FUEL TRADING

After being involved in the oil change business for a few years I discovered that no matter what products I offered there really wasn't any loyalty to a specific brand of oil. Basically the oil change business isn't about offering a certain brand of oil, all you're really offering is a service.

Struggling with this for a while I decided to attended a seminar about synthetic oils and I was shocked to learn some fascinating facts that up to this time I had no idea.

One of the first things I learned was that in all of Europe there is no such thing as a 3,000 mile oil change, in fact you can't even find a quick lube shop in all of Europe. You see Europeans have been changing their oil once a year or about 25,000 miles for well over two decades.

I was surprised when I heard all the facts about extended drain intervals and I feel most people would be open to this concept if explained properly. How can it be possible to go 25,000 miles between oil changes?

Further research pointed to the quality of oil Europe was using and needless to say their quality standards were so much higher then those of the U.S. Our research also showed that Europeans have very few engine rebuild shops in their country. You see when using higher quality synthetics engines don't typically wear out like the most American made cars do when using inferior petroleum oil.

What does all this mean to someone in the oil change business here in the U.S'For starters you might ask yourself; why can't we offer annual oil changes? If Europeans can achieve these types of intervals using higher quality synthetics then why can't we.Europeans are accustomed to having their vehicles serviced just once a year. This is why you don't see any quick lubes, the car dealerships do all the work. Typically all the fluids are changed and any other maintenance items are attended to and out the door you go.there may be times when a vehicle has to be seen more than once a year if a problem comes up, but Europeans don't see the need to service a vehicle every 3,000 miles especially if all you're doing is changing the oil.So why can't this same concept be adopted here in the U.S'There are synthetic oils made right here in the United States that exceed the specs of the oils used in Europe. You will be surprised just how good the specs are for these high quality synthetics.Our shop converted over to a once a year oil change system and our customers love the time they saved and as an extra benefit their cars ran better and got better fuel mileage. We haven't experienc
one problem since switching over and our profits have never been higher.We even discovered the company we deal with has a system in place that not only allows us to make about a 30-35% profit on every oil change, but to also earn commissions directly from the parent company. We are making an additional $2000.00 a month in commissions alone on top of the profits we make on our oil changes.This system works and we will never go back to offering 3,000 mile oil changes again. If someone ever comes in and wants a cheap oil change we just send them down to the quick lube because it isn't worth our time anymore to make fifteen dollars on an oil change. And besides we are not comfortable with offering any of the motor oils currently available here in the U.S. none of them even come close to performing up to the standard of oil we now use.This is a very interesting topic to start exploring and trust me since we made the switch we haven't looked back. After testing some oils I was convinced they worked and I didn't hesitate to start offering them to my customers. This is something every quick lube or garage service center should consider adding to their business.

REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE BEAMS HQ IMAGES

India's latest remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2B has started beaming high quality images of the country's landscape from the earth's lower orbit, India's space agency said Wednesday.

"The camera of Cartosat-2B has been switched on and images of high quality are being received," the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here.
The first two images vividly show Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh with the Sangam and Madurai city in Tamil Nadu.

The 694-kg remote sensing satellite has a panchromatic camera on board to take high resolution pictures of specific spots.

The panchromatic camera takes black-and-white pictures in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The imagery will have a spatial resolution of 0.8 metres. The camera covers a swath (geographical strip of land) that is 9.6-km wide.

"Data from the advanced remote sensing satellite will find applications in cartography at cadastral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as land information system and geographical information system," ISRO director S. Satish told IANS.

The observation satellite is positioned in a polar sun-synchronous orbit about 630 km above the earth.

"The satellite's imagery can be used for preparation of detailed forest type maps, tree volume estimation, village/cadastral level crop inventory, town/village settlement mapping and planning for development, rural connectivity, canal alignment, coastal land form, mining monitoring and others," Satish pointed out.

Cartosat-2B was launched July 12 by the indigenous polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C15) from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km northeast of Chennai.

Four other satellites, including the Algerian AlSat-2A, two auxiliary satellites from Canada and Switzerland and a pico-satellite Studsat, developed by students of seven engineering colleges from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, were also launched with Cartosat-2B into the polar orbit.

CHARGING UP ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES

Electromobility makes sense only if car batteries are charged using electricity from renewable energy sources. But the supply of green electricity is not always adequate. An intelligent charging station can help, by adapting the recharging times to suit energy supply and network capacity.
Germany aims to have one million electric vehicles -- powered by energy from renewable sources -on the road by 2020. And, within ten years, the German environment ministry expects "green electricity" to make up 30 percent of all power consumed. Arithmetically speaking, it would be possible to achieve CO2-neutral electromobility. But, in reality, it is a difficult goal to attain. As more and more solar and wind energy is incorporated in the power grid, the proportion of electricity that cannot be controlled by simply pressing a button is on the increase. In addition, there is a growing risk that the rising number of electric vehicles will trigger extreme surges in demand during rush hour.

"What we need is a smart grid that carries information in addition to power," says Dominik Noeren of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The structure of the grid has to change from a push system based on energy demand to a pull system based on production output. In Noeren's opinion, "electric cars are best equipped to meet this challenge." Introduced in large numbers, they have the capacity to store a lot of energy. On average, a car is parked for at least 20 hours out of 24. That is more than enough time to recharge them when the wind picks up or the demand for electricity is low.

Developed by Fraunhofer researchers, the "smart" charging station is a device that enables electric vehicles to recharge when the system load is low and the share of energy from renewable resources is high. In this way, load peaks can be avoided and the contribution of solar and wind power fully exploited. "For us, it is important that end consumers are completely free to decide when they want to recharge. We do not want them to suffer any disadvantages from the controlled recharging of their vehicles' batteries," Noeren emphasizes. That's why he favors electricity rates that adapt to the prevailing situation in the power grid -- ones that are more expensive in periods of peak demand and particularly cheap when there is a surfeit of renewable energy.

The person using the "smart" charging station could then choose between recharging immediately or opting for a cheaper, possibly longer, recharging time. If they go for the second option, all they need to do is enter the time when their vehicle has to be ready to drive again. The charging station takes care of everything else, calculating the costs and controlling the recharging process. Via the display the user can track the progress of recharging and also see the costs incurred and the amount of energy used.

The experts will be presenting their charging device at the Hannover Messe from April 19 through 23.

ROBOTS DO SURGERIES WITHOUT DOCTORS

Washington: A physician-guided robot carrying out surgeries on patients is not new, but scientists have developed a next generation robot that could eliminate a surprising element from that scenario, the doctor.

Feasibility studies conducted by Duke University bioengineers have demonstrated that a robot -- without any human assistance -- can locate a man-made, or phantom, lesion in simulated human organs. It can also guide a device to the lesion and take multiple samples during a single session, according to the researchers who believe as the technology is further developed autonomous robots could soon perform many more simple surgical tasks.


"Earlier this year we demonstrated that a robot directed by artificial intelligence can on its own locate simulated calcifications and cysts in simulated breast tissue with high repeatability and accuracy," said Kaicheng Liang, a Duke scientists and a member of the research team. "Now we have shown that the robot can sample up to eight different spots in simulated human prostate tissue."

The latest research has appeared in the journal Ultrasonic Imaging, while the previous Duke study was published in the journal Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology in January. According to the university, in both experiments scientists used whole turkey breasts as their tissues closely resemble that of humans in texture and density, and appear similar when scanned by ultrasound.

For their research, the Duke team combined a souped-up version of an existing robot arm with an ultrasound system of its own design. The ultrasound serves as the robot's "eyes" by collecting data from its scan and locating its target.

The robot, controlled by an artificial intelligence programme, has a mechanical "hand" that can manipulate the same biopsy plunger device that physicians use to reach a lesion and take samples. In the latest series of experiments, the robot guided the plunger to eight different locations on the simulated prostate tissue in 93 per cent of its attempts
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This is important because multiple samples can also determine the extent of any lesion, said Stephen Smith, the director of the Duke University Ultrasound Transducer Group.

Smith believes that routine medical procedures, such as biopsies in other tissues in the body, will be performed in the future with minimal human guidance, and at greater convenience and less cost to patients. An important challenge to be overcome is the speed of data acquisition and processing, but the scientists are confident that faster processors and better algorithms will address that issue.

To be clinically useful, all of the robot's actions would need to be in real time, the researchers said. "One of the beauties of this system is that all of the hardware components are already on the market," Smith said.

"We believe that this is the first step in showing that with some modifications, systems like this can be built without having to develop a new technology from scratch." "We are now testing the robot on a human mannequin seated at the examining table whose breast is constrained in a stiff bra cup... Our next step is to move to an excised human breast," Smith added.

TECHNOLOGY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

The application of technology to integrate the disabled people in the mainstream has always been an option. Technology can assist the disabled people in more ways than one. The Spastic Society of Karnataka's Center for Assistive Technology held talks on how to make technology-based devices easily available and affordable in India.

Rukmini Krishnaswami, Director of the Spastic Society, said, "AT is here to help integrate disabled people in the mainstream. Most of them are lonely and excluded, with no social interaction, and this is where AT can help them not only to communicate with others, but also to discover new hobbies and develop creativity."

Assistive Technology is famous worldwide and many countries have been working on it. The technology allows disabled people to be self- reliant and catch up with things at the same speed as their peers.

However, importing Assistive Technology software will be impractical as they will be costly and not adaptable to our culture and language. The need is to make it more suitable to Indian conditions which will reap the desired results.

TURNING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING SAVE FUEL

Automobile air conditioning systems do not run "free of charge." In fact in the hot parts of the world they can account for up to thirty per cent of fuel consumption. Even in Switzerland, with its temperate climate, the use of air conditioning systems is responsible for about five per cent of total fuel usage, rising to around ten per cent in urban traffic, as shown by a new study undertaken by Empa on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Furthermore, two thirds of the additional fuel usage could be saved if air conditioning systems were simply turned off when the air temperature falls below 18 degrees Celsius
Car air conditioning systems require energy to compress the cooling agent, and the greater the degree of cooling required the more energy (i.e. fuel) they use. Little known, however, is the fact that these systems also used fuel when the outside air temperature is cooler than in the vehicle. For this reason the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) gave Empa the task of investigating in detail the fuel consumption of six modern cars -- both diesel and petrol models -- with their air conditioning systems switched on and off under varying ambient temperatures and humidities.

The study, the results of which have just been published in the scientific journal "Environmental Science and Technology," shows that the fuel consumption of the test vehicles with air conditioning systems in operation increases with rising ambient air temperature and humidity, reaching a value of some 18 per cent on a typical Swiss summer day with an air temperature of 27 degrees and relative humidity of 60 per cent. In addition, the researchers noted that the air conditioning systems in cars with automatic transmissions (which today are the most widely sold models) only turn themselves off when the external temperature drops below 5 degrees, when the cooling system could ice-up. This occurs because air conditioning systems not only cool the air before blowing it into the vehicle interior but also dry it, so as to avoid causing condensation on the front windscreen when it rains, among other reasons. This is of course perfectly sensible and important for safe driving, but only when the air humidity is high, and not all the time -- as is currently the case.

Using the standard climate model defined by the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA, Bern*) and allowing for the measured increase in consumption (plus the use of the vehicle during the day), the average annual extra consumption of a petrol-engined car works out to 5.4 per cent. Differentiating between urban, suburban and motorway driving gives additional fuel usage values of 10, 2.8 and 1.3 per cent respectively.

It is known from physiological studies that the average driver feels comfortably warm when the air temperature around the head is 23 degrees. This means that if the outside temperature is below 18°C the car's air conditioning system could be turned off without any loss of comfort. For the petrol-engined vehicles investigated this would represent a saving of some two-thirds of the additional fuel usage, which is after all 3.6 per cent of the total consumption. When the outside temperature is higher, it is advisable to keep the air conditioning switched on since otherwise the heat may affect the driver's concentration and reduce safety.

With the diesel fuelled vehicles tested, the additional consumption due to the use of air conditioning, particularly for urban driving, is somewhat lower (2.7 per cent in total). The individual values for urban, suburban and motorway driving in this case are 4.5, 2.3 and 1.2 per cent respectively. The potential saving possible through switching off the air conditioning unit when the outside temperature falls below 18 degrees remains, however, two thirds of the additional consumption for the diesel vehicles tested.

If the entire Swiss automobile fleet is evaluated -- that is, including vehicles without air conditioning systems as well as older models with inefficient compressor units -- then a figure of 3.1 per cent of additional consumption is arrived at, assuming all air conditioning units are in use over the whole year. This drops to 1 per cent if air conditioning units are switched off when the ambient air temperature falls below 18 degrees. This simple measure could therefore result in a reduction in total fuel consumption of some two per cent across the whole country.

* The SIA standard climate model contains hourly weather data such as temperature and relative humidity over a compete year and is used by architects to calculate insulation and heating requirements for buildings.

DIY ELECTRIC CAR

An electric car is very beneficial because it is a substitute for fuel automobiles using electric motors for propulsion instead of usual propulsion techniques like internal combustion engine. Electric cars are exclusively a variety of electric vehicles that are intended for using as a form of road-going automobile. Usually on-board battery packs are a source of their power. Due to the source being electric powered was the possible reason for the electric cars to be believed as battery electric vehicles. During the mid-19th and the early 20th century, the electric cars got popular. This was the time when electricity became one of the favored methods for automobile propulsion. This provided a comfort level and ease of operation that the gasoline cars could not achieve at the time.

Most people use DIY electric car kits for converting their cars from gas into electric powered. These kits have gained pretty popularity today because of its advantage for economic and environmental reasons.

Nowadays, there is a hike in oil prices. This economic downfall has forced many people to look for ways to save their money. Electric cars are cheap and does not cost too much for maintaining. One will be able to save money that would have burned in fuel costs. This would reduce the expenses linked with maintenance and repairing a gasoline-powered engine.


One reason is that the global warming is beginning to effect all over the world. Electric cars have no emissions which makes them clean. One can do his part in protecting the environment by using electric cars.

Other benefits that can be achieved from owning electric cars are its excellent top speeds and a quiet drive. Its electric motor does not make noise as compared to gas engines. It also has a benefit during long drives that one does not have to stop at gas stations for refueling anymore.

The conversion process of DIY electric car is really very simple. The idea behind it is to remove the internal combustion engine replacing it with a direct current electric motor. As the engine is not present, all its associated components like the radiator, gas tank, fuel lines and exhaust pipe have to be removed also. Most free spaces in the EV will then be used for storing deep cycle batteries. This is the reason that for choosing the donor car for conversion to an electric car, one has to ensure that there is enough space for batteries as well as good ventilation.

The instructions present on DIY car kits are easy to understand and follow. It would be beneficial to own an electric car and enjoy its benefits which will have a positive impact on the economy and environment.

FUEL EFFICIENCY IN THE 2010 FORD RANGER

This year Ford has built their 2010 pickup trucks with flexibility, versatility and value and that includes excellent fuel economy, especially with the Ford Ranger. The fuel efficiency in the 2010 Ford Ranger is not only better than ever, but it also gives you options. As a Small light weight in the pick updepartment, customers can choose between the ''?compact pick-up truck''? sized efficient I-4 engine for maximum fuel efficiency or the larger and more powerful V-6 engine for maximum payload capacity.

The Ranger's EPA-estimated fuel economy rating for the rear wheel drive 5-speed manual transmission is 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway for the 2.3 liter, 143 horsepower I-4 engine available for the XL and XLT models. The automatic transmission performance delivers 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Now that is something that the consumer can get excited about.

The 4.0 liter, 207 horsepower V6 engine with rear wheel drive and 5-speed manual transmission available on the XLT and standard on the Sport models has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway while boasting a large towing capacity of 5,760 pounds. The estimated ratings for this engine with an automatic transmission and four wheel drive are 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

All in all, the 2010 Ford Ranger power performance demonstrates competitive horsepower numbers that could be higher when compared to other manufacturers' models, but offers an excellent fuel economy in comparison to competitors, especially for the models utilizing the 2.3 liter I-4 engine.

REPLCEMENT OF ENGINES

Is your car's engine is not running and give you a lot of problems, it is high time now that you need to be replaced. If you really think that it is an option that you choose, it is much obvious that you will find some of the motor car company that offers you a good used replacement engine, and a reasonable price. It is very possible that you do not want to choose a new engine, as you may not know his mechanics and it can also be a little pricey for you, but then used the replacement engine is something that is always a better choice if you want to change the engine and the vehicle running smoothly.
Replacement motors are available in most of times very reasonable prices that are affordable for everyone, even those who have a small car. That you not only can save lots of money, but also the opportunity to get good quality. Many times, you might come across some of the engines, which are very expensive price, if you go to buy a new one if the company is a cheat and a large increase in spending. To this end, it is recommended that you choose a good replacement engine and it gives good mileage to the car, and it is also available at cheaper rates than the all-new engine. It is well known that the lifetime can be improved, you have to use a good replacement of the motor, which has bought a car engine is good and reliable company.

Once you've made up your mind then buy replacement engines for cars, the first thing you need to do is go find a good car and engine company. It's because you can only solve their problems the best way possible. Occasionally it happens that due to lack of technology you get into these replacement engines, which are not at all worth it and are quite responsible for the deteriorating quality of the car. The few ways that you can check out suppliers of replacement engines for their searches through the network, or they will ask someone who has already chosen a price of replacement engines.

Modern cars vulnerable to malicious hacks

The idea of hackers breaking into your personal computer is alarming enough. But what if they could seize control of your car's control systems while you are driving? Using a laptop and custom-written software, security researchers have hacked into the control systems of a family car, disabled the brakes and turned off the engine while the vehicle was moving.Fortunately, the hack is technically difficult and the risk to drivers is low – for now. But the benign hackers, led by Tadayoshi Kohno at the University of Washington in Seattle and Stefan Savage at the University of California, San Diego, have revealed the details to encourage car makers to make future vehicles more secure.Computers help control many systems in modern vehicles, from anti-lock braking systems to the timing of ignition. Each system typically has its own dedicated computer controller, which is connected to a network that can be accessed by mechanics via a socket under the dashboard. Disabled brakes Kohno and Savage's team tested two 2009 sedans of the same make and model, which they decline to name. In a paper to be presented next week at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in Oakland, California, they describe how they plugged a laptop into the control socket and used software called CarShark to send signals into the car's networks. By sending random commands and observing the effect of each, they were able to decipher the language used by the control systems.In tests on a disused airfield in Washington state, with the laptop plugged into a control network, the researchers were able to kill the engine and disable the brakes of a car moving at 65 kilometres per hour. They were also able to instantaneously lock the brakes.Clearly, drivers would notice a laptop plugged into their car's control systems. But it would be possible to achieve the same result with less obtrusive hardware that could be controlled remotely. Still more alarmingly, the researchers say they also took control of a car using wireless signals and operated it via the internet, but would not provide further details of this part of the study. Car tuning' Although the attacks sound alarming, they require a high level of knowledge to carry out. "Car tuning" enthusiasts have similarly discovered how to control many of the systems the researchers compromised – although there is no evidence of anyone using these methods to malicious ends. Industry experts say they have never seen such attacks being used outside of the new experiment.Savage says that the car industry's attitude to system security is similar to that of the computer industry prior to the internet – which exposed computers to attack and revealed many vulnerabilities."This industry hasn't had to deal with adversarial pressure, so its defences haven't had to be that strong," Savage says. He hopes that industry and regulators will come together to develop a consensus on how to protect cars before such attacks are attempted.If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to

Things To Do When Buying Your Auto Insurance

Buying your auto insurance would be easier, if you would follow some guidelines on how to do it.One thing that you can do is to ask for competitive quotes. Set aside an ample to time to shop for your vehicle. Do not forget to bring all your records, which are your driver's license number and your vehicle registration. Bring the phone near you in case that you will contact some company when you like to ask them.You can begin with online services if you like to look for quotes. You will be asked to fill out forms that would only take about 15 minutes to complete. You can save money by doing this, and you will spend a couple of hours to complete the whole process.In searching for auto insurance quotes, remember that you will not get instant quotes when you will visit quote sites. Some companies would just inform you later by e-mail. While others are direct providers, so they may put you in touch with a local agent, which will then calculate a quote for you. Bear in mind also that it is not easy to get quotes in all states. You will still need to use the phone to contact insurers.While doing your search for the company you want, make comparison and record quotes. Keeping files on the different sites would help you compare easily. In visiting different websites, take note of several things:One is to get the insurance company's payment policy to be informed about their payment due and consequences of late payments.Get also the different auto insurance companies annual and monthly rates for different types of coverage. Make sure that you obtain all the coverage limits so that you can do comparisons. Look for the discounts offered by the company that is relevant to you. You should also able to get an 800 number to call for questions if you can't get answered online. Do not forget to visit your state's department of insurance website, to get company's consumer complaint ratio and its A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings.The next thing you should do after exhausting online services is to use your phones. You will contact those companies that don't have online quotes. Talking with them verbally can sometimes be faster than online services. Make sure that you have the important information like your driver license and car registration. You can ask them to email or fax you the quote and its price.After the online consultation and phone calls, you may already compare auto insurance, and may have decided on a company. The last thing you will do is to review very well the policy, verify the contents of your coverage before closing the deal.And here are the two important things you should look for in the contact. Find out in the coverage if there is a phrase saying that you have the right to sue. Make sure also that your provider does not use aftermarket parts requirements when you need to do body shop repairs.After doing these things, you will be sure that you get the best car insurance.

Internet Phone Service Calls Are Real Cheap

Broadband providers can now offer internet phone service through VOIP technology. VOIP technology offered by broadband providers have made it possible to save money for your business or home calling needs. The new voip technology has created a special niche in the communication business with more broadband providerâ's competition than ever. The buyer reaps all the rewards of reduced costs and more features caused by this competitive market. Consumers looking for a broadband phone provider should go online and read reviews of the top providers, as well as compare prices and features. Probably the biggest name in broadband providers is Vonage. With their massive and effective marketing blitz, many consumers mistakenly believe that Vonage is the only residential VOIP provider. There are broad band providers that are bigger and more costly and others smaller and less costly both offering more or less standard features. Vonage is only one choice and there are many more broadband providers that offer the same good service and standard features to choose from. Todays technology and support services make voip installing and hook up easy for the casual computer user. Knowledgeable computer users can connect to more basic services without all the features at a savings by using Skype, Viatalk or Magicjack. Basic services such as PC to PC calls are provided by Google Talk and Skype. The PC to PC calls normally use a headset or mike with speakers. SIP activated devices allow communication between PCs without the monthly bill. You must be computer literate to connect the SIP devices, but the recognition and zero monthly cost are enough incentive for some users. Know your office requirements before talking to a broadband provider about the established budget. To reduce your choices check the internet for pro and cons of the providers.

Europeans Achieve 25,000--Mile Oil Changes

After being involved in the oil change business for a few years I discovered that no matter what products I offered there really wasn't any loyalty to a specific brand of oil. Basically the oil change business isn't about offering a certain brand of oil, all you're really offering is a service.Struggling with this for a while I decided to attended a seminar about synthetic oils and I was shocked to learn some fascinating facts that up to this time I had no idea.One of the first things I learned was that in all of Europe there is no such thing as a 3,000 mile oil change, in fact you can't even find a quick lube shop in all of Europe. You see Europeans have been changing their oil once a year or about 25,000 miles for well over two decades.I was surprised when I heard all the facts about extended drain intervals and I feel most people would be open to this concept if explained properly. How can it be possible to go 25,000 miles between oil changes?Further research pointed to the quality of oil Europe was using and needless to say their quality standards were so much higher then those of the U.S. Our research also showed that Europeans have very few engine rebuild shops in their country. You see when using higher quality synthetics engines don't typically wear out like the most American made cars do when using inferior petroleum oil.What does all this mean to someone in the oil change business here in the U.S'For starters you might ask yourself; why can't we offer annual oil changes? If Europeans can achieve these types of intervals using higher quality synthetics then why can't we.Europeans are accustomed to having their vehicles serviced just once a year. This is why you don't see any quick lubes, the car dealerships do all the work. Typically all the fluids are changed and any other maintenance items are attended to and out the door you go.There may be times when a vehicle has to be seen more than once a year if a problem comes up, but Europeans don't see the need to service a vehicle every 3,000 miles especially if all you're doing is changing the oil.So why can't this same concept be adopted here in the U.S'There are synthetic oils made right here in the United States that exceed the specs of the oils used in Europe. You will be surprised just how good the specs are for these high quality synthetics.Our shop converted over to a once a year oil change system and our customers love the time they saved and as an extra benefit their cars ran better and got better fuel mileage. We haven't experience one problem since switching over and our profits have never been higher.We even discovered the company we deal with has a system in place that not only allows us to make about a 30-35% profit on every oil change, but to also earn commissions directly from the parent company. We are making an additional $2000.00 a month in commissions alone on top of the profits we make on our oil changes.This system works and we will never go back to offering 3,000 mile oil changes again. If someone ever comes in and wants a cheap oil change we just send them down to the quick lube because it isn't worth our time anymore to make fifteen dollars on an oil change. And besides we are not comfortable with offering any of the motor oils currently available here in the U.S. none of them even come close to performing up to the standard of oil we now use.This is a very interesting topic to start exploring and trust me since we made the switch we haven't looked back. After testing some oils I was convinced they worked and I didn't hesitate to start offering them to my customers. This is something every quick lube or garage service center should consider adding to their business.

Save Your Expenses With Used Auto Engines

Is your car engine giving out a problem and do you think that you should be replacing it. But then one another problem that would arise is low budget. There is also a possibility that you may not know the different technical as well as the financial aspects of the used auto engines. If an answer to all of these questions is a yes then going along with this kind of an auto engine can be a real good option. By adopting this option you will not only get a money worth but then this kind of an engine will also help in the maintenance of your car engine and save it from becoming a complete junk.It has been a common belief that as the used auto engines are provided at a cheaper rate thus they are not of the top quality like the newly manufactured ones. But then this is completely wrong. It's because most of the times the engines which are made up of different recycled goods are usually less costly. Looking at the present scene of the auto industry it can be concluded that the used auto engines are too much in demand. Only a few give you the correct advice to buy an auto engine which is used rather than actually buying anew car or a vehicle.As there are a lot of advisors that exist in the auto industry many companies have now started offering few good auto engines which are used. There are only a few used auto engine providers who are of the opinion that though most of the parts inside the vehicle are interconnected and complex there are still a few automobiles which remain in a very good condition even if some of the parts are replaced. Researching online will be very helpful to you because there are a lot of websites which not only sell these used auto parts but at times also advice people whether to buy a new automobile or then to replace the existing engine.But then make sure that you first enquire about everything and then take a decision because different aspects like the engine have to be selected with utmost cure. It's because only a reliable and genuine vendor would give you used auto parts which are of great quality which may not require replacement and maintenance all the time. Ultimately with this you will be able to save a lot of your money.

The Important Role Of Disk Brakes

Disc brakes perform the most important task on your vehicle that is it ensures that you can stop when you want to. You may have a two wheeler, a four wheeler or even a massive heavy vehicle, but the fact remains that in all of these, you will probably find a disc brake for sure. There are two main types of brakes that are used in vehicles, the disc brakes and the drum brakes, but the disc brakes are way more popular due to its superior efficiency and powerful braking especially during the wet conditions.To state in a very easy way, a disc brake consists of two pads that clasps a rotor, which is actually nothing but a rotating disc, connected to the wheels of the vehicle through an axle. When we press on the brakes, we are actually controlling the clasping power of the clamp. On pressing the brakes, the pads or clamps come together to stop the rotor from spinning and that in turn slows down and stops the vehicle ultimately.Pull up on the emergency brake or just press on the brake pedal to use the disc brakes for stopping your car, but if you are riding a motorbike, then it may not be so easy. You would be required to press the right hand lever and the rear left foot lever together in a motorbike in order to stop it with more efficiency and also to prolong the life of the brakes due to less strain.As with any other motor parts, you will need to maintain brakes as well, and mind you, the brakes are the most important part of your car that you should maintain well and check up on regularly.

Check to make sure that the brake pads are thick enough as bare pads will cause the disc brake damage and you do not want that. Check to see if the brake fluid is up to its rim in the reservoir, if it is not then refill it to the rim as that will not only help your brakes efficiency, but also increase the life of your brakes. With the first signs of cracking or scarring, you should see a qualified professional for maintenance of your disc brakes because if you do not, and the disc brakes crack up, then they can not be repaired and must be totally replaced. Maintain them well and regularly to prolong the lives of your vehicles disc brakes.
Disc brakes were earlier made totally out of steel, but with the modern days upon us, there are disc brakes these days that have strategic hallowed out areas which allow the extra heat that is generated, to escape through them. This is actually a great innovation that has reduced the chances of warping of the brakes due to excessive heat generation and therefore increased the disc brakes service period.As days pass, newer designs are arriving and will keep arriving, they will be targeting to get the brakes work more efficiently and also, last longer in the process.

Automotive Dms Solutions The Good, Bad And The Ugly!

Well let's begin with the good since it is the first on the list, there are many CRM solution vendors out there. One good feature that every one seems to share is the incoming 1-800 phone tracking capabilities, any respectable CRM solution will offer this feature of recorded phone call from their targeted 1-800 numbers for advertising tracking purposes. The CRM solution providers often are partnered with a voice over IP solution provider to offer their clients this service. Voice over IP call tracking got to be one of the biggest improvements found in today's CRM or DMS systems for dealers. Another good feature is sales reporting and performance tracking, almost all of the CRM solution vendors offers some sort of way to track their advertising spending, or sales performance. This can go as far as the best selling model for the month, even export to Excel file format. The last good feature of today's CRM we are going to discuss here is the ability to manage, transfer lead from sales person to sales person. With different security access levels, a manager can access sales person's lead and manage and transfer them at his will. This level of sophistication is light years ahead of the older systems.

Now moving on to the bad, or the weaknesses of some of the CRM solutions today! Well one of the biggest draw back of automotive CRM system today is its platform. Almost all of them are web based portal system that is accessed through a browser windows. Here are some of the draw backs of that system, for one refreshment rate, every time you input something through a web site it will load another page to display the result. It will cause major delays between the data transfer and require much more bandwidth to operate. The second draw back of that system is there are different standards between the browsers making it not 100% compatible with all systems. For example the way this portal displays on Internet Explorer 8 is not the same way as Internet Explorer 6. Even worse certain system requires you to go back in time to Internet Explorer 5 to be compatible with them. That's just to show you when the technology was developed. Third draw back would be security issues, not only the HTML or JavaScript codes will be visible to users, it offers great information for a hacker to break in the system. Things such as the system structure, or vital system file names are all exposed to the naked eye making a web based system more vulnerable compare to a desktop solution.
here comes the ugly, for one the real ugly thing about the automotive CRM systems today is the price tag. After careful research on the market I have found they are all asking from the lowest of $1500 per month to as high as $5000 per month. Not to mention setup fees ranging from $1200 all the way to $10000. In a nut shell these web based systems are lot less sophisticated than Facebook, yet Facebook is free to use. At Dealer Elite CRM solutions we don't believe in ripping off our clients with ridiculous prices, on top of that we deliver a quality, well tested, desktop solution with $0 setup fees, and very affordable monthly plans at fraction of the cost compare to the competition. Contact us today for your demonstration, and account setup. Visit us online at http://www.dealerelites.ca

Building An Electric Car

The technology behind building an electric car is fairly simple. An electric motor powered by a battery drives the wheels. An addition of gears will improve the efficiency of the motor. The battery can be recharged by including a solar panel although this is a slow process. It would be best to build a first electric of a simple basic design. The final product would be in a form of a go-cart rather than a regular automobile. However the experience of building a simple model will give a confidence for making a more advanced electric car with rich features in the future.The building process has to be started with a wooden or steel frame and of course wheels. This is the basic for building the simplest kind of electric car. An electric motor, battery and a switch for turning the electric power on and off will have to be added. The switch will act as an accelerator like it does in a conventional car. The motor's capacity must be sufficient for driving the load of the components, frame and at least one person. The person who sells the motor will be able to needed power. The simple way to transfer power from the motor to the wheels is a pulley and belt. A body made of fiberglass and Styrofoam can be added although this is not necessary. One can just drive around in an open area. Seating for 1 to 2 people is normal. A windshield preferably made of unbreakable plastic is also included by some people. Various parts of the car have to be connected through wiring. All the things need to build an electric car will be completed by a steering mechanism.<The eyes and ears have to be protected when constructing the electric car. Protective clothing can be used and an open space with enough lighting and ventilation has to be preferably chosen. One can begin by comparing the size of the chosen wooden or steel frame. It may need to be cut so that it can pass through a structure like a doorway or an arch through which it has to be driven. The battery, motor, seats, drive train and steering mechanism has to be assembled on the frame and the switch has to be connected to the battery and the battery has to be connected to the motor. The wheels have to be attached to the frame, body and windshield. Now it is ready to drive.Local laws exist for governing the use of electric cars in public areas which include roads. The vehicle also needs a registration. These laws have to be kept in mind before driving beyond one's private property. The limited battery capacity should be kept in mind and drive lengths and routes have to be planned that would help in enabling to the battery to be recharged in time. There a number of limitations in electric cars preventing them from becoming alternatives of conventional automobiles. This is the important disadvantage if the limited battery capacity, time and effort need to be recharged. Electric cars are mostly used nowadays as a hobby or novelty. A hybrid car has more widespread use that uses both electric as well as fuel power. Such mixed power is already used by railroads and military tanks.

Top 10 Luxury Cars Of 2009

Many people prefer luxury cars for their plush interiors, elegant exterior and the technology that comes with it. But let's face it, how many among us can purchase a luxury car? Not many, those of us that still want to "ride like a king" have the possibility to rent a car for a couple of days. With this article we will present 10 of the most popular luxury cars in 2009. Keep in mind that the following ranking is random.
1. BMW 3 Series '“ it is offered in sedan, coupe, convertible and even a wagon version. The 2009 model comes with a face lifted exterior and here we include new tail and head lights. New for 2009 is the 335d model that has a 6 cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine. It is not only nature friendly but quite sporty.

1. Mercedes Benz C Class '“ it is the entry-luxury sedan car which was redesigned in 2009 and offered in either Sport or Luxury trim. Although an entry-level luxury car, it comes with a bunch of technologies that not only will make your riding more comfortable but it will also keep you safe.

1. Cadillac CTS '“ received a face lift back in 2008 when both the exterior and interior were changed in order to refresh the look of the car. The model also received numerous technological gizmos: DVD navigation system + touch screen LCD, Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround and a Smart Remote Start system.

1. Acura TL '“ in 2009 it reached the fourth edition and is the best selling model for the Acura Company. It comes with the brand's spanking new Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) as well as new engines like the V6 3.5l 280 hp or the more powerful 305 hp V6 3.7l. Acura also included a set of new technologies like: Keyless Access System with push-button start, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition, AcuraLink real-time traffic, real-time weather with Doppler-style radar mapping and Bluetooth audio connectivity.

1. BMW 5 Series '“ yes, another BMW. Last year in 2009, it received a brand new look and redesigned interior. The older 525i and 525xi were replaced with the new 528i and 528xi models, each of them receiving new standard 230 hp engines. The 530i and 530xi were replaced by the 535i and 535xi, and upgraded with a 300-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six engine as standard equipment.

1. Audi A4 '“ got a facelift last year which made it longer, wider and a bit lower in comparison with the older model. The new A4 received LED daytime lights and 2 new engines '“ the 2.0 liter TFSI 4-cylinder and the 3.2-liter FSI V6 engine.

1. Infiniti G Sedan '“ comes with a remarkable 3.7l V6 engine capable of outputting 328 hp with a new 7 speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching, Drive Sport mode and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC). Interior changes to this model include fully revised interior trim, softer-touch lower door panels, a brighter aluminum trim color and redesigned seat heater switches.

1. Hyundai Genesis '“ it is powered by either a V6 or V8 engine, the latter being capable of producing 375 hp. It features world-class driving dynamics and the latest high-tech features at the price of entry-level premium brand vehicles. Some of the most important features are: a Lexicon 15-speaker surround sound audio system with a 6-disc CD changer; wood-trimmed leather steering wheel; ultra premium leather seating surfaces and a power glass sunroof as well as a power tilt and telescopic steering column.

1. Lexus IS '“ debuted in 1999 at the Detroit Motor Show and received the latest update last year in 2009 which includes a fresh wave exterior makeover as well as stylish and elegant interior upgrades plus improved handling. For the 2009 model, Lexus IS received the advanced Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system.
1. Jaguar XF Series - The XF is offered in three distinct trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Supercharged. The Supercharged is powered by an incredible 420-horsepower supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine, while the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims are powered by a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8. All of the trims come with a modern 6 speed fully automatic transmission.As you might have thought, the most popular luxury cars are not the most expensive ones. It is good to know that you can get quality and luxury for decent prices. We do not mean that a Maybach or a Rolls Royce are a bad choice, but paying over 300,000 $ for a car is just too much for many people.

2010 Chevy Cobalt

2010 is the last year the Chevy plans to make the Cobalt sedan. Due to that fact there isn't a whole lot that has been changed for the '10 model year. The vehicle is still relatively good on gas and offers more than enough room to comfortably fit passengers. The vehicle has never been known for being loaded to the max with extra options but it does offer enough for it's price to make it a reasonable choice. Excluding the SS model, most trim packages and models of the Cobalt haven't been engineered for power or performance.Trim packages available include the XFE, LS, LT, and SS. XFE models are designed for fuel efficiency, hence the initials. There really isn't a whole lot of amenities offered on these models. Included features are a 60/40 rear bench seat that can be folded for access to the trunk, a CD with mp3 player, and satellite radio. What makes these models fuel efficient is the use of 15 inch roll resistant tires and a higher tuned transmission. Consumers looking to save some money at the pump will find these models very accommodative. LS models come equipped with On Star navigation and support systems, the same rear seat, CD players with audio jacks, a more developed center console, and full power accessories.At the mid-level package range is the LS trim. These are quite similar to the basic packages except they offer AC, cruise control, 16 inch alloy wheels, antilock brakes, and a lot more interior fabric options. LS models offered with the coupe body style come with the most available options. Possible upgrades include leather steering wheels with mounted audio controls, better stereo systems with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, sunroofs, and the possibility to upgrade to 17 inch alloy wheels. For consumers who want some extra performance capabilities there is the SS. It has a turbocharged engine and a highly refined suspension system designed for speed and nimble handling. All the available accessories and options found on the LS trim packages can be placed in the SS.Under the hood consumers can select to have a 2.2 liter inline four cylinder engine that is capable of producing 155 horsepower. The inline four comes with either a five speed manual transmission as standard equipment, and an optional four speed automatic. Fuel economy for these smaller engines comes in at 25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Even the base XFE models are capable of decent acceleration. The enhanced engine offered for SS models is a 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder that has been turbocharged. That engine is capable of producing 260 horsepower. SS models are capable of going from 0-60 mpg in less than 6 seconds. Fuel economy for those models is a respectable 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.While some vehicles in it's class (Toyota Corolla) have scored perfect ratings on crash tests, the 2010 Chevy Cobalt only scores 4 out of 5 stars on both front and side impact tests. The problem with these vehicles is that stability control and full curtain side airbags are not standard features for all models offered.he Cobalt will more than likely be one of the best selling small sedans on the market for the '10 model year. Chevy didn't change too much on them because the model is going to be discontinued. For overall fuel economy and the features offered for the price they still are a bargain for consumers who don't need a full size family sedan. SS packages do offer the performance and handling necessary to make them a very desirable car

How To Get Car Financing With Bad Credit Quickly

Is your credit score challenged but you need a car loan quickly? You can make it happen because thousands of people are approved every day for car financing with bad credit. It they can get a loan there's no reason you can't, even if you're credit is challenged.One terrific way to begin is to go on the Internet and shop for your loan online. There are a huge amount of car loan websites that you can check out without obligation and they are all only a click away.There are some things you should have ready when you apply for your car financing with bad credit. Here they are:You're going to need a recent copy of your credit history because the companies that finance car loans require one. If you don't have one handy you can request one at least two or three weeks before you are going to apply for your loan.You will want to get your credit report in advance because credit reporting companies make mistakes. You should double check your credit report on a regular basis to see if there are any errors. If there are mistakes they can cause your loan to be delayed or denied. Checking for mistakes is even more important if you are going to apply for a bad credit loan.You should also decide how much you will probably spend on your car before you begin the application process because you will be required to quote a price. In order to avoid any more bad credit situations in the future make sure that the price is well within your budget.The loan companies may ask for some of the following documentation when you apply for car financing, so have it ready: your proof of employment including your pay slips, your proof of residence including proof of your billing address, and your proof of income.Have this information handy and you will be able to speed up the approval of your car financing with bad credit application.After you have been approved you will want to stretch the amount that you've borrowed as much aas you can. It's really easy to get emotionally attached to the car you want to buy. Keep in mind, though, that there are a ton of choices available and that in this economy the person selling the car, be it an individual or a salesperson, really wants to make the sale. Therefore there is no need to get emotional because it can only work against you.Even if you believe you desparately need you still shouldn't rush into a purchase. This especially holds true if you are looking at a used car. Remember that in the twenty first century you don't have to buy a used car from your local used car dealer. Just as you can get a loan online, you can find and purchase a high quality used car via the Interntet as well.And once you've found a car that you like be prepared to negotiate. Never buy it for the asking price because it is usually quite a bit higher than what they expect to get for it. They've built some "wriggle room" into that price.If you are a good negotiator you may be able to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars off the original asking price. On line auto lenders that offer car financing with bad credit work hard to get you the lowest cost auto loans, no matter what your credit history or current circumstances are. If you follow these tips you should be able to get a car you love, even with bad credit, at a price you can afford

Why You Should Decide Carefully In Getting Your Car Insurance Coverage

It is very important for you to know how much car insurance you really need to carry. This article might help you get the finest coverage at the lowest price.As a customer, you are thinking that you should be adequately covered and at the same time you still like to spend less. If you have already spent thousands into your insurer just because of your questionable credit rating or even traffic violations, then you should shop for another policy provider.Keep in mind that you can and should still save money on something that you have desired for a long time. Not because you have aspired for it for a long time that it will no longer be possible to have it in a cheaper price.If you like to have right protection, then decide on the amount of your car insurance coverage that you need. Take time in finding out what coverage is required for you to have as you live and drive. After knowing what are the required coverages, look also on what are the optional ones that you can have. It is good if you can have a list of different types of coverage to help you achieve the right decision.Take note that these optional coverages are supposed to be used by you in the future and not just an additional coverage that will just make insurers wealthy.Note also that you should purchase a coverage that is beyond your state's minimum. Experts heavily recommended that consumers like you should purchase enough liability coverage to protect you and your huge assets.Car insurance companies give, for example, a liability limit with the amount of $50,000 bodily injury for one person hurt in an accident and $100,000 for all the people injured in an accident, and $25,000 property damage. Also remember that when it comes to the limits of uninsured and/or under insured motorist coverage that you buy cannot exceed the limits of your liability coverage.Consider also your driving habits. If you have a lot of accidents then consider getting more comprehensive coverage. But if your car is already old and have a good driving record, do not buy collision and comprehensive coverage at the same time.Before doing car insurance comparison, always check the status of your driving record. Pay attention also to your current coverage and the premiums you are paying to avoid committing mistakes when doing your shopping for insurance. Check with your state's DMV how long is your speeding ticket to be exact with the information you provide.Do not forget to contact your insurance provider so that you can pull out if there are some recent bills you need to pay. Remember to take down the amount of policy you are paying, so that you will know what exactly you are paying for. Know the yearly and monthly cost of online car insurance, since many of your quotes will be given both ways With these suggestions, you can reward yourself by saving so much money on your auto insurance

Checklist To Ensure Proper Car Shipping

Millions of people are transporting their cars from one location to other during a year. The auto transport company takes the responsibility of shipping your car without causing any damages. They are professional who would manage the transport perfectly. However, for better car shipping, it is essential that you must make sure of certain things about your car. The auto transport company offers you open and enclosed methods of car transport. You have to make the selection of the shipping method. Furthermore, they would also provide delivery options like door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal. Here also you have to make the choice of the options. Proper information should be sought form the company before signing the contract. While ordering the auto shipping service, generally a deposit is paid. This deposit would range from 10 percent to 25 percent of the total shipping rate. The deposit should be given prior to the pickup and the balance is due upon the delivery of the car. You must enquire about the paying options offered by the company.The auto transport company provides insurance coverage for your car against any damages that would occur during the shipping. You should ask for a copy of the coverage details to be kept with you. This would help to understand the coverage and deductible details if any problem happens. You must make sure that any offer that the company gives should be made into writing. This would give authenticity than oral words.There are some important things that you must do before the vehicle transport. The main thing is to inspect your car clearly before the shipping. The best thing to do is to wash the car properly as it would allow you to identify all the minor details including scratches in your car. Any damages should be clearly noted down in the inspection report. The car should be emptied of all the personal belongings and documents since the auto transport company would not take the responsibility of such items. Moreover, the extra items would add to the total weight of the vehicle. Any special effects like spoilers or antennas should be removed so that it won't be damaged during transport. If possible, turn in mirrors too.It is suggested that you must turn off the car alarm before handing over the keys. The car shippers would not like to waste their time disabling the alarm if it keeps on ringing. The gas tank should be drained to less than half tank so that the shippers can make sure of safety and weight concerns. You must inspect the air pressure of the tires and it would be better if you could go for an oil change. If your car has any leakage, you must inform it to the driver beforehand since leaking automobiles cannot be loaded on the top of the trailer.