Can you believe my wife did not know the difference between collision and comprehensive insurance coverage ? Well to tell you the truth, she is a blonde, but it's a sad fact that many people do not know the difference. Click here to read about it...
Car Blog
-
A Blonde Moment
Posted on January 12, 2009 by kevin
This post was posted in Car Insurance
-
Spark Plug Art
Posted on November 24, 2008 by kevin
![IMG 1040[1]](http://www.cyberfoundry.com/ae/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/img-10401.jpg)
Just got a great gift from my wife, Spark Plug Sculpture ! I love junk, and the thought of turning it into something that looks cool is way cool ! For all you gals out there wondering what to buy your man for Christmas, here is the perfect idea. Below are a few websites related to spark plug art. Read up and pick a sculpture that suits you or your loved one.
This post was posted in Automotive News
-
Car Buying In A Post Bailout Economy
Posted on November 1, 2008 by kevin
Stressed out about the financial meltdown facing this country? Need a new car? It seems counter-intuitive to be thinking about a new car, but some times it is unavoidable. If you car is old and broken down, or if family changes necessitate a larger vehicle you have little choice but to start shopping.The first thing to consider is buying new or used? I would strongly look at used cars right now since the price will be less and the last thing you need right now is more debt. We have a quick and easy link to search for a used car. Also don't forget to search local papers and bulletin boards. As always AutoEducation.com has some excellent information on buying a used car.
If you have to buy new, make sure your credit is up to snuff. It has been reported that GM Finance is only writing loans to customers with over a 700 credit score... this eliminates about 58% of the people in the USA ! That's not to say if your credit is below 700 you can't get financed, you may have to pay a higher rate or go to a smaller lending institution. A great place to start your new car buying experience, is at SmartCarQuote.com a site which I created to help people buy new cars at the lowest prices.
If you can wait it out, I feel that the economic crisis will lift and credit will start flowing freely after the presidential election is finally decided. I won't go into politics here, but I believe that no matter who wins, the economy has no where to go but up.
This post was posted in Buying A Car
-
When to rebuild an engine...
Posted on September 23, 2008 by kevin
Question: Dear Kevin I need your advice. I am about to overhaul my motor. When I reach 80km/ph I get the oil pressure signal and the siren goes on and the red light flashes on the dashboard. My mechanic advised to have the crank grinded. I am taking the crankshaft for grinding as it is currently making a knocking noise. Please advise what other things will need to be replaced after the crank is done in order for the engine to last me longer, and to do a proper job. I will prefer to do this myself. I am not a professional mechanic but would like to learn more. Hoping to hear from you soon.Answer:As with any engine rebuild, you will have to make the decision to rebuild or buy a replacement engine. The replacement engine can be new, used or remanufactured. I do not recommend a novice rebuild their engine, unless they can afford to make a few mistakes and accept that as the price of education. With that said, any rebuild will include the following... 1. Compression check if possible before removal of engine. Check compression on all 4 cylinders paying attention to the maximum value as well as the difference between cylinders. Compression should be around 130 - 160 psi depending on how much wear there is in the cylinder. If compression values are low in any cylinders a leak-down test will need to be performed to determine where you are losing compression. Possible suspects are bent valves or worn rings. 2. Once the engine is removed and stripped down, measure the cylinder bores and pistons for wear. If within factory specs you can get away with a hone job and replacing rings. More often than not, you will have to bore the cylinders which will require new pistons and rings. 3. You seem to have a handle on the crankshaft, but I would check into a replacement crankshaft, sometimes they can be cheaper than getting your crank refinished. With the crank out, check the main bearing webs for cracks and wear. If you spun one of the bearings in it's seat, you will have to have the block align honed. 4. Depending on the mileage on the engine, you should also consider getting the cylinder head refinished. At minimum it should be checked for cracks/warpage and new valve seals installed. Any competent machine shop can check for cracks and warpage as well as change the valve seals. 5. When re-assembling the engine, here is a typical list of required new parts you should purchase. Full gasket set, oil pump, water pump, timing belt or chain, timing belt or chain tensioner, oxygen sensor, air filter, oil filter, and fresh oil. Now that you know what is involved, take a look at your local salvage yard for a low mileage engine and compare pricing. It may be worth your time to find a 30,000 mile engine from a wreck instead of rebuilding your engine. Also as mentioned before a remanufactured engine may be price wise depending on where you are and availability. Good Luck, Kevin
This post was posted in Engine
-
Top Money Saving Tips...
Posted on August 26, 2008 by kevin
Just got done doing a radio interview at 93.1 WIBC in Indianapolis. During the interview, we discussed some money saving tips that all car owners need to know about. Here is a recap as well as a few others which we did not have time for in the interview... 1. Gas Myths - Don't worry about when you buy your gas or how fast you pump it. Always buy the lowest octane gas that your owners manual recommends. If you have an older car and experience pinging then stepping up in octane may help. Higher compression performance engines do require a higher octane due to the increased compression ratio present in the engine. Read More... 2. Oil Changes - Again, follow your owners manual to keep your warranty valid, but if you do switch to a synthetic oil, consider extending your oil change interval to 5,000 to 7,500 miles. The newer synthetics can handle a higher drain interval and your wallet with thank you since the oil is much more expensive that regular petrolium based oil. Check out our oil section... 3. Winterizing your car - Do get your coolant checked for it's freeze point. Coolant slowly loses it's ability to prevent freezing and corrosion. Your mechanic can test the coolant and recommend if you need to change it before the winter frost hits. Remember to check your tires, and your spare to make sure it is aired up and in good condition. The fall is a good time to wax your car to protect it from the road salt and chemicals used on the roads. If your current coat of wax does not bead water, get a fresh coat of wax on there. More Winter Tips... 4. How you drive - Your attitude and driving manners can save you money at the pump. Avoid aggressive driving, look ahead and avoid stop and go driving when possible. When approaching a red light, coast in and try to time the light to avoid having to come to a full stop. Drive like a big rig driver, anticipate and your gas mileage will improve. For more gas saving tips, join our mailing list and get a free copy of our gas saving Ebook.[display_podcast]
This post was posted in Automotive News
