Wheel Alignment

If you believe that car tyres encounter no problems apart from puncture and that they have nothing to do with the efficiency of the car, then you are under the wrong impression. In fact, tyres play an important role in the overall performance of the car and for that regular wheel alignment is very essential.

If the wheels are not properly aligned, then the tyres wear out very early. Also improper alignment can lead to develop unequal pressure on both sides of the car, which causes wheels to face more resistance while driving. To overcome this resistance, more energy is required to run smoothly and thus it results in more fuel consumption. Lack of wheel alignment can also lead to accidents, due to difficulty in driving straight.

If you want to keep your car and other components in a proper condition for long time, then car experts suggest aligning your wheels every year or after every 10000km. If you travel regularly over uneven roads, then wheel alignment is recommended every 6 months.

If you are not one to regularly service your car, then look for the following pointers that indicate your car needs wheel alignment.

1. While driving on a highway, if you feel that your car is dragging onto one side, irrespective of whether it is right or left, that is, if you have trouble driving straight, then there is a need of wheel alignment.
2. If one of your tyres exhibits more wear than the others, there is a need for wheel alignment.
3. Vibrations in steering wheel also give an indication as to when to go for wheel alignment.

While mending the problem of improper alignment, you need to see for a camber where both wheels are seen from the front of your car. If you find your wheels to be tilted, either outside or inside from the centerline, then it should be aligned. Also verify from above, to find how much your car wheels are inside or outside, which is also known as toes in and toes out respectively. Finally, steering axis is checked from the side of your car to see if it is tilting toward right or left side.

Thus, wheel alignment needs to be done regularly to maintain your car performance. Always align all four wheels and not just the front two.

Ensure your vehicle is insured !

There are various insurance companies offering a number of policies, each with its own terms and conditions. Selecting an appropriate insurance policy for your motorcycle could be difficult and confusing. It is important that you select a policy that suits your requirements and budget, for which you need to determine all details that your vehicle’s policy must cover.

Three types of policies are applicable for vehicle:

1. Third party liability insurance: In this category, insurance company pays damage or injury expense to third parties that have been affected by an accident for which you are responsible. It does not cover expenses that may arise for treating you or repairing your vehicle. By law, it is mandatory that third-party liability insurance needs to be adopted by every driver.
2. Collision insurance policy: In this category, along with the third parties, the damage to your vehicle and expenses for treating your injuries are covered, even if you are responsible for the accident. If the monetary value of your bike is more than its cost of maintenance, then this category of insurance cover is adopted.
3. Comprehensive insurance policy: This insurance policy is the most expensive of all. This not only covers collision-related damage, but other damages like earthquake, theft, fire, storm, flood, vandalism, etc. The premium differs from company to company.
4. Zero depreciation or zero debt policy: This policy is for a new car owner and it also has a higher premium than other categories. It is similar to the comprehensive policy. The only difference is that, in the comprehensive policy, the insurance company pays claim money calculating current value (depreciation) of your vehicle; but in zero depreciation policy, the insurance company will pay the whole cost of damage, without calculating the depreciation value of the vehicle.
5. NO claim bonus: It provides a bonus to the policy holder, if he/she does not make claims for a particular year. As there is no claim made, insurance company provides discounts in the premium of next year. This no-claim bonus can also be transferred from one vehicle to a new vehicle. Discount varies from company to company, but it is usually in the range of 20-50%.

Depending upon your requirements, budget and the risks involved, choose your insurance policy. The selection of an insurance company for providing your insurance policy is also a tricky job. Every insurance company has its own clauses and prices, so proper research is to be done before selecting any insurance company.  After selecting a genuine insurance company and comparing prices, read the clauses mentioned in the policy with utmost care and check whether it fulfills all requirements.

The premium amount is the major concern for most people. If you want very less premium amount, then third party liability insurance is ideal. Premium amount will be decided on various factors like the type of bike, year of the model, the distance the vehicle has covered, mileage the vehicle offers, and many more. Companies also ask for records like occurrence of a previous accidents, etc.

It is best to select insurance cover for your vehicle with better understanding and knowledge of company policies in order to get maximum benefits.

Tips For Tyre Tutelage

Every tyre manufacturer claims that he gives long-lasting tyres. In reality, there is no such definite limit for life of tyres, as it depends on a variety of factors. This becomes very apparent from the fact that the front tyres get worn out earlier than the rear tyres. 

Thus the following facts would help to understand how long the tyres will last:

1. If your mode of driving is very rough, which includes short brakes and sharp turning, your car tyres can wear-out fast.
2. Driving your car with great speed can also lead to early worn-out tyres.
3. If wheel alignment is not right, then there is a chance of reduced tyre life.
4. Parking your car in scorching heat on a daily basis can increase the wearing out of tyres.
5. The pressure also affects the weathering of tyres. All tyres should be filled with a recommended pressure.
6. There are number of tread patterns on tyres, which play an important role in determining the life of tyre. Some tread patterns provide low resistance, noise, improved braking force, etc, while others are much less effective. Hence, a tyre-life also depends on its features and tread pattern.
7. Overloading of car with passenger or luggage can also wear out the tyres fast, as it develops a strain on the tyres.
8. If you have tyres that are not suitable for your vehicle or tyres of different structure or tread patterns, then its chances of wearing out is more. Thus, try to get tyres from same manufacturer with same tread pattern.
9. Travelling through uneven roads on a regular basis can cause wearing-out of tyres.
10. In addition to considering all the above points, external examination of tyre rubber to find out the cut, tread depth, holes, stones, nail, etc can be performed, preferably by experts.

The life of tyres cannot be determined accurately as it depends on its type of usage. When a front tyre is found to be worn out, it is recommended to replace the front tyres with the rear tyres and the rear tyres with new tyres.

Braking, A Habit.

All motorcycles feature an efficient braking unit for both wheels to ensure safety and quick deployment. It is highly critical that the condition of the brakes are checked periodically and regularly to warrant the rider’s safety.

Disc brakes:

There are two important checks that need to be performed to take care of disc brakes:

• It is important to keep a check on the level of braking fluid in the brake-fluid reservoir. The reservoir is located on the handle bar for the front brakes; for the rear disc, it is placed behind the right or left heel plate.
• While topping the brake-fluid reservoir with braking fluid, it is highly recommended to open a brand new container of brake-fluid as it has a penchant for accumulating moisture overtime.
• Take care not to spill the fluid in any of the body panels or metal surfaces of the bike, as the fluid can be extremely corrosive and is capable of severely damaging these components.
• Brake pads need to be checked regularly as they are the components that are exploited the most. It is important not to erode the brake pads until the very edge of the material, as it could severely damage the disc brake rotor which might force you to change the entire brake assembly; this can be quite expensive. 

Drum brakes:

Drum brakes require recurrent attention and can be difficult to work with. The brake shoes require frequent attention as they are prone to damage in a short period of time.

• Worn-out brake shoes cause grinding or squealing noises. Brakes tend to squeak due to accumulation of dust and dirt inside the drum brakes or due to lack of lubrication. Cleaning the brakes using a soft, dry cloth can solve this.
• It is important to know when the brake pads need changing. If the pedal is too hard to push rather than spongy and smooth, then it is an indication that the brake pads need changing. If the pads are too thin, then metal against metal contact could quite possibly ruin the rotors.

Brakes are instrumental to make certain of your safety while driving. Hence, it is imperative that they are maintained in good working condition.

What does your Air Filter do?

A clean air filter guarantees improved mileage, better acceleration, increased engine life and overall improved engine performance. Not only does it provide clean air for the engine, but it also prevents fragments from entering the engine. These fragments are capable of wearing out the engine. If the air filter becomes dirty, it reduces the volume of clean air that enters the engine. Each gallon of fuel that the engine burns requires 10,000 gallons of pure air, making the air filter quite an important component in a car.

• One of the foremost symptoms of a dirty air filter would be an evident decrease in mileage. Reduced passage of pure air makes the engine work harder and in turn, it uses more fuel to run effectively. 
• Ignition problems could occur due to a fouled spark plug. Insufficient pure air affects emissions control systems, reducing the air flow and concentrating the air mixture resulting in tainted spark plugs. This can affect engine performance considerably. 

There is a simple light test that can be performed to determine if the air filters are dirty:
Take the air filter out and hold it up to the sun or a strong light; if the light streams in brightly, then you’re good to go, otherwise your air filters needs replacement.

A clean air filter will improve mileage by as much as 14% and may increase acceleration up to 11% depending on the make and model of car. It is recommended to replace air filters every year, possibly during the yearly car service. The frequency of change can be increased, if the car travels through dusty roads.

Horn And Headlights Care

Whether it is driving at night or trapped in traffic or overtaking vehicles, the most used components are the headlights and horn. Thus, like the other elements of the bike, maintaining the horn and the headlights is also important. It is vital that they be in proper condition before you head out for a ride on the road. Headlights and horn plays a crucial role in road safety.

Headlights include front light, rear lights and indicators and following are the points that need to be considered for headlight-care:

1. As all three headlights are equally important, check working condition of all headlights by turning it on before going out. If any of them do not work or malfunction, get them replaced immediately.
2. If they are in working condition, then check the light intensity. Light intensity can give you clear visibility during night and avoids chances of an accident. If it is not working right, then it can be malfunctioning due to a loose connection or an ineffective bulb. Loose connections can occur while driving on roads with lots of bumps and potholes. Thus, check all wire connections to fix the problem. If the bulb is damaged, then replace it with a new one.
3. Headlights also attract huge amount of dust everyday, which can reduce the light intensity. Hence, for clear visibility, cleaning of lenses is essential. Clean all headlights with a lint-free cloth to make sure the lenses are stain and dust-free.

Along with headlights, give great attention to your motorcycle horn.

1. Accumulation of dust in the horn can affect its sound quality. Use a lint-free cloth to keep the horn clean and dirt-free.
2. Check whether the horn is in working condition. Check all connections of the horn to ensure no loose connections. In case of a damaged fuse, replace the fuse with a new one.
3. Check for its sound quality. If faint noise is coming from horn, then replace it with new one.

Thus the maintenance of both headlight and horn is also required at regular period.

Dashboard Signs: Get Lit Up !

With the electronic system of cars becoming more and more complex, the indicators and warning lights meant for the driver has grown significantly. Some of the common signs are indicators to much bigger issues that could possibly affect your car in the long run.

Some of the common signs are:

In addition to knowing about the warning lights, it is imperative to know that the lights glow in various colors; color variation indicates the imminence of potential problems:

Red dashboard warning light: A red light suggests a potential serious problem to the car or your safety. It could be an indicator of an issue that requires immediate inspection.

Orange or yellow dashboard warning light: An orange or yellow light is used to indicate that a particular component of the car needs repairing or servicing.

 Flashing dashboard warning light: A flashing light is used to inform the state of urgency of the problem at hand.

Green or blue dashboard lights: Green or blue dashboard lights are purely informational. They are commonly used for headlights and directional indicators.

The warning lights and their symbols may vary for each car, depending upon its make and model. It is, however, essential to understand the significance of each symbol to protect yourself and your car from issues that could threaten performance and safety.

Coolants: The Means To Bite The Summer

With the summer scorching up driveways and highways alike, most of us are unaware of the toll it takes on our cars. There are a number of people stranded on the highway due to over-heating engines. This problem can be prevented by checking the level of coolant and monitoring the working of the radiator before starting a long distance journey.

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, fills the radiator. In summer, when the engine gets over-heated, the coolant will absorb the heat and expel it into the radiator; thus, it helps keep the engine cool. It is usually used along with water in a 1:1 proportion.  Some people prefer to use only water instead of a mixture, but this can corrode the engine and particles can clog the cooling system. This will lead to over-heating of engine again and again, which in turn also affects the car’s efficiency.  Thus, the addition of coolant in a half ratio is very important to protect the engine and other components from corrosion. The quality and concentration of coolant becomes very essential to maintain good condition of car engine.

To avoid any kind of expense due to overheating of engine in summers, the coolant level in the radiator should be up to the recommended limit. Check coolant levels and also coolant servicing is recommended. In coolant servicing, the old coolant is replaced with a new one and all the dirt and dust particles clogged up in the radiator gets removed, which in turn also increases car’s performance. Check for leakage in the cooling system because a damaged cooling system can lead to deterioration in the efficiency of the engine. Leakage in the cooling system has to be treated immediately, preferably by an expert.

Thus, while going on a trip, carry coolants for your car, so that you can deal with any problem in very less time. Service the cooling system regularly and ensure that the coolant used in the car is fresh within its date of expiry. Monitoring the coolant and its appropriate level is a must in summers to avoid over-heating of engine. 

A Do-It-Yourself Bike-Cleaning Guide

Along with all the maintenance that goes into extend your bike life, it is equally important to keep your bike clean. Though bike-cleaning is time consuming, it is better to do it yourself rather than giving it to a cleaning service centre, thus saving money in the process. Here are some tips, to keep your bike spotless. It is important to keep your bike fresh and unsoiled by cleaning it regularly.

The following are the steps that describe a do-it-yourself bike-cleaning process:

1. First, spray clean water on the entire bike and if the wheels are soiled, then spray water with more pressure, so that all the mud gets removed and cleaning becomes easier.
2. Opt for a good quality shampoo designed specifically for vehicle cleaning. Prepare a shampoo solution in a bucket and use it to wash and clean your bike. Using a lint-free fabric to wipe the metal surfaces.
3. There are metal parts where the dirt gets collected with a mixture of grease and oil, like in the chains, engine, etc which can become very difficult to clean. Use a de-greaser to loosen and remove the greasy particles.
4. After shampooing and de-greasing, wash your bike thoroughly with clean water and allow the excess water to drain for a few minutes.
5. Wipe your all surfaces and components of your bike carefully using a dry cloth to remove water; leftover water can corrode the bike’s machinery. You can also blow dry it for better results.
6. To maintain the color and shine of the bike, polishing needs to be done. Polishing helps remove scratches or any paint marks. Any good quality normal or wax polish chemical that is best suitable for the bike’s paint can be chosen. Use a lint-free material and apply it in a circular motion on all over metal surface body and leave it undisturbed for at least 20 minutes.
7. After 20 minutes, clean off all the polish with soft cloth.

Repeat the cleaning procedure every 15 days to keep your bike clean and as good as new.