Mazda Working on Motor That Will Get 70 MPG

Mazda Motors is working on a fiendish new project. The goal is a traditional gas motor that will get 70 miles per gallon. The Ford Motor Business had a similar announcement with plans for a 45 mpg motor within the Focus. Neither engine is attached to a hybrid vehicle, but the engines do provide high efficiency within an internal combustion motor, though with improvements. The design uses advanced technology but some fairly basic principles.

Mazda engine to outperform hybrids

CNN reports that many have been talking about the newest Mazda engine. About 70 miles per gallon can be achieved with the prototype. If the car has a good price, than many individuals will be dying to get the car with that fuel consumption. Direct fuel injection and variable valve timing are the two technologies that the motor will be using. Fuel is injected right into the piston chamber instead of via a fuel injector on top of the block in direct injection which allows ignition to be more precise. Variable valve timing is where instead of mechanically set and unvarying valve operation, valves are automated via computer and adjusted into the most efficient rhythm. It is new technology that is being used. Of course, it is a really basic idea still.

The physics are simple

The science behind the Mazda motor and the 45 mpg Focus is pretty basic. Involved are two essential principles. Incorporated are mechanical efficiency and mechanical advantage. Mechanical efficiency is easy. It is, in order to perform, the energy expended in a ratio needed. Mechanical advantage involves the force coming from a machine in energy. The unit of energy being produced is what it is. The fuel efficiency in an engine could be better the better the mechanical advantage, or the power extracted from a unit of fuel, is.

Really doing it

Put simply, injecting gasoline in the right place at the right time will produce more force, and thus be more efficient, than traditional fuel injection. Efficiency also does better when there are things like turbocharged smaller engines. Hybrid technology is still just beginning out although it is a great technology. The traditional combustion engine is not a dead or dying technology, and it could be interesting to determine what can still be done with it.

Information from

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/11/02/autos/gas_engine_improvements/index.htm

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_advantage

Wikipedia

wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_efficiency

Vinyl Dash Repair Tips

Imagine you will find cracks as part of your car’s vinyl dashboard. If you think covering them with masking tape and coloring the tape to match the dash is copacetic, shake yourself. Real vinyl dashboard repair isn’t really difficult, and it is cheap. Proper dashboard restoration costs more than the tape and marker plan, but that’s appropriate. Cheap out on your car too long and it will turn its back on you.
Do not be scared of the split when repairing your vinyl dash panel
Vinyl fabric over foam padding is usually what a vinyl dash panel consists of. Excessive sun exposure can trigger sun damage, and using harsh cleaners and protectants is a bad idea. According to Popular Mechanics, these elements can suck the vinyl-chloride plasticizer from the dash surface. That’s what causes vinyl to become brittle and begin to split. You can clean it the best with a soft rag and warm water.
Fixing a cracked dash
You might not think that one small crack is going to hurt anything. However, if it begins to spread into too many cracks, then your dash might have to be replaced. That will hurt your wallet. Slapping a shag fabric dash cover over the problem will make individuals think you’re a stunt driver in the remake of “Scream, Blacula, Scream.”. Rather than going blaxploitation retro, take the simple however effective street to vinyl dash panel restoration. According to eHow, you’ll need a utility knife, painter’s tape, silicone caulking and vinyl paint. Here’s the procedure:

1. Carve the crack into a “V” shape for making room for the caulking.
2. Use a rag and water to clean out all dust and debris from the crack. Make sure you’ve let it dry all the way.
3. Mask off either side of the crack. You are able to do this with the tape.
4. Apply the silicone caulking into the split. Let it dry for 15 minutes, then remove the tape. The split being small is a good thing. You can simply move to the next step. Before the crack is completely dry, you are able to use a vinyl repair kit to give the silicone texture if the split is pretty big. You’ll have to remove the tape afterwards.
5. Let the split dry for two hours before other things. Then you could be able to paint the crack. Following the paint has dried a few hours, you are ready to go again.

Data from
EHow.com
ehow.com/how_2077554_repair-cracks-dashboard.html
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/saturday-mechanic-blog/repair-cracked-vinyl-dashboard

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Car Makers Tell EPA to Wait on E15

Dependence on foreign oil is a hot topic, but it isn’t a new one. Each president since Jimmy Carter has said something about yet. Over time, different fuels such as methane and ethanol have been proposed. Over the last few years, gas suppliers have been mixing gasoline and ethanol, in a solution called E10, or 10 percent ethanol. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency is thinking about whether to approve use of E15 for late or older models. There is not a good deal of science out on it yet. That is why auto makers are urging the EPA to wait on deciding.
The EPA weighs in on E15
The Environmental Protection Agency has the oversight on approving new fuels. Right now, it is weighing the merits of E15. E15 is the next step up from the already widely sold E10. It has a mixture of 15 percent ethanol to 85 percent gasoline. The Department of Energy is testing the effects of E15 on automobiles that are no older than 10 years, according to Popular Mechanics. That is not an incredibly realistic testing range. About 88 percent of all cars in use in the United States of America are over 10 years of age. The Auto Alliance, a consortium of car manufacturers, has urged the EPA not for making any ruling on E15 until Auto Alliance studies have been completed. At least one study, by engineering group Ricardo, Inc., found that E15 has no harmful effects on cars older than 10 years.
Ethanol as gasoline
Ethanol also goes by another name, which is moonshine. The energy potential of a chemical is determined by its combustibility, and ethanol is certainly combustible. According to Wikipedia, the drawback to using ethanol is that it has about 34 percent less energy per unit of volume than gasoline. Resulting from that is 50 percent greater use of fuel in an ethanol only vehicle. However, parity with gas power could be achieved by increasing the compression, and making the engine more powerful. Even with a larger engine at higher compression, ethanol fueled cars cannot get better mileage than gas engines.
The consequences of ethanol
A great deal of grain is already getting used for a fuel crop. However, the danger with supplanting gas with ethanol is that crops, especially grains, increase in scarcity and therefore cost. Having a cheap abundance of grain crops is what makes civilization itself possible.
Additional reading
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/biofuels/renewable-fuels-association-urges-epa-to-approve-e15-for-older-vehicles?click=pm_news
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Drum Versus Disc Brakes

Even though the speed a car can travel is essential, it is just as essential to be able to stop if and whenever you want. Two types of brakes are available, and they’re drum brakes and disk brakes. These two braking systems are used for very different reasons, though both are effective. Conserve time and money by knowing what kind of brake system you need for automobile. Article source – Drum brakes vs. disc brakes – turning up the heat by Car Deal Expert.
Drum brake background
Drum braking systems are sometimes known as “rotating” braking systems. The basic design is one of a round “drum” that rotates along with the wheel. Press down on the brake pedal, and also the drum expands out, providing friction and slowing the wheel. The biggest problem with drum brakes is when they’re put under very heavy load on a regular basis, they can heat up and lose effectiveness easily.
The basics of disc brakes
Disc brakes really just look like some bikes on a bicycle. Two brake pads use a caliper to “squeeze” the wheel whenever you press on the brake. By keeping the brakes outside the wheel housing, the brakes tend to be more reliable by being air-cooled.
Disc versus Drum
When deciding between disc and drum, make certain you consider everything. Simplicity and cheapness are what people think of when thinking of drum brakes. Disc brakes, though, offer meatier braking power. Drum brakes are typically found in less costly or more economical automobiles. Sometimes there will be disc and drum brakes. Despite the fact that it is typically more expensive, having disc brakes for emergencies could be really helpful. Emergency brakes have to be installed also with less costly drum brakes. Disc brakes need replacing less than drum brakes although it costs less to replace drum brakes.

Anchoring- Most Dealerships use this technique

When people attempt to make a decision, they use perceptions called anchors as points of comparison. Once an anchor has been set for future comparisons, that anchor is hard to remove from the mind. This process of operating bias is appropriately called anchoring, and retail business cannot wait to use it on an unaware consumer. The human brain will fall back on it if countermeasures aren’t prepared in advance. A little bit of knowledge won’t make one immune, but it will help on places like a used automobile lot.
An anchor in the car aisles
Marcy makes her way onto a used automobile lot, entirely unaware of the concept of psychological anchoring. The old commuter works, but Marcy wants something new and exciting. A sharp hybrid catches her eye. She checks it out from front to back, sits in it and wonders if she may have found her dream car. But the sticker price shakes her. Lightning strikes when she reads the price tag: $ 24,998.
Enter used automobile salesman with reassuring grin. He asks her if she likes the automobile, and while Marcy does, she exclaims dejectedly that it’s out of her price range. Marcy loves the car, but she hates the price. Then the salesman comes at Marcy with the hook.
'No worries. That car’s on sale for $ 14,000!’
That’s all that Marcy needs. She jumps at the chance to buy with such a discount. She has taken the bait for a top retail scam, writes You Are not So Wise. As Marcy didn’t know what the vehicle was really worth, the salesman could very easily use anchoring to play with her expectations. Markdown seemed excellent, but the real value of the car happened to be under $ 10,000. The markup is what was tremendous. Marcy needed an anchor to help her make her purchase decision, and also the salesman obliged. The dealer made out like a bandit, thanks to anchoring.
Haggle, do not buy the vapor
What we’re willing to pay is typically a vapor number that isn’t grounded in specific money value. What the dealer says and what the true value is could be wildly different. It anchors the mind to an inflated price that is far above what the dealer paid for it, let alone its true worth.
Allow a dealer that kind of room to play games and your cash will turn to vapor. Haggling pulls you away from the concept of anchoring and can make less experienced auto dealers squirm. Control the game, instead of allow yourself to be controlled by anchoring. Do your due diligence and be prepared to haggle for a lower price. Experienced dealers will play ball with such a intelligent customer.
Find more details on this subject
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring
You Are not So Smart
youarenotsosmart.com/2010/07/27/anchoring-effect/

WattStation will charge electric cars using smart grid tech

General Electric announced that they will  have the WattStation, or new electric car charging station. The time it takes to charge a 24 kWh battery is reduced by two thirds. For home and commercial use the WattStation could be used for. Source for this article – WattStation will charge electric cars using smart grid tech by Car Deal Expert.
Using technology for the WattStation
Smart-grid technology is used with the WattStation charging unit. Extra energy is delivered to areas of high demand with the two way digital control smart grid has. Combined with superconductive transmission lines, the smart-grid tech can pull the additional energy required to charge batteries quickly.
WattStation – will it work?
A battery can be charged in four to eight hours with WattStation as outlined by General Electric. Usual charging times, depending on the electric car, are between twelve and eighteen hours. While some car battery makers are working on reducing that charging time, most nevertheless take at least twelve hours.
Electric car battery issues
The biggest challenge with most electric cars is simple – getting enough power to run the vehicle takes a when. No matter what the battery is made with, it still will take time to charge. Only so much power can be given at once by electric transmission systems and lines. WattStation supposedly found a way to fix this problem.
Is WattStation something buyers are interested in?
Car makers have always been frustrated with electric cars. While there seems to be great support for electric cars in the market, they nevertheless remain a niche product. Buyers would rather use gas cars with the questionable battery technology and long charging times. GE hopes that, combined with new cars and better battery technology, the WattStation will encourage buyers to make the leap to electric.