Wordpress 2.5 Test Site

Changing the air filter in your car is not all that difficult of a task. It is something that should be done regularly though in order to keep your vehicle in the best running shape possible. There are many maintenance aspects involved with proper care of any car. This is perhaps one of the easiest that you do not require a professional mechanic to take care of. It can be done in the comfort of your own garage or driveway in a short amount of time.

One of the main reasons that most people choose to change their own car air filter is to save money. It is the type of job that only costs a third of what most mechanics would charge you to have them do it. So it just makes sense that you might want to do it yourself and save the money. Always make sure that your car has been turned off for awhile so that the engine is cool. Don?t get started if the car has recently been running until it has cooled off.

You will need a few basic tools to change your air filter. Usually two screwdrivers are all that is required. One of them should be a Philips screwdriver and the other a standard type. A butter knife may also work if you really do not have any screwdrivers lying around. Of course, most screwdrivers are relatively cheap and can be found at your local department store.

The air filter in your car is usually found in a black plastic casing close to the top of the motor. In some cars it will be off to the side. Look in your car user manual for a photo or description if you are not sure what you are looking for.

You might recognize the air filter casing because it is held together with a few large metal clips on either side of it. These clips have to come off so that you can get at the air filter. This is what you will use the butter knife or screwdriver for. Slide it between the casings and pry it open.

You should notice that the filter is bright yellow or orange. Take a good look at it to inspect the cleanliness of the filter. You should be able to see how dirty it is. Keep in mind that it is an air filter so don?t let it get too dirty before you decide that it?s time for a change.

When you change the filter, toss the old one out and buy a new one from the store. Make sure that it is the right filter for your type of car because they are not all the same. Most auto stores have a book that lists which parts must go with which car. You can simply look up the information before making your selection.

You can drive very short distances without an air filter but you don?t want to do this for long. Your car needs that air filter to function in top form. Take care of your car today so it can take care of you when it matters most.

Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free quotes for cheap car insurance for teenagers from respected insurance companies.

Gas and fuel for your vehicle are expensive enough without throwing your hard earned cash after tax out the windows.

A dirty air filter wastes a fair of gas and fuel unnecessarily. Yet an air filter is something few drivers and automobile owners think of. Yet an air filter draws a tremendous amount of air ? up to 10,000 gallons of air for each gallon of gasoline that your car uses for you to drive around ? whether it be in town, the freeway or on long automobile trip on your vacation. A dirty air filter is like a choked air filter in a vacuum cleaner ? it obstructs air flow. Hence less air can get through. More fuel than need be is pulled into your engine resulting in excessive gasoline use and much lower miles per gallon (m.p.g.) for each expensive galloon (or liter) of gasoline fuels that you buy when you fill up your tank.

Not only that but your air filter ?filters? and cleans that vast amount of air that enters into your automotive engine. Less dust and grit in the cleaner air flow will result in not only less gasoline fuel fcsts for you but also smooth running, fewer repairs and ultimately a longer life span for your vehicle, as opposed to running with dirty ? not clean air filters.

Just like any home furnace filter, the air filter of our vehicle ? be it truck, SUV, car or van ? must be replaced with a new clean one when it?s dirty. Preventive maintenance ? that is replacing the air filter before it even gets to that point is even better,

The air filter may have a cost to it but overall you will be far ahead of the game with saving in fuel and vehicle running and maintenance as well as potential replacement costs. Some motorists even replace expendable routine items on a planned basis ? just like is done in maintaining aircraft. They use their owner?s manual as a general guide as when its time to replace automotive parts figuring that its better to do it this way and after all they are going to have to replace those auto and car parts at some point anyways.

Generally most cars need a new air filter once a year or every 15, 00 miles (24,000 km). It?s always best to refer to your vehicle?s owner?s manual as your best reference. Of course if you are driving in very dusty areas or areas with a lot of grime, chemicals or grit in the air you should change the air filter more often. Ditto that for certain seasons if you are involved in a given industry where more dust may be seasonal. For example during fall harvest time those in the farming communities may encounter more dust in the air than the rest of the year. The recommendations listed in the owner?s manual have been derived with a great amount of expertise and experience by technical staff that is most qualified to know the vehicle and recommend with great experience. It may be said that the manufacturer of the vehicle is there to sell parts to their motorists and err on the side of caution. That is true. Yet it never hurts to be conservative and play it safe. In the case of replacing an air filter or an oil change these are generally not costly repair costs.

All in all it can be said that a dirty air filter costs you money in fuel costs and maintenance costs for your vehicle. Make it a point to change your air filter of your vehicle early and often.

Harold Stoffman Winnipeg Auto Dealer Winnipeg Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta Western Canada Auto Financing Winnipeg Auto Leader Auto Car Blogs http://www.blogdirectorybid.com/

We all know the feeling: you?ve woken up to find there?s been a hard frost or the temperature outside has plummeted, signalling that winter is well and truly here. You jump into your car or van ? either getting ready for work or beginning the school run ? you turn your engine on and? nothing! This usually happens at the least convenient moment possible, leading to a lot of frayed tempers and possibly a phone call to whichever automobile breakdown service you belong to. Valuable time is wasted and, in some cases, money.

The science behind this (apart from being governed by Murphy?s Law) is generally a flat battery. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as leaving interior or exterior lights on, a corroded or loose connection between the battery and the cables attached to it, a defective charging system that does not replenish a battery?s charge or, most commonly, old batteries that are losing their capacity to hold a charge. Most batteries have a life expectancy of around 3 ? 5 years and, as they have to work a lot harder in cold temperatures, this is when they start to show signs of failing. Another reason for a battery to go flat is under use; caravans, Motor homes and boats often remain inactive for long periods of time and, without the occasional run of the engine, the charge can deplete enough that the starter motor will not engage.

A simple solution is to have a car charger either on hand or stored in the boot of the vehicle. Some models, such as the CTEK Multi-Vehicle Battery Charger can give a vehicle enough charge to activate the starter motor within 30 minutes. Alternatively, it can fully charge a flat battery overnight, which does then remove the need to run the engine throughout the day in order to top up the battery.

As its name suggests, the CTEK Multi-Vehicle Battery Charger can be used on a variety of vehicles, including boats, motor homes, caravans, cars, motorcycles and even lawnmowers. This offers the benefit of not having to search for a charger that is exclusive to your vehicle, giving it a longer lifespan as it can be used on future vehicles. In addition, the CTEK Multi-Vehicle Battery Charger can enable you to help others who have not been quite so foresighted.

The CTEK Multi-Vehicle Battery Charger uses a four-stage charging system and it is this that allows it to differentiate between battery types such as wet, MF, Gel and AGM lead-acid batteries ? and it even has a setting specifically for cold weather.

Whilst being unable to start the car on a cold morning can be very inconvenient, the problems thrown up by a flat battery in an emergency situation can be significant. Even if it something as comparatively trivial as ensuring that someone gets to an airport in time to check in, a flat battery can suddenly become an enormous obstacle. Losing charge in the middle of nowhere can be a traumatic experience ? especially if there are young children involved. Having a car charger to hand can give you and your family peace of mind wherever you go and whatever the temperature might be.

Visit Power Supplies Online for the CTEK Multi Vehicle Battery Charger. for the CTEK Multi Vehicle Battery Charger.

Before you take your snowmobile out for a spin this winter season, it is important to make sure it is ready for what you have in store. Some snowmobile owners recommend taking your machine in for service at the end of the season, rather when the season begins to make sure there are no long term effects from letting it sit for several months. Forget to do that last April? Not to worry. There are several things you can do to make sure your snowmobile works perfectly this winter.

Step I: Perform a thorough visual inspection of your snowmobile

Under good lighting, look over your machine for any loose parts, worn belts, an any other obvious stresses, buckling or cracks. Consult your owner?s manual to find the lubrication points on your snowmobile and lubricate as indicated using a grease gun. Just be sure to avoid adding too much grease during this process. It should just be visible outside the joint.

Step II: Add fresh fluids

If you had your snowmobile in storage with gas left in the tank, drain the tank before adding any fresh gasoline. Any gasoline left in the tank will be of poor quality after several months of sitting and could make your snowmobile run inefficiently. If necessary, add brake fluid; consult the lid of the master cylinder for the specific grade of fluid that should be used. Coolant should also be added up to the cold mark.

Step III: Unplug intakes

If you blocked off the air intake and exhaust apertures with a cloth or wooden plug to prevent rodents from nesting in your machine before storing your snowmobile at the end of last winter, make sure to remove these.

Step IV: Replace sparkplugs

If you removed sparkplugs for cleaning or oiling at the end of last winter, be sure to replace these as well.

Step V: Clean the carburetor

The main cause of engine failure when snowmobiles are first taken out is a dirty carburetor. Cleaning it can be done with a can of carburetor cleaner and some basic tools. Check the throttle and oil cables for signs of damage. You should also check for cracks or damage in the fan or water pump belt, if your snowmobile has one.

Step VI: Evaluate the skis

The skis on your machine must be in good condition to avoid major problems and potential danger. If you have steel skis, make sure they don?t have any holes. If you have plastic skis, check them for any deep gouges or cuts. Runners should also be checked. If a runner is slightly bent, it can be straightened by using a vice or by taking it in to a repair shop.

Step VII: Clean your snowmobile

Wash off any debris such as salt, dirt or leaves from your machine using a garden hose and a bucket of soapy water. The seat can be cleaned with upholstery cleaner.

Your snowmobile can give you months of fun and enjoyment so long as it is in good working order. Following these steps is a simple way to ensure your machine is ready for a great winter season.

- Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton works for Labworks Design, a Portland website design firm. The Repower Specialist site is dedicated to supplying complete small engine repower kits for golf carts, greens mowers and other small vehicles.

The brakes in your car have got to be the component that you rely on the most. Though you may not consciously think about it, you sure would if they suddenly didn?t work. Don?t forget about your brakes. They need maintenance as much as any other part of the vehicle does. Checking the brakes as well as the brake fluid is something that you should have written on your calendar along with things like oil change and transmission flush.

Start by checking to see if your brake fluid is topped up enough. Identify where the brake fluid reservoir is. It should be clearly labelled like everything else on your car. If you aren?t sure you better check with your manual to confirm where the brake fluid can be found so you do not make a mistake and confuse it with something else.

The brake fluid reservoir should be clearly marked with minimum and maximum to indicate the proper levels. Some of these reservoirs are see through so you don?t need to look inside. However, if not you will have to remove the cap to look in and see how high the fluid is. If the fluid is low then simply add more brake fluid until you reach the full line. But make sure it is brake fluid designed for your make and model of vehicle. If you really are not comfortable with doing this you can always have a professional do it. Some may even show you how.

You should take a good look at all of the components that make up your brake system. Look for any signs of obvious wear or damage. If there is anything you?re not sure about, take a photo or make notes so you can look it up or ask a mechanic if it?s normal. Brake pads also need to be checked and replaced every so often. Check for signs of wear and have them serviced if you see any.

Pay attention to your brakes when you drive the car. Make note of any squeals you hear or anything abnormal you feel, like sticking. Don?t put stuff like that off hoping it will get better. Some vehicles experience squealing brakes when they are cold or wet. However, if your brakes always make noise then it is time to see your dealer or mechanic.

If you do not know how often your brakes should be professionally serviced, check your user manual that came with the vehicle. Someone that is certified can change brake pads, fluid and anything else that you may not be able to do yourself. Your brakes are easily the hardest working part of your car and in some cases like bad weather, they work even harder. Though you can check brake fluid yourself, a professional should check the rest of the braking system at least once a year.

Checking the brakes over as well as the brake fluid is part of increasing the lifespan of your vehicle. Safety should always be your first concern when it comes to driving and car care.

Have a fun and safe time on the road, and visit us to find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Get money-saving tips, free auto insurance quotes and helpful car insurance advice at www.AutoInsuranceRatesDirect.com today.

It?s important to keep on top of all of your vehicle?s necessary maintenance issues. Windshield wipers may not seem all that important at first but try driving in the rain without them and see how fast that opinion changes. Don?t wait until something goes wrong before you check on your wipers and wiper fluid. It?s an easy and relatively fast process that should only take a few minutes of your time.

Open the hood of your car after you have let it cool down for a while. The temperature of the engine doesn?t really matter but you will avoid accidentally getting burned. The windshield wiper fluid reservoir is usually pretty easy to identify. It?s often placed off to the side and will be clearly labelled as the wiper fluid reservoir. There is no way that you can miss it. If you really question it, look up the location in the user manual that comes with your car.

If your windshield wiper fluid reservoir is half full or more then you can just leave it alone. There should be lines on the reservoir that indicate how high it is. Use this to measure the current fluid level. If it is less than half full then simply add more wiper fluid until you reach the line that indicates it is full.

For the most part, most cars can use any type of windshield wiper fluid available. But if you know that your car needs a certain type, you should be sure to use only that type. If you do not know what requirements fit your car, consult the manual. It should have everything that you need to know inside the manual. All specs for your vehicle will be clearly indicated. Look it up in the table of contents to confirm.

While you are refilling your wiper fluid, take a moment to examine the fluid reservoir. Look it over carefully for any sign of cracks, damage or leaks of any kind. Those types of things can occur at any time so don?t make the mistake of assuming that they are not present. You need to be certain.

Any wiper fluid that you choose to use should be mixed so that it will not freeze in cold temperatures. Read the label carefully to make sure that it is intended for winter use. You often require windshield wiper fluid in the winter months when roads become slushy and messy. Wiper fluid that freezes up will not help you in any way.

You should also make sure that there are no leaks in the wiper system when the wiper fluid is sprayed. Hit the spray button while the hood is open to make sure that everything is coming out as it should and there are no leaks somewhere between the reservoir and where the fluid comes out on the windshield. Any issues need to be addressed immediately.

Windshield wiper fluid is part of safe driving. If you can?t see then you could certainly be in or cause an accident. Keep up on these tasks to maintain your driving comfort and the health of your car.

Enjoy your car travel and find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips, compare auto insurance quotes and helpful car insurance advice at www.AutoInsuranceRatesDirect.com

Are you looking for a transmission that?s going to give you the power and thunder you?ve been looking for without having to sacrifice any of the gas mileage you?ve come to expect from your car? If you?re restoring or rebuilding your vehicle, take the 700R4 transmission for a test drive.

The 700R4 transmission is a great way to restore your muscle car or truck or convert your old 2-3 speed vehicle. Designed by Chevy, the 700R4 transmission can handle up to 650 horsepower and offers a high performance overdrive that makes it a pleasure to slip behind the wheel.

Even with the worst of this summer?s gas crisis behind us, gas mileage is still an invaluable feature in your vehicle. With the 700R4 transmission drivers have consistently reported a 40% improvement in their gas mileage when compared to a 3 speed automatic, and its ability to offer an overdrive option while still maintaining its incredible gas mileage makes it the perfect option for muscle car restoration.

Gas prices are still uncertain. The last thing you want to do is invest thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of manpower in a muscle car that you?re not going to be able to afford to take out of the garage next summer. The 700R4 transmission can help make sure that doesn?t happen.

If you?re restoring or upgrading a car or truck, the drivetrain is going to be a major concern. (After all, if you?re restoring a car you obviously know your way around under the hood. Why would you settle for any less than the best?) With the 700R4 transmission you?ll not only save money in gas, you?ll have more power and the option of adding the converter lock-up. This unit is second to none when it comes to total performance, and with a 3.05 ratio in first gear(over 20% lower than most Chevy models out there) no other model can compare.

Are you restoring your vehicle with the intention of selling it for a profit when you?re done? If so, then the 700R4 transmission is just what you need. Incredibly popular among professional restoration companies, the 700R4 transmission actually raises the value of your vehicle because of its increased performance capability, making an older car purr like a dream and newer vehicles run more smoothly and with better gas mileage than ever before.

The best part? With the 700R4 transmission you can offer your car the best without having to break the bank. Most transmissions cost hundreds of dollars and never live up to the price tag. The 700R4 transmission was designed to be different in every way. Cost is only one of them.

The 700R4 transmission is a top of the line transmission with a mid-grade price tag-the perfect solution for anyone who?s restoring on a tight budget.

The 700R4 transmission is the best model out there for restoring your old car or truck, and its second to none when it comes to price and performance. Check it out for yourself.

Ray Subs is a public relations specialist working with the team at the Official 700R4 Transmission Parts Website. For more information on the 700R4 transmission, visit www.700R4transmission.com or call 1-800-708-0087 for vital information.

If you cannot keep your vehicle in a garage or other fixed shelter that provides all round protection for your car, truck or boat then you need to consider covering your vehicle to give it the protection it needs.

Bodywork paint is susceptible to a range of environmental factors including the weather with rain causing rust and general discoloration and the sun in particular is a major cause of faded paint work. It is not just the weather that you have to be aware of when you are looking to protect the appearance of your car as there are other factors that contribute to the deterioration of paint and bodywork. Bird droppings are highly acidic and will actually eat away at paint exposing the bodywork so that other agents can create damage, particularly water. Even if no bodywork is exposed, the chemical components will react with each other causing the development of ugly discoloured spots on your car as well as damaging the shine you are able to produce from waxing and cleaning.

Many times you will see a vehicle parked up in the yard or on the drive in front of the garage and a host of kids running around with bicycles and toys; all of these things inevitably result in some form of collision with your car and create scratches, dings and indentations. You need to ensure that your vehicle has enough protection from the elements, from wildlife and animals and simple things like a ball bouncing off the hood as the children are playing.

The best form of outdoor protection for your car is a quality car cover. Modern materials are able to provide a waterproof protective layer which will minimize the impact of rain on your paintwork and the effect of rust which can develop under the paint work and remain unseen until substantial amounts of damage have been caused. You should also ensure that the car cover is made of materials which will prevent the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun penetrating and causing that faded look you so often see on older cars or indeed, any vehicle that has been left out in the sun too long.

A quality car protection cover will also be sturdy enough to take the impact of minor accidents such as falling branches or a bicycle brushing alongside the bodywork. Obviously we are not going to have armor plated car covers but a robust material will help minimize the impact of an enormous range of everyday occurrences which create so much damage to a car?s bodywork.

You should also ensure that the cover fits your vehicle as snugly as possible and can be secured in place so it will not be simply blown loose in a storm or high wind. There is no point in securing protection for your car only for part of the covering to come loose when you may not discover this for several weeks or months and allow the elements to damage your vehicle.

The best covers will fit easily and securely around your car as well as being made of durable and modern materials which will stand the test of time and the impact of the environment. Once they are no longer needed, they will also easily and quickly be stored and will not lose their protective qualities as a result of being stored such as cracking or rotting.

Using a car cover is the safest, easiest and cheapest form of car preservation you can invest in to protect your investment and enjoy your vehicle to the fullest.

Ryan Draving is the president of Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers, truck covers, and other vehicle covers. They can be found online at: http://www.empirecovers.com .

No matter where you live your car is going to experience the weather and that means several major contributors to the deterioration of the look of your automobile?s bodywork can get to work; the sun and the rain are the two major ones but there are also instances of frost damage too.

Obviously, the best place to house a car when it isn?t being used is inside a garage or fixed shelter but that is not always possible and in fact most cars and vehicles are kept outside in the elements often for months at a time. This is not good news for your bodywork or the car generally so at least make an effort to get the vehicle under cover which means you need a car cover that is both rain and sun resistant.

There are many car covers available on the market both readymade in pre-defined sizes and custom covers made specifically for that make and model of vehicle; whichever you choose you need to make sure they protect your pride and joy. Just because you have purchased a rubberized cover does not mean it will prevent the harmful UV rays of the sun. Just as UV rays harm your skin and can do so even through clothing, so the sun?s harmful impact can be felt through an otherwise waterproof covering. You must have protection from both elements so it must be waterproof and able to block the sun?s rays.

Making sure the car cover fits your vehicle is also an issue to ensure the most effective protection you can provide. Remember, your car may be left for weeks or months (and in some sad cases, even years) and making sure that the covering is going to stay in place owes a lot to how well the cover fits and is secured. The material must be durable and able to continue providing protection for years despite being exposed to the elements itself. There is no point in using a car protection cover which ends up becoming semi-detached from the car because the wind has blown it loose and exposed parts of your car to the ravages of sun and water!

A good fitting, quality car protection cover will not just protect your car from the impact of weather conditions; a good car cover will be robust enough to provide protection from physical knocks and scratching caused by people, especially children as well as household pets and wildlife. Bird droppings for instance, will quickly cause deterioration in modern car bodywork paint and quickly provide weak areas for water to work on producing rust spots and worse.

When you are ready to use your car you need to be able to easily stow the car protection cover away for use next time and this is when a protection cover made from durable, flexible modern materials come into their own and allow for easy handling and storage. The protection cover must not crack along the creases caused by folding and being kept for lengthy periods of time when not in use so the protection provided is maintained when you come to use it again.

Leaving your vehicle out in the open without any protection is simply going to accelerate the depreciation in value of the vehicle while using a car protection cover will only cost you a fraction of the value you will lose. Take the time to ensure that you buy a quality car protection cover which will stand the test of time and provide protection for your vehicle and you will be able to enjoy your car looking its best for that much longer.

Ryan Draving is the president of Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers, truck covers, and other vehicle covers. They can be found online at: http://www.empirecovers.com .

If you cannot get your vehicle under cover in a garage then your options are fairly limited when it comes to protecting the look of your vehicle. Paintwork is especially vulnerable to the elements and needs protection from rain, sun, animals and people so it makes sense to look at a car protection cover to provide a robust layer of all round protection for your pride and joy.

Modern car protection covers are made from durable and flexible materials which perform a variety of protective functions. They will be waterproof and so keep your bodywork from coming into contact with water which will cause discoloration of your paint job and if left unchecked, rust which will ravage the look of your car very quickly and cost dearly to put right. They will also be able to block out the harmful effects of the sun?s ultraviolet or UV radiation; the same rays which cause sunburn in people also cause damage to your paint job and the sun is the major cause of a faded paint job which always looks unsightly and there is nothing you can do to remedy it once it has happened.

Prevention is definitely better than cure in this instance!

It is not just the weather that you need to deal with; there are a host of other things that can damage the look and body of your car such as children playing near the car; the cat deciding the hood is a great place to sunbathe; or a tree shedding leaves under which you have parked the car. All of these and many others will contribute to your car becoming scratched, discoloured, dented and acquiring the odd ding or two depending on how much in harm’s way you have parked the vehicle.

Make sure the car cover is therefore strong and robust enough to deal with minor scrapes and hits from animals, trees and people.

One factor is frequently underestimated and that is bird droppings. Bird droppings are highly acidic and should never be allowed to remain in contact with your car?s paint job. They will react chemically with your paintwork and damage the coating as well as the paint itself causing the formation of discoloured spots, dulled paintwork and if left untreated create opportunities for water to get to the underlying bodywork and cause very serious rust damage.

You need to be able to rely on the protective abilities of the car cover you choose but it needs to be able to fit the vehicle easily and be secured so that it can be left unattended for several weeks or even months. More than this, once it is not in use it must be capable of being stored for long periods of time without losing these qualities ? older materials for instance, have a tendency to crack along fold creases and this allows the elements to gain access to your vehicle underneath.

The issue is not so much, where is the best place to store your car outside of the garage but what else is there that you can effectively store your car in. A durable, quality car protection cover will cocoon your car, truck or boat and provide an added layer of protection so it continues to look good and is kept damage free for as long as you own it.

Ryan Draving is the president of Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers, truck covers, and other vehicle covers. They can be found online at: http://www.empirecovers.com .