Archive for Archive for June 4th, 2008
Ingersoll Rand 125 Standard Duty Needle Scaler
Ingersoll Rand 125 Standard Duty Needle Scaler Blows Per Minute (BMP): 4,600, Air Consumption (CFM): 8, Needles (qty.): 18, Needle Diameter (in.): 1/8, Stroke Length (in.): 1 1/8, Bore Diameter (in.): 1, Air Inlet Size (in.): 1/4, Min. Hose Size (in.): 5/16, Case Included: No, Tool Weight (lbs.): 18 5/16
Customer Review: very happy
I bought this product for my husband and he loves it, he said it works great..
Tags: Automotive, Body and Trim, accessories, Paint
Fuel Efficiency and Losses in Car Designs
Our previous article talks about careful planning in order to save unnecessary trips, adopting carpooling to share out the costs, avoiding traffic jams at peak hours to avoid unproductive burning of fuel, avoiding carrying unnecessary loads and other tips that will help in some way or another to save on fuel consumption.
I did touch a bit on more efficient smaller cars that are lighter and do not have to carry excess and unproductive weights in their frames, chassis and body. However, very often, these smaller and lighter cars are not as comfortable to ride compared to the heavier ones.
So, in this article, I won’t compare lighter cars with heavier cars. I will explore with you the kinds of efficiency losses that are quite typical even within the same class of cars.
If you look through the sales brochures of new cars, very often you can find figures that indicate the fuel efficiency of the car. With that information, you can compare and find out the most fuel efficient vehicle that will meet your needs. Even within a specific size class, there is a tremendous range of MPG (miles per gallon) performance that you can find.
Just for example, for the same model year compact cars, we can find fuel efficiency ranges from 21 to 48 MPG. If you choose the 48 MPG car, you could be saving hundreds of dollars in fuel costs each year. I think that should be an important point to note when buying a new car.
Having decided on the model that fulfils your needs, you might be interested to know where the energy goes.
Idling losses could account for as much as 17.2% of all the losses. In urban driving, this much of energy is lost to idling at stop lights or in the traffic. There are technologies available such as integrated starter / generator (ISG) systems that help to reduce this type of losses. It does this by automatically turning off the engine when a vehicle comes to a stop and restarting it instantly when the accelerator is pressed.
Another very significant loss is through the engine itself. The internal combustion engine of gasoline-powered vehicles is very inefficient. Over 62.4% of the fuel’s energy is lost through the engine combustion process of converting the fuel’s chemical energy to mechanical energy. Energy is lost to engine friction, pumping of air into and out of the engine, and removing the wasted heat.
Advanced engine technologies have been developed to address these losses. Some of them are: variable valve timing and lift, turbocharging, direct fuel injection, and cylinder deactivation.
Diesel engines are about 30~35% more efficient than gasoline engines. New advances in diesel technologies and fuels are making these vehicles more attractive.
Accessories like air-conditioning, power steering, windshield wipers, and others use the energy generated from the engine. These use up to 2.2% of the energy. Efforts in developing more efficient alternator systems and power steering pumps can improve the fuel economy by up to 1%.
Driveline losses can account for up to 5.6% of the total. The energy is lost through the transmission and other parts of the driveline. To reduce these, technologies such as automatic manual transmission (AMT) and continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been developed.
Next comes the shape of the vehicle. Aerodynamic drag accounts for 2.6% of the energy losses. As the speed of a vehicle increases, the drag caused by expending energy to push air out of the way increases. By designing the shape of a vehicle for smoother air flow, significant drag reduction can be achieved.
Rolling resistance is another loss encountered in a vehicle. It accounts for 4.2% of the losses. This rolling resistance is a measure of the force necessary to move the tire forward. To counter this, tires technologies like thread and shoulder designs, and the use of improved materials on the tire belt and traction surfaces are being developed.
For passenger cars, a 5~7% reduction in rolling resistance increases fuel efficiency by 1%. However, these improvements must be balanced against traction, durability and noise.
Related to the driver’s behavior is braking loss. This can account for as much as 5.8%. Each time a vehicle moves forward, the vehicle’s drivetrain must provide enough energy to overcome the vehicle’s inertia. This inertia is directly related to the weight of the vehicle. So for lighter vehicles, less energy is expended to overcome the inertia of the vehicle compared to a heavier vehicle. The less a driver brakes, the less energy is expended to move the vehicle again.
As you can see, there are many factors that can affect the fuel efficiency even of similar vehicles. Factors like the vehicle condition, tire pressures and design, driver’s habit, planning trips, reducing excess loads, avoiding drag, idling at peak traffic and many others can affect the efficiency.
With a better understanding of the measures you can control, you should be able to achieve the best optimum efficiency in your vehicle and save money in the process.
About the Author
Thomas Yoon specializes in cartoon illustrations that will make an impact on people’s opinions.
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Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group is buying the large assets of US Biodiesel Group a move that is expected to greatly enhance REG s ability to distribute biodiesel on the West Coast and the Texas Gulf Coast. …
Tips on Buying a Motorcycle!
One of the reasons BikeFinder.co.za provides the concept of the “online showroom” is for the purpose of research. Hence the magnifying glass in our logo! We know buying a bike is a time consuming process, one that can either lead to securing a great deal or to the shackles of a good looking donkey!
This article outlines a few things to consider when deciding on which model to buy, whether to buy new or used and some of the rights a buyer has when purchasing a motorcycle.
Cost!
One of the major factors to consider is the initial cost and thereafter the running costs of the bike. Consider petrol consumption, rider accessories required, insurance for the specific make of motorcycle, servicing costs and the availability of spare parts.
Remember the cost of running a motorcycle really only begin when your bike leaves the showroom floor, so think carefully about the aforementioned points!
Petrol price has got to be the reason why motorcycle sales are on the increase. Whether you save on this expense depends on the bike you buy. Decide on what you need!
Basically there are two distinct kinds of bike, namely sports bikes like cruisers and superbikes, and then there are the more economical commuters, namely scooters and the lesser 125cc class of motorcycle.
So ask yourself! What is you need out of your purchase? Are you looking for speed, fun, a rush or economy, free-parking and low maintenance? You could even get both with a 400cc, which offers a great compromise.
Before deciding take these points into consideration…
* Insurance premium according to cc’s * Resale value * Servicing costs * Availability of spare parts * Petrol consumption according to cc’s * Tyre, chain, sprocket, oil and spark plug replacement costs.
Fairings? Note that fairing damage repairs can be quoted at up to R20, 000.
Gear
Generally, only experts and first-time riders risk not wearing gloves, jackets, boots and leg protection! After the initial expense, accessories are the next cost on the list. A good jacket goes for about R1800, good gloves, a conservative R250 and boots roughly R1000 depending on quality. Be wise, accessorise!
New or Used?
The advantages of buying a new motorcycle are manifold, whereas the key to buying a used bike lies in reducing the risk. New bikes offer the following benefits…
* Updated and improved features from the previous models * Warranty and backup service of the dealership * Any faults in the bike will be fixed free of charge.
Buying a used bike has advantages to; Performance modifications, unique paintwork and lower cost on older models, to name a few examples. Other benefits include…
* Resale value does not diminish after purchase, as with new bikes! * More character and individualised styling * Lower price, easier to sell.
Rights of the Buyer
Buying a machine from a private seller through the papers or other advertising is probably the most common. The details of the bike that’s being advertised for example, “never been in an accident” etc. etc. should be true! Legally the buyer has the right to a full refund if the implied statements are misleading. This applies to dealers as well…
If you buy a bike “sold as is” from a dealership, you will have to accept any mechanical failure yourself. Most well known bike shops will offer a 30-day warrantee on engine and gearbox, research the market before you purchase!
That’s all for now! Revisit BikeFinder.co.za for further articles related to buying a motorcycle. As we grow we’ll let you know the insightful discoveries we uncover regarding the motorcycle industry, its standard practices and ethics.
About the Author
About the Author
Visit BikeFinder.co.za to see a selection of used motorbikes. Also see a selection of motorcycling related articles under our “Topic of Interest” section!
Tags: Motorcycle, Article, Motorcycle Article, ATV
Momo (4930) Steering Wheel Hubs
Momo (4930) Steering Wheel Hubs Built for the Honda S2000… This hub will work with any Momo steering wheel to your vehicle.
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Minn-Kota Repair - Steering Wheels and Repair
Steering Wheel Repair please send your core. We use only high quality rubber not plastic.
Force Feedback Steering Wheels
The best Force Feedback steering wheels for your PC gaming. These force feedback steering wheel product reviews will help you get the most out of NASCAR Racing games.
