Does running your car s air conditioner really affect gas mileage

When it gets warm outside, your air conditioner becomes your best friend. This is most definitely true in your car, where temperatures can sky rocket to 170 degrees under direct sunlight. But most people these days are under the impression that the more you run your air conditioner the more gas your car will guzzle. Now that gas prices are higher than the cost to eat at McDonald’s, people are starting to take precautions and do what they can to help with their cars fuel economy. The assumption that running your air conditioner burns way more gas is somewhat untrue. Leaving your air conditioner off makes barely any difference in the amount of gas you burn. With the advent of modern, more fuel efficient cars, this myth is busted! The air conditioner draws its power from the engine which uses some gas, but with today’s cars, this use of gas is minute. The air conditioner can decrease the fuel economy of your car up to 20% in some vehicles, but it depends on the type. Driving with the air conditioner is more fuel efficient than driving with the windows down. Driving with the windows down creates drag which means that your engine has to work harder to keep your car at the current speed; this burns more gas than if you just ran your air conditioner. In the long run, using your air conditioner is far better than any other means of cooling yourself off in the car, unless you’re driving in traffic. When you drive in traffic you aren’t going very fast so the drag on the car is minimal. In these cases, you burn more fuel running the air conditioner than having the windows down. That makes sense. When you drive on the highway you can use either the air conditioner or the “window down” method to cool yourself, because, honestly, there is no noticeable difference in gas usage at those speeds. More Below

Car maintenance and repairs

Driving an automobile is a luxury that most of us take for granted. Automobiles are the primary means of transportation in United States, with ninety percent of American adults owning or previously owning a car or truck. What we don't realize is that operating a car or truck is a responsibility that can bring serious consequences. Every year in the United States alone, more than ten thousand vehicular accidents occur. An average of four hundred Americans die each year as the result of automotive accidents. It's a tragic figure, especially when you consider that many of these accidents could be prevented with proper maintenance and routine check-ups. Keeping your car well-maintained means reducing the risk of mishap or even death, and protecting your loved ones and fellow drivers. Before hitting the road, be sure to conduct these checkups regularly: Tires Most Americans use all-season tires. These tires should carry you safely from season to season, but it is imperative that you check the tires regularly for wear or damage. Ideally, tires should be checked on a weekly basis. Brakes The brake system serves one main purposes: to slow down or stop the car when it is needed. If you step on the brake pedal and it goes all the way to the floor, you've got trouble. Late-model automobiles are equipped with a brake warning light. This dashboard indicator will light up if something is wrong with your brake system. If your brake warning light indicates trouble, it is imperative that you check the brake system immediately. Consult your owner's manual for maintenance advice, and call an experienced mechanic for repairs. Brake repairs or replacements are no job for a weekend or hobby mechanic. Headlights In 2005, over 2,300 pedestrians died because drivers suffered eye problems or had faulty headlights in the automobiles. Properly maintained vehicle headlights help you drive safely, and see more clearly. Replace your headlight bulbs at least once per year. Wipers Many people don't think of changing their wiper blades until it is too late. This is one of the easiest and most inexpensive parts of the car to maintain. Change your wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and just before winter. There are 10 common reasons why automobile owners visit the mechanic: 1. Electronic/Ignition control 2. Suspension/steering 3. Electrical problem 4. Brake system 5. Oil change/filters/lube 6. Exhaust system 7. Radiator repairs 8. Fuel system/carburetor 9. Clutch/transmission 10. Air conditioning system Routine check ups and proper maintenance of a car be expensive, and budget restrictions are often the leading factors in keeping car owners from living up to their responsibilities. This does not need to be a problem. The key is in knowing how to save on car maintenance and repairs. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) confirmed that $20 billion has been wasted on unnecessary auto repairs due to fraud and incompetence. If your car is not performing to its full potential, remember the following tips to help you save money on repairs: Preventive Maintenance Be your car's best friend, and you can save a bundle. By conducting regular preventative maintenance, such as regular oil changes and radiator flushes, you prevent unnecessary damage to the car and save a lot of money in the long run. Regular checkups by a qualified repairperson will keep your car running better, longer. Conserve Even automobiles need to take a break now and then. If you drive your car everyday the miles will add up quickly, and damage can occur prematurely. To avoid this, consider carpooling with friends and coworkers. Ask around to form your own carpool group. You'll all save on maintenance, and you'll be able to pool your fuel and parking expenses. Estimate Before choosing a mechanic to repair your car, be sure to get a written estimate. If the mechanic wants more than your budget can afford, shop aroundpare estimates to find the best deal. Just be sure that you are paying for quality service. Do It Yourself You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish after doing a little research. Read over your owner's manual from time to time. Learn as much as you can about your car. Understand potential problems and how to solve them. For example, that mysterious clunking noise might be bothersome, but could be as simple to fix as tightening a bolt. Regular maintenance tasks like oil changes and radiator flushes are fairly easy to do if you understand your vehicle and take the time to do the job properly. As an automobile owner, you have a responsibility to keep your car properly maintained at all times. Consider it an investment in your car's future, and remember that it could save a life.

Top 10 reasons why people fail their driving test

Every year more than 100,000 people fail their driving test in the UK. The pass rate is only 43%, with it even lower for first time candidates. Men are more likely than woman to pass first time, yet interestingly they are statistically more dangerous drivers. Nonetheless, the overall pass rate is still very low, particularly when almost everyone who takes their test feels that they can drive. Therefore we’ve compiled the top 10 reasons why people fail their driving test: 1. Acting improperly at road junctions. Get in the right lane when approaching a junction or roundabout. Always indicate. 2. Manoeuvre – reversing around a corner incorrectly. Being confident with your manoeuvres is vitally important. Practice really does make perfect so continue practicing them intensively. 3. Incorrect Steering. Remember to feed the steering through your hands. Do this whenever you drive to ensure that it comes naturally. 4. Manoeuvre – problems with parking. Again practice makes perfect. If in doubt it’s best to be further away from the kerb. 5. Not using gears properly. As a general rule, move into 2nd gear as soon as you move from stationary, 3rd gear at 20mph, 4th gear at 30mph, and 5th gear at 40mph. 6. Under-using your mirrors. This is a common mistake. When it comes to your driving test you really can’t look in your mirrors enough. 7. Driving too slowly. Driving too slowly is seen as a sign of being lacking confidence. Drive at or just under the speed limit. 8. Acting incorrectly when turning right. Indicate early and don’t force your way out by pulling out half way. 9. Hesitating unnecessarily at junctions. Again, unnecessary hesitation is seen as a sign that you lack confidence in your driving ability. However, don’t rush – impatience is worse than hesitation. 10. Moving out correctly from stationary positions. Many people successfully complete a manoeuvre or emergency stop, then relax and forget to pull away correctly. Always indicate, check that the road is clear using your mirrors and by looking back, then pull out.

Buying a used car avoiding the scams

There are a few things that you should always look for if you are buying a used car. Here are the tips that you will need not to get a lemon. 1. Warranty Facts You can sometimes get a car that is still under warranty. If this is the case, check with the warranty (perhaps call the number in the warranty book) to ask if there is anything that you need to do to keep the warranty when you buy the car. This often just involves sending out a letter with the purchase information to the dealership. If you buy from a car dealership, you can often get warranties on used cars. If you want peace of mind when purchasing, consider this option for sure. 2. Warning Signs If the odometer reading doesn’t match the wear and tear of the car, then you should definitely ask for some records. If there is any vagueness about getting the service records for the car, you might want to walk away. 3. Getting a Good Price Because the cost of new cars is going up, there is more of a demand for used cars. This means that some dealerships believe that they can take more money than the car is worth. There are a few things that you need to do to get a good price. Do your research; check online and in used car guides (often available at the local library) to find out what the prices of cars listed online to sell are. If you are uncertain about buying a car online, then don’t. Often purchasing a car online means that it will come from a long distance, and as such, you will have to pay exorbitant shipping or delivery costs, which will not be worth the money that you are saving off the sticker price. 4. Making the Payments Instead of getting a car loan from the dealership and paying the dealer or the seller monthly payments, consider taking out a loan from the bank. You will often get better interest (or financing, as it is called with cars) rates. Go to a bank or credit union before you go shopping for your car. Salespeople will try to talk you into going with the dealership’s rates; you will be better off if you already have your financing set up. Credit unions can sometimes offer even better rates than banks on loans and are an often-overlooked choice. 5. The Information to Get In Ontario, and in some states, you can ask to get the used vehicle information package. This will have the details of the previous maintenance and ownership history of the car. Always do a complete visual inspection of a car. Even if you are buying a car from the internet, buy one from your province or state so that you can go and check it out first. Alternatively, agree with the seller that you have the right to return the car for a full refund (including shipping) if it does not meet your standards. 6. What not to Trust Don’t judge the use of a car by it’s brakes; a dealer can buy new brake pads for less than $10, which is often an easy fix for a car. If a car has rear-door-hinges that are very worn, it might have been used as a taxi, and you should probably find another one. Check the roof of the car to see if there have been any holes filled in; this could have been a sign for a delivery vehicle. They also often have been used a lot. Be careful if a car looks like it has been freshly painted. This could mean that it has been in an accident that is trying to be covered up. 7. And finally… Buying a used car can be a great deal for you. You can save money on the car itself, and you can get a safe means to travel. Remember, the condition of the car is more important than if it has had multiple owners, or even the odometer reading. Good luck shopping!

Peterbilt trucks the birth of a legend

T. A. Peterman had an inner passion: trucks. Despite this fact there was a time when he felt that he couldnt find a truck of his liking and thats when he decided to build his own truck. In 1939 he acquired the Fageol Truck and Coach Factory. Peterman wanted to have a place where he could modify old trucks at his will and this plant served his purpose. He began to envision the standard that he wanted for his trucks, with this concept in mind he built a truck with the best quality ever seen. His design began to give him a reputation. He kept manufacturing trucks and branded them Peterbilt (name of a line of wooden doors that one of his companies manufactured). During World War II, T. A. decided to pursue government contracts for heavy duty trucks instead of assembling combat vehicles. Unfortunately T. A. Peterman died from cancer after the War. Ida, his widow took care of his business affairs. The direction of the company took a different turn in 1946 when five of the companys main employees and outside investors purchased Peterbilt Motors from Ida Peterman for $450 000. L. A. Lundstrum was named President of Peterbilt Motors and their development continued; by 1947 their income surpassed $4 500 000 while trucks were manufactured on a daily basis. Pacific Car and Foundry Company (PACCAR) acquired Peterbilt Motors in 1958 as an unincorporated division. Today T. A. Petermans dream is more alive than ever, Peterbilt continues to progress as new challenges lie ahead. The company maintains Petermans original vision: the manufacture of high quality, innovative heavy duty trucks that surpass customer needs and expectations.

The joys of a bmw car

When it comes to cars, Americans in particular practice extreme brand loyalty. Those who are financially successful often want a car befitting their success; a brand that reflects their appreciation for the finer things in life. When it comes to luxury cars such as this, nothing comes close to the BMW Car. The BMW car had its beginnings in Munich, Germany in the year 1913. The Bavarian Motors Works company (BMW) was the brainchild of Karl Friedrich Rapp who wanted to build a solid, luxury vehicle that was unsurpassed in performance. As each year passed, the BMW experienced a bevy of design changes; but the principles fundamental to the company’s reputation remained the same – superlative craftsmanship and high quality materials. Thought of in the same class as such fine vehicles as Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and Jaguar, the BMW car speaks volumes about luxury, elegance, and comfort. It’s no wonder that its place in the industry has lasted nearly 95 years. The modern BMW car continues to project the same high-quality image and, even today, nearly a century after its inception, BMW continues to be the pinnacle of car ownership for many people. But the BMW car is not exclusive to those with limitless budgets; with a number of designs on the market at varying prices, owning a BMW car is well within the realm of possibility for many buyers. Today’s BMW car offers a full line of vehicles that vary in features and price – everything from the compact I series and the classic 3 series, to the luxurious 5, 6, and 7 series. The modern BMW design has even been incorporated into an SUV model – bringing convenience and comfort along with the luxury and elegance BMW customers have comes to expect. There are some things that never go out of style. The BMW car has a classic quality that transcends time; chances are that even far off in the future the BMW car will still be one of the most desired vehicles on the road.