard against the new fuel mandates. They had supported a compromise proposed by Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Christopher Bond, R-Mo., among others, that would have raised CAFE rules, but less onerously than the Senate bill.

Nearly the whole Michigan congressional delegation earlier met to tackle how to continue with the struggle. “The bill would mean the death of Michigan,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, D-Brighton. “We owe it to a lot of families who rely on the auto industry to get this right.” Added Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee: “You think things are bad now in Michigan? You haven’t seen anything yet if that bill became law.” Rogers and Stupak said that automakers need to emphasize their advanced technology efforts and push for more assistance to make vehicles like the Chevy Volt a reality.

But Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, fuming like Eagle spark plugs, said that senators did not find automakers credible for they have “misrepresented the facts” at time. “We don’t believe you anymore,’” Reid said. “The answer is we’ve had enough. It’s time the American automobile manufacturers join with the rest of the world in recognizing that people want to buy more fuel efficient cars.”

Reid said that he had spoken to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told him fuel economy legislation would be passed “in the near future.” Automakers now are anxious that the fuel bill may be on a much faster track than previously thought. But Pelosi meant September by the words “near future,” said spokesman Brendan Daley.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, led by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, was not expected to take up the fuel economy provisions until September. Dingell said that he was against accelerating consideration. I am not sympathetic to that, he added. Dingell met with Pelosi on the house floor Friday and had a “good conversation,” said Daly. “Pelosi and Dingell are to meet again on Monday.”

Senate Democrats held a press conference yesterday to “take a bow” in the wake of the conquest. The mandate, which requires automakers to raise fuel economy to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks combined, was added to a broad energy bill the Senate approved. Senators have turned down a less stringent fuel proposal by Levin and others that would have required 36 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2022 and 30 miles per gallon for light trucks by 2025.

Dave McCurdy, the president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group that represents the Detroit Three, Toyota and BMW among nine automakers, offered an assuaging statement. “Automakers support improving national fuel economy standards,” McCurdy said. “This is a long process, and we are continuing to work constructively to develop reasonable fuel economy standards that are affordable and preserve the cars and light trucks that farmers, tradesmen, business owners, outdoor enthusiasts and families need every day.”

General Motors Corp. spokesman Greg Martin expressed the automaker’s disappointment. “In their rush to do something, Congress should take the same oath as doctors: ‘First, do no harm,’” Martin said. “We’ll continue to press our case hard that we can work with them to get improved fuel economy levels without the unintended costs to the industry and consumers.” Ford and Chrysler as well as other Japanese automakers expressed the same views.

General Motors Continues Diesel Venture

Detroit automaker General Motors recently announced that they have bought 50 percent stake of an Italian diesel engine manufacturer. This move shows that the carmaker is indeed pushing through with its promise to manufacture diesel engine Cadillac and Saturn auto models in the near future.

General Motors bought 50 percent of VM Motori S.p.A. from Penske Corporation. The agreement will increase General Motors’ presence in the growing diesel engine market. Due to increasing call for fuel efficient vehicles, diesel engines are now being developed to be cleaner than their predecessors. The new generation of diesel engines is considered as one of the many solutions to the increasing threat of global warming.

“Diesel engines have a very important role in GM’s global advanced propulsion strategy,” said Tom Stephens, the group vice president of General Motors Global Powertrain and Quality. “We are leveraging expertise and resources within our company and through technology partners to ensure we develop the world’s best powertrains,” he added.

General Motors Vice President of Engineering, Dan Hancock, said that they are interested in the acquisition of a controlling share of VM Motori as the company is considered an expert in developing and manufacturing diesel engines. According to Hancock, they are interested in the diesel engines produced by the company for mid-sized trucks used as commercial vehicles in the markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Aside from making engines for mid-sized trucks, VM Motori is also engaged in the fabrication of diesel engines for passenger vehicles. These engines produce less greenhouse gas emissions which are considered to be as clean as the emission produced by some gasoline engines. General Motors also announced that they will be working with VM Motori in the development of a new GM 2.9-liter V6 diesel engine which will be used for the 2009 Cadillac CTS which is scheduled to be marketed in Europe.

It can be remembered that General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz announced last week that General Motors will be equipping cars, crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks with diesel engines for the United States auto market. Lutz said that they will be introducing Cadillac and Saturn auto models with diesel engines soon.

Although Cadillac is an unlikely candidate for its luxury brand standing, Saturn seems to be a better fit to diesel technology. After all, General Motors is in the process of revitalizing Saturn’s lineup that even Saturn spark plugs are redesigned, the introduction of a diesel variant in the lineup will make the transformation of the division complete.

Although there seems to be a connection with the statement of Bob Lutz last week and the agreement with VM Motori, Hancock refused to say whether there is a connection. Hancock also refused to comment on the issue surrounding General Motors’ plan to build and market a diesel Cadillac in the United States auto market in the near future.

Automotive News reported that a 2.9-liter diesel engine can be expected to come with the Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Aura in 2009 and 2010 respectively. With this development, it can be expected that diesel engines are coming to the United States not only from foreign automobile manufacturers but also from domestic automakers like General Motors and Ford.

Mclaren Prepared for Mercedes-benz Home Race

The tenth race of the season will be held at the Nürburgring in Nurburg, Germany. Going into the race, McLaren is leading the constructors’ championship and is looking to improve that as they participate at the home Grand Prix of their engine supplier Mercedes-Benz.

The European Grand Prix, as the next race is called, will be the only race that will be held in Germany this year. Going onto the European Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will be leading in the drivers’ championship standing while teammate and double world champion Fernando Alonso is second.

The last race before Sunday saw Alonso finish second and Hamilton third behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and the British team is looking to regain its dominance over the Ferrari contingent. The team is also looking to prevent Raikkonen from taking three consecutive wins.

Mercedes-Benz will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of their first win in Nürburgring and it can be expected that aside from the activities on the tracks, fans will be treated to fun activities which will be held in between qualifying and practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.

It is expected that live music will be performed for the fans that will be present during the weekend leading to Sunday’s race. Pit stop contests would also be held for those who are interested in comparing themselves to professionals who takes care of their favorite drivers in the pit lane. Autograph sessions will also be included in the weekend schedule of activities. Alonso and Hamilton are expected to sign autographs for their fans in Germany.

As for the drivers, both are ready to take on the rest of the field at the Nürburgring. Both will be on board their respective MP4-22 with Mercedes-Benz engine and racing components such as Mercedes-Benz spark plugs and the like.

Alonso is banking on their good practice session at the Spa Francorchamps in Belgium last week. “We had a positive test at Spa this week, with a lot of dedication from everyone within the team,” Alonso said. “This season is very competitive and we all have to push hard to find more performance from every part of the car, particularly for the Nürburgring. It is not a track that depends on a particular part of the car and it is difficult to get the maximum performance here.”

Alonso will be making his first appearance on the track wearing the colors of McLaren after he left Renault after last year’s season. “This will be my first time as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver racing in front of all the Mercedes-Benz employees from Stuttgart, who, I have been told, mostly sit in this section of the track. I am really looking forward to it and hope we can give them a good race,” said the defending champion.

Meanwhile, rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton is expecting that the sole Grand Prix in German soil will attract droves of Formula One fans. “I am sure the grandstands are going to be packed,” he said. About ‘The Ring’, he has this to say: “The track has a very mixed layout, probably with more slow corners than anything else, so you need good traction for the acceleration on the exit. Through the first sector of the track you can really make up time, the corners are very slow so with good balance and under braking you can find the time.”

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