Indian Autos blog

The fuel filter of a car is one of the most critical components of a car’s fuel system. It has to ensure that the car’s engine is supplied with clean fuel, in order for it run optimally and deliver good performance and fuel efficiency. The fuel filter has to ensure that the dirt and contaminants present in the fuel or the fuel tank of the vehicle are separated from the fuel, before it is supplied to the engine for combustion.

The fuel filter of a car while working hard to ensure that the engine is supplied with clean fuel every time can get jammed or clogged due to the dirt and contaminants which it separates from the fuel. When this happens, it is time to replace the old fuel filter with a new one.

Replacing a car’s fuel filter is an easy to carry out operation, that is if you how to do it. Here’s how it should be done:

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The battery is the heart of a car’s electrical system and proper care is essential in order to ensure that the battery is in good shape. A car’s battery has to perform two functions namely: supply the starter motor with enough electricity, so that it can start the car’s engine and supply current to electric accessories of the car such as the music system and lights, when the car’s engine isn’t running.

A car’s battery is inactive when its engine is running, since the alternator supplies the current required by the car’s electrical system. The alternator also replenishes the current lost by the battery in starting the car’s engine.

The main constituent of the insides of a car’s battery is the electrolyte of the battery, which is generally Sulphuric Acid. The electrolyte of the battery helps the battery to hold its charge. If a car’s engine fails to crank or cranks too sluggishly for the engine to be started, checking the strength of the battery’s electrolyte can help to ascertain whether the car’s battery has a problem or not.

All the cars these days are equipped with maintenance free batteries which enable one to know the specific gravity rating of the battery by just looking into the sight glass of the battery. The specific gravity is the measure of weight of an acid, when compared with weight of an equal volume of water. The ideal specific gravity range for a car battery’s electrolyte is 1.230 to 1.300. If a battery has a specific gravity rating which is below this range, it would not be able to store the current required for starting the car’s engine.

The strength of a battery’s electrolyte reduces as the battery gets old. When a battery shows a specific gravity reading of between 1.200 and 1.230, it may still have enough energy to help the starter motor crank the engine except during cold weather, when the starter motor would require more power than the battery would be able to supply. But, if a battery’s specific gravity rating falls to a value below 1.200, it will not have sufficient energy in it to start the car under any condition.

The sight glass of a maintenance free battery shows three different indications namely: a green dot inside a black border, black and clear or light yellow.

1. Green dot inside black border – Specific gravity of the battery is between 1.230 and 1.300 and the battery is in good shape.

2. Black – Specific gravity of the battery is between 1.200 and 1.230 and the battery could cause starting troubles in cold weather.

3. Clear or light yellow – Time to replace the battery with a new one.

If you are replacing your car’s old battery with a new one, replace it with a maintenance free battery as it eliminates the need to constantly keep inspecting the battery to check whether it is in proper shape or not.

To keep your battery terminals in good shape and to avoid corrosion of the terminals, it is a good idea to spread a light coating of petroleum jelly onto the battery terminals once in a while.

The basic repairs which every car owner should know thoroughly and be able to execute are:

1. How to replace a car’s battery.

2. How to add additional brake fluid.

3. How to change the engine oil.

4. How to change a flat tire.

5. How to replace worn out windshield wipers.

How to change a car’s battery

First disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and then the positive terminal. Remove the frame which holds the battery securely in its position. Remove the old battery from its position. Place the new battery in position and fix it securely by attaching the frame, to lock it into position. Re-connect the terminals to the battery, first connect the positive terminal and then the negative terminal. Dispose of your old battery by exchanging your old battery for a new one with the battery dealer. Don’t throw used batteries into the environment.

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Everyone enjoys driving their cars and riding their bikes, but when it comes to driving in the rains, it is a whole different ball game altogether. One needs to be very careful while driving or riding in the wet and no matter how good a driver or a rider is, the rain can change all that in an instant.

It is always a good practice to be well prepared and take it slow and steady while driving or riding in the wet.

First and foremost, avoid driving or riding when its raining heavily. It is a good idea to plan a trip and leave early so that there isn’t a requirement for one to rush or hurry up, resulting in an accident in the wet.

Listed below are some of the other tips which one must keep in mind before the rains set in and while driving or riding in the wet:

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Traffic is the worst enemy to driving. Here’s how you could make it easier

Cities like Delhi and Mumbai are becoming more and more congested and that means you’ve got to drive for longer time to cover the same distance. The worst part is negotiating traffic as the level of driving difficulty increases. You become stressed, you are prone loose your temper and when you reach home, you have a grin on your face.

Here are a few tips which we thought would make the ride home marginally better -

1) Plan your route

I know a lot of people who don’t plan their journey and get stuck in traffic. There could be a hundred routes to your destination but you there are only few worth considering. Plan your journey in advance so that you have a clear mind and know where exactly you want to go. This method exposes you to lesser anxiety and confusion.

2) Listen to the radio for traffic updates

There are some radio stations which air traffic conditions in frequently used roads and intersections at certain times of the day. If you can get a tip, then you could switch to an alternate route or leave work late.

3) Position your mirrors

I know a lot of people who leave home and half way through the journey they reach out to the passenger’s mirror and adjust it. Once they reach a congested lane, they adjust their in-cabin mirror. This is a practice you should avoid. By adjusting your mirrors to the comfortable position, you get better visibility in traffic and avoid the risk of an accident.

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This is an article that explains to the common man some of the basic details regarding an essential part of their motorcycle – the Tyre

Tubed and Tubeless Tyres

In simple terms, tyres which have tube in it are called tubed tyres and the ones which don’t are called tubeless tyres.

But there is more to this than what has been just said as each type of tyre is made for a particular kind of usage. For example, a tubed tyre might not be suitable for high speeds as it generates more heat than the tubeless tyre. In case there is a sudden puncture they are more dangerous as the tyre could free itself from the rim. The tubeless tyre is more suitable for high speeds and in case of a puncture there are less chances of an accident as the tyre fits more tightly on to the rim than a tubed one.

Tubed tyres along with their spoked rims can also handle tough off road conditions better than alloy wheels. One of the advantages with tubeless tyres is that the puncture can be repaired very easily without actually taking off the tyre except in the case of a puncture on the side wall.

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Rule number 1- You will not drink and drive. You endanger your own life, leave alone the life of others.

Apart from this rule, here are certain things that will help while driving at night.

The headlights, taillights, indicators and windows have to be cleaned thoroughly before the journey. If your lights are not working, get them fixed since they are the only ways of identifying your presence in the dark

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Listed here are six important points you ought to remember while driving your car on city roads or rural areas. Listening to your favorite music tracks over the mp3 player is fine, but letting your mind slip into dreamland is suicidal. Remember that road safety stands in front of everything else.

Ambulance vans and Fire Brigades are not drag race contestants.

There might be someone in that ambulance who needs help desperately. To him, a minute’s time is vital. Move out of the way if you see the Ambulance with its sirens on in your wing mirrors.

To prevent troubling additional ambulances, use your indicators and move cautiously to the side of the road without harming other motorists. Pull out of the way safely and accelerate back to normal speed once you are clear of the van. The same goes for fire brigades as well.

High beam usage is at times dangerous.

Why use high beam in the city roads at night? How irritated are you when someone in the opposite lane comes flashing with bright light? This is the exact same thing other drivers go through if you switch into high beam. Use it wisely.

Overtaking on two-lane roads is a different ball game

Overtaking maneuvers in narrow lanes is the last thing I want to do in my car. If it is an empty stretch of road, I use my horn and flasher once and go for it. But if it is a busy patch, it needs a more careful approach. Don’t try and play chicken and end up as flesh. You drive sensibly and go home.

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