Transportation is one of the largest consumers of petroleum based fuels. For the past years it has been said that the petroleum reserves are to be totally depleted within the next ten years. Because of this rising crisis, studies and research were made to produce alternative fuels made especially for the use of cars and other forms of transportation vehicles.
The most promising type of alternative fuel is ethanol. Ethanol unlike any other petroleum based fuel is very efficient, cheap and most of all it burns cleanly. Gas emissions made by cars using ethanol are said to be free from pollutants and the engines have lesser accumulations thus lengthening engine life and improving engine performance. Ethanol on the other hand is very flammable giving it its disadvantage to become a fuel. Biodiesel is another alternative type of car fuel, made from various vegetable oils. It has almost all the good properties as ethanol. The disadvantage of biodiesel is that, it may leave various particulate accumulation on the engine so particulate traps must be installed. Last is propane, which is usually in the form of LPG (liquefied petroleum gasoline). Car engines that run on propane are more efficient than ethanol and biodiesel. They can last up to 80, 000 to 100, 000 miles without breaking down and propane engines can last up to three times longer than gas or fuel engines. Propane engines are very expensive making it a major disadvantage to be used by consumers.
Alternative fuels may sound really great, for they cost less and are more efficient. The problem is within the implementation and mass production of these alternatives. Another is that new car engines for this type of fuels are very expensive and only few manufacture this type of engines. Making it impossible for this alternative fuels to become truly alternatives.
Posted on: May 10th, 2009
There are times that we really don’t have time to take our cars on shops to be checked for damages. This could be a disadvantage for us for certain breakdowns may happen especially when we are on the road. So being very in keen in observing our cars could help distinguish certain problems. Simple leaks, vibrations, squeals or clicks may be signs of various car troubles.
Leaks are very evident signs of car troubles. A yellowish green or pale blue leak is a sign of an antifreeze leak or overheated engine. This must be checked immediately to avoid other serious engine problems. On the other hand an oil leak from your engine may be manifested by a brownish black leak. Burnt electrical insulation or an electrical short may could be distinguished by a smell of burnt toast. An acrid smell may be caused by burning oil because of leaks or an overheated clutch or break. Various difficulties on steering may indicate a misaligned front wheel or under-inflated tires. Clicks and squeals on the other hand suggest various engine troubles that must be checked immediately.
These are only a few obvious signs of car troubles. Being very keen about these manifestations would make it easy for you to keep your car in a good shape. Keeping these things in mind may also help you lessen your expenses for car check-up. Remember that if this signs would ever happen, you must immediately bring your car to mechanic for checking. Never take these signs for granted for they might always spell out a big car trouble.
Posted on: April 20th, 2009
Tires provide mobility and smooth swift movements to our car. They are the ones who are in direct contact with the ground thus making them the easiest part to wear. Tires are not only changed when they are old or worn out. Some usually change tires because of the season or weather and changing tires every season is very costly. Do you want tires that you need not change each season and could withstand any change of climate?

All season car tires are made for this purpose. This kind of tires can be used for almost any season or weather. Like winter tires they have a good grip on snow and ice, dry and wet surfaces are also not a problem. They can be used in small cars, SUVs, and pickups. Today most new modeled cars and trucks use all season tires. There are usually two kinds of all season tires – Performance All Season Tires and Ultra-high-performance All Season Cars. Performance all season tires can run up to 149 mph, depending on the brand of the tire. They have good grip performance on both wet and dry roads than conventional tires and do not renounce ride comfort. Ultra-high-performance or UHP all season tires on the other hand have better safety-related characteristics like breaking and handling. They are used for most sports and race cars. UHPs are also more fuel efficient than performance all season cars and conventional tires. All season tires may sound really good but they are quite expensive. Their prices usually range from $80 to $400 per tire.
All season tires in conclusion are more economical to use than conventional tires for you may not have to change for each season. They may be more expensive than any other conventional tire but they are sure to last for years.
Posted on: March 17th, 2009
One of the most acquired insurance plans in the United States is a car insurance plan. Having your car insured can be very useful, for it could cover some of your car expenses when your car is stolen, lost or when you encounter road accidents. There are a lot of companies that offer car insurances, all varying on the types of liabilities covered and terms of payment. Payments for car insurance are called premiums. There are a lot of factors that determine the amount of premiums that you pay. The type of car that you have and your personal records are the determining factors for your premiums.
The cost of your car affects your premiums because the more expensive your car the greater the amount needed for repairs or lost thus you have to pay more. But having a car that is ultra-cheap may not either lessen your premiums, for the insurance company will also check if the car is good enough for long drives or if the car is safe for you to drive. Having a car with a low theft rate could also lessen your premiums for it would decrease the probability for losses that does not involve crashes. Next thing that could affect your premiums are your records as a driver, the often you crash your car or the greater the number of tickets you get the higher the premiums you pay. The insurance company looks into these aspects because these are the ones that determine the probability of the accidents that you might encounter and of course the amount of liabilities they have to pay. Your credit record may also affect your premiums, having a bad credit would definitely increase your premiums. This is for the reason that most insurance companies also gauge your ability to pay.
There are lots of factors that determine the amount that you have to pay for your car insurance that is why before getting any car insurance you must look into these factors for you to easily juggle your expenses. Compare car insurances from various companies and choose the one that would best fit your budget and your records.
Posted on: February 26th, 2009
The greatest expenditure for your car is not actually repairs or accessories but the money spend for your car fuel. With increasing fuel prices, you may want to increase your cars MPG (miles per gallon) to save some money on fuel expenses. Your MPG does not on rely on the efficiency of the engine but also on the way you drive and which fuel you would use.

Driving sensibly at reasonable speeds could increase your MPG by 33%. Speeding, rapid acceleration and sudden brakes can use more than enough gas. Observing your speed limit can also save you fuel, speeding more than 60 mph can give a 0.24 gallon increase per mile. Removing excess weight in your car can also save you gas by decreasing your air drag during travel. Reducing air drag decreases the work done by your engine to move the car thus increasing your MPG. Using cruise control during driving on highways can save you gas by helping you maintain constant speed during travelling thus supplying enough fuel into your engine. Keeping your car in shape can also save you fuel, inflating your tires at the right pressure and using the suggested oil for your car can increase your MPG by 3%.
These are only a few ways to increase your MPG and lessen your car expenses. Giving your car regular tune-ups and oil changes can also help you increase MPG. Increasing MPG would be very easy if you just keep these tips in mind.
Posted on: January 19th, 2009