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Archive for December 21st, 2009

One Of Your Car Engine’s Worst Enemies

December 21st, 2009
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The 4-stroke combustion process (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) normally occurs smoothly. The pistons, spark plugs, fuel injectors, and other components work like a well-oiled machine. Pressure builds within the combustion chamber until the air-fuel mixture contained within it is ignited by the spark plug. That’s what propels your vehicle forward. When you hear a knocking sound as you accelerate, especially during heavy load, that means there is something wrong with your engine. When this occurs it is referred to as spark knock. And it can lead to expensive damage.

In this article, I’ll explain what is happening inside your engine to produce the knocking or pinging sound. I’ll also provide a few hints regarding what might be the root cause of the problem.

The Truth About Spark Knock?

The knocking sound is due to the fuel within your vehicle’s combustion chamber detonating. Rather than burning cleanly, it explodes under load, over and over. This happens when the heat and pressure contained in the chamber is erratic. It is not being controlled properly, and the excess heat and pressure is igniting the gas.

You might not immediately notice a change in the performance or output of your car engine. However, over time, spark knock can lead to cracked rod bearings (from the pistons), broken rings, and head gasket problems. Each of these problems can be expensive to repair.

Reasons Knocking Can Happen

So, why does detonation happen? It can occur when your car’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system malfunctions. The EGR valve is tasked with opening when you’re pushing your engine under heavy load (for example, if you’re towing something up a hill). By opening, it allows excess exhaust to flow out of the combustion chamber, lowering the temperature. If the EGR fails, this process cannot happen.

Detonation can also happen if your car’s knock sensor malfunctions. This sensor is supposed to identify situations in which the fuel is igniting erratically. It then tells your car’s computer to change the ignition timing in order to compensate. A failed sensor prevents this from occurring.

With older vehicles, the detonation can be a result of carbon buildup. This will occur when their is a build up of carbon inside the pistons combustion chamber. Fortunately, this problem is simple to resolve; most mechanics will flush the injectors and the combustion chamber with a special detergent that clears away the carbon deposits.

Lower octane value gas can be a main cause of detonation. Even though it is labeled “87″ on the gas pumps at some stations the octane level is actually lower. Try filling your tank with a premium grade fuel from a respected brand (for example, Chevron).

If you hear knocking when your engine is under heavy load, take your vehicle to an experienced mechanic as soon as possible. He’ll have the necessary equipment to test your engine and identify the root cause of the fuel detonation. If you ignore the problem, you could be setting yourself up for expensive repairs in the future.

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Benefits of Original Equipment Manufacturer Car Parts

December 21st, 2009
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Your car’s alternator isn’t indestructible - it won’t last forever. Neither will your catalytic converter. In fact, your fuel injectors, ignition switch, and muffler can also fail. Every auto part under your vehicle’s hood can unexpectedly expire and need to be replaced.

When you take your car to the dealership they use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. Conversely, the mechanic at your local garage is most likely going to use aftermarket alternatives. Which is better?

Claiming one choice is always better than the other is overly-simplistic; it ignores subtle pros and cons of each. Below, we’ll compare the advantages of investing in OEM parts versus buying their aftermarket equivalents.

The Advantages Of Aftermarket

Aftermarket components and systems are less expensive than their OEM counterparts. However, the percentage you’ll save will vary by the item your vehicle needs. Be cautious. A lot of aftermarket units seem low-priced, but hide defects that can leave you stranded at the side of the road.

Another advantage is that the quality can be just as high as Original Equipment Manufacturer systems. The reason is because the automaker is often forced to offset the performance of the component with other factors. For example, consider anti-lock braking systems. The manufacturer has to make sure the pads don’t squeal; otherwise, customers will complain. The problem is, ensuring the brake pads are silent requires accepting a mild loss in performance (to that end, high-performance brakes are often noisy).

Yet another advantage of buying after-market components is that they’re widely available. Mechanics can easily obtain any replacement part your vehicle needs. In fact, they’ll often have them in stock.

The Advantages Of OEM

OEM parts also offer significant advantages. First, you’ll always know what to expect from them. They are nearly identical to the systems that were installed within your vehicle at the time it rolled off the factory floor.

Second, you won’t need to examine a given component in order to spot defects. Original Equipment Manufacturer parts provide a consistent level of quality and are designed as seamless replacements. That means there is no reason to be concerned with compatibility and performance issues.

Third, they are usually supported by a one-year warranty. For example, if you have your alternator replaced and it malfunctions within the first year, the automaker will replace it with another OEM alternator without cost. You might not have the same experience if the alternator were an aftermarket unit.

Which Is The Most Appropriate Choice?

There are a few reliable rules of thumb to follow. First, if you’re replacing anything on your car’s frame (for example, a body panel), you should opt for Original Equipment Manufacturer replacements. Second, if you’re leasing your vehicle, you should also choose OEM parts. Otherwise, you’re likely to lose your deposit when you return the car. Third, for something like an alternator or a fuel pump (a key component), OEM is always the better choice.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to take a risk (and the risk can be substantial) in order to save a few dollars, aftermarket parts may be a good investment.

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The Benefits that Nissan Navara Can Give

December 21st, 2009
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There are several double cabs sold. To have one is a big investment. To make sure though that your hard-earned money is spent into one that is worthy, you have to make a wise choice of which double cab pickup to purchase.

 

Nissan navara is one of the few best double cab pickups that you can get. Since its introduction in 2001, it had become one of the leading pickup trucks. There had been great revisions on its look and features making it the more appealing to those seeking a truly practical and functional vehicle.

 

However, just as been said, nissan navara is just one of those that are the best. Surely, those other double cab pickups can also give you a worthy service. But why choose nissan navara over them? Is it a good decision to favor it over the others? Well, the answer to that is yes. Why though?

 

Generally, it is because it has greater advantages over the other double cabs. Though some double cabs got their own set of benefits to offer, they are not the same as what nissan navara can give.What are those advantages though? They can be specified in the following.

 

  • Looks inside and out – Though the said double cab’s top priority is functionality, it does not the throw away style. In fact, both the exterior and interior of it are offering quite a good though manly appearance despite the fact that that it is first and foremost designed for hard work.

 

  • Practicality and Reliability – There is wide space that Nissan Navara can offer. Aside from the loading space on its back, it also has an array of door pockets and cup holders. The large space that it has is generally what makes it practical. Apart from that, it can also be judged as reliable with its 2.3 liter diesel engine. The high number of nissan navara on the road today can generally back up that claim.

 

  • Safety – The said double cab pickup can provide a truly safe ride. It got electronic brake force distribution and brake assist. Of course, it also has airbags for both the passenger and the driver.

 

  • Additional Features – The additional features that can be found in nissan navara make it the more advantageous to have. Among those features include electronic windows, central locking system, CD player, Bluetooth hands-free kit and many others.

 

Because of those advantages, it can be said that surely, Nissan Navara is wise for double cab.

 

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