Car Insurance

Every once in a while a product comes along that catches your
eye. The new Michelin Tweel is just such a product. Mounted on an
Audi A4, demonstrating its flexibility, is what Michelin North
America Inc. has dubbed the Tweel. It is a tire and wheel combo
that comes as an assembly, requires no air (the flexibility comes
from the spokes) and is retreadable. Can you imagine never having
a flat again?

The Tweel uses a network of elastomeric polyurethane spokes to
control the ride characteristics. These ride characteristics can
be set independently of each other, for instance, vertical
stiffness-which primarily affects ride comfort-and lateral
stiffness-which affects handling and cornering-can both be
optimized, pushing the comfort level and the performance envelope
at the same time. This is something today’s pneumatic tire just
cant do.

The possibilities of the Tweel seem endless. For instance, since
the Tweel requires no air, holes or channels could be designed in
the tread that could channel water literally through the tread,
thus improving aquaplaning resistance considerably. In the looks
department, the Tweel is extremely low profile. At speed, the
spokes seem to disappear, giving the appearance the vehicle is
floating on air, while also revealing the brakes and associated
suspension hardware. If that werent enough, to add a little
“Bling Bling” the spokes of the Tweel could be chromed or painted
to any desired color for that ultra custom look.

As for maintenance, there is very little. There is no air to check,
no more mounting and balancing, and no more flats.

Now before you run out to get yourself a set, you must understand
that Michelin says they are ten years away from having the Tweel
in mass production. That said, as you can see they already have a
fitment available to at least bolt on an Audi, and with the
benefits being so great, can it really be that far off?

Industrial engines. They are still used by several manufacturers
(most notably Blata on their entry level bike) and typically
produce between 2.5 and 3.5 horse power (hp). All are air-cooled.
Tuning and performance parts are very limited.

The Chinese 47/49cc. These engines are used in the Chinese made
mk2, and mk3 minimotos. They are air cooled and produce between
2.5 and 3.5 horse power (hp). This engine is different from the
industrial engine that is used in the Blata, as it is
specifically created for mini moto use.

Polini 4.2 engine. This is the basic Polini engine and, as it’s
name suggests, it produces 4.2 hp in standard form. It is
air-cooled and uses the ‘series I’ crankcase with the 3-port
cylinder. There is plenty of scope and parts for tuning but few
people bother because most racing classes for the 4.2 won’t allow
any modifications.

Polini 6.2 engine. The top end of this engine is the same as the
4.2 (3-port) but is available with either water or air-cooling.
The bottom end uses the ‘series II’ crankcase. This helps to make
it more powerful. Race regulations don’t allow modification to
the engine internals but do allow performance parts, the most
significant being the exhaust. There are a wide range of
alternative exhausts that year after year manage to extract more
power from the engine. Consequently the 6.2 ‘tag’ no longer means
anything, these little rockets (more often referred to as
‘production’ nowadays) claim power outputs of up to 9hp.

The Chinese made water cooled engine. This engine is very similar
to the Polini 6.2 however it is a series 1 crankcase engine. The
engine is water cooled and is used in the Origami B1 replica. The
engine produces around 7.5/8.5 horse power (hp) Many of the parts
on this engine are interchangeable with the Polini.

What’s the difference between the ‘series I’ and ‘series II’
crankcase?. Fuel is drawn from the carb into the crankcase via a
one-way valve known as the ‘reed valve’. The intake port (where
the reed valve and carb join the engine) on the series I engine
will only accommodate a reed valve assembly with one reed ‘petal’
whereas the series II will take a reed valve ‘cage’ that
accommodates two reed petals. A two-petal reed valve will allow
more fuel mixture to flow into the engine and, therefore,
produces more power.

Polini Super engine. The super also uses the series two crankcase
but with a 5-port cylinder. It is only available in water cooled
now but used to come as air cooled as well. To compete with
Polini, Mallossi manufacture an alternative 5-port cylinder.
There are no restrictions on tuning supers and with engine
‘porting’, bigger carbs and other performance parts they can be
turned into awesome machines (for their size) easily producing
12hp.

What is meant by 3 and 5 port?. This refers to the amount of
‘transfer’ ports built into the cylinder. The transfer ports draw
the fuel mixture up from the crankcase and ‘dump’ it above the
piston prior to ignition. A five-port cylinder has potential to
produce more power.

40cc or 50cc. The 3 port engines are only available in 40cc. The
5 port cylinder comes in both 40 and 50cc. ZPF offer a tuned
5-port polini cylinder with their own ‘special’ cylinder head.
The extra cc gives 25% more displacement and, therefore, has the
potential for more power. 50’s are more common in the USA but
they’re catching on fast in the UK. The UK now allows them to
race in championships.

The Polini engine components are interchangeable, which can make
for some interesting combinations. However, people don’t tend to
bother because of class restrictions and it is usually easier to
upgrade the whole bike or change the complete engine.

People rely and need their cars for going to work, picking up &
dropping off the children and shopping. So it is important to
keep our vehicle up and running. If you take care of your vehicle
it will take care of you and you can save yourself a lot of
possible heartache in the future. There are things that you can
do to make the car more dependable.

To start with, read your owner’s manual. This may seem like the
first thing people do, but you would be surprised how many people
do not even bother to learn what needs to done to their car to
keep it in good running condition. The owner’s manual contains
important information about what maintenance needs to be
performed on your vehicle.

Regular maintenance can keep your car up and running for years.
One of the most important things you can do is be aware of the
type of oil in your vehicle. Periodically check the oil level in
the engine and make sure there is enough. If you do nothing else
this will increase the longevity and life of your car.

Change your oil frequently. You will not damage your engine by
changing it too often. The norm is usually every 3,000 miles. You
will also want to change your oil filter and air filter when you
do your oil change. Again your owner’s manual will let you know
of the proper time to have this done.

On older cars changing the oil yourself may not be difficult,
however with newer cars the way the engine is built could cause
problems. Not to worry though, if you do not feel comfortable
changing your own oil there are plenty of inexpensive oil change
service stations out there that can do the job for you. Most of
the time at these places you will only have to wait 10 to 15
minutes for the oil to be changed and then your vehicle will be
good for another 3,000 miles.

Another thing you can do is to pay attention to your tires and
take care of them immediately if you see an issue developing. A
lot of drivers do not pay attention to the tread and condition of
their tires until it is too late. Most people only repair their
tires as needed or worse yet after a blowout. This is not only
dangerous to you but can leave you stranded. You can lose control
of the car and may cause other damages to the vehicle itself or
hurt yourself and others.

If an accident does not occur you could still end up with a
problem, such as a flat tire, if you are not properly maintaining
your tires. If you do get a flat tire you now have to waste your
time changing your tire, getting dirty and placing yourself at
risk by being close to cars that will be passing by you at high
speeds. By purchasing a pressure gauge and using it you can keep
the tires inflated to their proper pressure. You should also have
your tire properly balanced and rotated to avoid problems and
increase their life.

Checking your car’s fluids to make sure they are properly filled
can also help you maintain your car and keep it dependable. You
should do this when you do your oil changes or based on the
recommendations of your owner’s manual. The fluids to check are
the power steering fluid, break fluid, antifreeze and windshield
washer fluid. You will also need to do a quick visual inspection
of the hoses and belts in your vehicle. This is easy to do and if
you get your oil changed professionally they will often do this
free of charge.

Once something does fail mechanically, get it fixed fast! Do not
wait, more problems could occur based on neglect. When you rely
on a car, as much as most people do, it is important to keep it
in the best condition possible. Remember that it is always
cheaper to prevent the problems then to fix them.

International car shipping is the service you will undoubtedly
require if you want to transport your car over a long distance.

As the name suggests, it entails a company putting your car onto
a ship at one destination and then ensuring it’s safe arrival at
the other side. Depending on the company you choose to complete
this service for you they may also be responsible for getting
your car to and from the shipping docks. Some companies offer a
door-to-door service. Many different people and organizations
enlist the help of a shipping company for several different
reasons. Individuals use shipping companies to transport valuable
vehicles, antique cars that can’t be driven over longer distances
and even just to transport the family car to a new home while
they fly. Companies may use a shipping company to move their
fleet cars during a relocation and showrooms obviously use them
for transporting their cars from the manufacturers to there
showrooms.

Recent years have seen a massive increase in imported cars,
especially from Japan, where top quality and high performance
cars can be acquired for some of the lowest prices imaginable.
This increase is also seeing many more individuals needing an
international car shipping company to bring the cars into the
country.

What is included in the price you pay for international car
shipping?

As with most things the price you pay for your international car
shipping is pretty much dependant on the car shipping company you
choose and before you make your final decision you should be very
careful that you have been comparing like for like. Some shipping
companies will include a number of value added services that the
cheaper company may not offer. In order to be sure you are
getting the best deals make sure you read all of the terms and
conditions on the site. Here is a short guide to selecting the
most cost effective international car shipping company for your
needs:

1. Get quotes from as many companies as possible.

2. First of all you should consider any services that you
definitely require; perhaps you have to have door to door
delivery in which case you would only consider those companies
that offer door to door delivery in their price. Be sure to
exclude anyone who doesn’t offer any of the essential services
you require regardless of how cheap their prices are.

3. Now write down which services and extras each of the companies
remaining offer. Also write down the price.

4. Remove any international car shipping company that is way
overpriced unless they offer something significant that the
others don’t. Also remove any company that offers very few of the
services you would like (not essential, but preferred).

5. You should either be left with one offer that is noticeably
cheaper than the others while still offering the same products.
If so, this is the most cost effective solution for you.
Alternatively, if the prices are all similar and one offers many
more services, that is the most cost effective solution.

6. If, however, there are several international car shipping
companies left with similar prices for similar services then it’s
time to ring back and get them to offer you that little something
extra.

One of the most reliable internal combustion engines around is
the diesel engine. In many industrial installations, diesel
engines are used as prime movers for the generation of
electricity and for emergency air compressors.

It’s true that they are rugged, but one of the most important
advantages of these engines is the fact that they can be started
by manual cranking. In remote areas, diesel engines can be
counted upon for starting up from scratch.

Once a small diesel engine is started, it can be used to drive a
small electrical generator that can then be used to produce
electrical supply for driving other machines like pumps,
compressors, and for lighting.

How does a diesel engine work?

First there must be combustion of fuel. As we have discussed in
our previous articles, combustion or burning of fuel occurs
whenever there is sufficient heat, fuel and oxygen. When
conditions are just right, combustion can be very rapid. Rapid
combustion causes an explosion in an enclosed area. This is
because of the rapid built-up of hot gases during the process.

In an internal combustion engine like a diesel engine, this rapid
combustion, and built-up of hot gas pressure is used to push a
piston away from the enclosed combustion space.

The piston is attached to a crankshaft through a connecting rod.
Because of this, the engine is able to convert the linear
movement of a piston to a rotating movement of a crankshaft.

The outward movement of the piston turns the crankshaft. However,
the momentum of the turning crankshaft forces the piston back
again towards the engine combustion space in a reciprocating
movement.

Once the piston moves away from the combustion space, the
pressure drops. The next stage of operation depends on the design
of the engine. These can be either 2-stroke or 4-stroke designs.

Regardless of the type of design, the spent exhaust gas is first
driven out, and then new fresh air is drawn back into the
combustion chamber.

After this, the rotating crankshaft drives the piston to compress
the fresh air inside the combustion chamber. The piston acts as a
reciprocating compressor at this stage.

The compression of the air causes the latter to become hot - hot
enough to ignite finely distributed fuel particles.

At this moment, fuel is sprayed in at high pressure. The tiny
sprayed fuel particles form a mist inside the combustion chamber.

What do think will happen when you have heat, fuel and oxygen? A
fire! Each tiny particle of the fuel burns rapidly, and an
explosion occurs.

The cycle starts again, and the crankshaft turns continuously,
the pistons move continuously, and the engine runs.

How does the engine know when to spray fuel, let in air, compress
the air, and exhaust the spent combustion product?

Well folks, start your engines.

Until next time…

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