Six gear cars

Archive for October, 2009

Understanding Your Mufflers

Ever heard of cars without mufflers? Well get ready to cover your ears. Mufflers may look like some tube somewhere in the engine but you’d be amazed at what it can do with regards to a vehicle’s noise level. Here are some top facts you need to know about them.

What is a muffler?

A muffler is a tubular acoustic device that is inserted in the exhaust system. It is designed to reduce noise. Inside it you will find a tube set with holes on them. They work in the same manner like a musical instrument by reflecting waves that transmit sound caused by the vehicle engine. In this way some of the waves are cancelled out.

How does a muffler work?

The key to knowing how mufflers work is to know and understand the concept of canceling sound first. To cancel out sound is to make a wave of sound that is precisely the opposite of some other wave.

This would mean that if the engine produces a certain sound wave the muffler would produce the exact opposite of this sound wave consequently making the two waves out of phase. If the waves are out of phase zero amplitude is produced called destructive interference.

So if the sound wave produced by the car engine is at the maximum the muffler will be producing the same wave at the minimum. When the two waves hit your eardrum you hear nothing because the waves when added add up to nothing. In order to cancel out sound a tube set is found inside a muffler. These tubes are made to produce waves that reflect and get in the way with each other.

This is how it happens. The sound waves get inside the tube at the center into the muffler’s body and then go into another chamber called the “resonator”. The resonator equipped with a specific length and some air is the chamber that’s responsible in creating a wave that wipes out a definite sound frequency. It is here that sound waves are canceled out. After going into the resonator the sound waves take a turn and leave through the last pipe leaving the muffler.

What are the other kinds of mufflers?

Glass Pack Muffler. This muffler works by simply absorbing sound waves to reduce sound. Active NoiseCanceling Mufflers. The system used in this type of muffler incorporates a speaker and a microphone set. A computer is utilized to monitor and give a signal to the speaker. Most industrial generators use this type of muffler.

About the writer:  James Brown writes about MotoSport promo code JP Cycles coupon and Moto Leather coupon

Auto Car Dealers

At this time auto car dealers are having a credit crunch too after a few years of booming car sales the financial market is hurting them badly.

New car sales at auto car dealers are at the lowest point since 1966 we have just had the new 58 registration number plate out and it is rare to see one. This downturn will have a dramatic effect on the used car market too.

There is a rumour going round that one of the largest auto car dealers is in financial trouble. With new car sales being down used car prices going into freefall then taking into account recent acquisitions of new premises over the last year money spent on making the business even larger with the debts involved is coming back with disaster written all over it.

It wont be alone auto car dealers are not the only ones in trouble when recession hits and spending is frozen by a struggling populace car servicing takes a back seat and you cant blame people for that. It may in many cases prove a false economy but there we go.

At the moment it is the same as in the property market it is a buyers market and auto car dealers are very aware of it as a buyer you dont have to wait for the end of the month to get the best deals any time will do.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your new or used car from an auto car dealer you will find yourself spoilt for choice and if you stay strong in the bartering bit you can surprise even yourself with the savings extras you can achieve.

But for auto car dealers therein lies the problem not nearly enough of us are in the market for a new or used car manufactures have created a problem for themselves thank goodness I might add it is this: Cars made over the last 10 years or so are very very reliable so in buyers terms if it aint broke why change it?

Like many industries at this credit crunch time auto car dealers are right in the thick of it jobs might be lost or saved in the city but jobs will only be lost in this area car makers have already laid workers off down numbered the number of shifts slowed even stalled production on some vehicles it is a worrying time for far too many families.

It is not just here in the UK this is affecting auto car dealers manufacturers globally production is grinding to a halt knock on effect means less replacement parts and so on. I take no pleasure in stating it is all too much doom and gloom at the moment it will get better but not for a long while yet.

In my next article I will turn to jollier matters in the meantime though when driving short distance or long please please please wear your seat belt.

About the writer:  I’m Davidsway cars are my thing. Please visit: http://davidswayautocardealers.blogspot.com

The Volvo Oxygen Sensor

Every Volvo car proudly bears an assurance of safety. Volvo has been under the limelight for many years now because of their innovations when it comes to safety. Volvo a famous Swedish car brand was officialy born on April 14 1927 in Gothenburg Sweden. It was found by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larsson. Volvo is a Latin word which literally means I roll. It is no doubt that a Volvo car is made of car parts that have met the highest of standards. However due to constant use these parts should the proper maintenance they need in order to function well. The Volvo oxygen sensor is a small sensor inserted into the exhaust system of a petrol engine to measure the concentration of oxygen remaining in the exhaust gas to allow an electronic control unit ECU to control the efficiency of the combustion process in the engine. In much simpler terms it detects whether the air and gasoline mixture is too lean too littler fuel or too rich too much fuel. A mixture is lean if there is excess air and this could cause nitrogenoxide pollutants. A mixture is rich if there is less air and this is not good since it the unburned fuels can greatly contribute to pollution. The perfect ratio of air and gasoline that is 14.7:1 in most vehicles. There are two types of Volvo oxygen sensors that are commonly used today. First is the single wire oxygen sensor and second is the heated oxygen sensor which has a builtin heating ingredient designed to maintain an engine’s ideal operating temperature. There are several factors that could contribute to the failure of a Volvo oxygen sensor. One can be normal wearing out due to use and the other once is the heavy use of leaded fuels. Among the symptoms of an oxygen sensor failure is the loss of power of the engine or it may not seem to respond quickly. Another possible sign that could suggest a failure is an increase amount of fuel consumption than the usual even if a car has already undergone some tuneup processes. At least four factors need to be considered in order to ensure a longer life for a Volvo oxygen sensor. First is good electrical connections since the sensor generates low currents. Second is the outside air supply since air must circulate to the internal portion of the sensor. Third is proper operating temperature. The ECU only recognizes sensor signals only when the temperature is already 316 C. Fourth is the use of leaded gasolines since common use of these can damage the oxygen sensor quickly.

About the writer:  John Garret is an automobile mechanic who knows every crook and cranny of his truck. He’s also a vintage car enthusiast and he’s dedicated to fixing and restoring them. He is a motorist who believes in continuous research and improvement.