June 22nd 2009 Too Cheap to Buy Oil Analysis? Get it Free

It is best to rely on oil analysis to establish your oil change interval. However, on passenger car vehicles that only have a sump capacity of 4 to 6 quarts, it often can be cost prohibitive, since an entire oil change (even synthetic), wouldn’t cost all that much more than a complete oil analysis.

Of course, the result is that most folks won’t pay for a “true” oil analysis - but they might be willing to perform their own “oil analysis”, if they knew how to do it. It won’t give you readings as accurate and precise as results from a lab, but it can give you a fairly good idea of how well your oil is holding up.

In the next few paragraphs you’ll find detailed instructions for one of six DIY oil analysis tests that you can use to establish the condition of your oil and whether it’s ready for a change.

Circles, Spots & Rings

There are a number of oil conditions that this DIY oil analysis test can help to reveal including products of oxidation, sludge, failure of your dispersancy additive package, water ingression, anti-freeze contamination, dilution from fuel contamination as well as high particulate levels.

While your engine (and the oil) is WARM (not HOT), pull your dipstick and place one drop of oil on a heavy, white, NON-glossy business card. In order for the oil drop to dry properly, you’ll need to place the card somewhere that it will be lying flat, but suspended in the air (so that the oil drop area isn’t touching anything - top OR bottom). For a fairly stiff business card, placing two pencils down on a table and laying the business card so that the ends are resting on the pencils would work well. You could also set the card across the top of a coffee cup or similar cup or mug.

Make sure that the drop dries completely before trying to evaluate the appearance of the oil drop. The list of “oil spot features” below should be used to evaluate the condition of your oil once you see that the spot has dried completely.

- A uniformly light colored circle or slight yellowish outer ring = “good” oil.
- A dense, dark deposit area = Dispersancy failure
- A black, pasty area = Glycol (Anti-freeze) in your motor oil
- Center of circle dark with distinct outer ring = Severe oxidation
- A dark center with surrounding rings = Fuel in oil,Fuel dilution

Details of the blotter spot test can be found within: Fitch, J.C., “The Lubrication Field Test and Inspection Guide”, Noria Corporation 2000

Filed under Automotive

June 21st 2009 There are some simple ways to lower car insurance Rates for Students

For students is very difficult to afford an auto insurance because the ratesare usually very high for young people under 25, insurance companies factor the statistical risk probability of having an accident and for young people is very high, so the rates are not cheap.

But you can get discount car insurance for students, the fact is that you can reduce your rates by having good grades, good driving record and driving safely.

Filed under Automotive

June 21st 2009 Can You Really End Up With a Radical New or Used Car or Truck Bargain in Internet Used or New Vehicle Auction Sites

I never liked facing the job of purchasing a vehicle. It didn’t matter if it was a new car purchase or a used car purchase. Certainly, it was fun walking around the vehicle lot on a Saturday morning and perusing the vehicles. However, when it came to talking to a sales person and haggling on the cost in person I hate it. That is when I tried my first Internet car auctions. I soon realized that there were many advantages to these Internet car auctions.

The first benefit is the sheer numbers of vehicles. There are a myriad of opportunities to buy a car used and also many new cars for sale. It could be that you are desiring a particular type and color and you can’t find it at the neighborhood dealer. You can visit an auction site and possibly browse dozens of autos of the make and color had in mind. Internet car auctions are sure to have a larger selection than you are likely to get at your neighborhood vehicle dealer.

One more selling point of auto auctions is the price of your automobile. You can get some mighty sweet deals if you wait for them. In fact, you may easily end up with lots of very hefty buys when you look to buy repo cars No matter whether they are run of the mill used cars or used vehicles from lender repo you may find yourself paying loads less cash than you would with other car buying methods. You may want to look into repossessed automobiles for your next car since the banks just need to rid themselves of the cars and usually will not expect a profit. I’ve ended up with quite a few rock bottom dollar figures on repo automobiles.

The main disadvantage to Internet auto auctions is that most of the vehicles will not be close to you. You can specify the area of your query based on the postal code, but that limits the choice of available vehicles. If you have lots of contacts around the country you should manage to strike a deal to have a friend view a car in their local area on your behalf. You can also request third party value determinations and auto history reports before you bid on that dream car.

Any time you are searching for a vehicle you should investigate Internet car or truck auctions as part of your car shopping process. In the event you don’t purchase using one of the Internet auctions you will have an opportunity to find out what is for sale and you can compare with the cars your local vehicle dealerships or newspapers have to look at.

Filed under Automotive

June 20th 2009 Useful and Easy Guide For Getting a Nice Buy On a Boat Is To Buy a Previously Used Boat

One fun past time enjoyed by many is owning and restoring an antique wooden boat. You will have hours of enjoyment when you use your wonderful antique wood boat. There are many people who would get more joy from a boat with a wood hull than they would with one that is mass produced from aluminum or steel.

Whether your boat is for a week-end hobby or the cruise of a lifetime, you will really enjoy your antique wood boat. The most cost effective way to own a wood boat is to remodel an antique model. This process not only saves money but also receive the joy that comes from working on your own boat.

You can handle one manageable project at a time to help spread out the cost. Those who have never owned a boat before often struggle with learning how to restore an antique wood boat. There are many little ticks for working on wood boats that can save you lots of time.

The key to an enjoyable time working you your wood boat has more to do with knowledge than skills. The good news for wood boat buyers is that there is a large selection of books that can give you the knowledge you need. The large majority of these books are written by those who have years of experience and can give you the real tricks of the trade. Often even the most experienced boat owners can disagree so it pays to read more than one book to get the best tips.

Before you begin know that restoring antique wood boats can require a significant amount of both time and money. As long as you know what you are likely to face, you can relax and have some fun. The time you invest will pay off in a beautiful boat in the end. Be sure to carefully calculate all the possible costs that are likely to occur when restoring your antique wood boat. Be sure you have the money that will be needed to turn the boat you buy into the boat of your dreams. What are some of the most popular wood choices for boats - read more here.

Filed under Automotive

June 15th 2009 Ways to Save keen on Your Next Used Automobile Purchase .

Purchasing a new car is a long term investment that should not be taken lightly. Buying a new car is surely the 2nd highest investment you may make apart from the purchase of a new or previously occupied home. Car expenses that continue after the opening purchase like gas and maintenance make a new automobile purchase even more costly.

For those that cannot afford the overall costs concerned with the purchase of a new vehicle, they can settle on the purchase of a formerly owned auto.

According to consumer reports, a new car depreciates in value once it leaves the automobile dealer lot. The depreciation amount can be as high as twenty percent yearly. Considering this, you can see that it might be easy for someone to get a fairly new car at almost half the cost of what the car would cost new.

If you find the right deal at the right price, you might possibly move up to a higher end model compared to what you would purchase new. All in all, you save cash since the value you are getting for your formerly owned vehicle purchase will be noticeably less than the same car bought new.

Before purchasing a previously owned car, it’s best to narrow down the model and options you are willing to spend your cash on. It’s important to analyze your potential automobile purchase, looking at the model, its options, its security features and other items. Fitted out with the entire data about a certain vehicle of interest helps you get the right car for the right price from most any dealer.

Obviously, you can purchase a formerly owned car from a dealer or from a non-public individual. It is obvious that you can get a better price from an individual but he may not be able to prove certain things like if the vehicle was in an accident like a dealer could. The dealer can also give a short guaranty on the vehicle and also would be able to supply a free Carfax report if you request it.

Tips for previously owned automobile purchases

* you check if the dealer or individual has a good reputation or is able to provide sufficient records of upkeep, accidents, and so on.

* Make sure you totally test drive the vehicle and also check to see if all the accessories work. Turn all the switches on and off to make certain all the electrical features work.

* Most vehicles will have a maintenance record of some type. Request those records from the dealer or individual and if they don’t seem to be not available, find out where the work was done and ask them about the auto.

* Since the majority are not well informed about cars, it is advisable to bring the automobile to a trustworthy mechanic for a correct and in depth inspection.

There are numerous auto dealers in the automobile market today. Take some time and inquire with additional than one dealer when trying to find your vehicle. If you can’t find your car straight away, ask a credible dealer to try and find one for you. Give the dealer information about how much you are prepared to pay, what categorical colours you would like and stuff like that. The dealer may either find that precise vehicle or offer another model that is very similar to the one that you desire.

Finding out more information on used car savings at Cars Under 500 Dollars

Filed under Automotive

June 15th 2009 API CJ-4 vs. CI-4: Is One Diesel Oil Spec Better than the Other?

It is common to hear individuals talking about the relative benefits and drawbacks of the vs. the older CI-4 diesel engine oils. So, it seems a good idea for us to discuss a few issues regarding the differences between the two oil types.

Many of the visitors to our AMSOIL website are seeking our AMSOIL AME 15w40 Synthetic Diesel Oil. Generally, this is either because they fear switching over to a “lower” viscosity oil or because they’ve been told “bad things” about the new API CJ-4 oils.

Reduction of Key Additives in API CJ-4 Rated Oils

It should be noted that, our AME 15w40 synthetic diesel oil has not been blended to meet the latest CJ-4 specs because to meet CJ-4 specifications motor oil producers were required to make significant reductions in the levels of key additives in fighting acid - and thus corrosion within the engine. In other words, they lowered the Total Base Number of the oil.

Are Oil Drain Intervals Shortened?

Because the TBN of CJ-4 oils has dropped, it is assumed that the long oil change abilities of API CJ-4 oils have been compromised as compared to CI-4 oils with higher Total Base Number in order to blend a diesel oil that is more likely compatible with the new EGR systems found on those vehicles sold as a 2007 model or beyond.

Current EGR systems are placing extremely HEAVY soot load on the oil. As a result, oil manufacturers have increased the dispersant and detergent additives in the new CJ-4 oils - a good thing, obviously.

In addition, lower grade CI-4 diesel motor oils (petroleum based and low grade synthetics) have had to implement upgrades to their base stock quality in order to adequately meet CJ-4 classification specs. As a result, the newer API CJ-4 oils are, in respects to their basestock, a more advanced lubricant. In contrast, if premium synthetic oils are being compared, the base stocks are most likely very similar to or even identical to their CI-4 predecessors because the basestocks used for the CI-4 rated oils were likely already plenty capable of meeting CJ-4 classification requirements.

So, in many respects CJ-4 oils ARE an improvement over CI-4 oils. The only POTENTIAL drawback to using a CJ-4 oil is a shorter oil drain. But, you may very well not even notice the difference between a CI-4 and a CJ-4 rated oil if you typically don’t extend your drain intervals all that far.

It’s actually very common for users to change their oil before it’s really necessary simply because they don’t trust the longer drain intervals to protect their expensive engines. So, in the end, although it is POSSIBLE that a CI-4 rated oil could offer a longer oil drain interval due to higher TBN levels, many users won’t be affected by the shorter drain, since they don’t extend their oil drain intervals anyway.

Moreover, oil analysis results of many CJ-4 users seem to show that, although the initial TBN of CJ-4 oils is lower, TBN “retention” for these CJ-4 oils may actually be BETTER than CI-4 oils. If these initial oil analysis results are proven true by continued field testing, we MAY find that CJ-4 oils are able to offer oil drain intervals similar to higher TBN CI-4 oils.

The end result: If you won’t likely be trying to take your oil to the max drain intervals possible, you likely will not be negatively affected by any potential shortening of oil drain intervals with CJ-4 oils. On the flip side, wear protection and detergency of a CJ-4 oil can only help make the switch to a CJ-4 oil a beneficial one. Hence, for many companies and individuals owning diesel engines, the API CJ-4 rated oil MAY actually be the better choice, whether you have a newer model diesel or not.

Filed under Automotive

June 14th 2009 The last of my new car buying tips for

The last of my new car buying tips for women is to take your time. You don’t have to decide on the car in one day. The dealer will print out the terms of the purchase so that you can really think over your options. Make the decision in the comfort and familiarity of your own home and don’t feel pressured to make an instant decision in and impersonal sales office. Some of the best car buying tips are found on the internet. When you look, make sure you find a good and solid company to take advice from. You don’t want to be in a position where to take bad advice.

Filed under Automotive

June 13th 2009 AMSOIL Synthetic Engine Oil Trounces Mobil 1

Ok, the synthetic oil comparisons are done. Mobil 1 STILL does not match AMSOIL (even with their new EP product). In testing finished August of 2005 against 10 well known dino & synthetic oils, AMSOIL’s product tested to be the clear victor, even over the new and “amaaaaazing” Mobil 1 EP synthetic motor oil. You can see the results for yourself on the BestSyntheticOil.com web site. But, for now, here are some highlights:

* Mobil 1 Evaporates 38% More Quickly Than AMSOIL Does
* Mobil 1 Synthetic Permits 18% Higher Friction at Cold Start
* Mobil 1 Synthetic Allows 22% MORE Wear

Also, on the TFOUT test procedure, the “Thin Film Oxygen Uptake Test” (ASTM D-4742), that gives a very good correlation to change interval capability of an engine oil, AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil passed the 500 minute marker with top marks, while the Mobil 1 Synthetic fell shy at only 469 min.. Of course, that is significantly better than most of the competing oils, so you’ve got to give Mobil 1 EP,the Mobil product some credit. Nonetheless, the AMSOIL synthetic motor oil could quite easily have continued longer. Unfortunately, since the TFOUT test specifications keep the test run time to under 500 minutes, we were cut short of discovering precisely how far the AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil could truly go.

Either way, it is of little consequence. AMSOIL synthetic offers much better protection against wear, lower cold temp performance, less high temperature evaporation and longer guaranteed extended drain intervals.

Filed under Automotive

June 10th 2009 Turn Heads With Marvelous Looking DropStars Rims

Inspired towards modernizing the style of your automobile?You’ve made the appropriate choice by deciding to try checking out the net.After all, you’ve turned up here, and you have come to the right place.Try starting with modernizing your wheels.Take a look at some DropStars wheels.Everyone you know will be wishing they had your DropStars rims and the boost to your style.You don’t have to have the most trendy and most fresh automobile; buying DropStars wheels will make your vehicle look like it’s had a whole makeover.It’s a sure thing your DropStars wheels will look awesome.You can review them at Hubcap, Tire & Wheel, which is the leading etailer for DropStars wheels.Many web stores sell what is named “blems.”Blems are rims with manufacturer blemishes.These online retailers often advertise them at an exceedingly slashed price, but you always “get what you pay for.”At Hubcap, Tire & Wheel, there are no blems; you can be sure all wheels are DropStars new.

Filed under Automotive

June 10th 2009 If you are feeling buying a new auto is

If you are feeling buying a new auto is annoying, then buying a 2nd hand vehicle can be quite trickier. But don’t fret just yet–with these rules to keep you on track, that used car might be one of the sweetest deals you have ever had. Where to Look Snoop around.

It pays to be looking out for owners needing to shift to a newer model, and therefore needing to sell the car of your dreams. This is where your pals come in. Aside from referrals, they could sort of make sure that the price is reasonable and the car’s possession history is acceptable. Asking the Right Questions Why are the owners letting the car go? Ensure that they are not selling due to any major issues.

How long have they owned the car? Given correct upkeep, a five to seven years old vehicle would often be in good shape. What repairs have been done, or are at present needed? How’s the mileage? The lower the mileage, the better.

However, a used auto with extra miles may be satisfactory, too. In this example, ask about the vehicle’s use. Was it a family automobile restricted to town driving? Does the auto come with a warranty? Be conscious of the following : Body rust or holes are tough to correct.

A body panel rusting through is to get replaced. Different paint shades from one panel to another, peeling and cracked paint, or smudges on other automobile part indicates a poor re-paint job, which must be re-done. Frayed tires, chipped or cracked glass, the electrical work and what’s beneath the hood should be given correct attention, too. Going Out for a try out if it is a manual vehicle, the clutch should not slip. If the clutch slips, rather than being steady as it accelerates, the motor will be revved up as when using neutral.

If this occurs get a new clutch! Is the exhaust not chugging out excess smoke and noise? The automobile may need some good motor correct, or some of the exhaust system parts replaced. Do the pothole test. Very shaky rides could indicate a suspension problem, an alignment problem and or a tire problem. Always have a reliable mechanic or a vehicle fan buddy to totally go over the car with you.

The Turn Over, at Last the amount of prior owners, registration details, applicable taxes, and insurance papers - should all be properly documented. With the bureaucracy done and the payment terms finished on, you are prepared to get going, and relax in the ride!

Find out more information toward buying your next vehicle at Cars Under 500 Dollars

Filed under Automotive

June 3rd 2009 How to Get a Fantastic Vehicle Deal in Used or New Car Auctions

I detest the ritual of shopping for a vehicle. It was irrelevant if it was a new or used car. Obviously, I enjoyed walking around the vehicle lot on a Saturday afternoon and perusing the cars and trucks. On the other hand, when it came to meeting with a dealer and making a deal on a vehicle on their terms I never liked facing it. Then one day I stumbled on cars for sale online. I soon learned that there were lots of benefits of these online automobile auctions.

The first advantage is the wide selection. There are a myriad of chances to buy used cars and also tons of new automobiles to consider. Let’s say you are set on finding a particular model and color and you can’t locate one at your nearby car or truck dealer. You can connect to an Internet auction site and possibly locate dozens of automobiles of the model and color searching for. Internet automobile auctions can have many more cars than you can expect to get at your local lot.

The greatest selling point of auto auctions is the low price of your car. You can capture many amazingly advantageous cost savings if you hunt for them. In fact, you may easily get lots of very advantageous bargains when you look to buy repo cars Regardless of whether they are run of the mill used vehicles or used automobiles from creditor repo you can end up shelling out a heap less than you would have with other car buying methods. You may want to look specifically at repossessed vehicles as a way to save money considering that banks really need to rid themselves of the vehicles and usually will not wait for a profit. I have witnessed many really good buys on repo autos.

A possible problem with buying with online car or truck auctions is that a lot of the cars will not be local. You can localize your search using your postal code, but that will restrict the selection of available buys. If you have a lot of buddies throughout the country you could manage to make a deal to have your buddy test drive a vehicle in their vicinity on your behalf. You may be able to get third party value determinations and vehicle title reports before you bid on any fantasy car.

When you are shopping for a new or used car you should consider vehicle auctions as part of any process. Even if you do not purchase in one of the Internet auctions you will have a chance to find out what is on the market and you can have a comparison to the vehicles your neighborhood car or truck dealerships or listings have to buy.

Filed under Automotive

June 1st 2009 Tig Welding For Pipe Welding Jobs

Tig Welding For Pipe Welding Jobs. More often than not, a 6G position welding test is required to certify for Pipe welding jobs. On many boiler jobs, 2″ heavy wall tubing is tig welded all the way out in the 6G position making the welder either switch hands, or at least get in some uncomfortable positions. That is why 6G position Tig welding tests are considered the most difficult. Regardless of whether you are using a cheap tig welder, the process remains the same. Tig welding is an art, and every day, more and more become certified users.

Filed under Automotive

May 31st 2009 If you are feeling buying a new car is

If you are feeling buying a new car is annoying, then purchasing a second hand car can be quite trickier. But don’t fret just yet–with these rules to keep you on track, that used car might be one of the sweetest deals you’ve ever had. Where to Look Snoop around.

It pays to be keeping a lookout for owners needing to shift to a newer model, and therefore needing to sell the auto of your dreams. This is where your loved ones come in. Except for referrals, they could sort of ensure that the price is reasonable and the auto’s possession history is satisfactory. Asking the Right Questions Why are the owners letting the auto go? Ensure that they’re not selling due to any major issues.

How long have they owned the car? Given correct upkeep, a five to seven years old vehicle would typically be in good condition. What repairs have been done, or are at present needed? How’s the mileage? The lower the mileage, the better.

However, a second hand car with further miles might be sufficient, too. In this example, ask about the auto’s use. Was it a family automobile restricted to the town driving? Will the auto come with a warranty? Be aware of the following : Body rust or holes are tough to fix.

A body panel rusting through is to get replaced. Different paint shades from one panel to another, peeling and cracked paint, or smudges on other vehicle part indicates a poor re-paint job, which has to be re-done. Threadbare tires, chipped or cracked glass, the electrical work and what’s beneath the hood should be given correct attention, too. Going Out for a try out if it is a manual automobile, the clutch should not slip. If the clutch slips, instead of being steady as it accelerates, the motor will be revved up as when using neutral.

If this happens get yourself a new clutch! Is the exhaust not chugging out excess smoke and noise? The auto may need some good motor correct, or some of the exhaust system parts replaced. Do the pothole test. Awfully shaky rides could indicate a suspension problem, an alignment problem and or a tire problem. Always have a reliable mechanic or a vehicle fan chum to completely go over the car with you.

The Turn Over, at Last the amount of previous owners, registration details, applicable taxes, and insurance papers - should all be correctly documented. With the bureaucracy done and the payment terms concluded on, you are prepared to get going, and bask in the ride!

Find out more information toward buying your next vehicle at Cars Under 500 Dollars

Filed under Automotive

May 29th 2009 Practical Guide For Getting a Great Buy On a Boat Is To Fix Up a Wood Boat

A wonderful hobby to consider is restoring and sailing an antique wood boat. There is a wonderful feeling that comes when you spend time on a great antique wood boat. There are many people who would get more joy from a boat with a wood hull than they would with one that is mass produced from aluminum or steel.

Whether your boat is for a week-end hobby or the cruise of a lifetime, you will really enjoy your antique wood boat. The most cost effective way to own a wood boat is to find an antique one and fix it up. This process not only saves money but it can be very rewarding as well.

You can tackle small projects one at a time to help spread out the cost. The new boat owner may struggle with getting all the information they need to properly restore a boat. There are a variety of tricks for working on antique wood boats that can help to save you hours.

Often successfully working on your antique wood boat is usually a matter of knowledge instead of skills. Luckily there are plenty of excellent books that can give you the secret insider tips. Most of these books are written by people who have learned all the tricks during years of experience working on their boats. You will find that even the most seasoned experts can disagree so it pays to read more than one book to get the best tips.

Prior to taking on this project it is helpful to know that the process of restoring antique wood boats can require a significant amount of both time and money. As long as you are prepared to stick with it, you can relax and enjoy the process. Know that your investment will pay off with a great boat in the end. Think about all the possible expenses that are a part of restoring an antique wood boat. Be aware of the amount of money that will be required to make your antique wood boat run the way you desire. What are some of the most popular wood choices for boats - read more here.

Filed under Automotive

May 26th 2009 Atv Tires Performance

Atv Tires Performance. In a typical ATV, Discount Tires perform multiple roles, including transmission of traction to the road surface, supporting the chassis of the vehicle, and absorbing the shocks from the surface. ATVs are commonly used in racing, and this represents the ultimate test for any tire. Discount Tires also have an important role to play in maintaining the direction of the vehicle. During the course of racing, ATVs are made to turn and jump, among other things. This puts lot of strain on the vehicle and consequently, the burden on tires is also increased. While selecting ATV tires, the size becomes an important deciding factor. In case your ATV wheels are undersized, the safety of the vehicle could be compromised. When you are ready to get a great deal on cheap atv tires, you should definitely check out the internet. I’ll tell you, you can find probably some of the best prices there. And depending on the company, you can get it with free shipping.

Filed under Automotive