Buying a Used Car
A little logic, a good sense of observation and some basic tips enough to get a picture of the status of a car. You can always ask a professional if the vehicle passed the first checks.
First, inspect the vehicle in broad daylight and take your time. If the seller is pressed, beware. Do you an idea of care provided to vehicle maintenance. Do not just shine plastics. There are very good products, used for the occasion, giving the illusion of new plastics. Do not hesitate to raise the mats and seat covers. Examine carefully the condition of rubber seals on doors, trunk and hood.
Turbochargers
This article is part one of a series about turbochargers. In this article, we’ll introduce the equations you need to calculate how much air a turbocharger is flowing. We’ll also see how to calculate the pressure ratio, outlet air temperature, and density ratio. Once we’ve gotten the raw numbers, you’ll learn how to plot them on a compressor flow map and how to read the results.
Don’t worry about getting drowned in math, we’ll take you through it step by step. At the end of the article, we’ll provide an easy to use calculator you can download and use to make all of these calculations yourself without having to step through all of the equations.
My Truck Won't Start!
It’s a cold winter day, and your Power Stroke won’t start. What do you do?
1. As we’ve stated before, the number one failure that will keep you from starting your truck is the glow plug relay (GPR). The first thing you should do is get your spare glow plug relay out and replace the one in the truck. You do have a spare glow plug relay, right? Chances are, this will get you back on the road.
Cold Weather Operation
Diesel engines behave very differently than gas engines during the winter, especially starting and right after start up. This month’s tech article will explain what you need to know for operating your Power Stroke during the winter. First we’ll talk about how all of the cold weather systems on the engine work, and what you should expect from your truck during cold weather. After that, we’ll explain what you can do to keep your Power Stroke running in top condition as the winter moves in.
Starting Your Truck
Diesel engines work on the concept of compression ignition; as the air in the cylinder is compressed, it is heated to the ignition point of the fuel. If the air being brought into the engine is too cold, it may not get heated enough to ignite the fuel, or to fully burn it. This is why diesels are traditionally difficult to start in the winter time.
Power Stroke diesel
This brand new, monthly publication brings you original technical articles, news, product reviews, and more, all focused on the truck you drive every day. This diesel newsletter is focused on the Power Stroke diesel, and the Ford trucks that use them, although there are articles that include other diesels or that apply to any diesel.
Here are some of the articles lined up for future issues:
• Performance chip review, featuring several of the most popular brands tested under every condition imaginable, from everyday driving, towing, dyno runs, racing, and more!
Toyota MR2 sports car
After a five-year hiatus, Toyota resurrected the MR2 sports car last year, which along with the new Celica were designed to spice up what had been, overall, a rather stodgy product line. This does provide real competition for what had been the only other affordable roadster on the market—the Mazda Miata—but as time behind the wheel of a 2001 model recently proved, the cars have essentially different characters.
What’s most apparent about the MR2 is that having only a 138-hp, 1.8-liter, DOHC four to provide the push is anything but a performance liability, particularly in a car weighing only 2,195 lbs. This best-in-class weight number translates into superb handling, whether one is squeaking the Yokohamas off the line, enjoying the right-NOW responsiveness of the electrically assisted hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering system, or displacing one’s eyeballs under braking.
The Focus FR200
LAS VEGAS—It features a modified 2.0-liter Zetec engine and delivers an astounding 304 horsepower. It is designed to be the ultimate combination of high horsepower and superior handling in a small, front-wheel-drive car. It is Ford Racing Technology’s Focus FR200, and Livonia, Mich.-based McLaren Engines played an integral role in making it go “zoom.”
Ford Racing Technology unveiled the turbocharged Focus FR200 project car today during Innovations Day at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show here.
Mercedes-Benz SL coupe/roadster
MONTVALE, NJ — A new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL coupe/roadster—the first in over 12 years
—will debut in Europe this fall and arrive in the U.S. next spring. Perhaps the best-known Mercedes model ever, the new SL convertible will mark the fifth generation of the highly successful series, which began in 1954 with the legendary “gullwing” 300SL.
Bentley Motors
The rich prewar racing heritage of Bentley was highlighted during the 2001 Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races August 17-19. Now in its 28th year, the Historics is considered North America’s premier vintage race, where more than 350 historic race cars annually assemble to challenge the famed corkscrew at Laguna Seca Raceway.
Although the first Bentleys rolled off the assembly line and onto Britain’s roadways in relative obscurity in 1921, it wasn’t long before racing fans worldwide began holding the marque in high regard as victories were plentiful in such prestigious races as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bentley racked up a total of five checkered flags at Le Mans, including a dominating four-year winning streak from 1927 to 1930.