Thursday, January 9, 2014

When using synthetic oil for your car’s tranny

If you are running down the road in a well-performing car, it’s almost second nature to want to pop the clutch, and shift gears so you can go faster. However, you wouldn’t like it when the transmission strains as you upshift or downshift. If your shifts are a little rough, you might want to try using synthetic transmission fluid shift next time you visit the repair shop for maintenance.
So why should you use synthetic, you may ask? First up, a synthetic transmission fluid is designed to remain consistent across a wider temperature range. It ensures that the liquid still protects and lubricates the parts even after much stress is placed on the transmission. The chemical will also help the gearshifts go smoothly.
Some auto experts note that a synthetic transmission fluid has the ability to further prevent wear and tear down the line. For instance, the chemical composition of many synthetic lubricants protect the parts against rust and corrosion as a result of oxidation. Synthetic tranny fluids are also designed to last longer than regular petroleum-based products, reducing the frequency of a change at the neighborhood service station.

Shifting to synthetic transmission oil can be one of the best moves you make for your car. Check your vehicle owner’s manual if the manufacturer recommends it.

Cut Fuel Surcharges, Let Fuel Come to the Trucks

Some services make customers pay for the amount of fuel that would be used to complete the service such as airlines. This is known as “fuel surcharge,” possibly one of few instances where the cost of fuel is passed onto the customers. Unfortunately, as far as customer satisfaction is concerned, this is among the least understood aspects of pricing goods and services.
Suppose you like to buy cheese from Wisconsin, but you live in neighboring Minnesota. Trucks or delivery vehicles have to make the long trip across the border to deliver the cheese to your doorstep, if not to your local grocery store. This is likely the reason for Wisconsin cheese being more affordable in Wisconsin than in the rest of the country. You’re paying for the logistics.
It’s unclear how much fuel surcharges affect food prices, but this is basically how fuel surcharges work. Many people don’t like the idea, but businesses run on black gold. If the average cost per mile is pegged at $1.00 for truckers, at least 35 cents go to making sure the truck is all tanked up.

Onsite fuel services reduce fuel surcharges by bringing the fuel to the fleet instead of the other way around. Trucks and logistics vehicles can leave the premises with a full tank instead of traveling to the nearest gas station to do so. If the truck has some gas left, onsite refueling will fill the remainder without the truck going anywhere.

Monday, January 6, 2014

How do Fuel Injector Cleaners Work?

Ever since the carburetor, fuel injectors have become the essential mechanisms that introduce fuel into the internal combustion engine of an automotive. It uses electromagnetic energy to squirt the fuel from the valve to the engine. However as with any moving vehicle component, the effect of this fuel to the interiors of the injector places it in danger of wear over time.

Varnish
The solvent property of gasoline allows it to break apart huge chunks of material that has been chemically bonded into tiny, microscopic particles. When these particles stick to some parts of the injector system, however, they can start to accumulate and develop into an amber-colored varnish.

Effects
This varnish could be one of the main contributors that cause the injectors to get worn down and regularly be in need of repairs. It causes moving particles to stick together, blocks passages and filters, and form large chunks that can lodge in the fuel injector’s needle-valve seat, thereby altering the assembly’s spray pattern.

The Cleaner
Fuel injector cleaners aim to prevent these issues by clearing the rubble and breaking them down. These commercial cleaners typically have much more efficient solvent properties than gasoline, so you can be assured that using the appropriate concentration of the solution should get rid of the harmful effects of varnish inside your fuel injectors.

Getting to Know Motor Oil and Transmission Fluid

Friction, whether between two people or two car parts, is never a good thing. The former issue may take a number of “interventions” to be resolved, but the latter only needs a fair amount of automotive lubricant. As a car owner, you ought to know that automotive lubricants come in various types and formulations, each for a specific purpose or car part. Here are two of the most common automotive lubricants that every driver must be familiar with:
Motor Oil
Motor oil is the one protecting your engine’s moving parts from overheating and deteriorating prematurely. Car experts recommend that motor oil be changed every 3,000 miles or 3 months (whichever comes first) to ensure optimum vehicle performance. Motor oil loses its integrity and becomes inefficient in lubricating the engine over time, so regular replacement is a must. Take note that changing your motor oil may need to be done by authorized service centers because there are rules to be followed when it comes to the proper disposal of used motor oil.
Transmission Fluid

Like your car’s engine, the transmission also has a fluid lubricant specially made for it. Transmission fluid makes sure that all moving parts in the transmission glides smoothly, stays cool, and remains free from corrosion. You can easily distinguish it from motor oil because transmission fluid is usually either red or green while motor oil is amber or dark brown.