Author: Gregg Hall

It can pay dividends, literally, to keep your car’s tires in good shape. If you don’t make sure that your car’s tires have the proper air pressure, are rotated regularly and in good alignment, then you harm your car’s fuel efficiency. Given the way fuel prices are, that can add up pretty quickly. So, learn what you need to do to keep your four rubber tires working their best to keep your fuel bill to a minimum, and get the added benefit of doing your part to protect the environment.

One of the easiest things related to tire maintenance to keep under control is inflation. Your tires have to have a certain amount of air pressure to work properly, and you need to check them every so often to see if they are in the proper range. Each pound of pressure that your tires are under inflated will cost you .4% of your fuel economy, so make sure that your tires are properly inflated! If you don’t know what the proper PSI of your tires are, you will be able to find one listed in your glove compartment. Also, make sure that all your tires are evenly inflated. Unevenly inflated tires will lessen fuel efficiency almost as much as under inflated tires. Make sure that you keep track of your tires’ pressure. It’s as easy as checking a gauge every now and then, so do it.

During the colder winter months, you will have to pay special heed to your tires’ pressure. That is because as the air cools, the air pressure in your tires will drop. In fact, it is one pound of pressure for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. So, during the winter, you will likely have to add a bit of air during the colder months, which in turn will help your tires cut through the slushy, snowy muck that can form them.

Keeping your tires properly rotated can also greatly improve your fuel economy. Tire rotation ensures that no one area of your tires gets excessive wear. If you are not sure of the right way to rotate your tires, check your car’s owner’s manual. You should have your tires rotated twice per year.

When you are ready for a replacement tire, make sure that you purchase the right tire for your car. Check your owner’s manual for the right size and type. Desirable characteristics for fuel efficiency include low rolling resistance, and long tire life. When you are purchasing your tires, tell the dealer that you are interested in maximizing fuel economy, and they will help you choose the right tire to do so.

Finally, make sure that your car’s tires are all correctly in alignment. This needs to be checked once every year; probably one of the times you have your tires rotated. Tires that are misaligned do not roll freely, and so will consume more fuel, shorten your tires’ lifespan, and also impede a vehicle’s handling ability.

Also remember that poorly kept tires can be a safety hazard. Racing slicks are good for a track, but not a wet road. Saving fuel money may also save your life.

Keeping your car’s tires in good repair is a sound, economical investment. You pocketbook will thank you when you are filling up. Keeping your tires in good condition may even pay for itself.


Author Resource:- Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as custom wheels at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com
Article From Article City Direct

Car dealers are often portrayed as predators just waiting for an unsuspecting customer to come along. This is because many people believe that they are always on the prowl for unsuspecting buyers that are not very knowledgeable about cars. This can be unfair because we can argue that there are car dealers out there who would not cheat just to get an extra profit.

How do you tell the difference?

To avoid becoming a victim of sneaky car dealers, look out for the following auto financing scams.

Yoyo scam

You will be allowed by the dealer to bring the car home as soon as possible. The dealer will take care of the financing, a few days later he will contact you again and tell you that there was a problem with your financing plan. He will tell you to set up a new financing scheme through him which, of course, will be at a higher cost and this will also entail a very high profit on the dealer’s part.

Be wary of this trick and avoid it at all costs if you detect it. If you have a bad credit standing, don’t have your financing done by the dealer and make arrangements for your own financing. If you ever do avail of the dealer’s financing, you should never drive the car back to your home immediately. Wait for at least 24 hours just to make sure that the processing of your financing scheme has been completed already. By allowing 1 whole day to pass by, you are assured that the dealer cannot use this scam on you.

Window etching trick

Window etching is a very common scam. What the dealer will do is to offer to etch the VIN number of your car onto the window of the car for a price. Basically, the price ranges from as low as $300 to as high as $1,000. Some buyers think that they did a good job by being able to talk down the price to a few hundred dollars, but unfortunately for them, a few hundred dollars is still a good amount of money. The best way to avoid this kind of scam is for you to buy an etching kit that you can do on your own. This is available in most auto shops and costs around $20. See how much they profit from you!

Preparation fees

For preparing your car, the dealer will often add an additional preparation fee to your bill. Just to conduct a test drive, replace fuses, or take the car’s plastic cover off will have your bill increasing by at least $500! If you visit other shops, you can get the information that these add on costs are already included in the MSRP as set by the manufacturer. Some dealers automatically add it to the buyer’s order to make it look mandatory. To take care of this scam, you can ask the dealer to classify it as credit (it should be identical to the amount of the preparation fee) on the following line. If the dealer does not agree to this, you can just simply walk away from the dealership.

Market adjustment

The dealer will convince you that the vehicle you want is selling like hot cakes and very popular. In order to sell you the vehicle, they will do some “market adjustments” amounting to a few thousand dollars. This is usually indicated by a tag near the MSRP tag set by the manufacturer. Even if the car you want is very popular and is very much in demand, if it is in stock you should not be tempted because getting a “popular” car is not worth it if you have to pay a few thousand dollars more. You should never pay more than the MSRP set by the manufacturers. If you do, then you are allowing others to take advantage of you.

Warranty extension

Although this type of scam is old already, it is still being used and there are many who fall for this trick. What happens in this kind of scam is that when you make a loan for the car, the dealer will tell you that you are required to purchase an extended warranty because it is one of the conditions of the bank. There is a simple way of avoiding this scam. Ask the dealer to specify clearly in writing that the extended warranty is required for the loan to be approved. The dealer will most probably find a way to have it excluded. If he persists in including the extended warranty, do not do business with this guy and go to other dealerships.

These are some of the most common auto financing scams that are utilized by some car dealers. Always keep these in mind if you are going to buy a car. If you or a friend were treated fairly by a dealer in the past, consider using the same dealership again. It’s a good indication that they do care about their customers and aren’t just looking for a “fast buck.”

Think very carefully and do not buy on impulse. Good luck to you and go get that car!


Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory

About the Author: For more information on Auto Loans or Financing visit http://go2-url.com/car_loan

Author: P.L. Matos

At one point or another we are all likely to get into a car accident.  As unfortunate as it sounds, it is likely to happen.  Today it seems as though drivers are more distracted than ever with texting, talking, eating, and everything else.

While vehicle safety is important it is only as good as the seatbelt you’re often not wearing.  Good engineering can only cover but so much.  And with over 40% of all accidents being alcohol related, that is enough of a reason to take every precaution necessary.  Most accidents are minor and if you were smart enough to wear your seat belt you likely will walk away.  These tips are generally for those minor collisions in which you are still conscious and not seriously injured.

So what to do when the inevitable fender bender happens?

First thing to do is to breathe.  Although it might be a minor collision, your adrenaline will be running high.  You need to get your mind and body straight or you might forget to do the essentials in this critical stage.  What you do from this point will either hurt or help your legal case or insurance claim afterwards.

Second, call the Police.

Find something to write this important information:

• License plate number of the other vehicle(s).
• Get the driver(s) information (name, address, etc.)
• Get the driver (s) insurance information (Company, policy number, contact number)
• Write and briefly describe the accident scene.  Describe the other driver’s.  Alcohol?  What they did or did not do during the accident.

After the police arrive provide them with any pertinent information that may assist your case.  Once they complete their investigation of the accident scene be prepared to get a copy of the report.

Be sure to contact your insurance company to begin repairs on your vehicle.  They will often request for you to bring your vehicle to a predetermined shop or they will send an assessor to the location of your vehicle to review the damage and determine the cost estimate. You will unfortunately have to pay your deductible, but your insurance will pick up the tab on the rest as long as the work is performed from an approved shop.

If you so choose, you may want to seek a personal injury attorney.  It is absolutely essential that you seek good representation if this is the path you choose.

If you are experiencing any kind of pain, it is also vital that you see your doctor immediately.  Not only is your goal to get healthy, but if you should pursue a legal claim you will need your medical files.

Buckle up and safe driving!

Author: Kasan Groupe

Alright, so you’ve got the best car and the best accessories money can buy and your car looks great, but what about power, muscle, speed? Like money, you can never have enough power, so it’s time to upgrade your engine’s horsepower. This might sound like an expensive addition, but it doesn’t have to be. There are several ways to amp up the power of your vehicle without spending an arm and a leg. Just check out my suggestions below and you’ll find a wide range of prices that fit your budget.

1. Cold air intake. Upgrading with an aftermarket air intake system is an incredibly easy, cheap and effective way to boost horsepower. It is probably the most common do-it-yourself modification. The kit is simply a bolt on air filter attached to a metal pipe. Once installed, your engine will be receiving cooler air, which is denser than warm air. In effect, there will be a much more powerful combustion when the air is combined with fuel. In general, you can get an aftermarket cold air intake kit in the price range of $100 to $450.

2. Performance Exhaust. This is another extremely easy and popular way to give your engine more horsepower. Aftermarket exhaust systems are equipped with much larger exhaust pipes which give your engine better output and fuel economy because the flow rate increases with the larger pipe diameter. A compete exhaust system is equipped with a muffler, pips, and exhaust headers and in general should cost between $400 and $1000.

3. Turbocharger. Turbocharger and supercharger systems compress air and feed it to your engine, resulting in more oxygen dense air to mix with the fuel. This combination increases output and ultimately gives your engine a lot more power. With a turbocharger or supercharger system, you can add up to 100 horsepower from you stock capabilities. In general, turbo and super kits aren’t cheap, they will cost anywhere between $2000 and $10,000.

It’s easy to get sidetracked with the outward appearance of your car and forget about performance and power. But if you really want to show off and impress your friends, then you’ve got to amp up your engine capabilities. And there really isn’t any better way than by giving your car or truck some more horsepower. If you’re new to modification, then start off small with a new cold air intake system. Once you get used to the new feel then continue with bigger, better upgrades.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/easy-ways-to-give-your-car-more-horsepower-1523228.html

About the Author: