Tags: accidents / advice / tips

What Not to do After a Car Accident

- Jumat, 25 September 2015 No Comments

Photo courtesy of Volvo

Fortunately for most drivers, car accidents are an occasional thing. Most people don't want to think about getting into an accident because they can be scary, but by not thinking about such a situation they put themselves at risk. You need to know what to avoid doing immediately after an accident on the road, because what you do in the moments after your car is wrecked can follow you for some time afterward. The following items are all things people commonly do, even though some are dangerous or even illegal.

Lose your temper

Never, ever, start yelling at or making aggressive moves towards the other driver. It's understandable that your emotions might be running high after being in a wreck, especially if it was a bad one. Even if it's blatantly obvious that the other driver was at fault, you cannot take the law into your own hands. Remember that you could be charged with assault if you do lose your cool and lay hands on the other driver, so if you're upset it's probably best to keep to yourself.

Admit any fault

Even if you feel bad about what happened to the other party in the wreck, never admit that you were at fault. Saying that you're sorry counts and it can be used against you in a dispute between insurance companies, or if the case goes to court. You can ask if the other party is okay and help them if they are injured, but keep the apologies to yourself.

Leave the scene of the wreck

Taking off after an accident is a very bad idea, even if you don't have insurance. The moment you flee the scene of an accident, you have broken the law, even if the accident was the other driver's fault. Going back to the accident after leaving still means you have violated the law and are subject to criminal charges. You must stop your car, check on the people in the other vehicle, and exchange insurance information with them.

Forget to call the police

You must contact the local police and follow their instructions about the wreck. Even if you swap insurance information with the other driver, you have no idea if that information is even accurate or current. There are some people who carry around falsified insurance information when they aren't even insured. The police can help sort things out so you're not left holding the bill for the wreck. Not only that, most insurance companies will not pay out on an accident that was not reported to the police because of the potential for fraud. Even if the police don't come to the scene of the accident, you still need to call them before you leave.

Neglect to document the scene

You might think the police or your insurance company will document the scene of the accident, but they might not even show up. Just about everyone carries a smart phone with them these days, so pull it out and start taking as many pictures as you can. Document where the two cars are, any damage on them, the license plate of the other car, and anything else pertaining to the wreck.

Tags: horsepower / tips / torque

Horsepower Versus Torque: What’s the Difference?

- Selasa, 22 September 2015 No Comments

Jaguar F-Type R Coupe. Image courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover.

Unless you are a big car enthusiast or an engineer, you likely have no idea what the difference is between a vehicle’s horsepower and torque ratings. Sure, you see them listed all the time with a car’s specifications, and you know bigger numbers are better, but just what is the difference between the two ratings?

A simple explanation is that horsepower measures the amount of power produced by your engine, while torque measures the amount of twisting force produced by the engine. Torque is the feeling of power when a car first launches off the line, which is what most buyers think of when they wonder how powerful a car is. In contrast, horsepower is the ability of the car to sustain that initial surge of power. People think they are buying horsepower, when in fact the torque is what they are feeling.

To be more precise, horsepower is a measurement of the engine’s ability to move a certain amount of mass. Specifically, one unit of horsepower represents the force needed to move 550 pounds a distance of one foot in one second, or 33,000 pounds the same distance in a minute’s time.

Torque is produced by the engine, transferred to a fly wheel which in turn transfers that twisting power to the transmission. The transmission in turn transfers that power to the drive shaft and then the axle, allowing the car’s wheels to turn.

When buying a vehicle to tow anything, whether it’s a boat or another vehicle that is stuck in the snow, the important figure to pay attention to is the engine’s peak torque output.  A high torque output at a low RPM provides plenty of pulling power when the vehicle first starts rolling forward.

In city driving, most people drive on torque since there is a lot of stop-and-go traffic. On the highway horsepower becomes much more important, since your car’s engine needs to ability to sustain the speed at which you are traveling. 

Tags: car maintenance / motorcycles / tips

Charging a Motorcycle Battery

- Senin, 21 September 2015 No Comments

Photo courtesy of BMW

When you leave a motorcycle sitting long enough without turning on the engine, the battery will lose its charge, just like in a car. If you don't want to deal with a dead battery and you aren't riding your motorcycle regularly, like when winter hits, you can still keep it ready to go at a moment's notice by charging the battery periodically.

First off, you need to know that it isn't safe to use a car battery charger on your motorcycle. Chargers that are made for car batteries supply too much electrical current for a motorcycle battery. Using such a charger on your motorcycle will ruin the battery in short order, meaning you will need to replace rather than charge it. If you don't have a motorcycle battery charger, you can purchase one at your local motorcycle dealer or from one of many legitimate online motorcycle parts stores.

When handling a motorcycle battery, you should wear protective gloves and goggles. The fluids that are contained in the battery can be extremely acidic and toxic. If you were to drop or otherwise damage the battery, having those fluids come into contact with your skin, eyes, or any other part of your exposed body could be painful and leave permanent scarring.

Always work in an area that is properly ventilated. There might be fumes coming from the battery, so it is better to be safe than run the risk of inhaling something harmful. Before you can charge the battery, you must remove it from the motorcycle. Use a pair of pliers to loosen the connections that hold the battery in your bike. With the battery removed, place it on a sturdy and flat surface, like the floor or on a work bench. Before continuing, check the battery connections for any corrosion or damage. You can clean them with a wire brush. If you do find damage, you must replace your battery to avoid personal injury or damage to your motorcycle.

Pry off the chamber caps and fill the cells with deionized water. Using any other type of water can harm your battery by introducing other chemicals. Connect the cables from the charger to the battery. Match up the positive cable to the positive terminal, and the negative cable to the negative terminal.

With the connections established, plug the charger into an electrical outlet. The amount of time it will take for the charger to replenish the battery depends on the battery, how depleted it is, and the type of charger you are using. Many times it will take all night to charge a battery, especially if it was fully depleted.

Once the battery charger lights indicate that a full charge has been reached, turn the charger off and disconnect the cables. Connect the battery to the motorcycle just as it was before you removed it.

Because charging a depleted motorcycle battery is a pretty lengthy process, it's best to give yourself plenty of time to perform the task. Many motorcycle owners regularly charge up their battery as a way to avoid a surprise when they need to use their bike, which is a smart practice you should consider. 

Tags: car maintenance / finances / tips

How to Make Your Car Last

- Jumat, 18 September 2015 No Comments

Image courtesy of General Motors

Cars cost quite a lot of money, not only to buy but also to maintain. By maintaining your car properly, whether you do it through your car dealership, a private shop or at your home, you will save money by avoiding at least some major problems as well as extending the overall life of your car. By enjoying more years without car payments or large mechanical problems, you can stretch your money further. Of course there are some specific ways to accomplish this goal, so read on to find out what they are.

Keep your tires properly inflated. Too many car owners don't even think to check their tire pressure, or they think the tires need to be inflated to the pressure listed on the tires' sidewall. The vehicle manufacturer specifies how much air pressure should be in the tires and places the information on a sticker located in the driver's door jamb. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help the tread last longer. Also, underinflated tires make the engine and transmission on a car work harder, which places more strain on them and will cause them to fail sooner.

Maintain your car's battery and the ignition system by parking in your garage as much as possible in the winter. If you cannot park in a garage, install a battery insulation kit to keep your battery warm enough at all times. Hook the battery up to a tender regularly to ensure it keeps a full charge, which will take some strain off the rest of the ignition system. If you do have a garage, absolutely do not heat it since it will cause your car to rust.

You can make your brakes last longer by using them sparingly. Some drivers like to speed up quickly from a stop, then practically slam on their brakes when they reach a red light. Instead, coast toward red lights and touch your brakes as little as possible. You can even shift to a lower gear to slow your car down instead of riding the brakes.

Most people completely forget about their windshield wiper blades since they are small and relatively inexpensive. You can extend their life significantly just by cleaning them once a month with denatured alcohol. The cleanings not only remove debris buildup, they also keep the rubber more flexible so it holds closer to the glass, eliminating streaking that otherwise would appear.

Use synthetic oil. While synthetic oil isn't exactly cheap, it lasts significantly longer and provides better protection for your engine's internal parts. Synthetic oils are even designed to not break down in extreme temperatures, making them excellent for driving in hot weather or on long road trips.

Washing your car regularly is about more than just looks. As you wash your car, you remove corrosive agents from the paint, keeping it in better condition. Waxing your car then places a protective coating over the paint. A well-maintained paint job will prevent corrosion like rust from taking hold on a car, which if left unchecked can lead to its ultimate death. You can also protect the paint by keeping the car covered or in a garage as much as possible.

Tags: bad weather / road safety / tips / winter driving

Driving Safely in Fog

- Selasa, 15 September 2015 No Comments

2015 Mercedes G-Class. Image courtesy of Daimler.

One of the most dangerous conditions to drive in is fog. Most people don't think about the risks until they are in the middle of a foggy area, and then they panic and do things that actually put them even more at risk. Having your visibility while driving reduced by a considerable amount is certainly concerning, but if you keep your head about you and follow these tips, you should come out of the situation without any problems.

First off, many drivers turn on their high beams to help them see in the fog. This strategy is incredibly flawed since it will actually result in the driver being able to see even less. The light from the high beams will actually reflect off of the water vapor in the air, making it even more difficult to see anything. Instead of hitting your high beams, turn on your fog lights, if your car is equipped with them. Many people use fog lights just to look cool, but those little lights on the front of your car are mounted low for a reason. They will actually improve your visibility in the fog, helping you navigate through the area with less difficulty.

Turning up your sound system is a bad idea. When you are driving in the fog, it's a good idea to turn off any music or talk radio in your car. You need to listen for other car horns, squealing tires or other audio clues that indicate a problem lies ahead on the road. Rolling down your windows helps you hear even more, which will keep you and everyone in your car safer.

Another big mistake people make when driving in fog is maintaining their speed. It's completely okay to slow down to well below the posted speed limit when thick fog is present. After all, if you can't see where you're going very well, going fast can lead to disaster. The faster you go, the less time you have to react when a large semi appears out of nowhere in the thick fog, giving you little to no time to react. If you slow down, you will see such obstacles and have more time to react. This even applies when you are driving on roads you know extremely well, because you still can't see the other cars on the road.

While you should slow down when driving in fog, you need to avoid slamming on your brakes. Stopping completely where there is no traffic light or stop sign can be downright dangerous. Other drivers might not be able to see your car until they are right on top of you, triggering a serious accident. Also, if your car is equipped with a rear fog light, activating it can help other drivers see your car much sooner.

When you see other cars on the road, maintain a healthy distance from them. In the fog it's hard to tell when other cars are slowing down, so keeping more distance from them than usual helps you avoid getting into an accident. Also, if someone does slam into the back of your car, you will be less likely to strike the vehicles in front of you, which will keep everyone safer. 

Tags: car safety / tips

Avoiding Car Fires

- Senin, 14 September 2015 No Comments

Experiencing a car far is something nobody wants to go through. Your vehicle at any given time carries a tank of several gallons of highly combustible fuel, plus other fluids and materials that can be consumed by a fire rather quickly. Getting out of a car that has caught fire without receiving any bodily harm is harder than it might sound, so the best thing to do is take steps to avoid the possibility that your car will catch fire in the first place.

Properly maintaining your car is one of the best ways to prevent a fire. It doesn't take much time at all to look around under your car's hood on a regular basis. Watch for potential fire hazards like leaking fluids, frayed wires, and hoses that are cracking and wearing out. Taking your car regularly to a trusted mechanic is another good way to catch problems when they are small.

Having a car overheat is a tremendous fire risk. Just overheating alone is usually not enough for an engine to burst into flames. The extra hot temperatures can cause the different fluids like oil and coolant to overflow from their designated areas. If they come into contact with the exhaust system, which will also be at above-normal temperatures, those fluids can ignite and trigger a fast-moving fire. Several situations might cause an engine to overheat, like low coolant levels, a failing radiator, or even a software problem with the car's engine control unit (ECU).

When you are performing maintenance on your car, you need to be careful not to spill fluids. Use a funnel when filling the coolant reservoir or adding some power steering fluid. If you do spill any fluids, immediately soak them up and clean the affected area with plenty of soap and water.

One car part that is an especially common cause of car fires is the catalytic converter. Most people don't even think about the catalytic converter since it is out of sight. The part sits underneath the vehicle's occupants, where it can pose a hidden danger. Since it is part of the exhaust system, it is one of the hottest parts of a car when it is running. A catalytic converter can overheat when it is old and plugged up, or when the engine isn't running well and so does not burn the fuel all the way before it reaches the exhaust system. Either problem can send the catalytic converter's temperature from a normal 1,200 to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 2,000 degrees. In some cases, an overheating catalytic converter has suddenly caused the carpeting in vehicles to combust, putting occupants in immediate danger of being burned.

Smelling fuel around your car when you're not at the local gas station is a bad sign. It is possibly an indication that there is a leak in a fuel line or elsewhere in the fuel system. Rather than trying to figure out the problem yourself, take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible. Every moment you drive with a fuel leak is incredibly risky.

Always pay attention to recalls for your vehicle. You should be signed up for updates such as recalls from your car's manufacturer. If you don't know whether or not you have done this, your local dealership's service department can help. Car manufacturers as well as government agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are constantly on the lookout for flaws in car designs that can create safety problems like fires. As soon as you know your vehicle has been recalled, schedule an appoint with your dealer to have the problem fixed.

Tags: road rage / road safety / tips

Preventing Road Rage

- Jumat, 04 September 2015 No Comments

For years road rage has been highlighted in the media. When tempers have flared on the road, property has been damaged and people have been seriously injured or even killed. Thanks to an increasing number of individuals carrying phones that can record video, now more than ever we can see the dramatic effects of drivers losing their cool.

There are things you can do to prevent road rage and keep you and your loved ones safe as you go about your business. No matter how others behave on the road, by engaging in or avoiding certain activities you can avoid becoming the next victim or aggressor.

Always give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going, especially in rush hour. Everyone on the road has somewhere to be, not just you, so remember that as you sit in bad congestion. If you have given yourself ample time, you won't be worrying that your boss is going to fire you when you finally get to work, and you will be less agitated by slow-moving traffic. On a similar note, you should plan ahead and go to bed early so you can get enough rest for the following day, because being tired can also make you extra irritable.

Remember to give yourself breaks. If you are going to be driving a long distance, make regular stops and get out to stretch. Staying behind the wheel for too long will make it easier for you to become offended at other drivers' behavior, and potentially act on that offense in aggressive ways.

Keep things in perspective. People gain a certain sense of anonymity and invincibility when they are behind the wheel, which is why they are more apt to lash out when cut off on the road versus in the grocery store or elsewhere. By keeping that perspective and remembering that good etiquette should be exercised by you on the road as well as off, you will avoid doing something you will regret later.

Avoid increasing your tension while driving. Constantly gripping the steering wheel like it is a weapon will actually increase your stress level and dial up the possibility you will be in a confrontation on the road. So does listening to aggressive music and yelling at other drivers, even if they can't hear you calling them an idiot for not using a turn signal. Instead, listen to relaxing music and try to maintain a calm attitude as you are traveling.

Don’t do things to provoke other drivers. Some people use their horn constantly to let other drivers know they aren't happy with the way they're driving. The horn was designed to make others aware of your presence, not to give them a piece of your mind. Similarly, some drivers flash their headlights or, even worse, their brights at those they are upset with. Tailgating a car that is going too slow for your taste can trigger a confrontation, as can slamming on your brakes for no good reason when someone is tailgating you. Even worse is giving another driver the bird or shaking your first at them. Remember that you have no idea who other drivers on the road are or what they are capable of, so avoid provoking them at all costs.

Tags: road trips / tips

Going on a Road Trip? Take These Essential Items

- Senin, 31 Agustus 2015 No Comments

Road trips are an economical way to travel long distances. Airfares continue to climb and security measures continue to limit what you can take on a airplane. Road tripping also allows you to see more of the country and maybe even have an unplanned adventure or two along the way.

Before you start off on your journey, be sure you have packed these essential items to make the trip easier, safer and more enjoyable. 

Tools. You never know when your car might experience a little bit of trouble along the way. While there is roadside assistance, having basic tools can help you fix small problems or even annoyances with your car. A screwdriver can tighten hoses that have come loose in the engine compartment, as well as tighten up loose interior components that are making an annoying rattling noise.

Extra car fluids. Even if your car runs just fine, it’s a good idea to take some extra fluids along as a precaution. Include engine oil, coolant and window washer fluid. Brake fluid, power steering fluid and transmission fluid are not as likely to need topping off during a trip, but it doesn’t hurt to take them along as well.

Blankets. Throwing some extra blankets in the trunk of your car can come in handy if you have the unfortunate experience of your car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Even in blazing hot deserts in the middle of the summer, night time temperatures can plummet enough that having a blanket is necessary. You also might find that driving through mountainous areas you are colder than you expected and a blanket is the only warm item you have with you.

Tire pressure gauge. It doesn’t matter if you use a fancy digital tire pressure gauge or one of the manual old types, having one with you is extremely helpful. Every time you stop for gas, take a quick moment to read all four tires’ pressure. Properly inflated tires help your car achieve optimal fuel mileage, plus they allow the car to handle better and brake quicker.

Food and drinks. Being able to snack and have a drink on hand while driving through the middle of nowhere makes the trip more enjoyable. In addition, having a surplus of both food and drinks in the car can be a literal lifesaver if you become stranded. Choose foods that are high in protein like nuts or beef jerky, since they will provide you with the most energy.

Flashlight and flares. A flashlight comes in handy if you need to look under the hood or anywhere around the wheels of the car in the middle of the night. Having a few flares in your trunk provides a way to signal for help if your car breaks down or crashes in the night or during inclement weather.

Jumper cables. You never know when you might forget to turn off the car’s dome light or the battery just decides to give out. Having jumper cables on hand helps you get going again as long as another vehicle is nearby. Choose a set of cables that come with attached instructions, helping you attach the cables correctly without injury.