Thursday, March 28, 2013

Five Tips to Increase Your Car's Fuel Economy


The cost of fuel is increasing. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to preserve fuel. Below are five tips that will help you maximize your fuel economy:

Drive Slower

This is perhaps one of the simplest things that you can do to preserve fuel. It is very tempting to drive 95 KPH when you are in a rush, but you will be able to save a lot of money in the long run if you can decrease your speed to 85 KPH. If you find that you are always in the hurry to get somewhere, then you may want to consider leaving the house a couple of minutes earlier.

Turn Off Your Vehicle

As long as the car is running, it will use fuel. That is why you should turn off your vehicle if you know that you will be waiting for a long time. Even if you only turn off the vehicle for a minute, it will still make a major difference in the long run.

Drive With Care

Speeding, sudden braking and rapid acceleration all decrease your fuel economy by up to 33 percent. These activities are also very dangerous and can increase your chances of getting involved in a car wreck. For that reason, you should drive cautiously at all times.

Combine Several Trips Into One

Do you have to make frequent trips throughout the day? If so, then you are most likely using a lot of fuel. In fact, taking several short trips can use twice as much fuel as taking one long trip. That is why you should try to combine several short trips into one.

Maintain Your Vehicle

A vehicle that is not properly maintained will use a lot more fuel. You should make sure that your tyres are inflated. This can increase your fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent. You may also want to consider getting your air filter replaced the next time that you get your oil changed. You can save 10 percent on fuel costs if you get a dirty air filter replaced. Additionally, regular tune-ups can help increase your fuel economy by to four percent.

Furthermore, you may want to consider cleaning out your trunk. Excess weight is another thing decreases your fuel economy.

Fuel is expensive, but you can save money if you choose to drive a little bit slower and turn off your vehicle when sitting for a long period of time. Driving with care, combining one trip into one and maintaining your vehicle will also help improve your fuel economy.

Adirondacks set with walnut accent center table


Hello everyone! hows life treating you there? Well, the handyman is so hectically busy these days creating new designs of my business furniture. Just sharing here one of my Adirondacks set with a center piece table. The table is kind of special and i don't usually do the multiple wood material. However i have a very important client that i would like to get the best impression. So i made him the walnut accent center table for his set of chairs. He loved the idea and very pleased about it! I am happy as well.

So anyway, if you're interested of my designs, check out my online showroom.

Monday, March 18, 2013

5 Basic Maintenance Tasks to Complete on Your Car

LLL Routine car maintenance is an important task that many people take for granted. By taking care of maintenance issues at scheduled intervals, you can ensure that your vehicle is always running at peak efficiency. You can also reduce the chance that your car may have a serious mechanical problem that will necessitate an expensive repair by a mechanic. Let’s take a look at five maintenance tasks that you can do yourself:

1. Checking the tire pressure

This may seem like an insignificant item. However, driving on tires that are not inflated to their correct pressure can cause you to get terrible gas mileage. A digital tire gauge would be a wise and inexpensive investment for anyone who owns a vehicle. When you are going to check the pressure, do it before you have driven the car that day. Tires get hot when they are driven. This causes their pressure to rise. The correct pressure for your tires should be stamped on the side of the tire. If it is not there, it will be in your vehicle owner’s manual.

2. Changing the air filter

Keeping a clean air filter in your vehicle can improve your gas mileage and the power generated by the vehicle. For most cars, replacing the filter is a task that literally takes five minutes. It make no sense to pay a mechanic to do a task that anyone can do. However, it is more complex to change the air filter on certain vehicles. You should check your owner’s manual before you start to find out exactly what is involved. When you take out the old filter, check to see which way it is supposed to go. This will help you avoid putting the new filter in upside-down.

3. Changing wiper blades

If you ever get caught driving in a heavy rain, having wiper blades that function properly could literally save your life. Once again, this is a simple tasks that there is no need to pay a mechanic to do. Your repair manual should have the instructions on how to install the blades. Most vehicles only require you to push a lever and pull the blade off. Other vehicles use small fasteners that are a little more difficult, but still something any person can manage. Make sure your new wiper blades are locked into position before you start driving.

4. Changing the oil

This may be more difficult on certain vehicles than others. However, it is generally a simple task. Jack your vehicle up or use ramps. Get a large pan to catch all of the oil in. Remove the drain plug with a socket wrench. The oil will drain into the pan. Get an oil filter wrench and remove the oil filter. Let the excess oil drain into the pan. Replace the drain plug and install a new oil filter. Pour in the correct amount of oil.

5. Changing a spark plug

This task only requires a socket wrench that has a spark plug socket. You may also need an extender to reach the spark plug if it is beyond the reach of the normal wrench. Be careful that you do not remove more than one plug at a time. Doing this might cause you to confuse which distributor cables are associated with which plug.

If you follow these 5 basic tips you will avoid expensive repairs and prolong the life of your investment. However when the time comes to upgrade your car, be sure to purchase a reputable make and model, such as those from Suzuki QLD, doing so will ensure that any ongoing maintenance is minimal and your car will remain on the road, where it belongs.