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Bonnet vents.

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Performance. Bonnet vents.

RX7 carbon bonnet vent Performance gains are possible with the addition of bonnet vents.

Heated air really does kill performance. This is due to the environment intake temperatures being hot and air at high temperatures carries less oxygen.

When driving an engine hard the under bonnet temperatures quickly build up and the engine has no choice but to suck this air in lessening your power.

It takes about 2 miles for cars engine bay to attain ambient temperatures in regular driving conditions. In stop start traffic the engine bay may never reach ambient temperatures at all.

Cold air is the friend – it carries more oxygen so incorporating vents can dramatically cool the engine bay and feed fresh cold air in the engine. Additionally, it help prevent the engine from overheating and reduced the load you happen to be putting on your engine oil.

In supercharged engines and turbo charged engines the intake air is further heated by the compression process. This heated intake air is pulled using an intercooler which helps to reduce the air charge temperatures but for this to work effectively the intercooler needs cold air flowing through it. An intercooler is simply a heat exchanger and eventually the intercooler housing will warm up (called heat soak)

Due to the large radiator placement at the front of your engine it really is quite difficult to have cold air running though the intercooler and something way round this problem is to have a top mounted intercooler with a vent cut in the bonnet. Some standard cars have this arrangement and a scoop to give the cold air with the intercooler (the Subaru Impreza for example).

Bonnet vent styles.

By putting the intercooler on the top of the feed and engine cold air through a vent in the bonnet, Intake ventSome manufacturers have got round this. Some TorqueCars members have cut vents into their bonnets as they begin to see the performance gains on offer without being interested in the styling benefits.

Bonnet vents are also popular in motor sport as well as the Mitsubishi Evo bonnet has conspicuous vents across it and the Subaru Impreza carries a top mounted intercooler using a bonnet scoop.

If a car is stationary the last thing you want is performance, the down-side of having a top-notch mounted intercooler is when the car is stationary it is actually not receiving a air flow through it but when you think it over.

Ideally the vents ought to be located

1) Near the air intake filter so cold air from the outside can be pulled in. A bit additional ducting will help channel more cold air for the filter and prevent the warm under bonnet temperatures from entering. (Avoid putting the filter in an enclosed box with cold air feeds since this will change the induction length see our cold air induction article for details.)

2) Coupled with a scoop should be placed directly over the intercooler the cold air will then enter the engine bay cooling the surrounding air and helping reduce intake temperatures.

3) Much heat comes from the exhaust part of the engine so a vent a few inches behind that area will do much to reduce the under bonnet temperature. In the event the vent is directly on top of the radiator the cooling effect will be reduced.

Supercharger vent

Vents might be cut in the bonnet but they are typically covered with a mesh of some description partly to improve appearance and partly to protect engine components from damage should a stray stone fly in its direction. Some carbon fibre bonnets have moulded vents within them and these give the best finish.

Plastic and fibreglass panels can also augment a cutout hole within a metal bonnet or hood and keep the pleasing lines and add ridges to assist airflow yet it is hard to get an easy blended finish on these stick on vents. For your hassle and time involved you are usually better off using a pre cut bonnet and fitting that instead of the standard one.

You needn’t only have vents within the bonnet you may also place them from the wing inside a BMW style shark gill vent. An effective vent design on a bonnet makes provision for both cold air to go into and a route for the heat to exit.

A raised lip can create turbulence which will help to help keep the air flowing through the engine bay. Always site the cold air intake directly below a vent because it will create a vacuum or low pressure region around it and in addition site a vent a number of inches back from the radiator and exhaust outlet.

Always add mesh behind the vent as a stone flying to the engine at high velocity can cause major problems (it may also look cool).

Every Nature Lover Will Love These Three Things for the Mountains

Mountain range.
Mountain range.

Whether you enjoy being outside to ski or to hike, there are some things that you simply can’t do without. Seeing the mountains can be a spectacular strategy to get in touch with nature and to see beautiful sites all year round. Here are some of the things that you must have when you love being outdoors in the mountains.

1. A Weatherproof Camera

With new weatherproof cameras, you can record your trip on the slopes while skiing or mountain biking and upload the recording to social networking sites so that all your friends are able to see what you are approximately. New cameras out there are dust and water resistant, meaning that you can take beautiful pictures from the sites while not having to worry about wrecking your camera. One of these cameras is a must have if you enjoy lots of time outdoors.

2. An Off Road Vehicle

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Sometimes getting to a unique spot is far more than can be achieved with a regular car. By using a car designed for off-roading, for example the Nissan Xterra from metronissanredlands.com, you will get the capability to take care of even the messiest of roads. Furthermore, it features a simpler to clean interior and special handling for off-road capability, though the Xterra not only offers the space to manage your gear. Find out more by looking at http://metronissanredlands.com.

3. Good Outdoor Gear

Whether camping, biking or skiing is your thing, special gear is essential. While going for what’s cheapest may save money initially, investing in more quality item is the best way to have gear that lasts and can get you through any sort of conditions. Find a good sporting goods store and put in your collection of sporting good just a little at a time if you need to. You will not regret having quality outdoor gear to help you unwind when you are about the mountain.

Choosing and fitting a sports silencer to your car.

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One of the more popular modifications around may be the sports back box or silencer.

In case you are after additional information on the performance aspects of a sports exhaust then you will require our tuning article.

This article will focus purely in the cosmetic benefits and considerations when fitting a sports silencer.

It seems in terms of silencers have concerns that bigger is better. This is often detrimental towards the power production of the engine but while we promised to stick to the visual aspects here we will not labour the point.

Big bores usually require that the rear bumper be cut. This needs to be done properly and neatly smoothed and finished off. Some bumpers are usually thin and also you would then want to build up around the hole.

Heat is a huge problems and you should ensure that there may be sufficient space around the exhaust to avoid experience of the bumper. At best you might end up having an unpleasant vibration but also in a worst case scenario you can end up with scorching and melting due to the heat.

There are no end of options when it comes to silencers but you would be daft not to think about the performance implications of your choice.

The best solution to these complications are to cut a good sized gap throughout the exhaust then fit metallic shield or plate to manage the additional heat.

Some drivers opt to drop their silencer lower than the bumper but this can easily get snagged on road bumps, potholes and humps and is very likely to vibration. Keep the exhaust mounts fairly tight and use rubber mounts, these dampen the shock and noise a bit and allow the exhaust to expand as it gets warmer.

You can find of course numerous legal restrictions. Generally speaking the larger the bore the deeper and louder the exhaust note will probably be. Most countries have laws preventing the use of loud exhausts. In the UK there is also to ensure that the exhaust is not going to stick out further than the outermost edge of the rear bumper.

You will find certainly lots of tailpipe designs to choose from. The very best looking exhaust have a nice shiny chrome finish which although fairly resistant to corrosion and soiling will still need to be clean. Some of our members use standard household metal polish frequently to keep their exhaust in shiny condition.

Rolled exhausts and the ones with a branding stamp look good and you often times have a choice of shape from square, oval to triangular and round. Then you need to decide when your car will appear better having a twin pipe or single pipe as well as on some vehicles you may want another exhaust pipe from the opposite edge of the rear bumper to balance it out.

Internal construction of the sound deadening will also modify the noise and lots of Japanese exhausts give a very distinctive rasp.

Before you go out and purchase an exhaust purely for aesthetic appeal we strongly urge you to definitely consider the nuisance and satisfaction implications of fitting a huge silencer.

Paint Protection

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The protection racket for paint.

With the coming of modern water based paints comes the situation of paint degradation.

Using a constant attack from acid rain, UV exposure, bird strikes, road salt, road stone and tar chips the paint is undoubtedly under an onslaught of attack.

So, what can you because of protect your paint work from this damage?

Films are popular and a lot of may be found in kit form with pieces pre cut to the shape of your car. These are generally placed in high-risk areas and can be very easily removed should they become damaged. This is probably your best option to go for, specifically if you travel a whole lot on fast roads with the increased probability of stone chips.

Car paint has many enemies so that it needs all the protection it can get.

The films are cut from a heavy grade of plastic and are clear. The film is chosen for its flexibility which helps it to mould to the car and this can also help form an efficient barrier against stone chips. The film is cut to match the panels of your own car so there will be no visible seams cutting across a panel.

Wraps in which a vinyl sticker cover the car look fantastic and are a good way to protect the paint. Although not really designed to shield the paint against stone chips they will resist bird strikes, road tar and the majority of minor chips.

Paint coatings, best used low on the car nearby the wheels and minimize front bumper. This forms a thick clear layer and gives another line of defence against stone road and chips spray. It can still get unsightly but no less than you have the use of removal with cutting paste revealing your intact paint below.

Many off road vehicles come with much thicker paint around the wheel arches and near the sills, the Audi Allroad is a good example. As it is hard to match this thicker paint you will sometimes find that a contrasting colour is used.

A straightforward DIY method which should be part of every car owners maintenance regimen is the effective use of a Wax. Wax aids in UV protection, reducing the fade caused by sunlight. It also forms a barrier against bird strikes.

One lucky owner who waxed his car every couple of weeks experience a paint stripper attack. The paint stripper just washed off along with the layer of wax had protected the paint underneath. This goes to exhibit that wax should never be underestimated as a paint protection.

An automobile bra will fit on the front in the car and gives the ultimate protection to your paint. It looks a little strange though but may be the preferred method of protection for track day drivers due to its easy to remove nature.

Car bras are frequently used in the motor trade when cars are transported to protect a vehicle and preserve the showroom appearance in the paint.

Here’s What To Do After a Minor Accident

The chances are that if you are a regular driver there’s a very good possibility that at some point in the future you can be involved in a road accident – whether it’s an important accident or even a minor accident there are some things you need to remember. One minute you’re driving across the road with your great new motor from www.ocfiat.com and the next you’ve been involved in an accident.

To keep and try things on a lighter note we’ll focus on how to handle being involved in a small road accident – one out of which nobody has been injured and no major damage has become caused to the pieces of property or vehicles.

Low angle view of the front part of a car after an accident
Low angle view of the front part of a car after an accident

The first thing to remember is that you must never ever leave the scene from the accident – laws in the majority of states say you need to stop. If the accident itself was not your fault, if you do drive away there’s a chance that you could be charged with run and hit for leaving the scene of the accident even.

The police should be called immediately if anybody has been injured (even minor injuries) or if the accident causes a blockage of the road or one of several lanes of your highway and cannot be moved out of the way.

Traffic accident - one driver on the mobile phone, second expressing anger
Traffic accident – one driver on the mobile phone, second expressing anger

Who Seems To Be At Fault and Assigning Blame

One very important thing to remember if you are involved in a minor accident is that you must not accept responsibility for the accident or apologize for it. Having said that you need to be careful not to blame the other driver – it’s down to the insurance plan companies to sort out those details. Never sign anything unless it is through your insurance company (yours remember) or the police.

Once you have checked that everybody is okay you need to move the cars to a safe place, switch the car engines off and the hazard lights on. If any damage has been caused and the severity of the damage, you need to then have an inspection of the cars to view.

If the accident seems to be extremely minor at the time and you will not be at fault, it is a good idea always to contact the authorities and have a police report filed, even. If you find no police report filed they could return to you after several months as well as years and file a lawsuit to claim damages, the driver or passenger in the other vehicle may seem to be okay and not needing medical treatment during the time but. With no police report you will not possess any evidence to enable you to support your case – it will be your word against theirs.

You ought to then go into contact with your car insurance company and follow their advice and instructions. The license plate number and a description of the car if you do decide against filing a police report you must at least have a note from the contact information for your other driver as well as proof that they have insurance. You never know when this information could be necessary. You can never be too careful in this sort of situation and when you have parted company you may not be able to get into contact in the future if you really need to.

Teenage Driver Making Phone Call After Traffic Accident
Teenage Driver Making Phone Call After Traffic Accident

These are only guidelines about how you should respond to a minor road accident. All incidents are different and people do react in a different way but do remember to stay at the scene of the accident and get the contact information through the other party.

Check out the cars at http://www.ocfiat.com – they’ve got a bit of crackers.

Auto Repair Services By Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive

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If you are considering auto repair in Arizona, the car repair professionals at Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive will provide numerous benefits. Choosing a licensed professional is the best way to ensure quality automotive services. Mechanics are experienced and can complete any type of vehicle repair. They may have the experience and tools that are needed to ensure the perfect car repair.

Professional shops are the best choice for anyone who needs automotive services. A number of routine jobs are required on cars to ensure that they may be functioning at their best. The existing price for the gallon of gasoline can make it a smart idea to visit a shop on a regular basis. Cleaned fuel injectors and regular tune ups will reduce the amount of gasoline that is wasted during the combustion process. This can ultimately save an owner money on their transportation expenses. Preventive maintenance is another task that is required to hold cars functioning smoothly. Oil changes are certainly one job and may be handled conveniently by way of a professional.

Service Areas

Scottsdale

Tempe

Phoenix

Mesa

Chandler

Gilbert

And Surrounding Cities!

Arizona Car Repair By Professional Mechanics

Finding quality Scottsdale Arizona mechanics is crucial for owners to be sure their cars are in the best hands. Computers are routinely utilized in most vehicles and make it easy for an auto repair firm to get the job done. Professionals are trained to operate the equipment which will diagnose the computerized report on a vehicle. Running these reports makes it simple to identify any difficulty. Mechanics also can do all the jobs that are required to come with an exhaust repair. Knowledge of the components and how to install custom exhausts are some of the benefits that clients will get once they deal with a reputable company.

Arizona Desert Sunset

Arizona Car Repair

Auto Repair in AZ

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Calling Ahead

Scottsdale Muffler & AutomotiveIf you’re going to visit a new car repair shop in Arizona you want to successfully call ahead before driving your car directly to them. This is to ensure that they actually do the type of work that you need. As an example, you’d be making a mistake if you took your car to some shop that specializes on engine/transmission repair if you needed muffler repair or exhaust repair. When the shop does muffler repair, exhaust repair or anything that you need, instead try calling ahead and asking. You can also ask for a quote on the parts you will need.

Extraordinary Auto Fabrication Services Offered By Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive

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“Scottsdale Automotive and Muffler is actually a Tempe, Arizona based car mechanic shop specializing in classic car restoration and custom auto fabrication. Custom auto fabrication is a good skill to have an auto shop to have since it lends itself to the many modifications that vehicle owners want. Some of the things that that can be done with this skill set include extending car bodies and we often do extensions of jeeps for your tour industry and the vehicles for the tour industry making use of the custom auto fabrication skill set.

Among the other car parts that we can fabricate that you will not often manage to find anywhere else are exhaust and airflow parts. As a muffler shop and having the extensive expertise in the airflow and muffler automotive industry we’re able to fabricate parts to match up to any custom car or classic car where you may not easily be able to find the exhaust manifold to match. When you need custom auto fabrication please contact Scottsdale Muffler and consult with Christopher or Fred McCurdy and get an insurance quote on your car exhaust fabrication.”

Maximum Visibility Improves Safety – The Importance of Seeing and Being Seen

The lights and the windshield wipers play a crucial role in order to keep you secure while driving on the roads. If you can’t be seen or see clearly where you are going and what’s happening you might be far more likely to be involved in some kind of road accident, it makes sense really.

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With this in mind, it’s important that you pay regular focus on your lights and windshield wipers and present them a check over. In case a light bulb has broken from the driving seat so it’s important to get a regular check from outside the automobile and replace any bulbs which have broken, you can’t always tell.

Wiper blades also need to be inspected and replaced as necessary – it’s no good waiting until you’re caught within a torrential downpour to realize your wipers don’t work properly and clear the water from the windshield efficiently enough for you to see where you’re going.

Here are a few things you should remember:

• It is important to keep all of your lights clean, which includes headlights, signal tail and lights lights. If your lights are covered in dirt or debris they won’t light your way quite so well and make it more difficult for other individuals to see you coming.

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• The aim of your headlights is additionally extremely important. In case your headlights aren’t aimed correctly you can blind the oncoming traffic in addition to reduce your own ability to see clearly on the road ahead.

• If you are unsure about whether it is dark enough or dull enough to change on your head lights – switch them on anyway. Lights simply cannot only signify you will see better during those twilight hours or on dark and dismal days in addition they help other road users and pedestrians to discover you coming.

• Don’t drive faster than your mind lights. Okay, enough of the wise cracks, what this really means is that you should drive at a speed where you can safely stop on the inside of the illuminated area. When you don’t do this you will be constantly driving in a blind spot and potential crash area.

So, that’s the lights sorted out, what about the windshield wipers?

Wiper systems are important to clear excessive dirt, debris, snow and water from building up on the windshield and hampering the vision. In order to maintain clear visibility they’ve have got to do a good job – merely smearing dirt across a windshield will only make matters worse.

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Many different factors come into play when it comes to the longevity of windshield wipers. In some conditions they must be replaced considerably more frequently than the others, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that individuals in the wettest places must replace their wipers most often. People who reside in desert states may find their wiper blades actually deteriorate faster than others in more temperate climates, and don’t forget about the rear window wiper blade as well while you’re at it.

In certain states you will find laws which state you need to have your headlights on when windshield wipers happen to be in use – the two items really do go together to form the perfect combination to help you be and see seen keeping you and also other road users as safe as is possible.

Go online to find out the brilliant choice of new and pre-owned cars at www.ocauto.com, you’ll be amazed in the splendid choice and great deals available. The world wide web address is http://www.ocauto.com.

Here Are The Different Types Of Arizona Gasolines And What You Should Know About Them

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Gas prices are dropping in Arizona, as they are through the entire country. This week, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.05. Gas costs are expected to consistently stay low through a minimum of the first quarter of 2015. Fluctuations in supply use a major influence on prices in the pump, so it’s difficult to predict long-term costs with any certainty.

Now that charges are lower, drivers might be inclined to spring for higher grades of fuel. It is important to know very well what makes each fuel type different to make the best choice for your vehicle. Naturally, you must fill your tank with whatever gas type your manual says. Picking a higher grade may be helpful if you have flexibility.

Here’s what you need to know:

Regular Unleaded

You will find three grades of unleaded gasoline: Regular, mid-grade and premium. These are generally common names for gas that is actually rated by its octane level. Regular unleaded gas has an octane rating of 87.

Octane ratings refer to gasoline’s capacity to withstand compression. The higher the number, the more pressure it can withstand before it ignites. When fuel explodes instead of burning in a controlled manner, it can create a knocking in the engine.

Regular unleaded gas provides the lowest octane and, therefore, can withstand the least level of compression. Would not be appropriate for high-performance vehicles, even though it is suitable for use in most standard automobiles.

Regular unleaded gas is additionally the least refined type of unleaded gas. It provides more contaminants, which some believe can reduce fuel efficiency and longevity.

Mid-Grade Unleaded

Mid-grade fuel has an octane rating of 89. Most vehicles will either require unleaded gas or premium unleaded gas. No cars state that they must use mid-grade gasoline specifically. In fact, many drivers either use regular unleaded gas or skip straight to premium.

Mid-grade fuel offers an option for those who would like to get higher performance from their engine but don’t want to pay as much as premium.

Premium Unleaded

Premium unleaded gas has a octane rating of 91 or 93. Premium unleaded gas is usually required by high-performance vehicles, such as sports cars. Those whose vehicles that do not require premium unleaded gas may still utilize it in order to maximize the potential of their engine. Premium gas is also better for cars driving in extreme heat (common for Arizona summers) and for those towing lots of weight.

Premium gas also offers the fewest contaminants, so using it will also help with fuel efficiency.

Diesel

In engines that use unleaded gas, a spark plug is used to ignite the fuel. Diesel fuel automatically ignites when it is subject to extremely high pressures. Diesel is not measured by an octane rating, but rather a cetane index and number.

Diesel fuel is not an optional fuel. An engine must be designed specifically to make use of diesel fuel because of the way it is behaves. Therefore, diesel engines cannot use regular fuel, and cars made for regular fuel cannot use diesel.

Historically, diesel was actually a cheaper fuel than unleaded gas. It has recently become much more expensive than unleaded gas, however.

Picking the right kind of fuel will make a major impact on your engine’s performance and the life of your respective car. Choosing the right fuel additives and getting an Arizona mechanic perform regular maintenance for your fuel line and engine are also essential, however. Scottsdale Muffler and Automotive can help you be aware of the maintenance service that your car needs and recommend the proper schedule for it. We can recommend the right fuel additives and explain how different grades of fuel will affect your car’s engine specifically. Give us a call today to schedule the maintenance your car needs.