An Automobiles fuel system Written by Kevin Schappell Continued from page 1 Last but not least are dirty injectors. While fuel filter does a good job of filtering fuel, it's not perfect. Over time deposits and tiny particles lodge themselves in injectors. This can clog and injector and prevent it from delivering fuel engine needs. It can also cause an injector to stick open and send too much fuel into engine. A regular addition of fuel system cleaner like STP Injector Cleaner, or Techtron fuel system cleaner can help keep your injectors clean. Most gas stations, department stores and all automotive parts stores will have a good cleaner available. Add it to your empty tank right before you fill up and it will clean as you drive. I recommend doing this every 3 months to keep your injectors performing like new. Mechanics also offer a cleaning service where they actually disconnect fuel line and flush cleaner through engine. This is only necessary when you let your injectors get to a point where they can not be cleaned by a store-bought product. Regular use of a good in-tank cleaner will keep you from having to pay for this service. Where do you buy your gas? Believe it, or not, it can make a difference. Always buy from a well know national brand service station. Gas stations, which are not affiliated with one brand of gas, tend to get whatever is left at end of day from delivery truck. One day them might get Texaco, and Exxon another. Also water mixed with gas will cause problems with your engine. The engine will not run right, plus water will promote rust in fuel system. I have experienced this when I purchased gas at some no-name gas stations. Your car will feel sluggish and sometimes refuse to run if there is enough water in gas. Octane rating tip!!!! Putting super in tank will not get you any more performance or gas mileage unless specifically recommended by your cars manufacturer. If your owners manual says put in 87 octane...... DO IT. You are throwing money out window if you are filling up on Super or Premium and you only need Regular. Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com The Cooling System Written by Kevin Schappell Continued from page 1 The above information is directly from Auto Insight program which you can buy online from AutoEducation.com. Common Problems: Let's look at common problems cars have with cooling system. ·Broken hose. Hoses wear out and can leak. Once coolant has left system it can no longer cool engine and it overheats. ·Broken fan belt. The water pump is driven by engine through a belt. If belt breaks water pump can not turn and coolant will not be circulated through engine. This will also lead to engine overheating. ·Faulty radiator cap. The radiator cap is designed to hold a certain pressure in coolant system. Most caps hold 8 - 12 PSI. This pressure raises point in which coolant will boil and maintains a stable system. If your cap does not hold pressure, then car could overheat on hot days since system never becomes pressurized. ·Water pump failure. Most commonly you will hear a screeching noise and will be able to see coolant leaking from front of pump or under car. Early signs are small spots of coolant under car after being parked overnight and a strong coolant odor while driving. ·Head gasket... have large amounts of white smoke flowing out of your exhaust? Could be a head gasket. The head gasket seals cylinder head to engine block and also seals coolant passages. When this gasket fails coolant can enter cylinder and it will be turned to vapor as engine fires. Head gaskets most often fail after engine has experienced an overheating situation. When super hot, cylinder head can warp and allow gasket to fail. Preventive Maintenance: ·Check all belts and hoses regularly. (at oil change is a good time) ·Look out for coolant leaks underneath car, they could be signs of trouble to come. ·Change your coolant every 2 - 3 years depending on manufactorers recommendations. ·Inspect your radiator cap for deterioration of rubber seal. Replace if you think it is worn. $5 - $10 is cheap insurance. ·Have your coolant system flushed every 5 years. It gets all corrosion which has built up out of system. What to discuss with your mechanic: ·Let your mechanic know when your overheating problems occur. Overheating when idling points to a different problem than overheating at highway speeds. ·Ask your mechanic if it's worth changing timing belt or chain while he is replacing your water pump. Many times timing belt turns water pump so it has to be removed anyway to access water pump. WARNING: Never open your radiator when engine is hot. The pressure in system can cause hot coolant to splash out and burn you. Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com     <Back to Page 1   ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005 Terms of Use