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Drivers License Numbers – How to Search for a Person with a Drivers License Number

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Sometimes you may have to find someone who has, for whatever reason, made it hard to find them. It may be that they simply moved on without a forwarding address, but it also may be that they are deliberately hiding. It does not matter – hard to find is hard to find.

The reason you are searching for someone does not matter. You may want to search for a person simply to get in touch with an old friend. But you may also be searching because, for example, they owe you money or you need their help in a legal matter. Or you may be searching because you are considering hiring someone who needs to have a clean driving record.

The reasons you have their license number can vary as well. You may have their driver’s license number because they had to provide you with a copy in order to, say, cash a check or sign a lease or apply for a job.

Regardless of why you have it or why you are looking for them, if you have someone’s driver’s license number, finding them or information about them can become much easier, although not necessarily free to do.

While searching for people when you have other details can often be as simply as typing the information into your favorite search engine, the likelihood this will work with a drivers license number is practically nonexistent.

If you are checking someone’s records for employment purposes, you will need to access Registry of Motor Vehicle records. You can request someone’s driving record and other related information yourself, or you can use a third-party service. You also need the permission of the person who’s driving record you are requesting. You can make your request in writing or in person from any DMV office or examination station.

On the other hand, if you are trying to find someone and do not have their permission, you will likely need to use the service of a private detective or specialized third-party service as such records are not made public to just anyone without permission. There are exceptions to the permission requirement, such as for use in court proceedings, but using a third-party (be it a detective, attorney, etc.) will likely be worth the money.

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Source by Kalvin Hobbs

How to Get a Personalized Licence Plate

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Unlike the regular licence plates that you can get for a fee, personalized licence plates are custom-made plates that are made-to-order. On these plates, you can have your desired characters printed. Another term that is commonly used for these plates is vanity plates. You can choose to have your nickname, your hobby or your message on the custom plate. At times, people choose a unique message to be printed on the plate. Let’s know more about the subject.

The Vehicle Type

Now, you might be wondering if you can put a vanity plate on your vehicle. Well, not all types of vehicles qualify for the service. According to law, you are not authorized to use a customized plate for your vehicle if the vehicle is a big truck, for instance. The law only allows a certain types of vehicles for the service. However, if you have any of the following types of vehicle, you can order a vanity plate today.

· Light trucks

· Motorcycles

· Motor homes

· Vans

· Most types of passenger cars

The Procedure to Get a Personalized Plate

Well, the process is not as complicated as it may seem. If you are interested in buying a vanity licence plate, you can do so by following the steps given below.

First of all, you need to decide on a message, character or name that you want on the licence plate. It can be a slogan or personal message. Make sure you don’t use something that may be against the law. Also, you can’t use something that may hurt someone’s feelings. The message or slogan shouldn’t be against a person. It shouldn’t disturb the peace in any way.

Once you have come up with a slogan or message, your next step is to write an application for the licence plate. You can get a form from your local Autoplan broker. Getting a form won’t be a difficult task.

Once you have filled in the application form, you can take it back to the broker. They will ask you for a fee, which you should pay. Usually, it’s around $100, which is not a big deal.

Application rules

In order for your application to be accepted, you should keep some application rules in mind. Here are some of the important rules:

· If you have a vehicle, make sure it is registered in your name. In other words, you should be the registered owner of your car or motorcycle.

· If the vehicle has multiple owners, make sure each owner signs the application.

· You have to have an existing licence plate. Besides, you must have insurance and the driver’s licence.

· For the message, you can use 2 to 6 numbers and letters. However, you can’t use numbers only. Apart from this, if your chosen slogan is already taken, you can’t use it.

· You are allowed to have a hyphen or blank space, but you can use only 7 character spaces. For motorcycles, the limit is 6 character spaces.

So, these are a few tips for you to apply for a vanity licence plate for your vehicle.

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Source by Satvik Mittal

Living and Working in the Movie Business

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Pop Quiz: What job, at the end of the day, hands out maps so you know how to get to work the following day? Or what occupation has a precise starting time every day but usually does not ever guarantee an ending time? Or what profession has you working at a dirty tire factory in the morning, and that afternoon you're setting up shop at the prestigious Riviera Country Club? And finally what trade keeps you flying by the seat of your pants because no matter how prepared you think you are the unexpected happens.

Our company rolled in early that morning, in complete darkness, and the Transportation Department began strategically parking the production vehicles. Parking can be a big deal as the cast and crew will be moving back and forth from the trucks and trailers to the set, etc., so the closer and easier truck access is the quicker things can go. A good Transportation Coordinator and / or Captain can save a production a lot of time and money over the course of a feature film, and our Captain was very good. He was good because when you work the set you really come to appreciate someone who cares enough to get those vehicles parked as close as possible, as the trips made between the two can be many.

On any shooting day Transportation is generally the first to arrive and the last to leave, and this morning was no different as they were setting up base camp an hour before anyone else got there; parking a couple semis, a honey wagon, and then arranging make-believe spaces in a grassy field for a couple five and ten ton trucks, a wardrobe trailer and caterer.

An hour later, after all the vehicles were neatly parked and the first signs of light were upon them, the happy drivers stood around the catering truck reliving the parking job while munching breakfast and sipping coffee.

A hundred yards away, in the purple dawn, the film's Director, followed by a few department heads, walked over and talked quietly with the Director of Photography about the first shot of the day.

The long-haired Director then pulled out his viewer, looked through it, and began sizing up the area, which on that early morning was a dilapidated farmhouse on a wide open prairie in rural Wyoming.

He lowered his viewer, thought for a second, and turned to the show's Set Decorator. "Is everything ready at the house?"

She nodded.

His eyes went back to the vast expanse, and he squinted. "Is anyone here from Transportation?"

Nearby, eating a breakfast burrito, the proud Captain smiled and stepped forward. "Yes, sir, what do you need?"

The Director turned to him and with a confused look on his face said, "Why are all those trucks parked in my shot?"

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Source by Vince A Onken

How to Install a Hondata S300 Unit Into an OBD1 Honda ECU

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The Hondata S300 is one of the most advanced OBD1 Honda tuning systems available on the market. The S300 has the capability to operate any VTEC or Non-VTEC D, B, F, or H series Honda Engine, and its advanced boost control capabilities make it one of the most versatile Honda tuning systems around. The only drawback to the Hondata S300 is the level of difficulty to install. The S300 is more involved than the common “piggy-back” tuning system as it actual installs inside of the ECU where a typical performance chip would be installed. Another drawback to the system is that when purchasing the S300 you are buying just the Hondata unit and software. It is up to you to arrange to have it installed. However, with this step by step tutorial, you can now successfully install your Hondata S300 into your OBD1 ECU yourself!

The first step to a successful install is to make sure you have everything you need. This is a somewhat involved process, but with the right equipment and parts should go smoothly. The Hondata S300 (part number S300) is designed for the US market (USDM) rectangle or ‘large case’ OBD1 Civic / Integra style ECU’s. Hondata part number S300J is designed for the JDM (Japan market) square case OBD1 Civic / Integra style ECU’s. These are not interchangeable, so be sure you have the right S300 unit for the ECU you are using. This install guide applies to the USDM variant only. The accepted Honda ECU’s to use with the S300 are: P06, PR4, P28, P30, P61, P72, and P75. It is assumed that any non-vtec ECU will only be used in non-vtec applications. If you are going to be using a P06, Pr4, or P75 ECU, you must also perform a non-vtec to vtec ECU conversion with the Hondata S300 installation to properly operate a VTEC engine.

Let’s get started. Unscrew both top and bottom lids from your ECU and set both covers aside. On the side of the ECU where the wire harness plugs are you will see a small phillips head screw. Completely remove this screw and the small metal retainer that it holds on the inside of the ECU case and set these aside. Turn your computer upside down and remove all of the screws that hold the circuit board to the ECU case and take note how these are slightly different from the screws for the ECU covers. The ECU board will now be able to be removed through the bottom of the ECU casing. Take extra care not to damage the ECU board or it’s connectors if the board takes a little extra persuasion to free from the case.

Now that the board is removed we can begin with the fun part. Using a desoldering tool or desoldering braid, desolder the 28 solder joints marked 27c256, the 24 joints marked 74hc373, and the four holes on the space labeled CN2. You will notice the CN2 section on the board has 5 holes. You can leave the solder joint that is furthest from the ECU connectors filled as it will not be used. On most boards there will be two solder joints labeled R54. These will require desoldering as well. If your ECU does not have the area labeled R54 directly above the 28 hole area marked 27C256, then simply disreguard this step. Clean all areas of the ECU that you desoldered with flux to ensure no loose solder is left on the board or in the way of your desoldered holes. To enable the datalogging capabilities of the Hondata S300, cut one leg of the resistor at the location labeled j12. For a cleaner appearance you may completely desolder and remove the resistor if you wish.

Now on to the installation. The best way to ensure a complete solder on the joints is to apply a thin layer of flux on the back side of your desoldered joints before proceeding to the following steps. Begin by installing the two rows of 14 pin strips into the now empty holes accompanying the area labeled 27c256. Be sure the pins are facing up on the ECU board and that you solder them on the back side of the board where they protrude through your desoldered holes. Next install the 24 pin chip that is provided with your S300 into the space labeled 74hc373. Make sure the half moon notch on the chip faces toward the ECU plugs and then solder into place. Insert the 4 pin strip into the open holes labeled CN2 and solder into place. There should be one hole at CN2 left without anything in it furthest away from the ECU plugs from the earlier step. If your ECU has a space labeled R54, solder the provided resistor into place. Polarity doesn’t matter. It can be installed in either direction. Next, press the Hondata S300 circuit board firmly into place on the two rows of 14 pins at 27c256 and four pins at CN2. Take extreme care not to bend or break any pins. Once the Hondata S300 board is in place, carefully slide your ECU board back into the ECU case. Mark on the ECU casing the area that is blocking the S300 USB plug. Carefully remove the ECU board from the casing once again, and using a grinder or hack saw, cut out the marked area to allow your USB cable to plug into the S300 USB port.

Thoroughly clean the ECU casing and circuit board with a quality electrical parts cleaner of any debris or remaining solder flux. Reinstall the ECU board into the casing being careful not to damage any components. Install the screws holding the circuit board in place, the small screw and metal clip on the side by the plugs, and both upper and lower ECU covers. Be sure to carefully affix your new fancy Hondata sticker to your ECU for proper operation.

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Source by Matthew Roman

The Different Types of Tires and Their Purposes

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Are you wondering about the different types of tires and their purposes? This introduction will cover the basics and help you decide what kinds of tires are right for your car.

First, what’s the purpose of a tire in general? Well, the tire is basically a cushion between the road and your car. Most tires you see these days will be pneumatic, meaning they’re oval shaped, and made of inflated wires and cords. They’re made mainly from rubber and fabric. They also include a selection of compound chemicals, and these chemicals may differ between the various manufacturers.

The different types of tires and their purposes arose in direct response to the needs of drivers. Different tires exist for every type of weather and performance need. Whether you drive an RV, station wagon, or sports car, you will be able to find the ideal tires to help your vehicle’s performance.

Learn About 3 Different Types of Tires

  1. All Season Tires
    All season tires are common in countries that have two distinct cold and hot seasons. They are meant to perform adequately in any month of the year. One benefit is that they are easy to use and convenient, but on the other hand, the drawback is that these tires are not designed to be high-performers in either winter or summer. They are pretty average. These are the kind of tires that most people have on their cars, and for most of us nothing more fancy is needed. If you live in a muddy or snowy area, however, you may need the extra traction provided by mud and snow tires. Keep reading to learn more about those.
  2. Mud and Snow Tires
    Mud and snow tires are specifically engineered for low temperatures, using a special chemical make-up. They have a soft tread compound to ensure a good grip on snow or ice. When you look at a mud or snow tire, you will see more grooves in the tread pattern than in all season tires; these additional grooves provide extra grip for slick surfaces. You will also notice M&S or M+S marked on the tire, telling you that it is designed to be a mud and snow tire.

    • More About Snow Tires: Some snow tires have metal studs. Again, the metal studs are just one more way to increase traction in extremely wet and icy conditions. They work by roughening the ice on the road as you are driving along. You won’t typically see metal studs on an ordinary car, as they do tend to damage a road surface over long periods of time. They are a specialty item that you may see on tires used for ice racing and other sports.
    • More About Mud Tires: These tires have very large chunky tread patterns that help clear out any mud that gets trapped in the tires. Mud tires tend to be wider than the other different types of tires. This is so the weight will be distributed over a wider area. As you can imagine, this helps your vehicle avoid sinking into the mud – always a good thing!
  3. High Performance Tires
    High performance tires are not needed on your average car. You would want to invest in a good set of high performance tires if you own a sports car or do a lot of racing. These kinds of tires have a softer rubber compound than other kinds. This softness gives them better traction control, which is key for high speed cornering. In contrast with snow tires and mud tires, high performance tires have shallow treads. The idea is that you want your tires to have increased road contact so you can go faster. Now these tires won’t last you a long time, because you tend to work them pretty hard.

Now you know all about three different types of tires and their purposes. Just be sure to know the road rules around tires to avoid getting a ticket. You can also use devices like speed camera detectors to save money and keep your license.

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Source by Ben Buckley

How To Get The Most Out Of A Chauffeur Driven Car

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Contrast to Public Transport

Getting from A to B on a bus or tube can take up a lot of your time which you could be putting your feet up or having a cold drink. With public transport, getting in traffic is inevitable which can come with a lot of stress.

But with the use of a chauffeured car, you are sure to be at your destination much faster due to the area and road knowledge of the drivers.

Chauffeur driven cars have lots of great benefits over what public transport has to offer. You have your own personal space with plenty of legroom while having all of the rear seating to yourself meanwhile on buses and tubes you would be squashed between passengers on seats that are full of dust and dirt. Chauffeured cars are always clean and maintained in order to please each and every customer alike.

Before your ride

The best way to get ready for a long journey is to have a nice rest prior to your pickup, of course, this is a bit of an obvious one but during your journey, you might have business propositions that you want to address.

Request WiFi if you need to use the internet on your laptop while traveling. It is good to let us know about any extras that you would like to have on your journey, where WiFi is something which matters most to businessmen.

While WiFi could be a major part of your journey, you also need gadgets to use it with. So that means you need to take care of gadgets prior to your journey by charging them and getting them ready to be taken with you.

During your ride

Working crazy hours can have a negative impact on your body. So if you have not had the time to have a rest before you boarded your vehicle, now is the chance to enjoy the luxurious feel of a perfectly managed car with plenty of leg room so you can stretch your legs while taking a much-needed nap reclining leather seats that come with a comfortable and handy massage feature.

Now you can enjoy using your charged laptop and smartphone to catch up on work and read emails that you may have missed alongside making business calls. Being outside of the office and on the road is also a great way to get new ideas for your business presentation.

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Source by Murtaza Hadi

HHO Hydrogen Conversion Kits Vs Natural Gas Conversion Kits

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With all the talk about converting cars to a more fuel efficient vehicle. There are a few simple choices one is the HHO hydrogen conversion kits and the other is the Natural gas conversion kits. Determining which of these kits one would like to place on there favorite car. You would have to weed through a few pros and cons to each of these fuel types.

HHO Hydrogen Conversion Kits Pros

  • Easy to build
  • Cheap to build
  • Small and compact
  • Only emits water for emissions
  • Can be built and placed in car in less then two hours
  • Uses water to make hydrogen
  • You more then likely have every thing need already in your house to build

HHO Hydrogen Conversion kits Cons

  • Not recommended in places with extreme cold
  • To many available kits to choose from may buy one that does not work and is difficult to build

Natural Gas Conversion Kits Pros

  • Good for all seasons
  • Great for the environment

Natural Gas Conversion Kits Cons

  • Can Take several hours to build
  • Big and bulky
  • Expensive to build
  • May need help to build
  • Need to purchase lpg gas or other natural gas to us

Even with these few things about both the hho hydrogen conversion kits and the natural gas conversion kits. You can see a few things where on would be better then the other. Depending on your location and funds available. You may want one over another. With one of the cons for the hydrogen conversion kit as being bad in locations with very cold temps. This also holds true to places with very high temps but there are ways around both issues.

A major con for the natural gas conversion kit is you have to purchase the lpg gas in order to run your car. Even though natural gas is much cheaper then regular gas it can be hard to find a place which sells gas near your location. Maybe one day all of our cars will be running on natural gas which would make our current gas stations convert to natural gas. Until that day we need to make a few choices on what we want to do in the mean time. We all know we want to be more energy efficient with our cars but we all do not have the money to go out a purchase a new car there for we find alternatives to these problems.

Even if you do not have the money now you may want to take some time to consider which of these kits you prefer over the other. Both come with huge benefits we might not b able to pass up soon enough. One of these benefits is recently Obama and other government officials have passed a law in which for the people residing in the us who purchased a conversion kit or have upgraded there car through the cash for clunkers program. Will also be getting a tax credit this up coming tax season. Besides having a fuel efficient car you will pay less for gas. Which to all of us is a huge plus. Depending on which kit you choose you can also expect to see you mechanic less. Hydrogen burns hotter then regular gas. Since it burns hotter it tends to clean out the internal parts to your car. These are just a few things for you to keep in mind when going to an energy efficient car. You have a tough set of choices ahead of you. Although this choice is far better then purchasing a brand new car.

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Source by Jason T Tyler

Coilover Suspensions – Pros and Cons

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Why are they so popular and do they really improve the handling of a car. In theory, when you lower your car, you also lower it center of gravity therefore reducing body roll, thus improving its handling. However, handling characteristic of the car are not only determined by the center of gravity. You also have to consider the dampening system, spring rate, condition of the road, side-walls of your tires, unsprung weight, tire grip, geometry of the suspension and so on.

Right now we are only interested in the ever so popular coilover set up. There are a lot of aftermarket manufacturers coming up with different brands and types of coilovers. Coilovers are popular with racers due to their adjustability. You can adjust the right height and in some cases you can also adjust the dampening thus produce superb handling.

There are two types of coilovers. They are true coilovers and sleeve type coilovers. True coilovers are a set up where the shocks have a threaded-body, when as the other one utilize a ‘sleeve type’ thread. One of the older, well-known manufacturer for coilovers is H&R. Now, there are different companies such as Tein, Intrax, etc also making coilovers. However, Ground Control was the pioneer of sleeve designed coilovers. We have no doubt about the benefits of true coilovers. But what about the sleeve type’? Does it work? In theory, it works the same as true coilovers. In real life, it doesn’t even come close to the non coilovers shocks and springs setups.

Ground Control, the pioneer in sleeve design technology’ utilizes aluminum body sleeve with Eibach race springs. The base of the spring is supported with a single rotational plate with an Allen screw-locking device. What’s wrong with this design you ask? Like all ‘sleeve type’ coilovers, there is good chance for the sleeve to rotate and thus make the spring slip. This can happen to the enthusiast drivers who like to push the car to the limit. The other thing that worries me is the Allen screw-locking device. A screw that small is given the duties to hold the tension and twist that are generated by the car when an enthusiast drives it.

Weapon-R Tuner 2 coilover conversion. This one is basically the same with Ground Control except it added the extra locking plate (with the same allen screw locking it in place) supposedly for added security.

Skunkworks and Arospeed. These two companies utilize true coilover type locking devices. Double plates interlocking each other. This is by far the best set up yet. But how bout the sleeve? Some thing must be done to secure the sleeve.

These disadvantages not only can create clunking noise, but it can also be very dangerous. Imagine this: you are taking corners very fast, relying on that big buck suspension to do it job, when the sleeve/locking plates shifted thus creating a sudden jolt in your suspension (like when your driving through rough road surface) and therefore lifted your tire of the ground thus losing traction……….

So why is it so popular? Cause it cheap ($249-$399US) compare to true coilovers ($1,200US and up). It looks cool, it’s adjustable, and again it makes your car look cool….

Drivers Beware

The proper way to adjust a threaded coil-over suspension involves using a set of scales. The whole idea of this type of suspension adjustability is to equal out the loads on tires (or bias them for circle track) for cornering ability. The fact that you can lower the car with them is just an added benefit but it is NOT their primary function. You should be aware that you can hurt the performance of your car if you don’t adjust them at least reasonably close. At best, the car may not corner as well as it used to.

At worst, you may change the handling to the point of being dangerous. This sounds like an exageration but with a threaded setup you could load the front right and the left rear tires and create a car that turns left really well, but won’t turn right worth a damn. Even, possibly, spinning out. All this with the car sitting perfectly level. You have the suspension, now take the time to set it up right. Find a tyre shop with some corner scales and work with them to adjust tire loading and ride height. The object is to get the cross weights (diagonal weights) even. It’s not as important to get the other weights even. It’s the cross weights that will sneak up on you.

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Source by Duane Boodasingh

Best MPG – Why Catalytic Converters Are Totally Unnecessary to Save Gas

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Cars have been on the spotlight as one of the largest contributors of the world to pollution. Due to the fact that all internal combustion engines produce emission gases that react negatively with the environment, world governments passed laws to regulate this.

Part of the result of this legislation is the requirement of the installation of catalytic converters in all vehicles.

What do catalytic converters do?

The function of a catalytic converter is to reduce the amount of toxic gases spewing into the atmosphere created by internal combustion engines.

It achieves this results by having the burnt gases from an engine interact with substances that will add or take away atoms from it to transform most of the exhaust gases into something less harmful.

Catalytic converters work only when at high temperatures in order to achieve a reaction with the gases and the material in the converter. Because of this catalytic converters are almost useless in the mornings when cars start cold and need to warm up on the road.

How do catalytic converters neutralize dangerous gases?

Within the catalytic converter, two ceramic layers are present, one to reduce and another to oxidize. These layers are then covered with a thin film of rare metal to get the reaction going at high temperature, usually platinum, rhodium and such.

Catalytic converters have the following reactions with emission gases:

-A reducing action, converting nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen.

-Oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide; and

-Oxidize unburnt hydrocarbons (partially burnt gas or diesel) to carbon dioxide and water.

Thus far, catalytic converters have been the most widely accepted pollution control device in cars. However, they are totally unnecessary with the recent maturity of alternative fuels such as hydrogen. Also, catalytic converters only work well under certain conditions.

Disadvantages of catalytic converters

Theft magnets. Catalytic converters cost a lot of money to manufacturer due to the rare metals needed to react with the emission gases. And they are easily stolen since they are just under the chassis. Black market converters can save a buyer a lot of money in buying originals.

Works best on a rich burn. Catalytic converters work best only when engines are running a RICH mixture! It’s like letting a fox in the hen house so you can have a chance to chase after it!

A majority of cars rolling off the factory are set to run at a “stochiometric” air-fuel balance of 14.7:1. This is not necessarily the best setting but the manufacturer’s setting. What most consumers are unaware of is that cars can run quite well on leaner mixtures of 50:1 or even 100:1 with additional cost-effective (cheap) supplementary and safe fuel additives.

So how can I make my car run on less gas and reduced emissions?

There are several ways to make your car run more efficiently AND cost effectively.

Service your car. Make sure you regularly have your car serviced and inspected as per the instructions on your owner’s manual.

Check tires. Check tires for pressure and alignment. You can save a lot of money just by making sure the tires are running at the recommended air pressure. Replace tires which are showing wear and tear for safety’s sake as well.

Unload unnecessities. Take off the car all items which you consider unnecessary.

Consider alternative fuels. You can use alternate fuels such as a hydrogen-on-demand (HOD) system to supplement. This system creates hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) gas on demand from a water medium to mix with the air and fuel in the combustion chamber for better performance.

What does a HOD system do?

Hydrogen when compressed an introduced to an internal combustion engine:

-Releases more energy than ethanol-based mixes, maintaining the overall power of the car

-Completely burns the fuel which gives cleaner emissions

-Raises the octane level of the fuel, preventing knocking, making the engine quieter

-Lowers overall engine temperature slightly

-Requires the engine to use less gas per cycle

-Mileage gains as low as 20% to as high as 70% on the average due to less fuel required by the engine

The results above totally reduces the need to replace the catalytic converter of your car during its life cycle as emissions are drastically reduced when hydrogen is mixed.

Is it safe?

HOD systems generate hydrogen only on demand and are therefore safe. When no electricity is routed through the HOD system, no reaction is generated. No hydrogen is in storage in this system but is kept in medium, which is basically water.

Cost?

Parts are sourced from everyday parts found in hardware shops and basic electronics stores. Total cost for a basic unit can range between $70 to over $200 USD.

What’s offered by most HOD enterprises are plans for do-it-yourself systems, with offers to build the system for the consumer if they so wish. This way the customer can opt to build it himself or to buy a unit once the concept is understood after obtaining the plans to prevent fraud.

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Source by Erwin Chua

How to Troubleshoot Snowmobile Problems

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As fall blends into winter we shift from our land & water recreational vehicles to our snowmobiles. The snow has fallen and the snowmobile is calling. You pull it from its shed, crank the engine and nothing happens. Did you know that due to the extreme winter conditions, snowmobiles require more frequent maintenance that any other recreational vehicle? With that in mind let’s troubleshoot & see what’s wrong with your snowmobile. Keep in mind that the construction of snowmobiles will vary, so you should refer to your owner’s manual before troubleshooting. The owner’s manual will provide a diagram of the snowmobile’s engine and where to find all of its components.

Is the engine stop switch pushed in the off position? The “Engine stop” switch is located on the snowmobile’s control panel. Double check to make sure that the switch is not stuck in the off position.The “Engine stop” switch (if pushed down) will prevent the motor from starting.

Is there gas left in the fuel tank since last winter? Next you must investigate the fuel tank. Gasoline can degrade over time. That can lead to a number of problems- hard starting, rough running, or no starting at all. Gasoline has highly volatile components that tend to evaporate over time. The less volatile components in the fuel cause the gasoline to burn less effectively. The result is poor engine performance. In other words, your engine may still start and run, but it probably won’t run as well. Not only will the gasoline degrade over time but when a snowmobile sits for long periods of time without a protective snowmobile cover water and condensation can enter the gas tank. Water, of course, does not work too well as a fuel in the internal combustion engine of a snowmobile. It will cause hard starting and rough running until it has been run through the engine. Water can also contribute to internal rusting of the gas lines and tank.

How can you tell if the gas is old? You can check your old gas against gasoline that you know is fresh by placing both in clear glass containers and comparing their color. Oxidized fuel often turns darker over time. It may even have a sour smell. If the old gas is considerably darker than the fresh gas, then your gas has gone bad. If you find that you have “old gas” in your snowmobile, you should drain the gas tank and re-fill it with fresher gasoline. If you insist on leaving gas in your engine for more that six months at a time, then you need to add a stabilizer to the fuel system so that it will preserve the gasoline and keep it from deteriorating over time. It is probably a good idea to drain your fuel system at the end of the winter before storing your snowmobile for the summer in a protective snowmobile cover.

Is the battery dead? The easiest way to check the battery is by turning on the headlights. No lights- no charge in the battery.

Have you checked the cylinder head gasket nuts? Locate the cylinder head nuts on top of the engine’s cylinder block. If they are loose, tighten the head nuts with a wrench and then check the gaskets for damage. Loose head nuts can cause a loss in compression. Replace any worn or damaged gaskets.

Are there blockages in the fuel line? The next step is to check your fuel line for blockages. Remove the shroud that covers the engine. The fuel line runs from the tank to the engine and is usually clear so blockages will be easy to see. Blockages are caused by improper storage of your snowmobile. If you find a blockage, remove the fuel line, clean out the blockage and return it to its original position. If it is damaged, replace it.

What do the spark plugs look like? You should check the spark plugs in the snowmobile. Clean away carbon or other corrosion with a wire brush. Check out the porcelain part of the spark plug. Does it appear to have changed color? The white porcelain is the insulator of the spark plug. If the porcelain has turned beige or a light tan color, then it is still in good working order. If the spark plug is very white you could have an air leak. If it has changed to other colors then you have a problem with the engine.

Is there plenty of coolant? If the coolant levels are low, put fresh coolant into the snowmobile, following the owners’ manual guidelines.A recommended coolant/antifreeze is ethylene glycol (the green kind) to resist freezing. A 50/50 mixture has a freeze protection of about -32 degrees. A good additive to use with ethylene glycol is Royal Purple Ice. This will allow you to drop the engine operating temperature about ten degrees.

Now what? At this point if troubleshooting has not solve the problem and you are unable to get your snowmobile running, it is time to see a professional repair service agent for a full inspection. Only a qualified snowmobile service technician can check & evaluate your carburetor, piston, cylinder and the V belt clutch settings for the more technical problems associated with your snowmobile. Most services will clean, lubricate and adjust your snowmobile along with the inspection. They can also adjust the carburetor & clutch settings for the altitude at which you will be operating your snowmobile

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Source by Mary Speir