After Market Installation

What is the Difference Between Regular and Synthetic Motor Oil

April 29, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Regular and synthetic motor oils each have their own benefits. Choosing the right oil for your engine depends on your car’s age and how you drive.

When trying to find the best motor oils for a vehicle, there are a wide range of regular and synthetic motor oils to choose from. While vehicles initially used conventional motor oil to lubricate and protect critical engine parts, the development of synthetic motor oil in the lab has led to unprecedented performance levels in the oils of today.

But how do you know when which motor oil type to use? This decision comes down to the age of your vehicle and your level of driving activity. Routine driving, such as commuting, might only call for a conventional oil, while more intense driving, such as hauling loads or trailers, requires a more robust synthetic blend. Ask a mechanic for their recommendation when deciding on an oil type to use.

Conventional motor oil

Conventional motor oils use base oils blended with different chemical additives to meet the basic needs of vehicle engines. Coming in a range of viscosity levels, the available oils range in quality from adequate to high-quality lubricants.

Most often used in late-model vehicles driven in routine driving situations, such as commutes, errands, or vacation driving at cruising speeds, conventional motor oil provides the perfect low-mileage oil. Newer vehicles require more specialized synthetic oils.

Synthetic motor oil

Synthetic motor oil uses a specially blended formula developed by researchers in a lab environment. Most often such oils use a variety of high-performance additives to provide a high level of engine protection at startup and while running.

In addition, the best synthetic oils offer protection against heat build-up, enhance engine durability, and help clean engines of deposits.

Synthetic blend motor oil

Recommended for engines that carry regular heavy loads, operate at high RPMs in day-to-day activity, and tow trailers, synthetic blend motor oil consists of synthetics developed in a laboratory mixed with more conventional oils. The oil type provides some of the best low-temperature properties while adding oxidization-resistant properties not seen in many conventional motor oils.

High-mileage motor oil

High-mileage motor oils, such as Castrol GTX High Mileage, are specially blended for vehicles that have 75,000 or more miles on the odometer. The best high-mileage motor oil uses unique additives to help seal oil leaks around aging seals, reduce oil burn-off, and restore engine compression.

Check with a mechanic before using a high-mileage motor oil, because some older model vehicles work best when using a regular synthetic motor oil.

Motor oil ratings

Motor oil ratings represent the best way to determine which oil is the correct one for your vehicle. The most common type of oil today, multiviscosity, comes with labeling that designates how the oil performs at certain temperatures. For example, a 5W-30 flows better at a lower temperature than a 10W-30 oil. In both cases, the number before the W represents the viscosity rating at which the oil performs at colder temperatures and at startup. The number after the W, which stands for winter, shows the performance level of the oil at high temperatures. A mechanic can give the best advice as to which oil viscosity level to use.

The Deferent Duties Of An Electric Vehicle Batteries

April 28, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

EV batteries work to power an electric traction motor to move the car’s wheels. Different chemicals produce electricity to provide rechargeable power.

Electric

Electric vehicles (EV) gain their name from the electricity stored in their battery packs that power the car’s motor and turn the wheels. Hybrid vehicles also feature an electric battery, but they have a combustion engine contributing to motorized power too. Both these batteries can are rechargeable. The car plugs into wall sockets or specialized charging units and transports grid electricity to its internal battery. To understand how EV batteries work, this article will take a look at what car batteries are, the types of EV batteries, and how they charge to power electric cars.

What is a Battery?

Batteries store chemical energy and turn it into electricity. A battery contains a disproportionate number of negative to positive electrodes on either side of its construction. When connected by a type of cable, electrons from the negative half will flow to the positive side. This flow, popularized as electricity, can be harnessed to power different devices, such as lights, telephones, and even car motors. The force of electricity slows down over time as the electron numbers on each half balance out. At this point, the battery is considered dead because it can no longer produce electricity.

Various chemical reactions in batteries can create electricity, but automobile manufacturers have maintained an interest in the ones that can be recharged. Rechargeable batteries use electric energy to restart the flow of negative-to-positive electrons. Batteries with the right chemical properties to recharge are incredibly useful to cars because they don’t need constant replacement. For electric cars, three types of batteries work best in this process.

3 Types of EV Batteries:

1. Lead-Acid: Lead-acid batteries are the oldest form of rechargeable batteries — invented in 1859 — and have been used in both non-electric and electric cars. In these batteries, lead electrodes mix with acid to generate power. Since they’ve been around for so long, they are easy to work with, dependable, and inexpensive to make; however, they create potentially explosive gases when overcharged. They are used in nearly all conventional automobiles and as supplemental energy sources in some fully-electric and hybrid electric cars. Though some high-power ones are in development, lead-acid batteries perform poorly in cold temperatures and don’t last very long for EVs.

2. Nickel-Metal Hydride: Nickel-metal hydride batteries can pack a lot of energy into a relatively small package, giving them a high energy density. They are most common in hybrid-electric vehicles and recharge from the car’s fuel tank. They are extremely durable, safe, and produce little toxicity for optimal recycling. Unfortunately, they are expensive, have a low-energy density, and generate a lot of heat in high temperatures, making them poor choices for solely plug-in charging. Since hybrids feature both a combustion engine and the electric battery, they benefit the most from nickel-metal hydride batteries.

3. Lithium-Ion: Lightweight, low-maintenance, and high energy and high-temperature performance, lithium-ion batteries are the battery of choice in most electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries carry less weight and still hold great quantities of energy. Cars with them can travel farther on one charge and the battery has a low “self-discharge” rate, which means it can maintain a charge for an extended amount of time when not in use.

How does an EV Battery Charge?

In an EV, an electric traction motor replaces the traditional internal combustion engine in gasoline-powered cars. The EV uses a traction battery pack to store electricity later used by the motor to power the wheels. This battery pack requires recharging at plug-in stations, either at home or in public. Charging stations restart the chemical flow of negative-to-positive electrons. Overall vehicle driving range depends on the efficiency of the battery at using and storing electric energy.

In hybrids, the battery pack and electric motor are accompanied by a combustion engine that takes over as a power source when electricity is depleted. Plug-in hybrid batteries can also be recharged by plugging into charging ports or through regenerative braking. Both hybrids and fully-electric cars typically use an included plug-in cord to charge their similar batteries.

Charging an EV battery takes different amounts of time depending on change level and car compatibility. For example, not all EVs can refuel their electricity stores from fast charging stations. Additionally, the range an EV battery can go off a single charge varies between battery types. Lead-acid electric batteries only provide about 80 miles, nickel-metal hydride 120 miles, and lithium-ion over 220 miles. While coming close, lithium-ion battery-powered EVs still fall short of gas-fed cars in their overall range. In comparison to gas stations, the gaps in available charging stations across the country contribute to this detriment.

How Long Do EV Batteries Last?

Due to the components used to create them, EV batteries can cost significantly more to replace than those in traditional cars. Luckily, most EV manufacturers supply warranties on their batteries should they expire before their time. Most last 5-8 years, or about 100,000 miles. Particularly lithium-ion, nearly all of an electric battery is recyclable, and some of its remaining charge can be returned to the electric grid as renewable energy and its metal parts repurposed.

Electric cars are becoming increasingly common as EV battery technology develops. More affordable and efficient all-electric vehicles are on the way. Just as lead-acid batteries became inexpensive and reliable after over a century of use and study, as will nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion battery packs with more research, usage, and driving.

How to Replace Your Car Key

April 23, 2020 by admin 2 Comments

Lost car keys can be extremely frustrating. Try to find missing keys first, then call a local locksmith to see if they can make a replacement car key.

Replacing a car key can be a messy and frustrating experience. Sometimes the key breaks, while other times it may bend or wear down until it no longer functions correctly. Losing a key is particularly frustrating with the constant worry that, part-way through the process of securing a key replacement, the owner will find the initial key somewhere obvious — like the pocket of a jacket that was misplaced. Whatever the reason, the key is essential to proper car use, so every car requires at least one working key.

When To Get a Replacement Key

Key is lost. Losing a key is frustrating. Plus, the possibility of finding a lost key remains unless the key was lost in the ocean or while traveling. If you have a spare key, replacement isn’t immediately necessary unless you can’t find the original. If you cannot find your key, and don’t have a spare, start looking for replacement options right away — and don’t worry, most places that replace car keys don’t need to the original to perform the task.

Key is not functioning. Sometimes the key wears down until it no longer retains its shape. It may also snap or bend, rendering it useless. Some more high-tech keys may be laser-etched or have wireless codes the car scans to ensure they are the correct keys. While this is great for security, damaging these codes can render an otherwise fine key useless. There is also the growing problem of having a broken remote built into a functioning key. The key can be used to lock and unlock the doors and turn on the car, but the malfunctioning remote reduces convenience. Always check the battery in the remote first to see if that’s the problem. For security reasons, any issues with the keys or locks need to be addressed immediately.

5 Steps To Get a Replacement Key for Your Car

1. Obtain VIN. First, get the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the dashboard or engine bay of the car. Note the exact make, model, and year of the vehicle. If the VIN is hard to find, check out the vehicle’s title or insurance paperwork to find out.

2. Contact a locksmith. Older cars, especially those made by non-luxury manufacturers, have the easiest keys to replace. Making a call to the local auto locksmith can solve the whole problem in many cases. Additionally, a locksmith can end up saving you a lot of money compared to a dealership.

However, If the key is from a more modern car, the shape may be too complex for a local locksmith or it may need to be programmed to work with a certain vehicle. Some locksmiths are capable of digital programming replacement keys, but many cannot imitate a code laser-etched onto the key.

3. Have a locksmith make the key, and a dealer program it. If a locksmith can make the new key but not program it, take it to the dealership for that final step. The module that needs to be programmed can be very expensive through the dealership, so be sure to research other options. For example, Amazon offers replacement car keys for many different makes and models.

4. If the key is very complex, have the dealership replace it. If none of the above options are viable, then you likely have a key with complex features for security purposes. The replacement may only be available through the manufacturer, and ordering the key may take a week or two. If this is the case, go to the dealership where the car was bought and see if either the warranty will cover the cost, or if the dealership will provide a discount to satisfy their customer.

5. Consider price versus reliability. Many cars use keyless entry devices these days — and they usually barely resemble an actual key. If one of these breaks and the batteries are not dead, then ordering a new car key is necessary. Sometimes, they cost little to purchase online, but going through a dealership is a more secure bet. You can even program certain keys yourself, at home. Others must be programmed by a professional. In some cases, the key is programmed at the factory and then sent to the customer, but this is only the case with a few high-end manufacturers.

Security is important, and an unlocked door can ruin a car just as quickly as a seized engine under the right circumstances. Car key replacement can be expensive, so be prepared. Always try to go through a locksmith when possible. Researching prices ahead of time can save frustration down the road.

How to Install a Car Alarm

April 23, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Whether you just bought a used vehicle without an alarm or just decided to opt for the extra security, installing an alarm system into your car is never a bad idea. There are a number of practical benefits, and in some areas, the addition of an alarm system can lower the cost of car insurance.

A car alarm is a fantastic defence against auto theft, and there are a number of alarms available that anyone can simply install in their own car. Though the process is not as simple as an oil change, the installation is surprisingly straightforward, if close attention is paid to the following directions, double-checking along the way.

Part 1 of 4: Pick out an aftermarket alarm

There are varying degrees of complexity available with car alarm systems. Basic systems can tell when a door is ajar or when an automatic lock is forced open. Complex systems have remotes that can warn you when your car is being tampered with and can detect when the car is bumped. Try to find an alarm that is designed for your vehicle to help the installation process.

Step 1: Search for a factory alarm. Check to see if there is a factory alarm system available for your specific model of car. Most manufacturers offer an alarm as an option, and in some cases, the installation of a factory unit can be incredibly straightforward. Some computer reprogramming may be needed by the dealer on some units to enable it.

Tip: You can usually get a key fob with a “panic” button on it from the manufacturer that matches the car’s regular key.

Step 2: Decide what you need from an alarm system. It is important that you have an idea of what you want from your alarm system and to search based on those preferences. If you just want a simple system, you can get set up with little cost to you. If you want a remote control that will alert you when your alarm is going off and the ability to start or stop your engine remotely, then you can spend much more on an advanced system.

Note: Your price range will be the biggest deciding factor here, so weigh out the pros and cons of installing an alarm system before deciding on the level of security you require. Very complex alarm systems may require professional installation.

Step 3: Read the Manual. Once you have an alarm system picked out, you need to read the manual for the alarm system and any relevant sections of the vehicle’s manual.

It is important to plan out the entire installation before diving into the project. An alarm that does not function correctly is not very useful and is potentially extremely annoying. Disconnect the battery before starting the installation. Be aware of any airbag wiring usually encased in yellow covers and connectors. Do not wire into any airbag circuit.

Part 2 of 4: Install the siren

Materials Needed

Electric tape
Handheld Drill
Multimeter
Mechanic gloves
Soldering Iron or Crimping Tool
Wire strippers/cutters
Zip ties
Note: When purchasing the alarm system, check the manual to see what additional tools may be required for installation.

Step 1: Where to Mount. Find a metal surface onto which you can mount the siren that goes to the alarm system. The siren is the part that actually emits a high pitch sound, so it needs to be in the engine bay and it needs to be unobstructed. Try to keep the siren 18” away from hot engine components like the exhaust manifold or a turbocharger, facing the siren downward to prevent any water from entering the part.

Step 2: Find a Hole for Wires. The wire needs to go through the firewall that separates the engine from the car’s interior. This means either finding a pre-existing hole that wires are passing through already and using this space or drilling a hole into a plastic or rubber section of the firewall. This hole will also allow a power line to pass from the battery to the ‘brain’ of the alarm system, giving it power. It is a good idea to wire a fuse into this line.

Warning: Do not drill through the metal of the firewall unless it is absolutely necessary. You run the risk of damaging important components and causing premature corrosion.

Part 3 of 4: Wire the alarm into the car

Step 1: Find where the alarm computer connects. Using the manual that comes with the alarm, establish where the ‘brain’ of the system is going to reside.

Most need to be wired into the car’s ECU to read the signals pertaining to the sensors in the doors and windows. Some alarms have their own standalone computer units that are mounted in the engine bay near the siren, but most are wired into the car’s computer and hidden inside of the dashboard.

Note: Common locations include under the driver side of the dashboard and behind the glove compartment.

Step 2: Install additional sensors. If the alarm system came with any additional sensors, such as a shock sensor, then those can be installed now wherever the manufacturer suggests.

Step 3: Plan a place for LED lights. Most alarm systems come with some sort of indicator to tell the driver when the system is active. Usually, this indicator is in the form of a small LED light that is mounted in the dash somewhere, so plan out where the LED will fit best.

Step 4: Install LED lights. Once you have determined a fitting place, drill a small hole, and secure the light in place, wiring it to the rest of the system.

Part 4 of 4: Connect the battery and test the alarm

Step 1: Check the power. Connect the power line to the battery and allow the alarm system to power up. The system should power up when the car is on.

Warning: Some systems may need additional calibration at this point, so be sure to check the manual that comes with the system before continuing.

Step 2: Check the system. Arm your system and then test it to see if it functions properly. If your system comes with a ‘panic button’ remote, test it using that, but your system does not have a remote, try jostling the door while the alarm is armed.

Step 3: Bundle loose wires. If the system is working properly, then you can use electrical tape, zip ties, and/or heat shrink wrap to bundle the loose wires together and protect the connections.

Step 4: Secure the wires. Since the wires are now bundled together, secure the brain and the wires somewhere inside the dashboard. This will prevent issues with the unit from getting jostled around, which may set off the alarm unnecessarily, causing unwelcome distress and concern.

Once the system is secured, your car is much less likely to be stolen thanks to the measures you have taken. Installing a car alarm is a painless way of ensuring that your car is protected from criminals, giving you the peace and comfort that comes from knowing your car is safe. Car alarms may seem daunting, especially to the beginner, but you need not let this keep you from installing an alrm and protecting yourself and your car.