Auto Buying Tips

Some individuals need a vehicle but are not ready to purchase a vehicle. Renting a vehicle long term may become costly. Leasing is similar to renting a car over a long period of time. Individuals who cannot afford a vehicle will often select this option because the monthly payments are typically lower than purchasing a vehicle. The lessee is responsible for maintaining the car and returning the vehicle at the end of the lease according to the agreed upon contract. At the end of the contract, the lessee will often have the option to buy or the option to return the vehicle.

Consumers also prefer the option of leasing, because many occupations receive tax breaks for leasing a vehicle. This option allows the individual to drive a new car without the commitment of purchasing a vehicle. Many car companies often offer lease specials to entice customers to purchase the vehicle. The payments may be as low as $100 per month. However, the consumer may need a large down payment, as well as, a security deposit to secure the vehicle. The consumer also may be held responsible for paying mileage over a certain amount per year. Leases often involve many hidden clauses that consumers must review before signing.

Consumers are allowed to lease cars over several different lease periods. The lease periods are as follows: two, three, four, or five years in length. The three year Continue Reading...

Buying a used car can be tough because there are a lot of factors to incorporate in the selection process. One usually has a spending limit, a specific color and size in mind, let alone how many doors one wants. I know they say beggars can’t be choosers, but buying a used car is risky business. You never know who is being authentic with you and who is trying to scam you. One of the most important things to look out for when buying a used car is the gas mileage. This gives the customer insight on where a car has been and how long it is going to last. One should know how long they are expecting a car to last so that they know what type of car and how much mileage to look for. Used car hunting can lead one to ask themselves what good mileage really is on a used car?

First things first, when car searching, the first thing one should look for is the car’s make and model. While this may seem irrelevant to the gas mileage, it makes perfect sense. Let’s face it, some car brands are just not as well made as others. And before you dish out your cash to the person trying to charge you a fortune for a car that may look good, one must be sure that it won’t fail within a year’s time. When it comes to determining good mileage on a used car, different rules apply to American made cars vs. Foreign made cars.

American made car

American made cars Continue Reading...

Whether an individual is upgrading their bike or simply looking to get rid of it, there are decisions that must be made as to how to properly sell a motorcycle. While the process is often perceived as difficult and stressful, the simple fact of the matter is that a consumer that knows what they are doing should not encounter any major challenges. Plenty of different methods exist, and by becoming familiar with each one a motorcyclist can determine what their best course of action will be.

Sell the Motorcycle to a Dealer

Although it may be the simplest method of all, selling the motorcycle to a dealer may result in the absolute lowest amount of money being offered. It is important to realize that dealerships must resell all of their vehicles and make a profit, so the bike will most likely be purchased for less than it is actually worth. If a person does not have the time or patience to deal with private buyers, this method may be acceptable. However, anyone that is looking to get top dollar for their bike should consider their other options.

Sell the Motorcycle Via Online Auction

The auction listings found on sites like Ebay could prove to be very useful in attempting to unload a motorcycle, but there are several important points for a prospective seller to be aware of. A relatively high frequency of fraudulent Continue Reading...

Your engine’s oil is one of the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance. Even the most powerful, high-end engine can be brought low by a lack of oil. Motor oil keeps the hardest working parts of your engine lubricated, so they can continue working without cracking, melting down or overheating. It’s essential; without oil you wouldn’t make it ten miles.

How Do I Check My Engine Oil?

Checking your car’s oil level is surprisingly easy to do. Make sure your car is parked on level ground and in a spot with enough light to allow you to see clearly. Turn off the engine. For the best, most accurate reading, allow a few minutes for the oil to settle in the oil pan reservoir.

First, you have to find the dipstick. This is a long, skinny rod that you can pull out of the engine. You can refer to the car’s manual for help in finding its exact location, but it’s usually pretty obvious. There should be a small tube sticking out somewhere near the engine block; there should also be a handle sticking out of the end of the tube. The handle might be red, yellow or orange, or it may just be a simple metal loop. It may say “Oil” on it, too, but then again it may not. Every car is different.

Once you’ve found the dipstick, pull it out. You should now see a long, flat stick with brown or black Continue Reading...

The engine is an important part of your car and probably the most neglected when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Perhaps because of all the wires and hoses, many people are reluctant to try to clean the apparatus under the hood. But maintaining a clean engine can prolong the life of the car and certainly can increase its resale value. Once you follow a few simple rules and safeguards, cleaning your engine can become a regular part of maintaining your car.

1. Never try to clean a hot engine. Your engine should feel slightly warm to the touch before starting your cleaning. The slight warming will help to loosen the excess grease and can speed up your cleaning task. If the engine is hot to the touch, wait a few minutes for it to cool down.

2. Cover any areas that you do not want to get wet. This includes any filters, air intake valves, the distributor and distributor coil. Cover these areas with a small plastic bag, like a sandwich bag or larger, and secure the bags with rubber bands. For larger areas, you might try aluminum foil.

3. Check and secure all fluid caps for windshield washer solution, power steering fluid, oil dipstick and any other caps.

4. Using a good quality degreaser, spray the entire engine compartment. Start at the perimeter and work towards the center. Allow the degreaser to sit for 3 – 5 minutes to loosen the dirt. The Continue Reading...

Having clean car windows is a safety feature that cannot be ignored. Dirty or smudged windows can obscure your vision. You can have sparkling clean car windows by following these few simple how to tips.

Use Household Products for Sparkling Clean Windows

You do not need to purchase window cleaners are expensive gadgets to be able to clean your car windows. You can wipe them clean in no time by gathering a few things that you already have.

1. Old newspapers or paper towels
2. A plastic spray bottle
3. White vinegar
4. Water
5. Net covered scrubbing sponge

Start cleaning the windows on the inside of the car. If it is extremely hot out, roll down all of the windows while you work on the back glass and the windshield. Fill the plastic spray bottle 1/4 of the way full of vinegar. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water. Spread newspaper across the back ledge and down the seats to avoid any over spray.

Mist the back glass with the vinegar water spray and immediately wash the window down with crumpled newspaper or paper towels. Work in a small section at a time. The open windows will help with the smell of vinegar. It will not linger for very long even after you have cleaned all of the windows.

Use a back and forth sweeping motion as you wipe. Move your hand from the top of the window to the Continue Reading...

Determining the average miles per year for a car depends on who’s asking. One answer relates to standard mileage allowances for leases, warranties, and determining the value of a used car. Another answer, however, applies to the question of how many miles an average car is actually driven annually.

Vehicle leases are built around an annual mileage allowance. Most leases are structured around an annual allowance of 12,000 miles. Exceeding this annual mileage limit results in additional costs; usually in the ballpark of $.10 per mile. Auto warranties are also built around an average of 12,000 miles per year. For example, a warranty might be good for 3 years/36,000 miles or 5 years/60,000 miles.

The 12,000 miles per year standard also applies when calculating used vehicle values. One of the key questions asked when using a used car value guide such as Kelley Blue Book is the mileage of a car. Cars exceeding an average of 12,000 per year have a reduced value, while cars with an average mileage of less than 12,000 miles per year have an increase in value.

Why is a car’s mileage such an important factor in determining its value? The mileage of a vehicle is widely considered to be an indicator of its mechanical age. The more miles a car has been driven, the greater the chance that certain parts or systems will need repair or replacement. Someone looking to Continue Reading...

Beginning in 1963 and continuing through 1973 more than 300 alternatives to then current automotive engines were investigated by General Motors. In 1973 development began on a particular engine which would ultimately become the Vortec engine. By the mid 1980s General Motors had developed and introduced to the automotive world, piston engines which were designed to give owners more effective combinations of fuel and air. This was the Vortec engine.

These patented products came from vortex technology that was developed simultaneously by two scientists seeking a way to generate an adequate replacement for fossil fuels, Louis M. Michaud in Canada and Norman Louat in Australia. The concept of vortex generating power actually was first suggested by Shivkar Baupii Talpade, a student of Sanskrit, born in Bombay in 1864. Talpade was intrigued by the research of Maharishi Bhardwaja and the then unknown field of Aeronautical Science.

Michaud and Louat both suggested the substitution of a short structure in lieu of a large chimney that would be a guide to an oil/coal free future globally. One can think of a vortex as an energy swirl not unlike that of a tornado.

Genesis:

The use of vortex technology for the automotive industry then began with trade marking piston engines bearing the name “Vortec” introduced for use in trucks produced by Continue Reading...

Most consumers do not have thousands of dollars sitting in their bank account to purchase a new or used car. They have to rely on a lease or car loan. A used car loan is often necessary to purchase a used car. Few dealerships are willing to lease a car that already has been leased and the cost does not make it worth it. Consumers can find a car loan from a wide range of sources. Whether a car loan is started at a bank, dealership or finance company, the interest rate is one of the most common discussion pieces.

The average interest rate for a car loan according to Bank Rate is currently around 6.5%. It varies within half a point for three or four year used/new car loans. This is simply the average interest rate. Many consumers who have good or excellent credit are able to qualify for extremely low rates. Some of these rates are as low as 3.99%, if not lower. A car buyer must be aware that a car loan will hurt their credit report slightly. However, it is meant to show other creditors that the buyer has debt that they are paying off. A car loan is a good piece of credit history to have. It shows that you are able to handle monthly payments that are several hundred dollars.

The average interest rate can change quite often depending on how the financial marketing is doing. During an inflationary period Continue Reading...

Buying a car is a personal decision, requiring a careful evaluation of factors including price, lifestyle, safety, used or new, and how long you plan to keep it. Honestly assessing your needs and budget will help to decide which car is best for you.

Price

There is a great range in prices of new and used cars. Honestly evaluating your ability to maintain car payments for up to three to five years is important when selecting a car. Costs above the price of the vehicle must also be taken into account. Although a new car will cost more than a used one, new cars need fewer repairs and may get better gas mileage, thus reducing maintenance and operating costs.

Insurance rates vary according to the make, model and age of the vehicle. Loan terms for new cars often require costly insurance policies while the loan is being repaid. Higher rates of coverage may substantially increase monthly expenses.

Lifestyle

Requirements for a single person may be very different than for a family and children. A compact car may adequately meet the needs of a single person. A family car, however, must comfortably accommodate several passengers, as well as provide easy access for loading people and goods. A four-door car provides ease in loading backseat passengers and items to be transported. A hatchback provides ease in loading, but Continue Reading...

The title history of a vehicle is perhaps the most important thing that consumers should pay attention to when considering a possible purchase, but most individuals are not familiar with the various classifications that exist. While many consumers simply assume that a vehicle will have a clear title, the unfortunate truth is that many cars actually have a salvage title. Although a salvage title on a car does not always indicate that the purchase would be an unwise decision, a consumer definitely needs to understand how the vehicle obtained such a status and what it actually means.

What Does a Salvage Title Indicate?

A car that has a salvage title has either been involved in a serious accident in which major repairs were required, or it has some other significant incident that has occurred in the past. Flood damaged vehicles, for example, will often automatically be assigned a salvage title. A car that has been stolen and left severely damaged most likely will possess a salvage title. A common misconception is that a salvage title indicates that a state or other authority has deemed the vehicle unsafe and illegal to operate, but the truth of the matter is that this idea has absolutely no merit. A salvage title is often rewarded to a car after an insurance company has decided that they do not want to fix a vehicle. Because insurers focus on the Continue Reading...

Hybrid cars are all the rage these days. Most of the major car manufacturers have their own lines, and the ones that do not are quickly attempting to catch up and release some. Even though you may already own a hybrid car, you may not be aware of how it works. This article covers the basics for how hybrid cars actually work.

Types of Hybrid Cars

There are two main types of hybrid cars on the market today. The first of these is the traditional form of hybrid vehicle. These are completely electric cars. They come with electric motors that power all of the axles and wheels, along with batteries which supply the electric motor with electricity.

The second of these is the gasoline engine concept which runs a generator. In these variants, the engine itself is tiny, containing typically no more than ten to twenty horsepower. These cars and their engines are intended to operate at only a single speed to attain optimal efficiency.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles

HEV’s, or Hybrid Electric Vehicles , merge the advantages of both electric motors and gasoline engines. These can be set up for different end results, including increased power, better fuel economy, or extra auxiliary power used for power tools and electronic devices. The engine itself is a tiny and efficient engine with only sufficient power to run the car Continue Reading...

There are many things you can do with old tires to get them out of your yard and garage. Keeping old tires in your yard or garage can cause clutter and make a yard look unsightly. Most tires are disposed of in landfills and vacant lots, but this is not an adequate solution because old tires contain water that can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This can cause potential health problems, and it can become an eyesore. What you should do with your old tires is to use them in your garden as a planter. The rubber inside of a tire have plant elements that are called Zinc, which are natural plant elements that help a garden grow. Tires that are used as planters in a garden are durable and they will not rot.

Five Ways to Dispose of Tires

There are five preferable ways to dispose of old tires. Using all of these methods will keep landfills and vacant lots clear of potential health and fire hazards.

1.) Recycling old tires by burning them for fuel- Most people who use this method will sell their tires to cement companies that can burn the tires and use them as fuel. There are also Tire Disposal and Recycling companies that can take old tires off of your hands.

2.) Crushing them to use as a cover for landfills- This method can be used as a cover for landfills that have a large amount of garbage.

3.) Rubber Mats for weight Continue Reading...

Many modern vehicles have forced induction systems, often referred to as superchargers or turbochargers. While some people do not understand the distinction between supercharged engines and turbocharged engines, the truth is that there are many key differences that make supercharged engines ideal for some applications while turbocharged engines tend to be better for other applications. In order to understand supercharged engines better, it is important to understand how engines work.

Engines burn fuel but require air for combustion. The more air and fuel that can be combusted in any period of time, the more powerful the output of the engine. Pistons are sleeved in cylinders, and are usually connected in two sets in such a fashion that when one set is going up, the other set is going down. Pistons go up when an explosion happens within that set, and that explosive force pulls the other set of cylinders down and creates a vacuum that pulls air into the empty cylinders.

Unfortunately, the pressure of the atmosphere limits how much air can be pulled into empty cylinders before the pistons descend. Of course, a supercharger is a way to circumvent the normal process of feeding air to an engine. This is accomplished by a variety of different techniques, but instead of relying on the up and down motion of pistons, a supercharger relies on a belt or chain in much the Continue Reading...

We live rushed lives, always on the run, looking at the clock. Sometimes, due to the speed of the lives we live, accidents happen, mishaps, such as putting diesel in your gas engine car. Although diesel pumps have a bigger nozzle, it may happen. You may get into a panic mode, thinking that you have ruined your mode of transportation. However, you can do a few things.

Diesel is designed for higher torque and power train engines. They need a higher compression ratio to start. Diesel does not need a spark to start. Gasoline does not provide this characteristic. Diesel is wax- like and it is necessary to lubricate the fuel injectors and diesel injection pump. Gasoline is not like that, therefore, gas engines require a spark to start, which diesel cannot provide. You cannot start a diesel engine with regular gas; it will die and fail. Regular gasoline does not provide the lubrication needed to start the diesel engine, and may cause damage to it – thousands of dollars in damage. On the lighter side, the engine stalls; on the more serious damage it can cause, the fuel injection will get damaged, you will have bent rods, broken pistons, and a blown head gasket on a diesel vehicle. Gas in a diesel engine may detonate. This will ruin the entire engine and put you out thousands of dollars in repairs.

On a gas engine, diesel cannot produce the spark necessary for the Continue Reading...