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Car Driving Tips – Accelerate Through Curves For Better Traction

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Of the many car driving tips that might be offered, this one isn’t intuitive – accelerate through curves to gain better traction. It seems that acceleration on a curve would cause a vehicle to loose traction and fishtail. It does if you apply too much, but limited acceleration improves traction when taking a curve.

To understand this, let’s first look at traction. Then let’s see how a vehicle wants to behave when rounding a curve, and then let’s put the two together.

Traction is…

Traction is necessary for travel in the direction we desire. When we accelerate away from a stop, the vehicle moves because it has traction with the road. It moves away from the curb smartly if we accelerate more because greater acceleration provides more traction – up to the point where we’ve lost traction because of applying too much power to the drive wheels.

If we’re on snow and ice, nearly any hard acceleration will cause the wheels to slip and the vehicle to slide in ways that make it behave more according to momentum and gravity than in the direction in which we’re steering. If we accelerate lightly, then we’re likely to move in a manner and direction that we expect.

Think in Term of Vectors…

Now, think of vehicle travel in terms of a single vector pointing in the direction your vehicle wants to travel. When you’re driving straight, there is a vector pointing directly ahead of you because your drive wheels are pushing or pulling you in that direction. Easy enough to understand.

Now, imagine the vector when you’re coasting around a curve. It’s pointing ahead of you and towards the outside of the curve because you’re going forward yet momentum wants to take you off the road. Accelerate hard and you lose traction and slide in the direction of momentum – the vector points hard to the outside of the curve as you slide off the road. It’s the same as if you had hit ice on a curve – you lose traction and the vehicle goes where momentum and gravity want it to go.

Putting it Together…

In light of the example above where we lost traction on a curve, it’s easy to understand that more traction will keep us going in the direction we desire (simply because a loss of traction had the opposite effect). We also discovered that increased acceleration provides enhanced traction – up to a point.

Therefore, if we accelerate just a bit, then we’re taking advantage of enhanced traction and effectively redirecting the vector to point more towards the desired direction of travel and away from the outside of the curve. This is why experienced motorcyclists will slow down a bit going into a curve and accelerate through the curve – it helps them “stick” to the road with more traction.

Try it Yourself…

Here’s an experiment to prove the point. Drive with a steady foot around a curve you travel often and note how it feels. Then the next time drive around the curve, simply coast a bit and see how it feels. Then, the next time you drive around the curve use slight acceleration. You’ll notice the difference between the three approaches, and it will convince you that limited acceleration promotes traction in a curve.

Again, of all the driving tips, this one isn’t intuitive, but it’s true that acceleration through curves provides a wider margin of safety because of improved traction.

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Source by Clair Schwan

Why a Car Engine Suddenly Blows Smoke

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When your motor vehicle suddenly blows smoke there is NO need to panic. Why? Because as bad as it may seem it may not necessarily indicate that there is any real significant problem with you vehicle.

HERE IS WHY A CAR WILL BLOW SMOKE

Smoke from your car engine usually occurs because it may be worn. There is a possibility for a worn engine to blow smoke because oil leaks into the cylinders and around worn valve guides. Or, it could be because of worn oil rings and/or both.

The colors of exhaust smoke that could billow out from your car tailpipe:

* Black exhaust smoke.

* Grey exhaust smoke.

* White exhaust smoke.

Under these types of circumstances, white smoke will be produced. The process of blowing white smoke is oil burning. This is totally different from fuel burning which produces black smoke.

Black smoke is a rich fuel problem.

When you start your car after the engine has been at rest for hours you drag white smoke, and the problem could be worn valve guides.

WORN VALVE GUIDES

Here is what happens… when the motor car is at rest, oil that lies on the cylinder leads leaks into the engine cylinders. Since the engine is at rest, the oil sufficiently gathers and causes momentarily smoke as soon as the engine is again started.

There is NO need to get worried over this because as long as the smoking engine does not affect your cars spark plugs there is a good chance you will still pass emission tests. The only downside is you probably can not use your car safety reasons and to avoid getting a fine for excessive smoke coming from your car.

Under these circumstances, it is probably best to take your automobile to a reputable mechanic to fix the problem.

CHECK YOUR MUFFLER SYSTEM

Sometimes, the problem may be caused by other parts like the cars muffler. If this is the case you may only need to replace your muffler which is relatively inexpensive. It is a good idea to always get a professional opinion when it comes to checking out your automobile exhaust system.

Why?

Because there are many components which make up the entire exhaust system and while some are relatively inexpensive a few of the parts can cost you big dollars. Shop around for the very best price and check online for comparison costs.

Remember that it all depends on the make and model of your vehicle as to the actual cost and availability of the proper part(s) for your exhaust system.

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Source by Frank Keith Sullivan

A Guide to Fuel Injector Cleaning – Methods and Precautions

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The purpose of fuel injector cleaning is to remove the buildup of fuel varnish deposits and contaminants that clog injectors and affect their operation. They need periodic cleaning for optimal operation. Experts recommend fuel injector cleaning every 25,000 to 30,000 miles or once a year.

Fuel injector cleaning not only improves functionality but also helps restore and improve engine’s performance, reduce emissions and improve fuel economy.

One good thing in fuel injector cleaning is you can do it all by yourself, without the help of an auto mechanic. However, if the injector is badly clogged, you may need to take his help. Let’s take a look at the different methods used in the cleaning.

Method#1: Using fuel injector cleaning kits

Fuel injector cleaning kits are available at any auto supply store. Before connecting the kit, locate the fuel injector and take measures to prevent fuel entering the injectors. You can do this either by using tubing to bypass the fuel injector so that the fuel returns to the tank or by removing the fuel pump and blocking the fuel return line. Once it is done, disconnect the fuel pressure regulator.

Now, connect the cleaning kit to the fuel input port and remove fuel cap of the tank to release any pressure in the tank that may built up by the kit. Open the cleaning kit’s valve till its pressure value matches with the injection pressure value (you can find injection pressure value of your car’s engine from the manual).

Once the cleaning kit reaches the required pressure value, start the engine so that the cleaning solvent passes from the kit through the injector and removes the dirt and debris that clogged the fuel injector. This will take a few minutes. Once it is done, switch off the engine, remove the kit and reconnect the fuel lines, fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator. With this, the cleaning job is done. You can notice significant difference in your engine’s performance after the clean-up.

Method#2: Adding cleaner additives to the fuel

Adding cleaner additives, also called as detergents or deposit-control additives, to the fuel helps to control the dirt and debris accumulation in the fuel tank. These additives help reduce the volatility of lighter components of the fuel. Though, the fuel from gas stations do contain certain additives, some suppliers may not add the required amount of detergents; some even use use low cost, less effective alternatives. So, you need to add additional additives to fuel.

One of the commonly used best additives is polyetheramine (PEA). Though it is a bit expensive compared to others, it is proved to be effective in keeping the injectors, valves and combustion chamber clean and it does not require any additional fluidizers.

Method#3: Manual cleaning

On-car cleaning may not be that effective for a badly clogged injector because it cannot pass the cleaning solvent during the cleaning cycle. So, when on-car cleaning doesn’t work you can for off-car cleaning, which involves removing the injector from the vehicle and cleaning it. However, this

has to be done at service center.

Off-car cleaning requires special equipment and takes more time compared to on-car cleaning. However, this is more effective as it cleans each part of injector thoroughly. Moreover, it also allows flow-testing that checks the spray pattern and volume of the injectors to confirm that they are cleaned properly.

Precautions

• Make sure to disconnect pressurized fuel connection

• Ensure there are no fuel leaks or high pressure solvents in the engine while it is operating. These solvents are highly flammable.

• Wear safety goggles for eye protection

• Close all open sources of ignitions such as sparking plugs

• Avoid contact with cleaning solvent

• Use only the cleaning kits specific to fuel injector cleaning. Don’t use other cleaners like carburetor cleaner, brake cleaner, etc.

• Don’t overuse fuel additives as they may eventually damage expensive catalytic converters

These are the popular methods used for fuel injector cleaning. If you experience clogged injectors frequently, it is better to replace them with good quality injectors that provide optimal performance for longer time.

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Source by Nate Rodnay

Headlights – Conventional Vs High Intensity Discharge (HID) Systems

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Nothing is worse than driving down the road and not being able to see where you are going. You always notice the difference when you have just changed the bulbs in your headlights. The question is what the difference is between conventional and High Intensity Discharge (HID) head lights. Some people want the brightness the HID lights offer, but are unsure if they are really worth the price. Others simply do not know how they will be able to install the new technology in their car. This is why you should get to know as much as possible about the two lights.

Conventional Head Lights

The lights which people have been driving with over the past few decades are considered by most to be the best lights for your car. The low price of the head lights is one of the biggest driving factors of what people like about the lights. You can get away with a light bulb change for less than $20 in most cases. It is also possible for you to be able to quickly and easily change out the bulbs yourself right in the parking lot of the auto parts store.

HID Head Lights

The HID lights first made their appearance with the luxury models and with the tuner crowd. The lights are easily identifiable by their blue hue. The head lights are much more expensive than the standard bulbs. It is also not recommended you change the bulbs for the lighting system on your own. Most people are cautioned that the power used by the bulbs can create a danger of you being electrocuted even with the power supply being disconnected from the bulb. The two main reasons why people like the bulbs is because of the intense light they offer and the long life they offer.

Comparison of the Two Head Lights

When asked if there is really a difference between the two kinds of bulbs, most people will tell you that to see the difference all you have to do is drive a car with HID bulbs in it. The clarity at which you can see everything which is coming at you is a night and day difference. Instead of being able to see a short arc of the road in front of you, you can see everything. This is because of the hue of the light as well as the intensity of the beam which is being broadcast by the bulb. It is also fair to point out that while the HID bulbs will cost more, they have the ability to last for five years without the intensity being decreased.

The kind of head lights you prefer will depend on your personal preferences. It is a good idea to check out the two in a driving comparison before you make a decision. People who are die-hard conventional light fans have been converted to using HID lights after driving one time with the brighter lights. You owe it to yourself to try the lights out in a real world test.

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Source by Tommy Nickelson

Material Handling Companies Guide 101

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Material handling or bulk material handling is a branch of engineering that deals in designing equipments for transporting materials in large quantities in a planned and effective way. In simple terms material handling is all about creating the products that help in moving things from one place to another. However various other tasks such as assembly line management, waste handling and storage etc. also fall within the purview of material handling. All in all the material handling systems have several strands working collectively to make business functions more efficient and cost-effective. As technology is advancing day by day the techniques in material handling are also increasing.

Today there are quite a few material handling companies that offer material handling equipment and material handling systems. One of the recognized names in this area is FedEx. FedEx Freight comprises of three freight companies that have generated incredible and revenue of $29.4 billion in 2005. Everyday FedEx handles around 65000 shipments and there are more than 27,000 people working in the company. Right now FedEx aims at enhancing its market share by offering “just in time” service.

Another remarkably performing material handling company is Clark. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Clark Material Handling Company or CMHC manufactures forklift trucks. Recently the company has come up with a collection of around 20 different models of forklift trucks. Clark is till date credited with having invented the world’s first truck with a hydraulic lifting mechanism, the Truclift, in 1920. Truclift is the forerunner to contemporary forklift trucks.

Nestled in Southern California is the holistic solutions provider in logistics, Logistics Edge Company. Along with transportation and shipping warehousing, storage, fulfillment, assembly, labeling and packaging are other Third Party Logistics solutions provided by the company. The company offers facilities for online inventory tracking and provision for customized warehousing solutions. Logistics Edge makes use of latest web based software applications and warehouse management software systems. Moreover the company has an ideal location on the West coast. This feature is not just beneficial for the company in terms of easy access to many significant ports but is also a boon for its clients as the services of the company are offered at affordable rates.

In case of companies manufacturing material handling systems, the SSI Schaefer Company ranks first. SSI Schaefer Company is globally acclaimed to be the world’s largest supplier and manufacturers of best quality material handling systems. Storage and workshop equipment, waste management systems, commissioning and conveying engineering solutions, planning and logistics systems, office furniture etc., are the various other tasks handled by the company.

Another certified manufacturer of material handling equipment is Banyitong Science and Technology Developing Company in Yaohai Industrial Park, China. The company has earned great recognition in the making of hydraulic and electric stackers, drum handlers, electric pallet trucks, electric tow tractors etc. Besides these non-standard products as per the need of customer are also made here.

Not to forget is the Yale Materials Handling Corporation (YMHC). Being a part of the Nacco Materials Handling Group (NMHG), YMHC is a global organization that is a leading provider of high quality performance lift trucks.

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Source by Mansi Aggarwal