How To Drive Comfortably With Jeep Tops

Nothing can compare to the hush rushing of the wind in your face and the soft prickle of the sun as you drive along the coast of crystal clear ocean water. The view and the sensation are simply priceless.

The drive can be more exhilarating without your Jeep top to allow you to drive through the seemingly sunny weather freely and conveniently. However, all that can turn into a nightmare when suddenly the weather changes and bring buckets of rain. If you do not desire to get to your destination soaked and dripping, then you need to be ready for the unexpected weather changes along the way.

This necessitates you to have it ready and handy at all times no matter where you go. Even when going for a quick stop at the grocery store or gas up at the nearest gasoline station, do not leave the house without your Jeep top.

During the warm summer season, most Jeep owners prefer to use the soft top. This kind of top is easy to install and remove. It usually has plastic windows and uses cotton fabric to effectively remove heat and moisture from inside the Jeep. Some Jeep tops also has flip back sunroof to allow you to enjoy the sun and fresh air at every possible opportunity.

However, just like other accessories, your Jeep soft top requires maintenance and special care to make sure that does not wear off prematurely. If you want to avoid early replacement, you can do something to make it last longer than expected that is by regularly cleaning and protecting it from harsh elements that can damage it. It is necessary to clean it when you see any build up of harsh elements like dirt on its top. Aside from cleaning dirt, you need to also clear away all pebbles and small stones to prevent the top from tearing off. Moreover, after driving through a heavy rain, make sure to dry off the top before using it again.

A good way to protect your top is to apply a reliable and effective cleaner or protector. There are many kinds of cleaner and protector that you can find and purchase in the market. All you have to do is to choose the best one that will suit the texture of your soft top and especially the one that will suit your budget. Keep it properly maintained and you do not have to worry of getting soaked in the rain again.

Don't Make Your Vehicle A Target For Thieves

Most people have in the back of their minds some concern about their vehicles being involved in an accident or unexpected breakdown, major inconveniences that leave many people across the country stranded without a vehicle every day. Though the likelihood is often ignored, theft represents another major threat to vehicles owners. In fact, www.nicb.org reports that a vehicle is stolen in the United States every 25.5 seconds; a telling statistic that reminds us why we should take precautions to protect our vehicles against thieves who are waiting for the moment we let our guards down. Here we examine some precautions vehicle owners can take to reduce the likelihood that their vehicle will be targeted by a thief.

1) Never leave keys in the ignition. Neglect of this seemingly obvious piece of advice results in numerous effortless car thefts across the country. Even a quick thirty second run into a convenience store or your home is ample time for your car to disappear into the hands of a thief. Always take your keys with you when you leave your vehicle.

2) Lock all vehicle doors, all the time. Simply locking the doors to your vehicle may be enough to deter a thief who is looking for an easy target. Keeping vehicle doors locked is advised not only when your vehicle is parked, but when you are driving as well to protect against carjacking. If a person approaches your vehicle while you are in it, drive away immediately.

3) Keep windows closed completely when parked. Even a slightly open window can be enough to give a thief easy access to your vehicle, and may be the simple cue that attracts a thief to your vehicle in the first place.

4) Keep valuables out of your vehicle, or at least out of view. If you must leave valuable items in your vehicle—or even items that may appear valuable to a thief—make sure to lock them in the trunk or otherwise out of sight. Anything that could entice a thief to target your vehicle should be considered a valuable item. Purses, wallets, jewelry, electronics, briefcases, laptops, shopping bags or other containers that may be perceived to hold valuable items should never be left in clear view from outside the vehicle. Hiding valuables also includes removing the face of a detachable face CD player if you have one.

5) Utilize an alarm system. An alarm system can be a valuable deterrent to a thief seeking an easy target. A wide range of vehicle alarms are available, from the familiar audible alarm system to modern tracking systems that provide authorities with information about your vehicle’s location in the event that it is reported stolen.

6) Park in well lighted and heavily traveled areas. Car thieves seek out environments conducive to committing their crimes unnoticed, such as poorly lit areas with little to no passersby. Parking your vehicle in a well lit, populated location can reduce the chances that a thief will target your vehicle for theft.

Precautions to prevent your vehicle from being stolen should not be overlooked. Car thieves are driven by the profits they can make by selling your vehicle, disassembling and selling its individual parts or the possibility of using your vehicle as an instrument to commit other crimes. Identity theft is another viable threat when a thief obtains access to all of the documents and information within your vehicle. Complying with the simple precautions above can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of car theft.

Article source : Free Articles Zone

10 Ways To Make Car Fuel Last Longer

Fuel prices are steep and always rising. Car owners need to find ways to make their car fuel last longer. If you can squeeze a few more miles out of every gallon imagine the savings you can make on fuel costs. The world is constantly finding out ways to use transportation that is affordable and eco-friendly. There are solar battery powered cars as well as hybrid cars in use. However the majorities are still using petrol or diesel powered vehicles.

Whether you drive a two seat car, economy car or a sedan or a sports model that runs on gas you need to master ways in which you can make fuel last long. Here are a few tips given by automobile experts that will give an increase in miles per gallon (MPG):

1. Read driving tips give by the AAA. Drive at optimal fuel efficacy speeds and use the right gears at the right time.

2. Keep the car serviced and in top mechanical condition. Learn how to listen to the car and diagnose any knocks or strange sounds.

3. Ensure that the car air filter is clean. Fuel economy is greatly enhanced with a clean air filter. When an air filter gets clogged it blocks air flow and reduces engine efficacy. So remove the filter and hold it up to check if you can see light through it. Use a filter that can be cleaned and is better for the environment.

4. Always ensure that tires are in good condition and that they are properly inflated. Use the parameters recommended by the car manufacturer and make it a point to check tire pressure whenever you fuel the car.

5. Watch the speed fuel economy decreases with increased speeds. So drive within the speed limits and watch the difference in fuel consumption.

6. Try not to speed and brake constantly. Driving at a steady pace keeps shifting to a minimum and aids fuel economy. Ever watch how trucks drive at a constant pace? They don’t brake and speed like cars do and yet arrive at a destination in the same time frame. When you brake to a stop and restart the car much more fuel is used.

7. Learn all about acceleration and revs. Stopping and starting hurts the car and fuel use. If your car is an automatic accelerate moderately and allow the transmission to shift gear smoothly. Otherwise shift gear early so that the engine does not go wrong. Slow down if you see a stop light changing well in advance so that you don’t have to brake suddenly.

8. Use the air conditioning sparingly. At lower speeds the AC will gobble fuel. So get used to air from the outside. Enjoy the breeze and roll down the windows.

9. For long road trips used recommended stock wheels. They offer greater fuel efficiency than wider cooler looking tires
10. When you buy a car don’t go for looks look at aspects of fuel efficiency and mechanics.

Log on to the internet and keep abreast with reviews and tips given by automobile gurus on saving fuel and increasing the efficiency of the car. Websites like that of the AAA and road safety police also have great recommendations for motorists.

Drive happily and save fuel.

Article source : Free Articles Zone

Ensure Your car stays Young Even After 150000 Miles

Automobiles were always built to last and that is the reason why we see antiques manufactures centuries ago still running and not just in museums. If you take good care of your car it can stay young well past 150000 miles and this is not true only for Japanese cars.

Be a parent to your car and nurture it well
1. Be tuned in to the car and learn to recognize coughs, sputters, and knocks. This will help you get a problem fixed well before it becomes big.

2. Drive the car with care and avoid dents, scratches, and bangs. Always drive carefully and follow rules.

3. Follow the maintenance schedule stringently. Create a maintenance minder for the car and pencil it into your schedule or diary. Better still get a contract with the garage and let their customer service people remind you. Get parts replaced on time. Get the car tuned and keep an eye on mileage and time.

4. Create a car maintenance and repair fund in your financial planning. If you save small amounts regularly the repair bill will not scare you into buying a new car. Preparing for contingencies will ensure that you don’t need a credit card advance or loan. It will keep you well out of the debt trap.

5. Always use parts provided by manufacturers. Never resort to using substandard parts in the car. And try not to delay maintenance servicing or parts replacements.

6. Keep the car spick and spank and learn how to fight rust. The World Wide Web has several websites hosted by the AAA, car enthusiasts, as well as manufacturers that have tips, schedules, and articles as guidelines for car owners who care.

7. Drive the car gently don’t ride it rough. If you want to be a racer get a car suited for that and be ready to half the life of the car.

8. Read the car owner’s manual and manufacture’s website. Be informed and read car blogs and forums where car enthusiasts share information. Learn all about the car and how to maintain it. Once in a while get a friend who is careful to drive the car and tell you if he notices anything wrong….a wobble, knock, or sounds.

Always park your car in a safe spot. Keep in clean. Know all about weather proofing and more. If you care the car will stay young and working well past 150000 miles and save you a lot of money which you will spend when buying a new car. Imagine no loans or interest payments.

The World Wide Web is a knowledge highway and is replete with driving tips and car maintenance tips. Find websites that are relevant to your model of car and store them as favorites. Watch car shows, read car magazines and know how to take care of your car which will take care of you.

Article source : Free-Article-Zone.Com

Car Color Trivia

The color of car a driver chooses reflects their personality and perhaps their favorite color. But the choice of color in a vehicle can be much more important as well.

According to a study by researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, silver cars are 50 percent less likely to be involved in a crash resulting in a serious injury as compared to white cars. The least safe colors are brown, black, and green according to Reuters. While, yellow, gray, red and blue cars ranked in the middle range.

According to optometrists, red is the most difficult to see color. Red is the most controversial of colors. Many drivers claim that by driving a red car they get stopped less for speeding and have less accidents. On the other hand, red car drivers complain that because they drive red cars they are stopped more often for speeding and are moving targets for accidents.

White is actually the easiest color to care for. Half of the white car drivers claim that white cars don't look dirty as quick as colored cars, while the other half complain that they have to wash the car more often just to keep them looking clean. Black, red and most other dark colors absorb more ultraviolet rays than light colored cars so they are more susceptible to sun damage. At night white is the most visible and red is seen as black.

Owners of both red and black cars say the interior warms up faster than in other colored cars. This is due to the absorption of heat rays from the sun. Depending on season and locale this may be good or not so good.

Accident statistics show that gray cars are the most invisible in foggy conditions. Lime yellow is best seen on cloudy days and in snowy winter conditions.

No matter what color the car is, keeping a car in excellent working order and keeping it clean are the most important for safety concerns.

Article source : ValuableContent/Marilyn Pokorney

Cleaning Rims With Pressure Washer

Some people give advice that you shouldn't wash your rims with a pressure washer. Our experience has been that you indeed can use a power washer without causing any damage to your wheel. Just use a washer that can have its pressure adjusted.

You may have discovered that cleaning your car rims by hand can be pretty difficult, but the job can be made a lot easier by properly using a pressure washer. Cleaning rims using a pressure washer can be superior in eliminating the tough stains of ugly caked-on brake dust and grease from your wheels.

If you don’t own a portable pressure washer, you'll be able to buy one at very affordable prices online or at your neighborhood home improvement store. To do a really good cleaning job you should also purchase a good, non abrasive rim cleaner. There are many top quality brands available online.

It only takes a little bit of rim cleaning solution to effectively clean rims in conjunction with a power washer.

Here's an easy step by step method.

Step back a couple of feet and a bit off to the side of the rim then rinse the rim from about 8 inches away. Be sure to spray into the crevices and spray from different angles.

Spray the rim using a circular motion around the outside of the wheel and be sure to rinse the tyre as well.

Apply tyre cleaning solution onto the tyre. Rinse the whole tire this time from about 5 inches away using the pressure washer. Now spray the rim with rim cleaner generously, following label directions. Usually you'll have to leave it sit on the rim for a few minutes to lift the debris. Rinse the cleaner from the rim from about 8 inches away with the pressure washer.

Note:
Always clean the rims before you clean your tyres and only clean your wheels after you've cleaned your car body. You don't want all that dirt from the body washing back onto your clean rims.

Dry your rims with an old bath towel. Optionally you can apply a light coat of car wax which will keep your rims clean longer and make your next washing easier by reducing the amount of dust that will "stick" to your rims.

Article source: http://www.valuablecontent.com/ /Bob Martin

My Cold Engine Won't Start

Starting a car with a cold engine is easier said than done, and there are times it can be a real frustration particularly if you live in the hills or areas that get exceptionally cold. Getting late for work, missing deadlines, not being able to drive the kids to school are just some of the things that happen when your car refuses to start due to cold engine. How to avoid this from happening?

Cold weather will come; that's for sure and inevitable. The trick is to not let cold engines stop you from driving your car without hassles.

Firstly, is it because cold weather affects liquid evaporation. When it is cold, petrol evaporates less, making it more difficult to burn. By the time petrol burns sufficiently, it is already too burnt for the car to use properly.

Secondly, a cold engine might have problems in starting because oil happens to get thicker in cold weather. Oil, just like any liquid, changes consistency when exposed to very low temperatures. The oil then may not properly circulate in the car engine.

But oil is not the only problem, as car batteries are affected too by cold weather. Since batteries function through chemical reactions, cold weather can severely hamper those necessary chemical reactions, making it hard for you to start your car. You end up starting the engine futilely as the batteries struggle to spark a chemical reaction.

When these three difficulties occur at once, then it becomes clear that you really won't be able to start your car anymore. What to do then?

Spray ether into the engine to help evaporate the petrol quickly and help your engine to start. Opt for thin Synthetic Oil which has better resistance from coagulating in the cold. Also, park your vehicle inside a garage where it's warm and sheltered. Leaving it out in the cold is a sure-fire way to deaden your engine.

Flex Fuel : Will You Bite?

FFV: flexible fuel vehicle. Are you interested in reducing your fuel costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and stopping our dependency on foreign oil? If so, ethanol may be the way to go. E85 is the "new" fuel source giving drivers an alternative to overpriced hybrids and clanky diesels.

All the talk about gas-electric hybrid vehicles is overlooking another area where fuel economy can be realized. No, I am not talking about diesel engines and I am not even thinking about hydrogen power. Instead, corn powered vehicles are coming into their own. That’s right, ethanol, a fuel that has a history going back a full century, may be the fuel of the future. Is ethanol a good choice for a fuel source? I’ll let you be the judge of that!

Back during the days that Henry Ford was building cars, he designed his Model “T” to run on ethanol, a fuel that is typically derived from corn. His idea was to give the driver a choice between gasoline and this particular alternative source of energy. Historically low gas prices however, made the need for ethanol pretty much a moot point at that time. Why fuel up with ethanol when gas was being sold for a quarter or less?

For its part, the U.S. government has long held that ethanol is a good fuel source and has mandated that vehicles built since the early 1980s, have the capacity to run on E10 ethanol –a blend consisting of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Since the 1990s another type of ethanol, E85, has been receiving plenty of press coverage. This fuel is made up of 85% ethanol and just 15% gasoline. That’s right, a truly alternative fuel source derived from corn.

With E85, only specially designated models can run on this type of fuel. No, they aren’t some odd looking vehicles like the Honda Insight, instead they are every day vehicles including the Dodge Durango, Mercedes C240, Chevy Silverado, and other select models specially outfitted to accept E85. These FFVs, or flexible fuel vehicles, are distinctive models that can run on E85 or on unleaded gasoline. They can also run on any blend of ethanol/gasoline from an 85% ethanol/gasoline mix on down.

E85 does affect fuel mileage for the typical vehicle with fuel economy dropping as much as 10% depending on the model. At face value this can look like a bad thing until you consider the following:

1. E85 fuel prices are much lower than straight gasoline. Depending on the station, as much as one third lower. So, even with the reduced fuel economy many drivers are saving as much as 25% on their weekly fuel bills.

2. E85 burns clean. Remember, this is a chiefly corn based product. With only a minimal amount of gasoline used, E85 is better for the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

3. E85 reduces our dependency on foreign oil. The biggest problem in America today when it comes to energy consumption is our overdependence on foreign oil. E85 is developed in the U.S. thanks to our abundant and extensive corn belt. By using E85, you help farmers in America’s heartland instead of oil rich sheiks in the Middle East.

Currently, in some areas of the country E85 stations are few and far between. However, as the number of E85 models being built continues to grow and consumers accept E85 as an alternate fuel source, more stations will be built. E85 availability is high in the middle of the country so motorists have more choice in there. Regardless of pump availability, a FFV can run on straight gasoline when E85 is not available.

So, will you take the “bite” and purchase an FFV? Perhaps a few years ago you wouldn’t have considered one, but with rapidly rising fuel prices, worries over global warming, and frustration over our dependency on foreign oil, an FFV is worthy of everyone’s consideration.

Visit http://www.maximumautoparts.com for more.

Simple Tips To Save Gas

To most people, the most obvious way to save gas is buying a new car that gets better gas mileage. But before you head to the dealer to make your trade-in, you should know that there are easier ways to save money on gasoline. Do you stop short at traffic lights and then make a jack-rabbit start? Do you weave in and out of traffic? Driving more sensibly can save you 5%-33% on your gasoline costs. Driving the speed limit can save you another 7%-23%. It is estimated that every 5 miles you drive above 60 miles per hour is comparable to spending an additional $0.20 on gas.

Using your cruise control can also save gas since it regulates your speed. Additionally, using your overdrive gears when climbing hills can help. Excessive idling wastes fuel as well so you might want to consider turning off your car if you need to wait for someone or are completely stopped in traffic. If you're carrying around a lot of junk in your trunk, now is the time to clean out your car. Every extra pound you carry in your vehicle reduces your gas mileage. This formula applies more accurately to small vehicles rather than larger ones, but the total savings of reducing the weight in your car by 100 pounds is 1-2%. Keeping your car properly maintained can improve your gas mileage as much as 19%.

Visit your mechanic to check if your car is properly in tune and that there are no major mechanical problems detracting from your gas mileage. Discuss a schedule for changing your air filter, as this can improve mileage by up to 10%. Perhaps the simplest mileage savings comes from keeping your tires properly inflated. Purchase a tire gauge at your automotive supply store and learn to use it!

Many employers are now offering their employees the ability to telecommute and work from their home offices. Telecommuting just one day out of ten will obviously save you 10% on your gas costs. Carpooling, ride-sharing and public transportation are also ways to save gas, but these things may not an option for you due to scheduling conflicts. You can still save gas by avoiding rush hour commuting, combining errands into one trip and arranging your route to avoid backtracking. Many families are unwilling or unable to give up their annual driving vacation, but can save money by making sure their car is properly maintained as described above and by driving the speed limit.

Additionally, using a top carrier causes drag and can reduce efficiency by as much as 5% in addition to the reductions caused by carrying extra weight.

Visit http://iautomotiveworld.com/ Ito learn more.

Avoid Highway Robbery by Using The New Crude-WATER

HERE'S THE BAD NEWS. Engines waste gasoline! Up to 80% of the high-priced gas that you pump doesn't get you anywhere because it goes UNBURNED to the catalytic converter. That means you are getting 0 MPG from most of the over-priced gasoline you pump into your tank.

WHY DO COMBUSTION ENGINES WASTE SO MUCH GAS? That's what they are designed to do, "WASTE GAS" because every second of every day, everywhere in the world, every single gas and diesel engine on the planet puts money into the deep pockets of Big Oil. Automotive and fuel technology has been deliberately held back, and people have been kept in the dark about AMAZING inventions and discoveries, in order to sell us lots of gasoline.

Sorry, but that's how it is. For example, the gas could be preheated and better formulated for better combustion, but it's not. The fuel vapor droplets could be smaller for efficient combustion ,but they're not. The pre-set computer-controlled air-to-fuel ratio could be more economical, but it's not. The exhaust could be reprocessed to contribute to mileage (there are patents on that), but it's not. Cars could be using a better carburetor design, but they're not because the patent for a 100 MPG carburetor was bought and buried years ago. Cars could be running completely on water fuel, but they're not because those patents were also bought and then buried along with the inventor (however, the patents ran out recently!). Even the hybrids that Big Auto is selling at luxury car prices don't optimize gasoline combustion and consumption.

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. You can do something about it, by using ENERGY from WATER. It sounds impossible, but this is something that none of our trusted sources of information, TV, radio, teachers, movies, professors, magazines, dad, scientists, books, Sesame Street, have told us about. Why? See the bad news, above.

I mentioned amazing inventions and discoveries. Many of them have very sophisticated technical patents on them. But the kind of water energy system I am talking about, the one that is affordable and do-able by us in our cars (not by buying a Big Auto hybrid with a luxury car pricetag), is a do-it-yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with basic tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home for $20 to $200 worth of parts and installed in your car, or truck on a weekend.

It's a 90-year-old technology that has been revived and developed into a simple, affordable, SAFE system based on low-cost hardware. It works like this: The main component of the low-cost water energy system is an electrolyzer, a container of water with electrodes in it. The electrolyzer takes a tiny bit of electricity from your car. The electricity "splits" water into hydroxyl gas and feeds it immediately to the engine cylinders. The improved air/fuel mix gets very efficient combustion.

Remember I said that wasted fuel can be as much as 80%? In other words, even though you have paid $3.50 or more per gallon, you are only getting performance from as little as 20%--two gallons out of every ten, of the gas you pay good money for! It puts a whole new complexion on the phrase "highway robbery." Our heads are spinning from rising gas prices. Now imagine instead that ALL your gasoline is working for you, it's actually turning your wheels and not just being turned into carbon deposits on your engine or exhaust from the catalytic converter. What would it be like for ALL that gasoline to be giving you mileage? It would be a WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMICAL, that's what!

That's what happens when you add the energy from water. SEEING THE SEA OF ENERGY Wondering how much energy is in water? One gallon of water converts to approximately 1,833 gallons of combustible gas. One observer noted that a gallon of water in his water energy system lasted for about 2,700 miles. "Energy from water" is hard to believe because we are misled by the appearance of water when it's liquied. It looks so, well, WET and noncombustible.

But if we could sea the sea of energy in the water, zillions of hydrogen and oxygen atoms ready to break out and be combustible gas under the right conditions, it would be easy to conceive that, indeed, water can be "burned" in an engine, thus taking advantage of a new "crude" ,plain water. Why aren't scientists telling us about this? Why doesn't it make big headlines? More bad news. Some of them just don't know about it, and some are paid to tell us about anything

A crude example is a solar panel in sunlight. We get electrical power out of the panel but we do not put the sunlight into the panel-the sunlight arrives on its own. This example is simple as we can see the sunlight reaching the solar panel. "If, instead of the solar panel, we had a device which absorbs some of the energy that Quantum Mechanics observes and then gives out, say, electrical power, would that be so different? This reaction is based on the fact that we cannot see this sea of energy. We have been living and driving with danger for decades,it's called GASOLINE! Cars and trucks are planet-polluting bombs on wheels! But we are accustomed to it and we don't blow ourselves up. But in the water energy system, I know, you think we're talking about tanks of compressed hydrogen in the car, but that's not how it is done!

Here's the beauty of it: Hydrogen is already compressed in plain water! All we do in a water for fuel system is UNCOMPRESS and USE it immediately, on-demand, in the engine! No hydrogen bombs on board. Just a container of distilled water! And the exhaust is WATER! You split water, you burn it, you get fantastic mileage, you get a little water left over. GREEN TECHNOLOGY You can't get much greener than this unless you go for an engine designed to run completely on water, like the one that was designed and proven by Stanley Meyers when he drove across the United States on approximatelyconstructing and installing water energy systems. These people save gas, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy smoother-running engines and greatly reduced emissions; be the proud owner of a Water Hybrid Vehicle.

WHAT CAN A WATER ENERGY SYSTEM REALLY DO FOR US? How much will gas cost the next time you fill your tank? A water energy system won't lower the price of ALL 28 gallons of water. This is GREEN technology, and you will not be causing any damage to the car or the engine, your warranty will most likely be intact AND the government will owe you money for going green!

INSTALL WATER ENERGY SYSTEM, there are hundreds of people around the world who are gasoline. It will lower the price of YOURS.