By: Steve Farber
A popular joke in the 1960s at full service gas stations was
"filler up with Ethel and change the air in my tires." Today
with the price of gasoline approaching $3.00 per gallon, why not
replace the air in your tires. Not with air but with nitrogen.
Filling your tires with nitrogen rather than air will improve
gas mileage, help maintain correct tire pressure, keep tires 25%
cooler, improve handling and performance and prolongs the life
of your tires. NASCAR drivers use nitrogen in their tires for
safety reasons, you can too.
Why should you stop putting air in your tires! Compressed air
you find at tire shops, gas stations and the compressor you use
at home have a high concentrations of water vapor. Compressing
air concentrates the water in it and unless really efficient air
dryers are used chances are there is water vapors in your tires.
Water vapor absorbs and holds heat. This wet air plus heat can
increase the pressure in your tires, causing highway blow outs,
and is one of the reason you should check your tire pressure
when they are cold.
This article is not about the nitrogen. It's really about
reducing oxygen and water vapor in your tires. The air in our
tires is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and about 1% water
vapor and other gases. When pure dry nitrogen is used to replace
the air in your tires it improves fuel efficiency, handling and
it will extend the life of steel rims or custom wheels and
tires. By reducing oxygen and water vapor in your tires from 22%
to less than 7%, your tires will maintain pressure three to four
times longer. Plus it will keep you safer on the highway.
How does oxygen and water damage my rims and tires? Oxygen,
especially at high temperatures and pressures, corrodes
aluminum, steel wheels and rubber. This process is called
oxidation. When oxidation occurs small particles of rust and
aluminum oxidization in your steel or aluminum wheels can clog
valve stems, causing them to leak. The oxidation can cause the
surfaces of your wheel flange and tire beads not to seal
properly causing another leak point.
Oxygen can also age the thin layer of rubber called the inner
liner or radial ply. As the inner liner ages, more and more air
migrates through the rubber, causing additional pressure losses.
As oxygen migrates through rubber it can come in contact with
steel belts and the steel bead causing them to rust.
While both nitrogen and oxygen can migrate through rubber,
nitrogen does it much slower. It might take six months to lose a
couple of pounds of nitrogen, compared to less than a month with
wet compressed air. Dry nitrogen does not cause rust and
corrosion on steel rims or aluminum custom wheels, and it does
not degrade rubber like wet compressed air.
Where can I get nitrogen for my tires? Nitrogen is becoming very
popular with long haul trucking. Some truck stops have nitrogen
available for these big rigs either free or by paying a small
fee. They use the same type pay stations that you see at gas
stations except they are marked "Nitrogen". These nitrogen
stations are then connected to large nitrogen cylinders near by.
You can also buy your own small inexpensive Nitrogen Tanks and
have them filled at welding supply stores in your area. Another
source for small nitrogen tanks is Paint Ball supply stores
either local or on the internet. eBay is a good source. These
small nitrogen tanks can be filled at welding supply stores and
then easily plumbed to fill your tires. Use caution when
handling these small nitrogen tanks as they can be filled to as
much as 3000 psi. Also make sure the nitrogen tank you purchase
has a regulator attached and it is set for about 50 psi.
Filling your own new tires with nitrogen is a simple process.
Jack up one tire until it just clears the ground, remove the
tire valve stem and allow the air in your tires to escape. Once
all the air escapes install a new valve stem. Then simply fill
your tires with nitrogen from your small nitrogen tank. Repeat
the process with the other 3 tires. Do not forget your spare!
Your tires should now have about 95% dry nitrogen and you have
significantly reduced all the hazards and oxidation problems
mentioned above.
If you own a tire store and would like to provide nitrogen for
your customers buy a Ingersoll Rand Nitrogen Tire Inflation
System.
About the author:
Steve Farber is an author and web site publisher on custom
wheels including What You Should Know Before You Buy Tires. Read
articles and reviews on the top 60 custom wheel manufacturers in
the market today at http://www.custom-whee
ls-n-rims.com and http://www.just-spinner-r
ims.com.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Auto Dealer Survey Says Toyota Reigns Over All
By: Sarah McBride
A survey was recently conducted and studied by the National
Automotive Dealers Association, which is more known as NADA. And
the results stated that the top three spots were reigned over by
Toyota Motor Corporation brands. Topping the list was the Lexus
luxury brand. It was followed then by the other Toyota handled
brand, Scion, and is followed then by the Toyota brand. This
study was done so as to see which brands in the United States
gave its customers the best in dealer satisfaction. And Lexus
took home a 96 point average score which is quite high.
The mentioned survey done by NADA was conducted earlier this
year, during the months of January and February. The survey
contained questions that asked the respondents and auto dealers
to give their ratings when it came to satisfaction from the auto
makers which they represented. It included questions about the
satisfaction about the products that they marketed from cars and
vehicles to auto parts
Toyota and everything else in between. The ratings ranged
from zero up to a complete 100 points.
Asian auto makers also came out to be good in the satisfaction
rating study. In fact, after Toyota, other brands from Asia
followed the list. Honda Motor Corporation's Acura brand took
the third spot. Hyundai Motor Corporation took the fourth place
while the Nissan Motor Corporation made its way to own up to the
fifth spot.
While this was so, American auto manufacturers found their
brands way low on the list. General Motors Corporation's Hummer
and Cadillac brands only received an average of 71.2 on
satisfaction. In fact, even Daimler Chrysler AG's brands even
got much lower scores. Jeep took 71.2 points. Chrysler got a
measly 70.8. Even Mercedes Benz was only able to find some 70.5
points to own. It is not even surprising to find Ford trailing
behind the brands with a rating of 63.7 points.
About the author:
As a manager of one of the largest auto store in
Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto
parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a
certified car enthusiast.
A survey was recently conducted and studied by the National
Automotive Dealers Association, which is more known as NADA. And
the results stated that the top three spots were reigned over by
Toyota Motor Corporation brands. Topping the list was the Lexus
luxury brand. It was followed then by the other Toyota handled
brand, Scion, and is followed then by the Toyota brand. This
study was done so as to see which brands in the United States
gave its customers the best in dealer satisfaction. And Lexus
took home a 96 point average score which is quite high.
The mentioned survey done by NADA was conducted earlier this
year, during the months of January and February. The survey
contained questions that asked the respondents and auto dealers
to give their ratings when it came to satisfaction from the auto
makers which they represented. It included questions about the
satisfaction about the products that they marketed from cars and
vehicles to auto parts
Toyota and everything else in between. The ratings ranged
from zero up to a complete 100 points.
Asian auto makers also came out to be good in the satisfaction
rating study. In fact, after Toyota, other brands from Asia
followed the list. Honda Motor Corporation's Acura brand took
the third spot. Hyundai Motor Corporation took the fourth place
while the Nissan Motor Corporation made its way to own up to the
fifth spot.
While this was so, American auto manufacturers found their
brands way low on the list. General Motors Corporation's Hummer
and Cadillac brands only received an average of 71.2 on
satisfaction. In fact, even Daimler Chrysler AG's brands even
got much lower scores. Jeep took 71.2 points. Chrysler got a
measly 70.8. Even Mercedes Benz was only able to find some 70.5
points to own. It is not even surprising to find Ford trailing
behind the brands with a rating of 63.7 points.
About the author:
As a manager of one of the largest auto store in
Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto
parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a
certified car enthusiast.
Friday, August 04, 2006
A Look At Hybrid Cars
By: Mike Eggert
Are hybrid cars, the cars of the future? Only time will tell. I
am sure most of you have by now heard about the new hybrid cars
in the marketplace today. I'm also sure many of you are saying,
"What the heck is a hybrid car anyway?" Well let us see if we as
laymen people from the old school of gasoline automobiles can
understand these new high tech automobiles.
Firstly we need to know what powers a hybrid. Well a hybrid has
a gasoline engine and also a battery powered generator. The
gasoline engine in the equation is much the same as the cars
most of us are driving today. In most cases it is a bit smaller
than the engines in our somewhat larger automobiles we currently
drive. The reason for this is because the generator helps power
the hybrid car. Both still operate the same as far as having a
transmission to drive the wheels. Albeit a much more
sophisticated version than what is in the typical gasoline
powered vehicle. The difference is when the car begins to slow
down, the gasoline engine stops and the generator motor takes
over, thus saving fuel you would be burning for instance at a
stoplight. Now, not only is this a saving for you as a consumer.
It is also making the air we breathe cleaner. Both are I'm sure
you will agree, a good thing. Now, both engines require a tank
for the fuel, a gas tank the same as most of us have now, but
also a tank for the generator, which is a set of batteries that
must be kept charged. You see, this is the purpose for the
generator.
It takes about 1000 pounds of batteries to equal the energy in a
gallon of gasoline. Sounds like a lot of extra weight, but with
the new designs this is not a problem. The newer designs are
even converting kinetic energy produced by the engine into
electric energy for the batteries. Confused yet? If not, you are
probably reading the wrong article. However, it really doesn't
matter if you understand the inner workings completely. By now
you should at least have a basic understanding of what makes
these little cars more efficient.
I'm sure you have seen some of the new hybrid cars on the street
and were maybe a bit taken back by their appearance at first.
Yes, the new hybrids do take some getting used to, especially
the early models. They are a little smaller in size and very
aerodynamic in design. And, with a driving force of about 60-90
horsepower, don't feel quite as powerful as your current
automobile, but on the horizon are several new models, including
SUV's that are much more traditional in their styling.
I think for now at least, the hybrid cars will take over a big
part of the auto industry and carry us along until the arrival
of the eco- friendly efficient cars of the future.
Take a ride in one of the new hybrid cars and decide for
yourself if they are worth all the hype.
About the author:
For in depth hybrid
car news and reviews visit http://www.hybrid-rides.com
Are hybrid cars, the cars of the future? Only time will tell. I
am sure most of you have by now heard about the new hybrid cars
in the marketplace today. I'm also sure many of you are saying,
"What the heck is a hybrid car anyway?" Well let us see if we as
laymen people from the old school of gasoline automobiles can
understand these new high tech automobiles.
Firstly we need to know what powers a hybrid. Well a hybrid has
a gasoline engine and also a battery powered generator. The
gasoline engine in the equation is much the same as the cars
most of us are driving today. In most cases it is a bit smaller
than the engines in our somewhat larger automobiles we currently
drive. The reason for this is because the generator helps power
the hybrid car. Both still operate the same as far as having a
transmission to drive the wheels. Albeit a much more
sophisticated version than what is in the typical gasoline
powered vehicle. The difference is when the car begins to slow
down, the gasoline engine stops and the generator motor takes
over, thus saving fuel you would be burning for instance at a
stoplight. Now, not only is this a saving for you as a consumer.
It is also making the air we breathe cleaner. Both are I'm sure
you will agree, a good thing. Now, both engines require a tank
for the fuel, a gas tank the same as most of us have now, but
also a tank for the generator, which is a set of batteries that
must be kept charged. You see, this is the purpose for the
generator.
It takes about 1000 pounds of batteries to equal the energy in a
gallon of gasoline. Sounds like a lot of extra weight, but with
the new designs this is not a problem. The newer designs are
even converting kinetic energy produced by the engine into
electric energy for the batteries. Confused yet? If not, you are
probably reading the wrong article. However, it really doesn't
matter if you understand the inner workings completely. By now
you should at least have a basic understanding of what makes
these little cars more efficient.
I'm sure you have seen some of the new hybrid cars on the street
and were maybe a bit taken back by their appearance at first.
Yes, the new hybrids do take some getting used to, especially
the early models. They are a little smaller in size and very
aerodynamic in design. And, with a driving force of about 60-90
horsepower, don't feel quite as powerful as your current
automobile, but on the horizon are several new models, including
SUV's that are much more traditional in their styling.
I think for now at least, the hybrid cars will take over a big
part of the auto industry and carry us along until the arrival
of the eco- friendly efficient cars of the future.
Take a ride in one of the new hybrid cars and decide for
yourself if they are worth all the hype.
About the author:
For in depth hybrid
car news and reviews visit http://www.hybrid-rides.com
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