Simple Car Repair & Maintenance Using Household Items Part 2

With the economy on a down slope, most of us want to save money any way we can. Rather than spending a lot of money on expensive cleaning supplies, try some of the following inexpensive home remedies, using regular household products, to help alleviate the high cost of maintenance and car repair.

1. Vinegar-This common product has many uses. If used full strength, it will remove rust from car parts and tools. Just soak the car part or tool in undiluted vinegar overnight. If you mix three parts vinegar and one part water and wipe down your car’s windows the night before a frost, they will remain frost free. Placing a small bowl of distilled white vinegar on a vehicle’s floorboard will remove most unwanted odors.
2. Baking Soda-Make a paste of baking soda and water. This can be used to eliminate corrosion on batteries. It can also clean any chrome on your vehicle. A box can also be used to distinguish a small fire.
3. Petroleum Jelly-Rub your hands with a small amount of petroleum jelly before performing maintenance or car repairs. After working on the vehicle it will be much easier to clean your hands because it can keep grease and dirt from embedding into your skin. Place petroleum jelly on your car key to loosen up tumblers or unfreeze a lock. Once the key is in the keyhole, jiggle a few times.
4. Duct Tape-Whether you want to admit it or not, you know that you have some duct tape somewhere in the house. You can easily use duct tape around a leaky or broken hose. Now remember this is a quick fix-you will definitely need to get to your mechanic because this probably falls into the car repair category. But-let the car cool down before you start working under the hood. You aren’t going anywhere for awhile anyway-so just relax and let it cool off.
5. Dryer Sheets-If you work on vehicles as an ongoing process, place a dryer sheet in each car and it will keep rodents from getting into the vehicles. Dryer sheets will also repel mosquitoes. They will also keep the air in a vehicle fresher. If your vehicle gets splattered with tar, hose it down, and then gently rub tar with dryer sheets-it should remove the tar immediately. They can also be used to remove bugs from a windshield or headlight.
6. Olive Oil-Not just for cooking anymore. Olive oil will cure a squeaky hinge on a car door or hood. It can also remove paint from skin. Rub the affected area with olive oil and let it soak in for a minute. Now wash with soap and water and the paint should come right off.

Auto parts and car repair can take a big enough bite out of your wallet. By using these simple household products for maintenance and some minor car repair, you will save money buying unnecessary items.

Environmental Green Cars

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Simple Car Repair & Maintenance Using Household Items

You open the hood of your car only to see that what once looked like a car battery is now covered with black and green corrosion. Your first thought may be that you will need a new battery. Well, don’t jump to conclusions. Go to the refrigerator. Find an ordinary can of soda-preferably of the dark variety. Pour it over the battery and voila´….corrosion gone. Now pour some water over that to clean it up and get rid of the stickiness.

When it comes to minor car repair and maintenance, some people don’t realize that the answer to their problem(s) might be very close at hand. Many household items can be used to fix minor maintenance or car repair issues.

A few items that are handy to have on hand are….

1. Soda (as stated earlier-dark). You may want to think twice about drinking it, but it does eat corrosion. It will also remove the haze that collects on windows.
2. Water-as simple as that may seem-water has many uses-like cleaning a battery or replenishing your windshield wiper fluid (if you are in at least 40° weather) until you can get to the store. And you could go ahead and wash the car-since you already have the hose on.
3. A Penny-Yes, Mr. Lincoln will also take care of battery corrosion. If you will place a new penny on your battery, the next time that you open your hood you will see that the penny has attracted all of the corrosion. Take a towel and remove it so as not to get that corrosion all over yourself. Then replace it with a new penny. You may want to clean up the old penny before trying to spend it.
4. Cooking Spray-any oil-based cooking spray can grease almost anything. Having trouble getting your key to turn? Head for the cooking spray. Just spray a little right into the key hole and it should loosen up the mechanism for easier turning. It will also remove residue and old adhesive from glass and help loosen tight bolts.
5. Clear Nail Polish-Yes gentlemen, it’s not just for ladies fingertips anymore. You would be surprised at what nail polish is capable of doing. Besides stopping a rip in panty hose, it can be used to seal small rust spots. Just a small dab (you might want to use two coats) will stop rust from spreading. But don’t use nail polish remover to get it off-it will wear off through time, so be sure to either reapply or repair the small damage.
6. Baby Wipes-They are stronger than the name implies. They may be used to clean up almost anything-your hands (after dealing with the aforementioned minor car repairs), spills, and even oil, dirt and grease that you accidentally got on the hood while closing it.

It needs to be understood that these common household products are only for minor car repairs or maintenance. You might have larger issues that need to be taken care of, but these will buy you some time until you can solve the larger problem.

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Basics Of How Hybrid Vehicles Work

Automotive engines that rely solely upon gasoline may one day be a memory, though that day is likely to be many years down the road. Hybrid-electric vehicles (HVs or HEVs) are more efficient and environmentally friendly than their fuel-driven counterparts. They are designed around a configuration that takes advantage of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor (EC). In doing so, they yield better fuel efficiency, more power output, and by most owners’ accounts, a quieter ride.

Below, we’ll explore how HVs work. You’ll discover what occurs under the hood that allows these disparate parts to work together. We’ll approach it methodically, beginning with starting the car, cruising, and bringing it to a stop.

Starting And Delivering The Initial Power

With most HEVs, the internal combustion engine does most of work. It delivers the majority of the propulsion power while the electric motor functions as a supplemental source. The motor places resistance on the vehicle’s drivetrain, thereby slowing the wheels. That creates kinetic energy which, in turn, rotates the motor. As the EM rotates, it converts the kinetic energy into an electrical current and stores it in the battery. The electricity remains in the battery until it is required by the motor. This design is called regenerative braking.

When you turn the key in the ignition, the ICE comes to life. If necessary, the EM will retrieve electricity from the battery to provide a secondary power source.

Cruising Down The Road

While you’re driving, a computer is constantly monitoring the performance of your vehicle. Its purpose is to determine your driving conditions, your intent, and ultimately, when it is appropriate to engage the electric motor.

For example, suppose you’re cruising down the road at a normal speed. Because the driver in front of you is moving too slowly, you change lanes and push your accelerator pedal to gain speed. You are essentially placing your engine under a heavier load. The computer identifies your intent and engages the electric motor to deliver a boost of power.

When you begin to cruise along at a normal speed again, the computer switches the EM off in order to conserve energy. By doing this, your car is far more fuel-efficient than would be the case if it were relying solely upon a traditional gasoline engine.

Stopping And Idling

The regenerative braking design mentioned earlier works to slow your wheels and bring your hybrid to a stop. When your vehicle comes to a full stop, the computer switches the engine and the motor off in order to avoid wasting energy while idling. The auxiliary systems (i.e. stereo, power windows, air conditioner, etc.) continue to receive power from the battery.

When you press on the accelerator to resume driving, the computer engages the internal combustion engine to produce the initial propulsion power. It then continues to monitor your hybrid’s performance to determine whether the electric motor should be engaged.

Why Hybrids Are More Fuel Efficient

There are several reasons why HEVs can deliver the same power output as a traditional internal combustion engine with greater fuel economy. First, the computer conserves gas by turning the engine off while idling (described above). Second, the kinetic energy normally wasted while braking is captured by the EM and stored in the battery. Third, hybrids are usually lighter than conventional vehicles, which requires less energy to propel forward. Fourth, most hybrids have been aerodynamically optimized to reduce drag.

This fuel efficiency is a compelling argument for the technology, and has motivated millions of people to buy hybrid vehicles. In fact, as gasoline prices have risen over the past few years, more people than ever are considering the same purchase. Over the next decade, we’ll likely witness a transformation in automotive design as cars, trucks, and even SUVs begin to integrate advanced hybrid technology.

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