The Riskiest Driving Habits You Don’t Even Know You Have
By · CommentsWritten by a Guest Blogger
Services like CarInsuranceQuotes.net are constantly reviewing some of the worst driving habits in order to assess the risk we’re putting ourselves in by getting behind the wheel. We all like to think we are good drivers and have habits that are conducive to avoiding accidents and staying healthy, but often our riskiest behaviors are the ones we do without even thinking about them. Here are 10 driving habits that put your life in danger and that you may not even know you have.
1. Talking on the phone
We all know this one – answering or making a cellular call while driving. You can become immersed in a conversation and, if your mouth is engaged, your brain is not. As much as is written about this, it remains a primary cause of many accidents.
2. Texting
Okay, this one should be 1A, but it is even more insidious than talking on your phone while driving. If you are tapping out a text on your phone, where are your eyes fixed? How many hands do you have on the steering wheel? Your eyes definitely aren’t on the road and you cannot possibly have more than one hand on the steering wheel. This one activity has proven to be as dangerous as drinking and driving.
3. Gesturing
We are all people, and it never fails: some of us have bad days occasionally – that’s life. Just because the driver in front of or behind you is using suggestive hand gestures to let you know about it, don’t reciprocate. Road rage is very real and even an innocent can get involved in an escalating situation you cannot control or win.
4. Rolling through stops
Stop signs don’t mean stop-then-go as rapidly as possible. Take a look around on all sides – even look up and down. The car you think is going to stop as he approaches a 4-way stop sign is the one that collides with yours.
5. Rushing at green
Green does mean go – but it doesn’t mean you light the liquid fuel rockets. It means “proceed with caution.” Take a look both ways and make sure someone isn’t in a rush, and running the red light going the opposite direction. Pause for a second before entering the intersection – even on green. Just because you are paying attention doesn’t mean the other guy is.
6. Following to closely
This is akin to the rule of maintaining at least one car length of distance from the car in front of you for each 10 miles-per-hour of speed. Why not make it one-and-one-half car lengths? This safety measure is even simpler – if you can read the license plate – you are too close. Maintaining distance allows you to be able to take control of 2 tons of steel and react, stop, and avoid conditions that can cause harm.
7. Panic braking
You know who you are – the ones that brake for ants crossing the road. This is never a good idea, especially with people’s tendency to multitask while driving. Give yourself lots of room to brake steadily and slowly. This preventative step in accident avoidance is for the “other guy” that likes reading license plates.
8. Taking medications
Know the drugs you are taking and ALL of the side effects. Virtually every medication you can take may affect your performance behind the wheel – this even includes aspirin. The best cure for this is not to take any medications while driving. When this isn’t possible, ask your doctor and pharmacist if there are any concerns about driving while taking that OTC allergy medication that calls itself a non-drowsy formula.
9. Forgoing your seatbelt
Most states have very good laws that make seat belt use mandatory. Don’t buckle-up because you will get a ticket if you don’t. Do it because it can save your life if you are in an accident.
10. Paying attention to passengers
Pay extra attention when you are the driver with one or more passengers in the car. Having a deeply engrossing conversation about the fiber content of the chicken fried rice you just had for lunch is better discussed once you get to your destination. Distractions in any form can be deadly.
Reborn – 2012 Camaro ZL1
By · CommentsAs Lightning McQueen would say, “Speed. I am speed.” Ok, putting Disney-Pixar film Cars quotes aside…if you want raw power to cruise on the real Route 66 take a look at the 2012 Camaro ZL1.
2012 Camaro ZL1
The 2012 Camaro was inspired by the 1969 Camaro ZL1. In 1969, only 69 production vehicles were made…your chances of obtaining a 2012 ZL1 are a little better. Check out HowStuffWorks.com to learn more about the 1969 Camaro ZL1.
Back to the future…or at least 2012. First let’s look at the under the hood specs.
2012 Camaro ZL1 Engine
A 580 Horsepower engine with 556 lb-ft of torque can get this 4,120 lb beast from Zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds…all without manual shifting. But who wants an automatic in a rocket like this? The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual with a short-throw shifter. I guess you will just have to buy one to see if you can beat the Zero to 60 rating that the technologically advanced 6-speed automatic serves up. With either tranny, the 6.2 Liter Supercharged Aluminum V8 is sure to set you planted in the driver’s seat reaching the quarter mile in 12 seconds. While you have the pedal stomped to the floor, you want to keep your eyes on the road. The Head-Up Display will help keep your eyes focused straight ahead. If you do decide to take corners to get the ultimate feel, the Magneto-Rheological Shock system adjusts the suspension at 1000 times per second depending on input from sensors that identify the yaw, dive, squat, pitch, and roll. The Performance Traction Management system will give you the handling you want – on or off the track. If you think all this speed and performance will put too much heat on your engine or tranny…the ZL1 comes standard with factory-integrated auxiliary coolers. For braking, the ZL1 front brakes have, count them, four-piston calipers in the rear and six-piston calipers in the front cooled by integrated brake ducts. The carbon-fiber hood scoop (or more precisely called an air extractor) is not only good looking but also functional. It helps reduce lift by channeling the air that enters the lower grill to escape through the hood. Nice, very nice!
2012 Camaro ZL1 Interior
With an MSRP starting at $54,095 I can’t imagine many Camaro ZL1s will be sitting on showroom floors for very long. The one I looked at was already sold. If you want one, try contacting Derek Ohlert (800-725-5800) or one of the other friendly sales staff at Reliable Chevrolet in Southwest Missouri. They might be able to track one down for you.
Supercharging
By · CommentsWritten by Guest Blogger – Anthony Schwaller, www.streetrod101.com
Streetrod101.com
Question: Some street rod owners have vehicles that are supercharged. What is the definition of supercharging and how is an engine supercharged?
Answer: Most street rod engines are called naturally aspirated. On a naturally aspirated engine, as the piston moves downward on the intake stroke, a vacuum is created inside the cylinder. This vacuum draws air and fuel into the engine. The amount of air and fuel entering the engine is based on the atmospheric pressure. In most cases the amount of horsepower and torque is sufficient for most driving conditions. However, in some cases, especially for high performance and racing conditions, engines are supercharged to get more power.
Supercharging a gasoline engine is accomplished by forcing a greater volume of air and fuel into the cylinders. This means that the engine is not naturally aspirated, it is supercharged. By supercharging an engine, horsepower and torque can be increased from 50%-100%, depending upon the exact design.
The most popular way to supercharge an engine, especially in the street rod industry, is by using a blower. A blower is an air pump placed on top of the intake manifold to increase the volume of air and fuel going into the engine. The most common type of blower is called the Roots-type blower, named after its inventors, Philander and Francis Roots. Roots-type blowers are used by General Motors on their 2 cycle diesel engine design. Often referred to as the 4-71, 6-71 or 8V-71 engine, each had a gear driven Roots-type blower to force increased amounts of air into the diesel engines. A Roots-type blower is considered a positive displacement pump. It pumps a specific volume of air each revolution of its rotors.
Streetrod101.com
Referring to the illustration above, the Roots-type blower used on street rods is placed on top of the intake manifold. There are two rotors, each having three lobes made from aluminum alloys. The rotors also have a slight angle to them from the front to the back to increase volumetric efficiency. Note that some designs use a two lobed rotor. The two rotors are connected by gears (not shown) in front of the blower. On street rods, the gears are driven by a cog belt which runs off a crankshaft pulley as shown above. As the rotors turn, they do not touch each other. There are small clearances between each rotor that keep them from touching. The left rotor turns counter clockwise while the right rotor turns clockwise in the drawing. As the rotors turn, they draw in huge amounts of air and fuel, pressurize it, send it to the intake manifold, and finally to the valves.
One of the disadvantages of a Roots-type blower is that it consumes a large amount of frictional horsepower from the crankshaft. However, the total increase in horsepower and torque is still very high. Operating a supercharged engine produces greater power, but not necessarily better fuel economy.
Also, if a blower is going to be installed on a street rod, many other components also have to be changed. Since there is a large amount of power increase, stronger pistons, gaskets, cylinder heads, valves, piston rings, fuel pump, carburetors, camshaft, etc. must be changed to allow for the increase in air/fuel volume as well as combustion pressures. For example, many supercharged engines have three, four barrel carburetors to handle the increase fuel requirements. Also, the intake manifold needs to be changed so that the blower will fit on top, and also allow lubrication for the rotor bearings.
Want to learn more about street rods, go to www.streetrod101.com.
What makes a NASCAR?
By · CommentsWritten by a Guest Blogger
How a NASCAR car is created
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, otherwise known as NASCAR, was formed in 1947 to give drivers a place in which to race autos that were built at the passenger car assembly lines. They developed rules and formulated a tournament type plan that took the drivers to various speedways to collect points for the season. The champion driver was the one who drove his car in enough events and gathered enough winning points to come out at the top of the point scale by season’s end.
The original stock cars weren’t tough enough to endure the beating they took operating at maximum speeds along bumpy tracks that often became rutted as the race went on. This led to modification rules that have changed over the life of the NASCAR organization. This has allowed for various changes to be made in the bodies and enhancements to the engines to make the races more competitive and exciting.
Today’s cars are built and modified within the strict guidelines set down by the organization, and each car is checked over thoroughly to ensure that all vehicles are in compliance with the rules. The cars are no longer true stock cars, as each component is hand made by racing specialists.
Frame
The frame provides the foundation for the car and must be light, yet strong enough to take the racetrack’s punishment. These unique frames are handmade and surround the driver with thick tubular steel, while the front clip is designed to push the engine down and away instead of into the driver, in case of a collision.
Body
A NASCAR vehicle’s body takes at least 10 full days to create. The body is made using templates approved by the rules committee and is bent into shape by a large steel roller called an ‘English Wheel.’ Each part is then welded to the frame and painted. The roof is assembled to include an important safety feature – flaps that help hold the car down to keep it from flipping over in case of a spin out.
Engine
The engines that power NASCAR cars are quite similar to ordinary street cars, but with some vast modifications. They must be able to run for long periods at top speeds without failing. Most engines are based on a 1960 V-8 design. At 358 cubic inches and able to put out 750 horsepower or more, they are designed for maximum and unrestricted air and gas flow.
Tires
Radial racing tires contain nitrogen instead of air, as this is the NASCAR standard. Nitrogen contains less moisture than air, making it less likely to overheat the tires at high speeds. The tires are made up of compounds that may be different for each track according to the specific surface. Soft tires grip the track better, but don’t last as long as harder compounds. They are made with minimal tread so that the maximum amount of tire has contact with the ground. Visit the Official NASCAR Die-Cast Collectables Website to get a closer look at these amazing vehicles.
HID Lamps: More Light on the Driving Situation
By · CommentsWritten by Guest Blogger
To hear late night comedians tell it, the only trendy automotive upgrades out there are expensive spinning rims. The fact of the matter is that there’s an increasingly popular aftermarket add-on that can actually help you to see and be seen.
HID stands for “high intensity discharge.” Without getting too technical, HID lamps utilize plasma formed from a combination of gas and metal salts, which allows them to throw off more light while consuming less energy. Not surprisingly, they’ve become popular for all kinds of outdoor lighting, including the automotive variety. In fact, you’ve almost for sure have seen them — they throw off a distinctive bluish glow that adds a bit of a cool factor to any car.
They look great but the real safety benefits in terms of visibility are obvious, especially for folks who often drive at night and even more especially for folks who may frequently drive in poorly lit areas. HID lamps are available in pretty much all kinds of autos, definitely including such high end lines as BMW, Mercedes, and Bentleys but also in the more affordable makes.
Mainly because of the safety features, some friends of ours who live in a relatively remote suburban community recently purchased a Honda Civic HID kit for their college age daughter’s car. Though the purchase and installation of these isn’t exactly free, the daughter liked the way they looked and was also a somewhat nervous driver who was afraid to use her high-beams. Seemed like a perfect present.
Our friends found that the Civic HID kit can be purchased for a price that, considering the potential savings on even a very minor auto accident, wasn’t bad. In fact, those friends received a very real payback when, not long after upgrading, their daughter just narrowly avoided hitting a stray German shepherd who had run into her path on a narrow highway near their house. If she had hit the dog, there is a good chance the car would have skidded off the road and into a rather steep ravine. The benefits to the dog, the car, and especially the young woman and her family in terms of a possible injury and a certain huge expense are more than obvious. Nobody is likely to kiss a Honda Civic HID Kit, but our friends felt like doing just that.
Ford and Toyota announced today that they would begin to collaborate on an advanced hybrid system. Why? According to the automakers, to make it more affordable and to bring it to market sooner. This joint project will focus on rear wheel drive SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and light trucks. According to Ford, the system will share similar technology and components.
They have also decided to collaborate on telematics technologies and standards. What is telematics? Telematics is the process of integrating telecommunications and informatics (information processing). Read more about telematics at Wikipedia.org. This collaborating focus will be on developing standards and technologies…the companies insist that they will continue to develop their own end product with their own features.
To read more about the collaboration, go to The Ford Story.
About the Blogger:
Michael Gray is co-author of Auto Upkeep – a basic car care curriculum used by over 500 schools and thousands of homeschoolers in the United States and Canada. You can become a “Fan” of Auto Upkeep at Facebook.com/AutoUpkeep.
You can now manage you Nissan Leaf with your smartphone. You can start battery charging, check how long a charge will take, check the current battery charge level, turn on the heat or A/C on or off, and estimate how many miles your battery is charged for…all from the comfort of your smartphone. Nissan has released the app for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry platforms.
Smartphones are becoming a lifeline to our cars. The days of jumping into your car, starting it up, and then checking all the gauges may be long gone. Now you can check your smartphone while you are eating your morning breakfast and drinking a cup of coffee to make sure your car is ready to go.
About the Blogger:
Michael Gray is co-author of Auto Upkeep – a basic car care curriculum used by over 500 schools and thousands of homeschoolers in the United States and Canada. You can become a “Fan” of Auto Upkeep at Facebook.com/AutoUpkeep.
The Obama administration recently announced new fuel efficiency standards that will take effect from 2017 to 2025. In essence, each manufacturers’ fleet average must achieve 54.5 miles per gallon (MPG). According to the administration, this will save each family $8200 over the life of the vehicle as compared to a similar vehicle purchased in 2010. While also saving approximately 12 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the program, I applaud this step. See complete announcement at Whitehouse.gov.
However, there is a second tier to our oil consumption problem. While increasing fuel economy takes great strides toward oil independence, the other issue not addressed is the fact that the shear numbers of vehicles on the road are increasing. In 1993 there were 198,041,338 total registered highway vehicles in the US, while in 2008 there were 255,917,664 – see Bureau of Transportation Statistics research. So my question is, if we continue to add close to 60 million vehicles to US highways every 15 years, will we still be able to become oil independent with these increased fuel economy standards?
About the Blogger:
Michael Gray is co-author of Auto Upkeep – a basic car care curriculum used by over 500 schools and thousands of homeschoolers in the United States and Canada. You can become a “Fan” of Auto Upkeep at Facebook.com/AutoUpkeep.
Cold Weather: A Challenge for Electric Cars
By · CommentsOriginally from Northern Minnesota (the Ice Box of the Nation, International Falls), I know how cold weather can cause havoc on automobiles. When the thermometer drops, electric cars do not perform as they do in “ideal” conditions. This is what Consumer Reports discovered on the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. While both cars (the Chevy Volt is an extended-range electric while the Nissan Leaf is 100% electric) are filling a small niche for people that want to depend less on gasoline, they have their limitations…especially in cold weather. They report that the Leaf’s 100 mile range is lessened to 65 miles in cold weather and that the Chevy Volt has a difficult time heating up the passenger compartment in cold weather. So if you live in an area where the ice stays on the lake until May and are considering an electric vehicle, you may want to complete research on how adverse temperatures will impact your driving.
I decided to do a Live Chat with Nissan and Chevrolet to find out what they think about cold weather and electric range reduction. Below are the chat transcripts:
—
Nissan
Jesse: Thank you for contacting Nissan LEAF Customer Support, my name is Jesse. How may I help you today Mike?
Mike: Hi Jesse, Can you tell me how the Nissan Leaf’s range is impacted by cold weather?
Jesse: There isn’t anything that has a definitive answer since there will be SO many more variables in that. We have introduced a Cold Weather Package for the LEAF that does include a battery heater (as well as other heated features) to keep it at a comfortable temperature.
Mike: So there is no data on the miles being reduced from the 100 mile range in below freezing temperatures?
Jesse: No there is not. If anything does become available, it will be on the Nissan LEAF webpage.
Mike: Thanks.
—
Chevrolet
Cassie: Hi! How may I help you?
Mike: Hi Cassie, Can you tell me how the Chevy Volt’s electric only range is impacted by cold weather?
Cassie: Thanks for your question! Please allow me a few moments to locate some information for you.
Cassie: Temperature is a factor, because, electric vehicles are less efficient in extremely hot or cold conditions. This is a function of the battery storage capability and also a result of greater use of air conditioning or heat in those extreme conditions. Be aware that over time, all batteries lose storage capacity, which will affect range. In cold temperatures (around 25 degrees Fahrenheit and lower) the engine will start to help warm the interior cabin and the electric drive unit. This will occur even if the vehicle was plugged in prior to driving and if the driver has the heater turned off. The vehicle will turn the engine on and off as needed to control the temperature. The driver will be alerted of these changes based on the cluster changing displays from EV mode to extended range mode.
Mike: Thanks Cassie…So there is no data on the specific number of miles being reduced from the 35 mile range in below freezing temperatures?
Cassie: Unfortunately, I do not have specific information on this in my resources.
Mike: Thanks for your time.
Cassie: You’re welcome. Do you have any other questions that I may assist you with today?
Mike: No thanks.
—
Check out the Consumer Reports video:
Testing electric cars at Consumer Reports test track
About the Blogger:
Michael Gray is co-author of Auto Upkeep – a basic car care curriculum used by over 500 schools and thousands of homeschoolers in the United States and Canada. You can become a “Fan” of Auto Upkeep at Facebook.com/AutoUpkeep.
Revenge of the Electric Car
By · CommentsDid you see the 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”? Director Chris Paine has created a sequel…”Revenge of the Electric Car”. Unlike “Who Killed the Electric Car” (a favorite film of mine) that focused on electric vehicle (EV) activists fighting big corporations, “Revenge of the Electric Car”, according to their website, focuses on industry insiders proving that sometimes change is inevitable. The lead cast members are Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, Bob Lutz – a former General Motors Vice Chair, Nissan’s Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn, and gadget guru Greg Abbott. The film is narrated by prominent actor and EV activist Tim Robbins (who starred in Bull Durham, The Shawshank Redemption, and Mystic River).
I haven’t seen the latest film yet, but it is on my top “to do” list when the film has a public screening near me – (request that the film be shown in your area). If you have a large enough group that would like to get together and see the film (Auto Upkeep Instructors, check this out), you can request a screening brought to you.
About the Blogger:
Michael Gray is co-author of Auto Upkeep – a basic car care curriculum used by over 500 schools and thousands of homeschoolers in the United States and Canada. You can become a “Fan” of Auto Upkeep at Facebook.com/AutoUpkeep.
Learning Basic Car Maintenance Skills
By · CommentsWritten by a Guest Blogger from the UK
A lot of us use a car as our main means of conveyance, and as a result we need to have a car that is reliable and safe. Regular maintenance is definitely a necessity, and checking up on your car is no different from taking yourself or a pet for a check-up. The mechanic/doctor/vet has a quick look around, makes sure everything’s fine and dandy, and then you’re on your way, unless some thing is wrong and they have to help fix the problem.
However, like the doctor and the vet, it’s not always very cheap. Although there are some great companies out there (family ones are always some of the best) offering cheap car maintenance, there’s no harm in learning a few tricks of the trade so you can fix small problems. If you identify issues before they get any worse, you will avoid far larger costs further down the line when a small leak turns into a major problem, and so on.
There are a multitude of ways to learn, and of course the internet is an amazing resource when it comes to picking up new skills, asking questions, and even doing the odd bit of research on parts or tools. However, the best thing you can do with a search engine and a spare half-hour is look up an in-person training course, because simply reading an article will not prepare you for a hands-on experience. Everyone needs to research their chosen hobby or skill, but practical experience is one of the most efficient ways to learn and test your skills.
Additionally, ensure that you have a range of tools and materials with you in the car – storing them under the seats or in the boot (for those readers in the US, the boot is the trunk) is best as they are then easily accessible. This will enable you to replace a flat tire, help fix a leaky hose or broken belt, and generally keep things going, at least until you can get the vehicle to a mechanic. Of course, this should save you some money as you’re then not claiming on your Aviva car insurance policy and can maintain your no claims bonus.
If you can’t fix something, ask for help! There’s no shame whatsoever in taking the car to a mechanic – it’s better to have it looked at and pay a small cost (don’t use car insurance unless it’s a big job that would damage your budget, because a no claims bonus really helps cut down the costs of car insurance over time). So all in all; read up, skill up, practice, and don’t be afraid to hold your hands up and ring a professional. You’ll soon find that taking care of a car is a cheaper, simpler job than you once thought.
Nissan will open up reservations for the Leaf, their flagship pure electric vehicle (Read the News Release) tomorrow May 15th. The Leaf will be delivered to select markets in December with an increasing distribution in the Spring of 2011 and a full rollout in 2012. The specifications for the Leaf include: Zero tailpipe emissions, 100% electric motor (this is not a hybrid), an 80kW AC Motor with speeds up to 90 mph and a range of 100 miles. This is not a concept car. It seats 5 passengers and has 5 doors. To learn more about the Leaf, go to NissanUSA.com.
