Maintenance Tips for Cars with Automatic Transmission

Automatic transmission is one of the best features for beginners and for the people who get into trouble  with changing gears and controlling the clutch. It allows the driver to run without using any clutch and gears. Changing of gears in an automatic transmission system will be an automatic activity as per the speed of the vehicle. This is one of the most expensive parts of a car. Therefore, maintenance of automatic transmission is important. In some automatic transmission system longevity influencing factors are controllable and some are not. In this article, we will discuss what we can do for the longevity of automatic transmission system.

• Maintenance of filters: Filters are one of the important components to stop unrelated material. So maintenance of filters for transmission system is very essential. The transmission filter stops harmful materials from entering the hydraulic system. These can increase cause scoring, wear and sticking of hydraulic control valves. The car's automatic transmission filter have to be changed periodically. The period to change the fluid can be mention in the owner's manual.

• Flywheel or flexplate: The flexplate or flywheel stays attached to the engine's crankshaft. It serves as a torque converter. These can transmit engine torque to torque converter housing. Generally the flexplate or flywheel does not need regular maintenance. If the ring gear has facing any issue with improper starting or improper alignment the flywheel or ring gear needs to be replaced.

• Torque converter: The torque converter supplies torque to the transmission's input shaft. It sends in two separate ways as mechanical input and hydraulic input. The transmission fluid in the torque converter may become dry because of its heat. So when it become dry,  need to change the fluid. The problems with the torque converter can be within the torque converter or in the converter clutch. It is a very complex system, so if you find any problems in the torque converter check with the qualified transmission specialist.

• Transmission pan gaskets and sealing: The leakages in the clutch packs, accumulators and servos will prevent by the internal seals. The leakage of fluid outside will prevent by the external seals. The transmission or transaxle case seals by the oil pan gasket. Rough shifts, slipping, no vehicle movement in reverse or forward, loss of some gear seal are the symptoms of internal seal leakage. Frequent topping-off of the transmission fluid level, burning oil smell from underneath the car, reddish brown spots in your parking or driveway place are the symptoms of  transmission or transaxle oil pan gasket or leaking external seal. If you see any of these problems do not neglect and go to a technician to repair otherwise they will become big.

If the transmission fluid change period is not mention in your owner's manual, change it for 10,000 KM or before it becomes dirty or dark. If any specified fuel in the owner's manual use it, or check with your technician when not mention in the owner's manual.

Conversion of Diesel Vehicle into Vegetable Oil Vehicle

Conversion of diesel vehicle engine into a bio-diesel vehicle is fairly a straightforward process. You can do it yourself if you have the know-how. There many firms to do in the market.

• Diesel, bio-diesel and vegetable oil differences: People know well about diesel. But when it comes to bio-diesel and vegetable oil as fuel, most people are using this alternatively. It is because, most of the diesel engines can run on some form of vegetable oils, bio-diesel and diesel.

• Diesel: This is the actual diesel for what the diesel engines designed and available in the gas stations.
• Bio-diesel: Rather than crude petroleum, it is developed from vegetable oil. It is developed through transesterification process. In this process, the oil chemically reacts with alcohol.
• Vegetable oil: This is the oil that we use in kitchen. It is commonly derived from hemp, palm, corn, soy and other vegetables.

• Components: You need individual components or conversion kit to do the job. The basic components are a cable loom, control electronics, a heat exchanger, an electric fuel oil heater, an electric switching unit, a controller and an optional fuel tank. The second fuel tank is required to store an amount of diesel for ignition and the vegetable oil. To switch between tanks, the switching unit is useful. The heat exchanger and heater are useful to increase the temperature of vegetable oil up to a required point for efficient fuel burning.

• Second tank and fuel conversion kit: If you have the confidence to install the conversion kit do it, do it yourself. Otherwise, let the mechanic do it. The conversion kit contains a second tank, fuel preheater, a heat exchanger, a controller for switching fuels as mentioned above. The second tank contains vegetable oil. Vehicle will start with the diesel. You can switch to vegetable oil once the engine is warm enough. Before the vegetable oil enters into the fuel injector, through the heat exchanger hoses will run into the second tan to heat oil.

• Vegetable oil: You can get the vegetable oil either purchasing new or acquire from a used form. Some restaurants will give it for free to avoid the charge of disposing and hassle. You have to remove all the food particulars from it using oil filter.

• Installation process: Most kits available in the market at present are designed for do it yourself. You can understand these easily by seeing. Fix the second fuel tank that contains vegetable oil. Seals and rubber hoses from older vehicles are disreputable after a long time exposure to heated vegetable oil, they will break down. If you find a new set of additional filters hoses and seals, include them in installation. You need to set up a system which pumps waste heat from radiator to vegetable oil or second tank. If the kit do not have it, you need alternative to keep it heat and to run the fuel system smoothly.

Vegetable oil or bio-diesel are more environmental friendly than traditional combustion oils. These are cheaper too. Before conversion of your diesel oil engine into vegetable oil engine, make sure that your vehicle engine supports bio fuel compatible.

Fog Driving Safety Tips

Fog is a common natural event in many places in the world. It is like a cloud at ground level. When the temperature is decreased and the air is saturated, the fog will form. Suspended water droplets will form because of invisible water vapor in the condensed air. Sometimes more than one fourth mile is invisible because of fog formation. In this article, we will discuss about some fog driving safety tips

• Know about local weather: Generally the fog is formed in the morning and evening when the temperature is less. So knowing about the local weather conditions will help a lot. If possible avoid driving during such time when the fog is making very less visibility.

• Distance between cars: Maintain proper distance between other cars. It is better to maintain minimum one car distance between your car and the car in front of you. It will help to avoid risks from sudden brakes and chain reaction accidents.

• Lights: Lights play a crucial role in fog. Different lights will help for different purposes and indications. But almost all the lights are useful in the fog.
• Fog lights:Headlights are designed to see in the dark. Fog lights are designed for fog. Most of the manufacturers are fixing the fog lights at the factory. Generally these are below the headlights. These are aimed towards the ground and focused towards front as far as possible.
• Low beam lights: Use the low beam lights when the fog lights are not available.
• High beam lights: Use the high beam lights when the fog is too heavy.

• Don't change the speed suddenly: Going slowly is the best option when there is fog. If you want to slow you car speed or increase the car speed, do not do it suddenly. To increase the car speed you should check the front cars speed and then increase the speed. If you want to decrease the speed do it slowly.

• Reduce distractions in your vehicle: Reduce distractions like mobile phone, eating, etc. While concentrating on them, driving will be neglected. The driver needs to focus more while driving in night fog.

• Park in a safe place when there is no visibility: When the road is not visible because of fog, take roadside and park with a little distance to the highway. If you park on the road or very near to the road, other vehicle may cause accident to your vehicle. Check with your high beam lights periodically if it is visible. When there is fog turn on your back and front parking lights along with your fog lights. 

All You Need To Know About HVAC Systems

What is HVAC ?
HVAC means Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioner. It is the technology of making indoor environment comfortable. It has three functions - heating, ventilating and air conditioning that are inter-related. It should be installed and operated with components like computing hardware, fire protection, security system, etc.

Operation of HVAC
HVAC is the system that unites different components that cool and heat your home. Dual duty is performed by ventilation system and heat pumps for air conditioning and heating.

• Air conditioning system: Mostly air conditioning unit is utilized in HVAC systems. This works by removing moisture and heat from the air and throwing the cool and filtered air in to ventilating system. The warm air is cooled by pipes known as evaporator coil. A liquid known as refrigerant is filled in these pipes. Refrigerant converts liquid in to cool gas when taking warm air thereby absorbing heat from air. Finally a fan blows the air through ventilation systems and cools the room with conditioned air.
• Ventilation system: These systems plays an important role in cooling and heating process. If there is any blocking or any problem in the duct work, functioning of this system is greatly effected. As the entire function is related to these systems, it is important that you check the system to ensure its working condition.
• Heating systems: Heating systems are similar to air conditioning systems. The air is heated by heating pipes The cool air from indoor is taken away, then warm air is blown. Energy consumed is less when compared to the amount of heat produced by heating systems. Heat produced by heating pipes is thrice the times the energy consumed by it.

Maintenance of HVAC systems

• If the filter is clogged with dust and appears to be dark, replace them. Filter needs to be changed more frequently if you are having pets.
• Area around the outdoor units of air conditioners should be kept clean.
• Checking the pipes that are filled with refrigerant and replacing if it is damaged.
• A cup of bleach water must be poured frequently in the drain pipes to avoid it getting blocked.
• Out door units must be checked regularly especially during rainy season and spring season, so that any remains like twigs, leaves, etc can be cleared.