Nakelcars

NAGREEN MOTORING MAGAZINE INTERVIEW'S LYNXXX

2012-09-15T15:55:00.002-07:00

Lynxxx is more than just an artiste; he is a brand that breathes class, talent and confidence.

He made his debut into the Nigerian Music Industry in 2009 with his single, ‘Change Your Parade’. After making big waves with that song, he went on to dish out more hit singles in 2010 culminating in the release of his album later in the year. Within just a short period in the industry, he has captured the attention of many and is one of the most talked about Nigerian artistes in recent times.

The utunu master just dropped a Brand new Video Fine lady featuring wizkid a while ago and its already receiving a lot of praises.

NGM: Do you drive? Obviously you do Lynxxx so we will move on to the next question.

NGM: How did you learn how to drive and at what age did you start driving?

LYNXXX: I used to observe the driver when he was driving I think I was 10 or 11 back then so I already had a good knowledge of driving before I went to AA driving school in Lagos that was around 2000 2001 I can’t really remember.

NGM: Your first car?

LYNXXX: My first car was a Peugeot 505 Evolution.

NGM: How many cars do you have now (Which one do you drive most)?

LYNXXX: I have only one car which is a Mercedes C 300 sports (2008 model).

NGM: What’s your dream car and are you driving your dream car?

LYNXXX: I don’t really have a dream car I just go for exclusives rides that bring prestige with it and I think a Mercedes fills that void. I didn’t want a Range Rover Sports because almost everyone has got one.

NGM: Have you been involve an accident before if so can you advice your fans how to avoid it happening to them?

LYNXXX: Nothing serious really just scrapes from bike men (Okada) that’s all.

NGM: Lagos traffic what do think about it and what do you do to avoid it?

LYNXXX: Ahh Lagos traffic is terrible and frustrating, am not a fan of it at all but there is nothing you can do about it.

It’s just like NEPA or PHCN you have to get use to it. Anyway I work at home most of the time and go out when the rush hour is over that’s how I try to avoid Lagos traffic.

NGM: What’s your most embarrassing car breaks down moment?

LYNXXX: That was when I was still driving my Peugeot 505; it broke down at the beginning of V.I Bridge and I had to push the car all by myself till I got to the slope part of the bridge where I had to quickly jump back into the car to gain control of it. Men that day no funny at all.

NGM: Your experiences with mechanics if is Good or Bad?

LYNXXX: Hell. I can’t imagine how something as simple as a routine service will lead into a serious problem where they will have to change a whole lot of stuffs in your car so that they can charge you more money.

NGM: Do you follow any motorsport in particular?

LYNXXX: No I don’t but I do watch Top Gear it’s interesting and educative.

NGM: what’s your experience with police LASMA and other traffic official while driving?

LYNXXX: Nigeria police know how to waste people’s time. There was this day I sent my car to the mechanic for servicing I had removed all my particulars from the car before they took it away by time they brought it back I had forgotten about my particulars I just took the car out like that only to be stopped by the police I delayed for almost two hours. I got to the show I had very late. The annoying part was they knew me very well.

NGM: What advice do you have for your fans on cars and driving?

LYNXXX: To my fans out please buy cars that you can afford, never buy a car because its flashy you might not be able to maintain it when the servicing bills start coming so please buy a car you can maintain.

To the Lagos drivers out there clam down stop frustrating yourselves be patient give way to other road users like you allow the traffic flow the way it should and please obey all traffic rules.

The Myth About Thermostat

2012-04-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

It’s sad that most cars on our roads today run without a thermostat. This is because they think it causes overheating and that the thermostat is meant for cars that operate in the colder regions of the world but this is not the case.

This myth has been passed around by mechanic to vehicle owners for years, which has now made it the norm for any vehicle which comes into the country to have its thermostat removed but this act causes more harm than good to the vehicle.

A car thermostat has two separate functions but these functions are also interconnected.

Firstly it there to bring the engine up to its optimum operating temperature as quickly as possible and secondly it maintains the engine at an optimum operating temperature thereafter.

Motor vehicle engines are built to operate 80°C and above and the last time I checked there is no country in the world that’s that hot.

An internal combustion engine operates most efficiently at high temperature, which in turn reduces Wear on the moving parts and thermal efficiency is increased by operating at this temperature.

The thermostat is constantly moving throughout its range, increasing or decreasing flow of engine coolant to the radiator, in response to changes in power output due to vehicle operating load, vehicle speed, and external temperature, always keeping the engine at its optimum operating temperature.

Not having a thermostat in your engine causes

1. The engine to overcool causes inefficient combustion

2. It causes increased fuel consumption

3. It increased wear with consequent reduced engine life.

So if you have had the thermostat of your engine removed you please do replace it so that your vehicle can operate at its full potential and also save money from lower fuel consumptions.

Tips for Driving In Rain

2012-03-26T01:56:00.000-07:00

Now that the government have predicted heavy rain fall for this season, serious measures are also been taken by them to reduces the effect of the rain on the populace, by advising on necessary precaution that should be taken by them to prevent heavy flooding and also carrying out massive works on our drainage systems. With all this good works going on they have left out they have left out a very important segment of the populace

which are the motorist

Since you can’t stop rain from falling and you have to leave your house to fend for your daily bread there is no way you won’t encounter bad weather especially this season, so extra precaution is necessary when you are driving during this raining season because driving in the rain can be a scary thing and in the night, it is even worse. It is difficult to see out of the window and the other car's lights seem to make it worse. Especially when you begin to hydroplane!

Here are some tips to avoid getting into an accident while it's raining.

1. Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times! Keep all distractions, such as cell phones or even the radio, off and away from you.

2. Turn on your headlights when it is raining, even in broad daylight.

3. Turn on the defroster if the windshield begins to fog. In hot, muggy weather, air conditioned air (which cannot contain as much moisture) will usually clear the inside of the windshield faster than non air conditioned. Windshield Water repellent products are very helpful during heavy rain as they force the water to bead and shed off the glass.

4. Keep a minimum of a good five car length from the car in front of you. You never know what other drivers are going to do or what could happen to you.

5. Drive at or below the speed limit to the extent that you are comfortable with, and can see far enough in front of you to appropriately make driving decisions.

6. Be aware that the maximum speed at which you can drive is DIRECTLY related to your tires. Be sure to know what their condition is in. Radial tires have better traction than the old bias ply polyester tires, but even they lose their ability to grip wet pavement and channel water out as the tread wears out.

7. Be aware of hydroplaning. This is where your vehicle travels on top of the water and has NO or very little contact with the ground. Your traction is reduced significantly. To safely get out of a hydroplaning situation let off the gas and steer straight or slightly in the direction you must go. Do not make sudden motions and remain calm.

8. Avoid flooded roads. Never drive through standing or flowing water in a road way unless you have no choice or you are able to follow someone else to judge the depth of the water. Flooding the engine of your car can cause the engine to stall, and deep water can actually float your car and take it off the roadway.

9. Be aware that brakes can be affected by water. Wet drum type brakes are especially prone to decreased stopping power after driving through deep water.

10. Watch for splashing from potholes and pools of water that accumulate at clogged storm drain pipes and low areas of the pavem

Nissan Juke R

2011-11-19T02:09:00.000-08:00

The new Nissan Juke R is not loved by many automobile journalist around the world but i love it maybe its my youthfulness that is getting the best of me or something all i know is that i love this ride. The inside is racing orientated with two race seats, full race harness and a race-spec roll cage. Steering wheel, pedals ,7-inch touch screen display come straight from the GT-R and powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine pinched from the Nissan GT-R. That's 480bhp, and many, many torques. Nissan has kindly flared the arches, fitted not inconsiderable air ducting and venting capacity, twin exhausts, some GT-R-spec dials and two race seats. There will be a left- and a right-hand drive model and that is all, just two examples will be made. It is by no means a production car, but a road legal concept car. Apparently it will be used to test customer response to some of the concept car’s features for use in future ‘sport’ versions of the Juke. Personally, I think this is a pointless exercise: everybody will want the huge engine, incredible noise, intimidating body panels and racing-orientated interior. And, of course, Nissan will say ‘no’.

2011-11-17T08:46:00.001-08:00

AUTO WORKSHOP IN NIGERIA

2011-11-15T15:40:00.001-08:00

I worked in an auto workshop for a while and I loved it when I first started I was around one of the things I love most CARS but after a week and a half the fairy tales were over I could see the real pictures now the lies the scams the annoying customers and so on and it all came rushing back why I dropped the idea of owning my own auto workshop a long time ago. An auto workshop doors are always opened because of customers who bring their vehicles in for diagnose or repairs and they get billed for the services they are rendered the printed bills are given to the customers for payment without any detailed report on what has been done on vehicle. If I take my vehicle to an auto workshop for diagnose after the diagnose has been carried out I will be told some silly code i don’t understand and charged 10 to 15 thousand Naira for it without been given a proper report with the code broken down into details for me. It’s my car for God sake not yours so give me a proper report. If I go to the hospital to get a full medical check up I get a full detailed report on it. So why cant I get a full detailed report of all the repairs that is going to carried out or has been carried out already on my vehicle? In fairness to some auto workshops in Nigeria they are very professional they give you full details on what repairs would be carried out on your vehicle sorry I can’t mention you names on this article that will be free publicity. Those auto shops I talked about above are only 15% the rest 85% are out to cheat, steal, scam; some don’t even know what they are doing at all while some fall in the category of trial and error and you keep bringing vehicle back till they get it right. The one that gets me all boiled up is the so called ALL DATA which the work shops owner and some mechanic flaunt around customers when they are in their workshop that’s total rubbish in my own opinion because all that get accomplish with that is the unsaid words like (Hey Mr. car owner you know the different between me and you is the ALL DATA get one and I won’t be needed anymore). If I ever take my vehicle to an auto workshop and the owner tries to show he knows what is wrong with my vehicle with an ALL DATA am out of there taking my vehicle to someone who knows what he is doing. National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) should have a meeting with themselves and start giving the car owners in Nigeria a full detailed report on diagnoses and repairs carried out on cars brought to their various members workshop and I also urge all car owners in Nigeria to demand for it you have spent millions in buying your car I think that should give you the right to know what will be done and what has been done to your car in a full detail report.

Nakelcars: 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY DIFFERENT BODY SAME CAR

2011-11-15T01:43:00.000-08:00

Nakelcars: 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY DIFFERENT BODY SAME CAR

2012 TOYOTA CAMRY DIFFERENT BODY SAME CAR

2011-11-14T02:09:00.001-08:00

Am sure most of you if not all knows the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” the same can be said for 2012 Camry because it has a whole new body but the same old engine has before. The new Camry has lost weight and it was achieved by 155-pound weight loss, lower-rolling-resistance tires, sleeker sheet metal, taller gearing, more-aggressive torque-converter lockup, and electric power steering which Toyota claims it will make it offer more fuel efficiency and value will the 2.5-liter four cylinder and the 3.5-liter V-6 remains unchanged. This new Camry does not look muscular at all instead it looks smooth and it poses in a way that seems like its trying to scoop up the road but despite the weight loss the car’s length still remains the same also the width, height, and wheelbase remains unchanged. The interior package also remains roomy and comfortable. VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan ENGINE TYPES: DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4, 173 or 178 hp, 165 or 170 lb-ft; DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4, 156 hp, 156 lb-ft + 2 AC electric motors (combined system, 200 hp); DOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 268 hp, 248 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode, continuously variable automatic DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 109.3 in Length: 189.2 in Width: 71.7 in Height: 57.9 in

2012 TOYOTA YARIS

2011-08-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

It’s a car that’s the new slogan Toyota has chosen to kick off their campaign for the new 2012 yaris and to be honest that’s all there is to it. It is a car.
The new yaris targets the budget conscious people in the country with a price range of N2.5 million and below. It comes in a three or five doors hatchback no sedan is available for this new model because it’s has been discontinued by Toyota because the hatchback currently accounts for more than 70 percent of yaris sales.
The new yaris now has a new decent look which looks better than the old model but it still carries the 106 HP, 1.5 liter four cylinder of the old model with few changes done to it.
It comes in three trim level L (base) LE (Mid-grade) and SE (sportier)
The L comes standard with air conditioning, a CD player, IPod and USB connectivity, power locks, a new single arm windshield wiper and a lot of safety features such like nine air bags (including driver knee airbags and antisubmarine front cushion air bags).
The LE will make the driving experience livelier with the additions of power windows and mirrors, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a audio control on the steering wheel.
The SE comes only in five doors also has a standard cruise control, sports seats and a silver gauge face.

Additional features include remote key less entry system with engine immobilizer.
The interior of the new yaris is a lot better than the old model and the center mounted gauges have been reposition to the front of the driver where it’s meant to be in the first place. The LE and SE trims are made up of soft touch material while on L the seats are the only soft touch thing in it.
The transmission choices still remains five speed manual and a four – speed auto.
MY VIEW
I expect this new yaris to sell as well as the out going model did but Toyota has got serious competitors in segment with the like of Hyundai Accent 2012, 2012 Kia Rio which comes to the market with direct injection technology and six - speed manual transmissions.

Beetle 2012

2011-08-16T09:38:00.001-07:00

The new beetle new look’s more masculine than its 1998 predecessor. This will make it appeal to both sex because the 1998 model was referred to as a female vehicle.
Simply
It is simply called beetle this time around. The hood and front bumper makes it look like golf in a way with a soft enough edges that make the car look modern.
Headlight does not change much but they now have LED elements.
Interior now has something to with the early beetles unlike the 1998 beetles which had nothing in common with the previous beetles.
Side view
The round windshield of the 1998 has been changed and the new beetle has been pushed further back eliminating the cab like forward design of 1998 model.
Taillights
It has no relationship with and also does not look like the originals or the 1998 model.
Wheels
The wheels available for the beetle completes its masculine look and makes it look sportier.
View
The new beetle seem to be aiming at the mini coopers buyers

2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V

2011-08-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

The V stands for versatility; prius has been a success for Toyota its the top gas electrics car in the world with more than 2 million sold in 70 countries out sells all other hybrids combined.
Toyota has given 2012 prius v a whole new body that makes it looks like a mini van. It carries a richer load of standard and optional equipment than the basic prius like the new Toyota Entune Smartphone integrating application downloading infotainment system plays in prius first.
The prius v core carry over is Toyota’s hybrid synergy driven system and it also uses a cheaper but effective nickel metal hydride cells with 134 hp which is delivered by two electric motors and a 1.8 liter four – cylinder.
The new prius has more cargo space more leg room for it passenger with extra long rear doors.
My view
It’s like a Mazda 5 without the third row seating and I don’t think it will be fun to drive but it will be a great family car.
Vehicle Type
Front Engine
Front Wheel Drive
5 – Passenger
5 – Door Wagon
Engine Type
DOHC 16 – Valve
1.8 Liter
Transmission
Continuously Variable Automatic

Shaking or Vibration of Steering

2011-07-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

Now I have friends that ask me what’s wrong with their car before going to their mechanic. The most recent one that I can recollect was taking a ride with a friend of my, we were going to lekki on our way I notice is steering was vibrating but I pretended I didn’t see until he asked me about it. That’s why for this post I have chosen to talk about shaking or vibration of steering while driving.
So what causes shaking or vibration of steering while driving one of the causes of this is out of balance or out of round tire. As the tire tread wears out rebalancing is need to evenly distribute the weight of the tire and the wheel. This is done by adding a small lead weight which is attached to the outside of the wheel and a machine is used to spin the tire and wheel to check balance.
Tires should be balanced and rotated every 12,000 miles (approximately every four oil changes) to ensure even tire wear and extend tread life.
Out-of-round means the tire has worn unevenly and cannot be balanced. An out-of-round tire will have to be replaced.
Entering a lager pot hole can cause wheel weights to come off and sometime on top speed the weights comes off if they were not fits properly. Shakes and shimmies are cause by out of balance or out of round tire.
If you can drive out of a shake or shimmy by varying the speed of the car, it is a good clue that you have an out-of-balance problem. If the shimmy is present at one speed, but better or not present at a different speed, then a balance problem is likely. An out-of-round tire or a bent wheel will usually produce a wobble or shimmy at all speeds, and replacement of the tire or wheel is usually the cure.
Regular tire rotation is the best way to extend the life of a tire. Ask your mechanic which way to rotate the tires depending on how the tread is wearing.
A vibration or shaking that is felt in the steering wheel only when the brakes are applied is a brake problem. Have the brakes inspected and make sure to tell your mechanic about the shaking that you feel in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes. During this brake inspection, it would also be a great time to rotate the tires.

OVERHEATING IN CARS

2011-06-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

Last week Friday I hanged out with some of my friends and had a lot of fun but on our way home one of my friend car started to overheat while we were waiting for the temperature of his car to cool down it started to rain all we could do was to sit put and chat during our conversation I could not help but notice that he kept calling is mechanic to ask what he could do so I thought to myself if my friend does not know what to do when is car overheated that means a lot of people out there does not know what to do too.
So that why this posting is about proper diagnose of overheating and what you should do.
First:
Check if there is enough coolant in the radiator? Don't just look inside the plastic overflow bottle, but remove the radiator cap (when the engine is cold) and look inside the radiator. You should be able to physically see the fluid level if it is at its proper level. Most cars and trucks will hold 1 ½ - 2 gallons of coolant and water mixture. If you have to add more than a pint of fluid you should have the cooling system pressure tested for a leak. If you see any obvious fluid loss on the ground or in the engine compartment, you should also have the system tested for leaks.
Second:
If no coolant leak or low fluid level is present, then determine when the overheating complaint occurs if the engine overheats while at a stop or idle only:
Most front wheel drive cars use an electric cooling fan motor located in front or behind the radiator. The function of the cooling fan is to improve airflow across the radiator at stops and low speeds. The fan is controlled by sensors that regulate the engine temperature and additional load that might be placed on the engine.
The air conditioning compressor will require the cooling fan to operate at idle as long as the compressor is on. A quick way to check the cooling fan operation is to turn on the air conditioner. The cooling fan should come on with the air conditioner compressor. Some cars will have two electric fans, one is for the radiator and the other is the air conditioner condenser fan. Usually the radiator fan is closer to the middle of the radiator. The radiator fan is responsible for engine cooling, and the condenser fan is responsible for increasing air conditioning efficiency at idle and low speed.
If your vehicle does not have an electric cooling fan on the radiator it will have a belt driven fan blade and fan clutch. This fan should be pulling a large amount of warm to hot air across the radiator onto the engine. What you want to determine with either fan situation is that there is ample airflow across the radiator at idle. The radiator is the primary heat exchange for the engine, and airflow is crucial.
When the engine overheats while at high speeds on the freeway?
Again, airflow and coolant circulation are crucial. At 100km/h we can assume you have ample airflow across the radiator, so proper coolant circulation is the thing to inspect. Let’s compare overheating at 100km/h to jogging with a sock in your mouth. The faster and longer you jog, the more air you are going to require, and with a sock in your mouth you are going to have to breath extra hard to maintain the proper amount of air to keep you going. At 100km/h the water pump is pumping a large amount of hot coolant throughout the cooling system.
If there is a restriction in the system like a kinked radiator hose, a restricted radiator, or a stuck thermostat, it will produce the same affect as the sock in the mouth scenario. Rust and water calcification can accumulate in the radiator and drastically reduce the flow of coolant at high speeds. Removing the radiator from the vehicle for disassembly and cleaning or radiator replacement are the only two real cures for a clogged radiator.
Using a can of "radiator flush" additive might help as preventive maintenance, but will probably just be a waste of time and money trying to correct a restricted radiator.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2011-06-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Autonomous Cars

2011-06-08T05:05:00.001-07:00

Millions of drivers all over the world drive millions of miles to different destination and this have been the case since the cars took over from horses. Now there are faster cars with smooth, lovely driving experience and comfort. When thing go wrong it can be disastrous that’s why for some years now automobile engineers have been working on autonomous cars (cars that can driver themselves).
There have been predictions that autonomous car will be on every streets before the end of the decade starting will taxicabs.
These cars will obey all traffic rules.
They will take the most efficient routes and drive through city traffic without any problem.
They will be able to determine the seed of other cars on the road and communicate with them
Most importantly get the passengers in the cars to their destination safely.
Technology that is already available
Ford and Toyota have self – parking systems installed in some of their cars.
Mercedes vehicles steer themselves to keep you in your lane.
Volvos hit the brakes for you when a collision is inevitable.
Some vehicles have night – vision technology that uses heat sensors to detect other beings in drivers path when their driving.
So In the nearest future we should be expecting a safer and more efficient ride.

Hybrid cars in Nigeria

2011-06-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

I once told a friend of mine that I saw an electric car at Maryland area of Lagos and he said I was lying. His argument was there is no way anybody in Nigeria would buy an electric car because we do not have constant electricity so how would they charge it for eight hours when the battery is low? And how come is always the one that sees this entire thing with no one to be my witness?
Now the car I saw at Maryland that day was a Honda insight which is a hybrid car and that means I was half right and my friend was wrong because a hybrid means the combination of two things so the car I saw is powered by both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. That means an electric car is in Nigeria regardless of the power situation.
Now how does the electric part of the car get charged to full power when it’s low? That’s the beauty of a hybrid it charges itself so you do not need constant electricity or wait up to eight hours for it to be completely charged.
HOW HYBRID CARS WORK
There are different types of hybrid and I do not want to behave like Mr. know it all so I had to go Wikipedia and Ehow to know more about hybrid cars and I got this below
Petroleum Fuel Engine Assistance
This model of hybrid relies mainly on its internal combustion engine, with the electric motor being capable of only low speeds. Typically, this model will use the electric motor when idling, and then use it to accelerate up to about 20 or 25 mph. Then, the gasoline-powered engine will be automatically started and take over for providing propulsive power. The Toyota Prius is an example of this type of hybrid.
Electric Engine Assistance
This model of hybrid uses a lower power internal combustion engine, geared around maximum fuel efficiency. In order to achieve extra power for things like climbing hills or hard acceleration, the car has an electric motor which kicks in to provide the added power. Honda hybrids work on this principle.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
This Hybrid model is an attempt to circumvent the limits on a purely electric, battery-driven car. It relies entirely on its battery for motive power during the first several dozen miles of driving. When the battery is exhausted, the internal combustion engine on board is then used to either recharge the battery, or for a short trip to a recharging station.
To know more on Hybrid Cars you can checkout the following links below
file:///D:/Users/Scott/Desktop/How%20Does%20a%20Hybrid%20Car%20Work%20%20%20%20eHow.com.htm
file:///D:/Users/Scott/Desktop/Hybrid%20vehicle%20-%20Wikipedia,%20the%20free%20encyclopedia.htm

2011-05-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

TURKEY GRAND PRIX
RED BULL MARCHING ON WHILE FERRARI FIGHT BACK BEGINS.
Sebastian Vettel returns to winning ways at Istanbul after finishing behind Lewis Hamilton in china last time out. His drive to victory was near flawless finishing top place on the podium followed by fellow team Mark Webber who came 2nd after a hard fought battle between him, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso but Webber edged out because he had a fresher set of tyres than Alonso who came third which was in turn was the first podium finish for Ferrari in this formula 1 season. Maybe this is where the fight back begins for Ferrari, only time will tell.
Sebastian Vettel won his third of the season’s four races to stretch his points lead over 34 Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton came fourth while Nico Rosberg came fifth.
Below is how the drivers stand on the drivers tables

1 Sebastian Vettel German RBR-Renault 93
2 Lewis Hamilton British McLaren-Mercedes 59
3 Mark Webber Australian RBR-Renault 55
4 Jenson Button British McLaren-Mercedes 46
5 Fernando Alonso Spanish Ferrari 41
6 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 24
7 Nick Heidfeld German Renault 21
8 Vitaly Petrov Russian Renault 21
9 Nico Rosberg German Mercedes 20
10 Kamui Kobayashi Japanese Sauber-Ferrari 8
11 Michael Schumacher German Mercedes 6
12 Sebastien Buemi Swiss STR-Ferrari 6
13 Adrian Sutil German Force India-Mercedes 2
14 Paul di Resta British Force India-Mercedes 2

LUBRICANT

2011-05-09T03:44:00.000-07:00

LUBRICANT
ENGINE OIL
All moving parts in an automobile engine need to be lubricated. If not, frication will occur, causing increased power consumption in the process damaging the moving parts of the engine.
Below are some qualities of a good lubricant.
- A good lubricant must reduce frication in all the moving parts of the engine.
- A good lubricant must clear the engine.
- A good lubricant must seal the engine.
- A good lubricant must have anti foam qualities.
- A good lubricant must evacuate heat from the engine.
- A good lubricant must serves a noise-reducing cushion.
When you have a lubricant that has all the qualities mentioned above what you will get is better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions from your vehicle but you must always use the engine oil recommended by your vehicle manufacturer because it one of the best ways to keep your vehicle in top operating condition. Some manufacturers specifically advise against using oil additives.
Your owner's manual will tell you what type of oil to use and how often to have it changed.

USE OF CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING

2011-05-05T03:41:00.000-07:00

USE OF CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING
Impairment experienced by a driver using a cell phone is equivalent to the driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.8%.
Driving while distracted (know as DWD) is responsible for 25% of all car accidents with many of those coming from the distractions of using a cell phone or other mobile device.
The amount of brain activity devoted to driving may decrease by as much as 37% when using cell phone. Drivers on cell phones tend to drive more slowly, braked more slowly and are more likely to crash.

AUTO INSURANCE IN NIGERIA

2011-05-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

AUTO INSURANCE IN NIGERIA
Insurance policies that are issued to motorists are meant to protect against bodily injuries, vehicle damage for the people involve in case of any accident but in Nigeria at present this is not the case. This is because the insurance policy carried by most motorists in the country which is the Third party insurance is fake.
Most motorists don’t know the genuiness of their insurance document and how well it can sever them in times of need. The law enforcement agents insist on the seeing this insurance certificate at check point or when they are on a stop- and-search routine check are as ignorant as the motorists who presenting the worthless paper to them as their insurance policy and this have giving touts room to prey on innocent motorists. They issue fake third party insurance policies for N1, 000 while the real value of genuine third party insurance policies is N5, 000 which only registered insurance companies can issue.
Third party insurance means that a holder of the policy certificate involves in an accident caused by his or her vehicle will refer the victims to the insurance company were necessary payment will be paid for the loss. But what you see at accident scenes is people arguing, fighting and claiming rights which results to death some times. This would if there was a proper third party insurance policy in place.

Safety Tips On Air Bag Safety

2011-05-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Safety Tips
Air bag safety
Do you know thousands of lives are saved each by AIR BAGS? Yes because statistics as shown that frontal crashes deaths has been reduced among driver by 30% and among passengers by 25% through the use of air bags.

Yes air bag saves a lot of lives but using it wrongly can also causes injured or death for the driver and passengers.

The following actions in a vehicle can cause air bag injuries

Air bags are dangerous to kids who sit in front without the use of safety belt.
Air bags are also dangerous to young adults who sit close to the steering wheel to reach the pedals.
Air bags are dangerous to pregnant women and the elderly.
Infants in rear facing car seat on the passenger can be severely injured because they in the direct path of an inflating air bag.

Preventing air bags injuries
Children should sit at the back sit and must put on safety belt at all times.
Infants must be placed in the rear-facing car seat and put in the back seat.
Small adults should not be too close to the steering wheels their breast bone must be at least 10 inches for the air bag covers.

Headlamps in automobile

2011-04-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

Headlamps in automobile have come of age with a whole lot innovations and technology being introduce all to make night driving safer when traveling through the darkness. Headlamps have what are called beams and they are divided into two different types which are Low beam and High beam.
LOW BEAM
Low beam is also know as dipped beam headlamp provides a distribution of light which is designed to give an adequate forward and lateral illumination with limits on light that is directed towards the eyes of other road users, to control glare. The low beam is meant to be use when other vehicles are present ahead.
HIGH BEAM
High beam also know has full beam or driving beam headlamps provides a bright, centre-weighted distribution of light with no particular control of light directed towards other road users' eyes. As such, they are only suitable for use when alone on the road, as the glare they produce will dazzle other drivers.
DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL)
As the name implies it’s a lamp that keeps running in vehicles during daytime it is intended to increase the conspicuity of vehicles in motion during the daytime. It is standard in some countries that all vehicles made in or brought into their country must have DRL while in some countries any one goes like Nigeria you can either have a daytime running light or not.
TYPES OF HEADLAMPS
From 1880s to date they have been different introduction of headlamps into the automobile industries like the Acetylene lamps, Bilux bulb etc. This lamps and the technology behind them was what gave birth to the modern headlamps we have in the market today and they are
1. Tungsten
2. Tungsten - Halogen
3. HID (xenon)
4. LED
TUNGSTEN
This is the first electric headlamp and it is not as effective as the newer light source technology that we have today because it gives out small amounts of light relative to the power they consume.
When lamps are turned on blackening occur. This is because tungsten boils off the surface of the filament and condenses on the bulb glass reducing the light output of the filament and blocking some of the light that would pass through an un-blackened bulb glass.
Plain tungsten filaments are all but obsolete in automotive headlamp service.
TUNGSTEN – HALOGEN
This is halogen technology also know as quartz – halogen. It provides drivers with more light by making the tungsten filaments a more effective producer of light than what was available from non-halogen filaments at the same power consumption.
Theoretical it is said to slightly increase fuel economy and reduced vehicle construction cost through reduced wire and switch ratings.
HID (XENON)
HID stands for high-intensity discharge, a term referring to the electric arc that produces the light. The automotive HID lamps are commonly called xenon headlamps.
These lamps are formally known as gas-discharge burners, and produce more light for a given level of power consumption than ordinary tungsten and tungsten-halogen bulbs. Because of the increased amounts of light available from HID burners relative to halogen bulbs, HID headlamps producing a given beam pattern can be made smaller than halogen headlamps producing a comparable beam pattern. Alternatively, the larger size can be retained, in which case the xenon headlamp can produce a more robust beam pattern.
Advantages
1. Increased safety
2. Efficacy and output (produce more light from less power)
3. Longevity (Last longer than halogen)
Disadvantages
1. Glare: It causes high levels of glare to other road users for this reason they to be equipped with headlamp lens cleaning systems and automatic beam leveling control to reduce the tendency of high-output headlamps. It does not apply everywhere like in North America lens cleaners and beam levelers are permitted, they are not required.
2. Mercury content: HID headlamp bulb types D1R, D1S, D2R, D2S and 9500 contain the toxic heavy metal mercury. The newer HID bulb designs D3R, D3S, D4R, and D4S which are in production since 2004 contain no mercury but are not electrically or physically compatible with headlamps designed for previous bulb types.
3. Cost: HID headlamps are significantly more costly to produce, install, purchase, and repair.

LED
LED stands for light-emitting diodes, present designs, such as those available as optional equipment on the 2010 Toyota Prius, give performance between halogen and HID headlamps, with system power consumption slightly lower than other headlamps, longer lifespan and more flexible design possibilities. As LED technology continues to evolve, the performance of LED headlamps is predicted to improve to approach, meet, and perhaps one day surpass that of HID headlamps.

Facts About Tyres

2011-04-27T04:25:00.000-07:00

TYRES
Most people believe they have to put much air into their tyres which is not right at all every tyre has its own maximum air size and its own expiring date also.
Tyres have up to about 5 to 5 ½ years to expiry after they are manufactured so either they are used or kept in a store once the 5 years is up they are expired and should be replaced. Also every tyre has its own maximum pressure (PSI) it must contain and this is written by the manufacturer on side of each tyre.
Different vehicle manufacturer ask for different maximum pressure (PSI) for their vehicle so if a manufacturer ask for 42 PSI on a particular vehicle you should not exceed the specified. If you go beyond the maximum pressure (PSI) for the tyres, it could burst the tyre when you are on motion.
If you have a tyre of size 205, 65, 15 and the maximum pressure (PSI) is 42 the PSI the tyre should contain must not be more than 32 or 35 PSI because the minimum space in the tyre must 6 before the maximum PSI so that the air in the tyre can expand. If you have the right 32 PSI in your tyre and you are driving the PSI will increase from 35-41 so this space difference will make your tyres last.
BALANCING OF TYRES
Every tyre whether new or old needs to be balanced because when you buy a new tyre and you mount it on a rim the weight on the left side of the inner side will be different from the outer side unless you balance it.
When your tyres are not balanced properly you will be feeling a lot of vibration and the entire steering wheel will be shaking and this happen when you are driving at 60k/hr and 100k/hr so when you feel this that means your tyres are out of balanced.

MANUAL GEAR BOX VESURS AUTOMATIC GEAR BOX

2011-04-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

THE ARGUMENT

This argument has been around for sometime now which gives more driving pleasure with superior driving control when you drive the manual or the automatic.
I myself has been in this argument before and it was not a pretty one with a whole lot of people going on and on about how a manual driven car accelerate faster than an automatic driven car and how you can even choose the precise gear you need at all times but how time has changed, now that argument can no longer hold water because with the modern, computerized auto – clutch manuals especially the twin – clutch design those benefit disappears. There is no fancy footwork necessary drivers can now choose gears simply by tapping a shift paddle and as for the shifting speed there is no comparison even the best driver in the world can’t beat a dual – clutch auto – manual. Any other argument is put to rest if we consider the most ruthlessly selective auto showground in the world which is Formula 1. Every car on the starting grid uses a paddle – shift auto – clutch transmission.
Automobile makers like the auto – clutch box, this reduces warranty claims because manual owner abuse their clutches or overrev their engines after missed shift.
I believe manual days are numbered and the automatic now rules. So my left leg it time to start braking what do you think. I rest my case.

Drunk Driving Facts

2010-04-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

Drunk Driving Facts
In 2006 there were 17,941 driving fatalities related to alcohol. This was 41 percent of the total 43,000 fatalities.

Half of all holiday driving fatalities are alcohol-related.

Most people with DUIs are not alcoholics.

About 80 percent of alcohol-related fatalities are caused by beer consumption.

About 30 percent of Americans are involved in an alcohol-related crash sometime during their lifetime

In 2004, 30 percent of all fatal crashes during the week were alcohol-related, compared to 51 percent on weekends. For all crashes, the alcohol involvement rate was 5 percent during the week and 12 percent during the weekend. alcohol-related crashes tend to be much more serious.

18-20 year olds are responsible for more than 10 percent of the drunken driving trips in America.

In addition to possible jail time and fines, a DUI conviction is cause to have your insurance policy revoked and rates to sky rocket. Many people will be forced to get SR-22 insurance.

In 2003 about 1 in 135 drivers were arrested for DUI. Thats' about 1.4 million people.

One judge in Texas ordered a drunk driver who killed another person to stand on the side of a busy street holding a sign stating that he killed somebody while driving drunk.

Australians call drunk driving "drink driving".

Ways to Avoid Driving Drunk
With lack of adequate public transportation in many cities, it is sometimes difficult to get home late at night. Here are some suggestions:

Get a designated driver

Drink at locations within walking distance of your home

Call a cab

Search for services that will take both you and your car home if you are drunk

Look for public transportation in larger cities

Ask the bartender for help and let him know if you are the designated driver

Offer to pay for a cab or drive friends home if they are drunk

Drink nonalcoholic beverages