Home » Page 51

What’s Better — Synthetic Oil or Regular?

In today’s day and age, as oil changes continue to go up in price and now are routinely being added into warranty packages on new vehicles, it’s becoming more and more important to know just what they’re putting into your engine and how much you’re paying for. The automotive industry has advanced much in recent years, not only in the precision of the machining of engine components, but also in the precision of fuel injection and combustion for maximum fuel efficiency. But has oil changed that much? Is there really a reason why an oil change might now cost over $100 at the dealership, when not too long ago, oil changes were less than $20. Is there really that much of a difference between synthetic oil vs regular oil? The answer somewhat depends on what is being required by the warranty package of many of the newer vehicles. Many of the new warranty packages require the owner to get all of their oil changes done at the dealership, using the dealership’s own custom full synthetic brand for “maximum protection.” I call it “maximum cost” because they definitely charge you an arm and a leg for most warranty packages.

But as for those of us who don’t need to bring our cars into the dealership for simple work, is it really all that recommended to pay the extra money for the synthetic over the regular? In a lot of cases, going the route of full synthetic is a bit excessive. As we discussed earlier, with machining of engine components and the fine tuning of modern vehicles, oils have to do less and less work to lubricate and protect our engines. Not only that, but because of better formulation technologies and viscosity enhancers, today’s oils meet a higher standard and protect an engine much better than the oils of a few decades ago. Not only that, but machining technology has advanced greatly in the past 2 decades as well, meaning that the surfaces where friction happens are much more precise and internally stable.So from that standpoint, getting a full synthetic is a bit unnecessary. That being said however, many of us don’t drive around a brand new car and are instead driving something from the 90s. In this particular situation, going the route of full synthetic might be a good option in order to give your engine as much protection as humanly possible. That is the reason why many mechanics and oil change locations are beginning to go for a middle of the road solution. These days, I mostly get half synthetic and half regular oil when I go for an oil change. This is definitely a nice middle of the road solution, because it combines what I think is the best of regular and synthetic.

A lot of myths have developed in recent years surrounding synthetic oils. I’ve heard before that synthetic oil isn’t compatible with regular petroleum based oil, which is false. I’ve actually gotten oil changes before that were partially synthetic and partially regular. I’ve also heard people say that they’re worried that switching to synthetic oil might cause their seals to get damaged or that the switch might cause buildup and deposits to be left behind. Both of these rumors are also false, which your mechanic can tell you the next time you go in for an oil change. In most respects, synthetic oil acts almost identically with regular oil. Synthetic oil is simply designed to last longer. That’s the biggest difference. If you’re worried about using a different oil than what you’ve been using, ask the oil change professional the next time you go in for an oil change. They’ll obviously try and sell you on the more expensive brands, but you’ll be able to decide in the end what kind of oil to use.

Synthetic oil vs regular oil has been a battle going on for some time now. I hope you enjoyed reading this author’s opinion on it. For more in the automotive world, check out my other article on engine oil stop leak.

You can also see some comparisons here; http://syntheticoilvsregularoil.com/

Share
Posted on January 26, 2011 by , Reply

The AMX Carved Its Own Niche

The AMX is famous for being a touring sports car that was made by the American Motors Corporation or AMC around the years 1968 to 1970. There was a continued increase in the making of muscle cars around this time. There was also a demand for more high-performance luxury cars or GT in style and approach than the real sports car. Thus the AMX muscle car was launched to the market in order to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette, which was the only two-seater muscle car in the US during that particular period. However, the AMX really had its work cut out if it wanted to steal the spotlight from such a famous and beloved car. While it didn’t succeed, the AMX did carve out a nice niche for itself.

The name AMX came from the code of ‘American Motors eXperimental’ that was used on a concept vehicle as well as on 2 trial products that were shown on the ‘Project IV’ car which was used back in 1966

The AMX engine was a high-compression medium block 390 cubic inches, with a V8 that was optional. The car offered a great performance in spite of its affordable price. Although it had proved its outstanding performance and received an overwhelming reception from the media and car enthusiasts, the sales of AMX never increased. However, the automaker had better and larger objectives – to refocus the image of AMX on quality performance as well as to attract younger customers to visit their dealer showrooms. Fortunately, these broader goals were achieved successfully.

The manufacturing of the AMX’s muscle car was halted after three model years. And this resulted in the transfer of the present AMX signature design to a higher performance version of its four-seat sibling through 1974, which was known as the Javelin..

In 1965 when the original AMX models were modified by the American Motors Corporation, it was done with the use of the sophisticated styling studios under Charles Mashigan, the creative director. Robert Evans was the one who requested the AMX car to be put into the assembly immediately and this started the development programs for the production of the muscle car. Those special programs consisted of an enhanced Javelin and an entirely new car that was bodied with fiberglass. The enhanced Javelin was chosen in order to allow AMC to utilize its unibody assembly expertise and available technology to create quite an inexpensive adjustments to the Javelin.

Read more article just like this one, including the latest post about the 1965 mustang on the MuscleCarMonster.com.

Share
Posted on January 19, 2011 by , Reply

Amsoil Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil–top 10 New products

Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil (BHO) has been named a Top-10 New Products winner for the upcoming 2011 World Ag Expo next month in Tulare, California. AMSOIL Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil and the other nine Top-10 New Products will be showcased at this year’s expo February 7-10. In addition to the Top-10 New Products plaque that will be awarded, AMSOIL is also in line to win the 2011 Attendee’s Choice New Product honor. This is where you can help make a difference.

 

The World Ag Expo is billed as the world’s largest annual agricultural exposition spanning 2.6 million square feet at the International Agri-Center in Tulare CA, found at the heart of California’s agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. The 2011 event will mark the 44th anniversary of the show which will draw more than 100,000 attendees to see 1,600 exhibitors. Attendees come from all 50 states and more than 70 different countries to see the latest in agricultural technology and innovation. Multiple AMSOIL Dealers will be exhibiting at the show, and AMSOIL will be also have a corporate presence at the event’s New Product Center.

 

http://www.worldagexpo.com/General-Info/Top-Ten/Top-10-Products-2011.htm

Share
Posted on January 15, 2011 by , Reply

Mass Appeal of Muscle Cars

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about muscle cars? For most people, they think of a vehicle that not only looks tough, but also delivers tough performance when on the road. These cars are also associated with very masculine activities such as drag racing. Of course, there are some girls who are also into these things, but typically, there are more guys who are interested in these types of cars. However both sexes can really enjoy these classic cars because they are so incredible.

The classic American muscle cars are stunning products that were made from the combination of high power and luxurious appearance. Such facts made these cars a hit among enthusiasts and collectors. The engines of these cars were bigger than the more common kinds of automobiles. When it came to the frame, it was also bigger than a sports cars. The most popular models were done between the years of 1964 to 1973. There are various models that have captured the hearts of those who are keen about muscles cars. Some of the most popular models include the Chevrolet El Camino, Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, Plymouth Road Runner, Mercury Montego, Ford Fairlane 500, Chevrolet Camaro, Firebird, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac GTO, Ford Torino and a lot more.

It is also possible to create your own custom models by hiring the services of a car company that will modify it to your specifications. You just have to speak with their engineers about what you intend to be done. You can dictate what you want to be used on the engine, the frame, the interiors and paint. Keep in mind however, that this can get quite costly.

Muscle cars continue to enjoy great popularity all around the world. This may be due to the fact that there are more people, especially teens, who are just learning about these cars. Ironically enough, this was the exact target market that the car manufacturers had in mind all those decades ago. Now today, people who grew up with these cars are usually the ones you will see buying them at auction houses and other high end venues, trying to relive their pasts. This is why I believe these cars will contiune to be revered well into the future, becasue they seem to transcend generations and are so appealing to a wealth of people, regardless of where and when you grew up.

To learn more about our feature classic, the 1969 Dodge Charger, visit our MuscleCarMonster.com blog today.

Share
Posted on January 14, 2011 by , Reply

3 Reasons To have Your Muscle Car Restored

Are you the proud owner of a muscle car? Well, have you ever thought of getting it restored? Muscle car restoration has plenty of benefits for your consideration. Some of the benefits that one could get would be bringing your vehicle back to its former glory and potentially increasing its value at the same time. Does that sound appealing? If it does then perhaps you might want to give getting a restoration some serious thought. Now, one of the things that often worry classic car owners when it comes to the topic of restoration would be what it entails.

So, what exactly does it entail? The answer would be, it varies. Basically, it depends upon the make and model of your vehicle, your specifications, what it needs as well as what the restoration company expert thinks. There are quite a number of different variations. To help you understand better, here are some examples of the more common muscle car restoration projects.

1. Rust Problems – This is one of the more common problems that a muscle car can have. After all, it is made of metal and as such, it is quite prone to rusting. For people who live in places where it is pretty damp, this can be really troublesome. Luckily, rust problems can be easily taken care of.

2. Car Paint – Repainting muscle cars is also a common project when it comes to restoration. There are cases wherein the owner wants a different color for his or her vehicle whilst sometimes, the paint simply chips away and needs a bit of a touch up.

3. Parts Replacement – This is a common project but one that can be quite tricky. The thing with replacing muscle car parts is that there are cases where the parts themselves are quite rare and hard to find. This often happens in the older vehicles.

Remember that different restoration experts would have varying opinions and methods when it comes to what’s best for your vehicle. Always choose the one you’re comfortable with as well as the one who fits your budget the most. It is always a good idea to contact them beforehand, go in for an assessment and get a quote before you commit to anything. If not, you may find yourself spending way more money than you should be, which is why you always want to do your homework first.

Wiliam Jason is a muscle car fanatic and has been collecting and restoring them for the last 15 years.

Share
Posted on January 13, 2011 by , Reply
First « 4950515253 » Last