Archive for May, 2011

Car wash equipment that uses hot or very hot water for cleaning is more versatile than machines that use just cold water. Pressure washers that heat water to as much as 330°F enhance the productivity of the car wash process in many ways:

* Removing Grease: Car parts tend to get very grimy and greasy due to the constant fumes and burning of fuel in the engine. Engine maintenance without appropriate tools such as high-quality car wash equipment is very difficult. High temperature pressure washers dissolve and wash away grease, burned fuels, and grime.

* Removing Snow and Frost: There is no faster way to melt snow, ice, and frost from cars than using car wash equipment that generates very high temperatures.

* Interior and Exterior Cleaning: Car washing equipment cleans inner and outer surfaces of cars as long as you use the right machines. Pressure washers are used for cleaning the outer surfaces, while a portable steam cleaner maybe used for cleaning dashboards, steering wheels, dashboard compartments, and so on.

Heat dissolves grease, organic matter, chewing gum, and similar substances faster than other methods. Using car detailing equipment that utilizes steam or heated water speeds up the cleaning process. Cold water hardens grease and dirt unless copious amounts of very harsh detergents are used.

Exterior Detailing

Removing dirt from tires, doors, windows, and engines without damaging the surface requires the use of top-quality car wash equipment specifically designed for such tasks. A pressure washer should be powerful enough to remove dirt and gentle enough not to harm the surface below. Auto detailing pressure washers have pressure levels of 750 psi to 1500 psi to clean cars completely without denting or stripping the paint. Some of these car detailing machines are designed to be low flow, using a fraction of the water used by conventional auto detailing products.

If you run a mobile car wash business, you should purchase a machine that can be fitted on a trailer and transported to work sites. Fixed-location businesses can use either a stationary or mobile car wash machines. A stationary unit equipped with two operator trigger guns increases efficiency.

Interior Detailing

A portable steam cleaner is used for cleaning hard surfaces inside the vehicle, including floors and dashboards. Note that steam cleaners have a limited capacity when it comes to cleaning large or multiple carpets and upholstery. You will need a carpet cleaning machine for that.

A portable steam cleaner should be equipped with a variety of brushes for easier handling of the cleaning process. An example of this may be that a nylon brush is best for cleaning the dashboard. Many mobile car wash steam cleaners have a HEPA filter to remove pollen, dust, pet hair, dust mites, and other allergens from the surface, while an anti-bacterial mechanism helps remove most germs from the surface.

Car detailing machines, if chosen with care, offer good service and last for a long period of time. In addition, these machines help businesses increase their output while cutting down on nonproductive tasks.

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Driving is something that is risky and no matter how well prepared you are, you just can’t seem to avoid some accidents. However, there are some things you can control. One of those very important things are the maintenance of your car or vehicle. Winter is an especially dangerous time of the year to be driving, since there are always factors like weather, snow, freezing conditions, and slippery roads to watch out for in addition to congestion on the road. On a positive note, drivers can reduce these risks of getting into a terrible collision by adhering to some essential winter maintenance techniques and processes. These tips will make getting through some tough winter driving conditions easier.

Drivers often undermine the importance of their tires, which will be significantly affected due to winter. For one, tires lose about one psi for every 10 degree temperature drop. Driving in under-inflated car tires is a bad idea and can lead to dramatic reduced traction, increases chances of you getting a flat tire, and even crashing on slippery roads. Keeping your tired inflated and operating in optimal performance is so important when driving in the winter so you may even want to consider investing in some snow tires that will give you the best traction.

Consider getting bright headlights to help improve the visibility on a cloudy winter day and nights. Dirty and faded lights are so dangerous because it makes it especially hazardous for you and other drivers sharing the road. While the exterior compartments of your car are important, so are the interior features that need to be kept in optimal working conditions. Imagine your heater and defroster not working. Making sure your heater is working will make your driving experience that much more manageable and comfortable during the winter months. While in your vehicle, test your heater, A/C unit, windshield wipers and defrosters to make sure all are working properly. The defrosting process can be sped up if you just turn on your AC while leaving the temperature dial on warm.

The cooling system in your vehicle is also a necessary feature that will facilitate winter driving. For one, drivers need a precise 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in their radiator to prevent freezing low temperatures. Therefore, you need to make sure the coolant you use is compatible with the low temperatures, maintaining this optimal 50=50 mixture. An antifreeze tester should do the trick and let you know if your cooling system needs to be refilled or flushed.

Lastly, you should consider making a roadside emergency kit and keeping it in your car. In the event of a breakdown, dealing with it in tough winter conditions will be less of headache if you have prepare a kit of essential items like bottle water, a flashlight, chains, a lighter, ice scraper, and a shovel. Another necessary thing to have is the right car insurance policy that is reliable and with quick roadside assistance options. Comparing car insurance quotes before you pick the right car insurance for you is also essential, giving you greater peace of mind while driving through the winter.

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What’s Up with Hybrid Vehicles?

If the price of gasoline has got you scared, and you’re thinking about maybe trading in your car for a moped, you’ve got half the solution right. It might be time to trade in your car, but forget the moped – get a hybrid car instead.

The dictionary defines the word hybrid as: Offspring resulting from breeding between parents of two different species, and that’s a good definition for our purposes. That’s because a hybrid car has a power plant that’s a cross between a gasoline powered engine and an electric motor.

What’s the big deal about hybrid cars?

The automobile industry claims that a hybrid car can give you as much as 20 to 30 miles per gallon more performance than a standard gasoline engine. That means that you buy less gasoline, and buying less gasoline leaves more money in your pocket. You’ll need that extra money, however, because hybrid cars are still relatively expensive compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars. As more hybrid cars are sold, manufacturing prices will drop, and that drop will be seen in the selling price.

How does a hybrid car save gasoline?

In a typical automobile, the engine is connected to the transmission via a mechanical link called the drive train. When the engine’s sparkplugs fire, they ignite gasoline vapor which pushes a piston up and down. This piston movement gets transferred to the transmission via the drive train. The transmission turns the wheels and the car goes down the road.

Well, the hybrid car is almost exactly the same except that in addition to the engine being connected to the transmission, an electric motor is also connected to the transmission. Actually, there are two different versions of hybrid cars. The one that was just described is called a parallel hybrid, because there are two different energy sources connected in parallel to the transmission.

The other type of hybrid car is called a series hybrid because the gasoline engine works in series with the electric motor to power the car. This is accomplished by having the gasoline engine either charge the car’s batteries, or power the electric motor. The gasoline engine doesn’t actually turn the car’s wheels at all.

The parallel hybrid operates off of the electric motor when the car is being driven below a certain speed, and the gasoline engine kicks in when that speed is exceeded, or when sensors in the car indicate that the driver has accelerated suddenly as if to pass or to avoid an emergency situation.

Of course, the gasoline engine is always running even when the electric motor is powering the car, so some gasoline is always being used.

The series hybrid is always running off of the electric motor, which restricts the top speed of the car, and the gasoline engine only kicks in when the batteries need to be charged.

Like all automotive claims, your mileage may vary. Even so, if you’re looking to spend less money at the gas station, and avoid much of the effect of rising gas prices, you might want to park a hybrid car in your garage.

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