Monday, February 25, 2013

Top 5 Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle

Top 5 Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle


It seems hybrid cars are wildly gaining popularity. During your next car search do you ever wonder: Would you be happy in a hybrid vehicle? Are they cool? Do they really help the environment as much as everyone says? There are many considerations when purchasing a new car, and here are the top 5 benefits of seriously adding a hybrid vehicle to your list of top choices.

1) Fuel Economy

There is absolutely no debate that hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than their all gas counterparts. Typical hybrid gas mileage ranges from 40-50 miles per gallon. Considering that there are still all gas vehicles on your dealer's new car lot only getting 15-20 miles per gallon, fuel economy is a blessing to your hectic schedule and routine. Stopping at the dreaded gas pump less often = freedom!

2) Savings on at the pump

With the fuel economy mentioned above, one might still wonder if a hybrid vehicle, which still requires some gasoline, would a hybrid vehicle in your garage really amount to much savings at all on your monthly fuel bill. Since a hybrid vehicle only uses gas when driving over 40 miles per hour or when your battery needs charging, you could save a tremendous amount of dough on your gas bill each month. The key factor that would decide overall savings is how much stop and go city driving you do versus how much highway driving. The electric battery powers the vehicle at stops and during traditional stop and go city driving; thereby, saving you gallons of gas until you get on the highway.

3) Environmental benefits

What? You didn't realize that a hybrid is good for the environment? Seriously though, you obviously were already aware of the plethora of research and statistics that support electric car vehicles (and their hybrid cousins) as producing an astounding lesser amount of harmful fuel emissions. This is a key factor in global warming. Yes, a hybrid car is a wonderful alternative for your green initiatives.

4) Flexibility

Hybrid vehicles, unlike their all electric counterparts, don't have to be charged. As it turns out, the battery gets charged when you drive through two nifty pieces of technology. The brakes use a cool technology method of charging your battery during braking, stopping at a red light, idling, etc. We'll expand on this below. However, an additional way that your battery gets charged while you drive is that when your vehicle switches over to the gas engine, it also charges the battery. So driving on the highway all the way home from a long day at work is actually recharging your battery, too!

5) Tax Savings

Only two things are sure in life: death and taxes. But purchasing a hybrid vehicle can save you money on your tax bill to Uncle Sam. There are federal tax credits, as well as state and local tax credits as well, for taxpayers who purchase a hybrid vehicle.

These are just a few of the many benefits of considering buying a hybrid vehicle the next time you go car shopping.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Haugen
http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-5-Benefits-of-a-Hybrid-Vehicle&id=7512443
 

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Top Three Benefits of Changing Transmission Fluid

The Top Three Benefits of Changing Transmission Fluid
By Ron Haugen

There has always been some debate on the pros and cons of changing your transmission fluid on a routine basis, per your vehicle owner's manual recommendation. One of the many rumored suspicions is that doing so will open your car up to having dreaded transmission issues sooner. To debunk those conspiracy theories, let's get into the meat of the topic and explore, together, why it absolutely makes sense to change it regularly; and how not doing so could actually cause your car to run sluggishly - potentially costing you precious pennies in the long run!
 
1) Heat is the enemy

The number one reason that manufacturers recommend you change your transmission fluid regularly is because it degrades as it continually heats up during driving. There are exhaustive studies about the precise temperatures in which its effectiveness actually wanes. Suffice it to say that most owner's manuals duly recommend changing your fluid every 30,000 miles. There is one exception to this rule: newer vehicles using Dexron III ATF fluid can often go up to 100,000 miles before needing to be changed. As you drive, and the transmission heats up, the viscosity of your fluid changes; over time, this heat causes transmissions to burn up and this is the single-most cause of transmission repairs today - burned up transmissions.

2) Gunk and sludge

As your transmission continues to heat up and it continues to break down, your car's transmission components begin to get bogged down with gunk and sludge. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that gunk and sludge are going to clog up your transmission gears, causing unnatural wear and tear on your vehicle's transmission. If you want your transmission to continue to operate smoothly, it is vital to keep it clean.

3) Leaky seals and putrid odors

No, I'm not talking about a horror flick here. A well-maintained machine is one whose owner regularly checks the transmission fluid levels - yes, using the dipstick! You should ideally check your transmission fluid level when your engine is warm and idling. Transmission fluid should be bright red and should smell sweet, not putrid or rancid. It shouldn't be brown or black or even dark red. It should look like the tip of the spindle after Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger. If your transmission fluid level is low, or the color is not right, it's time to change your transmission fluid and check (or have checked by the mechanic) all of the seals around the transmission for leaks.

If you want your transmission to last throughout the life of the car, it is imperative that you change your transmission fluid regularly, following your owner's manual guidelines and a few common sense rules. In today's world of disposable everything - neglecting your transmission can be a rude awakening to your wallet. The potential costs associated with ignoring the routine maintenance guidelines on your transmission could total thousands of dollars that would be better spent on a nice, warm vacation to a sunny spot this summer.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Haugen
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Top-Three-Benefits-of-Changing-Transmission-Fluid&id=7502640