Archive for » November, 2009 «

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 | Author: admin

Saving the Environment with Recycled Car Parts

Cars are one of the biggest polluters of our environment but for many of us they are also a necessity of life.  One way to help is to recycle what is already available.  By purchasing a used vehicle or using guaranteed used auto parts in your car, you can save on the hefty environmental cost of creating new cars and new parts.

A car is a big investment that you have to make. And it can be pretty difficult to decide whether you are going to get a brand new car or not. The current financial crunch really is affecting the lifestyles of a lot of people. As an effect, people who would like to get cars opt to get used cars. Some of those who need some repairs to be done on their cars go for used car parts. The choice to go for recycled car parts helps car owners save a lot of money compared to buying brand new cars or parts. But is buying used parts and used cars really safe?

First thing that you need to check when you are buying used cars is the engine. Make sure that you are not going to have problems with the engine. Check if it is burning oil. If it is, then you can expect to be polluting the air incessantly when driving this car.

The problem with used cars is most of the time, they get to be refurbished or put back into shape with recycled car parts. The good parts from old cars are put into other cars in order for them to run somehow like new. But there are some problems that you might encounter like burning oil and other engine issues.

The transmission should shift without any grinding. The repairs for this issue can cost a pretty penny. Ask when the clutch was last replaced and if they have a bill for the replacement. If they say that it never has been replaced, this could be an indication of the care the previous owners took when they drove the car.

Tires are not something to be taken for granted as well. A lot of people purchase surplus tires. And these could not give you much traction on the road and cause problems when it comes to maneuvering the car.

Ask when the brakes were last done, for obvious reasons. Make sure that they are in good condition. You can expect to pay about a hundred dollars for each wheel to get it done. This will ensure that you and your potential passengers will be safe in the car.

You can also ask if the previous owner smoked or not. You will notice that there is a big difference when it comes to cleanliness with cars owned by smokers and those owned by non-smokers.  Check out if you like the interior. And check out the interior’s condition.

Of course, you need to ask about the price. Make sure that you and the seller are on the same page when it comes to the price.

When buying used cars, make sure to check if anything was replaced with used auto parts or recycled auto parts. If they were, make sure that these parts are still in good condition and are going to make your car work all right. It is important that you know how good the old parts are before you actually decide to purchase the car.

Environmental Green Cars

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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 | Author: admin

Eco Friendly Cars and the Environment

beijing_smogEco-Friendly cars are only a small  part of helping to reduce  our carbon footprint here on earth.  We all need to do our part to save the environment.

Air pollution is a major contributor to the deteriorated state of the environment. Vehicle combustion systems that run on fossil fuels emit particulates such as carbon dioxide to the atmosphere thereby polluting it. This has increased the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which in turn has raised the earth’s temperature. This fact favors development for global warming because of ozone layer destruction. The ozone layer protects human beings and all living things in the earth from the harmful effect of ultra violet rays emitted by the sun. Environmentalists are calling for the manufacture of eco friendly vehicles as a measure of controlling this phenomenon.

The adverse effect of global warming has resulted to the introduction of eco friendly campaigns and green technology. Today there are various eco friendly cars in the market which use other fuels other than fossil fuels such as hybrid, bio-diesel, ethanol, electricity, natural gas and fuel cells. However, the following question arises which type is most efficient in conserving the environment and financial costs?

The efficiency and financial cost of eco friendly vehicles depends on the location where you are situated. For example if living in the US, it is advisable to purchase an eco friendly vehicle that uses ethanol. In US ethanol is readily available because it is a high potential area for corn, wheat and barley production, plants used to manufacture ethanol.

Natural gas is cheap and clean thereby extending the shelf life of your car engine. However, it is available in minimal amounts because it is derived from natural resources whose existence is under a risk of extinction. This explains why there are very few fueling stations that provide natural gas fuel. Therefore, this type of fuel is mainly used by drivers covering short distances.

Bio-diesel is manufactured from plants therefore comprises of vegetable oil constituents. People living in year-round temperature climates are best suited to use this type of fuel. This is because vegetable oil solidifies in cold temperatures thus affecting the mobility of the vehicle. Most people prefer to purchase vehicles that use biodiesel because of their diversity. Bio-diesel engines are designed to also accommodate use of diesel thus availing a wide selection of eco friendly cars to choose from unlike when using natural gas where you have a limited choice.

Hybrid vehicles are designed to use two types of power sources, a battery charged by electric motors and petrol. The battery is used when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds or when in a traffic jam. Petrol is used when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds. This fact increases the efficiency of the combustion engine as it operates at its optimum speeds. Furthermore, the combination of an internal combustion engine and battery power reduces the overall carbon dioxide emission. This is because electric motors do not release gases thus non escapes into the atmosphere. On the other hand electricity and fuel cell eco friendly cars demand for higher technological advancement therefore, their use becomes unrealistic to most people.

Environmental Green Cars

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Sunday, November 08th, 2009 | Author: admin

Electric Motocycle Conversion

We know you love your HOG…

Riding the back roads with the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth…

Who doesn’t love a great motorcycle ride in the Spring or Fall?

But those rides can eat up the gas and put out a Shaq size carbon footprint, so what’s an Eco-lover to do?

Simple!

Convert the Hog to a nice  eco-friendly electric cycle…

This video from  Gomi Style will give you the basic simple instructions to create your own electric work of art.

Environmental Green Cars

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