Tire Inflation

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Inflation may be an undesirable consequence of our economic times. But when it comes to tires inflation is always a good thing, proper tire inflation, that is.

The amount of air required to properly inflate a tire depends on the size and type of tire, the vehicle application (size and weight), vehicle loading (normal or extra loading), and driving conditions. A tire that is properly inflated will provide safe driving, maximum traction, good handling and optimum tire life.

Increasing tire inflation pressure beyond the recommended amount will reduce rolling resistance, thereby improving fuel economy. But the trade-off is a harsher ride and increased risk of tire damage when encountering bumps.

Excessive tire pressure may distort the tread to the point where it bulges like a donut, reducing contact with the road and increasing wear in the center of the tread. Under no circumstances should a tire ever be inflated beyond the maximum rating as indicated on the sidewall.

CAUSE OF MOST TIRE PROBLEMS IS UNDER-INFLATION

By far, under-inflation is a more common and serious problem. Reducing inflation pressure increases a tire's rolling resistance and hurts fuel economy. Plus, an under-inflated tire flexes more, which leads to increased and uneven tread wear. As a rule of thumb, tire life decreases 10 percent for every 10 percent it is under-inflated.

Under-inflation also makes a tire run hot. Increased flexing of the sidewall increases the temperature of the tire, which in turn increases the risk of a tire failure and blowout.

A low tire can cause other problems as well. The amount of air in each tire affects weight distribution between the wheels. An under-inflated tire does not carry it is full share of the load. This, in turn, affects chassis loading, traction, steering, alignment and braking. It may also cause a noticeable steering pull when driving or braking.

An under-inflated tire can also break traction more easily than one which is properly inflated, which can cause skidding during braking or hard cornering, or wheel spin when accelerating.

If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), it should turn on a warning light if tire pressure in any tire drops 15% or more under the factory recommended inflation pressure.

HOW MUCH TIRE PRESSURE?

How much air is the right amount to use? It depends on the application, the vehicle, the size of the tires and how much weight is on the tires. The simple answer is to follow the recommended inflation pressures specified by the vehicle manufacturer. The tire inflation specifications are generally listed in the owner's manual or on a decal in the glove box or door jamb.

For many passenger cars and light trucks, the recommended OE tire pressure may range from 28 up to 34 psi. Recommended pressures for front and rear may also vary, and higher pressures may be recommended for towing or hauling loads.

Keep in mind that recommended inflation pressure are for COLD tires. This means tires that have not been driven on for several hours (ideally overnight). It also means tires that are at a normal outside temperature of about 70 degrees F.

To accurately inflate a tire, you have to compensate for changes in temperature. For every 10 degrees F change in ambient temperature, tire pressure will change a little more than half a pound.

A tire that contains 32 psi of air at 70 degrees F will have a little over 35 psi at 100 degrees F - even if the vehicle has not been driven. Take a quick drive down the freeway and heat up the tires even more, and the pressure may read 38 to 40 psi.

Likewise, when seasons change and temperatures drop, tires lose pressure. They have not lost any air, but the air is not exerting as much pressure as before. The same tire that held 32 psi at 70 degrees F will have only about 28 psi when the thermometer hits 32 degrees F. And when temperatures are in the subzero range, the loss in air pressure will be several pounds more.

Altitude will also affect tire pressure. For every 1,000 feet in elevation above sea level, atmospheric pressure decreases about a half a pound. As a result, tire pressure goes up an equal amount. A tire gauge that reads accurately at sea level will read about 3 psi too high at an elevation of 6,000 feet.

UNDER-INFLATION REDUCES TIRE LIFE

Tire life decreases 10 percent for every 10 percent it is under-inflated. A tire that normally requires 32 psi of air and is would normally go about 80,000 miles will lose about 8,000 miles of expected tread life at 29 psi (assuming the vehicle is properly aligned).

The same tire under-inflated to 26 lbs. will lose about 16,000 miles of tread life. If under-inflated to 22 lbs., tire life will decrease by at least 24,000 miles.

Tires and alloy rims typically leak a little air over time, and with radials it is hard to visually check if a tire is low or not. That is why inflation pressure should be checked once a month. Yet few motorists do, and consequently, over 50 percent of all vehicles have one or more tires that are under- or overinflated.

WARNING: OLD TIRES LEAK AIR

Here's something else you should know: OLD tires leak more air than new tires. As rubber ages, it becomes more porous. An aging tire may lose up to several pounds of air a month. This is a clue that the tires are getting old and should be replaced. Old tires are dangerous and may fail without warning. The risk of failure is greatest at hight speeds during hot weather. Some tire manufacturers recommend replacing ANY tire that is 10 or more years old regardless of tread wear or condition.

DO NOT USE TIRE SEALER WITH TPMS SENSORS

WARNINGIf you have a tire that is leaking air or a flat tire on a vehicle that has a direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System with TPMS sensors inside the wheels, do NOT attempt to fix the flat by using an aerosol tire inflator/sealer product. The sealer may gum up the TPMS sensor inside the wheel and prevent it from reading normally. Most aerosol inflator/sealer products have a warning on the product label stating they should NOT be used in wheels that contain TPMS sensors. Inflator/sealer products are safe to use, however, in tires on vehicles that have an indirect TPMS monitoring system.

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AFTER NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED

Tire inflation pressure should always be checked after a tire has mounted on a wheel to make sure it is within recommendations. If a bead is slow to seat, it can be very easy to over-inflate the tire (inflation pressure should never exceed 40 psi!). If the tire is overinflated, depress the valve stem core to vent some air. If it is low, add air.

USE AN ACCURATE TIRE GAUGE

Use an accurate tire pressure gauge. Gauges are often out of calibration (especially cheap ones). The trouble is you don't know if the gauge is accurate or not. Even if you own two tire pressure gauges and they both give you the exact same pressure reading, there is no guarantee they are accurate (though the odds are favorable that two gauges that read the same are probably accurately calibrated). The most accurate tire pressure gauges are the hand-held electronic digital gauges that are self-calibrating. The LEAST accurate are the dial type gauges found on most tire inflation machines at gas stations.

The Causes of a Continuous Tapping Sound From the Engine

When you start your car engine in the morning, sometimes you will hear some sort of tapping sound coming from the engine. The sound will disappear after the engine has warm up. This is quite normal on some cars but if the tapping sound continues as long as the engine is running, then there is something wrong with the car engine.

As the engine rpm increases, the sound will also increases and when the engine rpm slows down, the tapping sound also decreases. If you open the hood, you can hear that the loudest sound comes from the top of the engine.

Stuck hydraulic lifters caused most of the sounds that you hear coming from the top of the engine. The hydraulic lifter or also known as hydraulic tappet or hydraulic lash adjuster is designed to take up the normal expansion and contraction during the heating and cooling of metals in the engine.

The lifter is also designed to maintain zero valve clearance in an internal combustion engine where it ensure the valve train always work with zero clearance for a quieter operation and at the same time to ensure periodic valve clearance adjustment is not required.

If one or more of the lifters are stuck or jam, tapping sound will occur. If the sound lasts for a couple of seconds or minutes, then frequent oil change could free up the jam lifter. If the sound continues, then the lifter will have to be replaced.

If you notice that when the engine is giving out tapping sound and comes with heavy vibration at idle or on heavy load, one of the valve push rods or rocker arms has broken. To confirm this, get you mechanic to remove the rocker arm covers to check on the rocker arms, push rods, and the valve stems. Normally by replacing the rocker arms and bolts, the tapping sound problem can be repaired.

If the tapping sound is accompanied by a muffled backfire when you accelerate, there is a high possibility that the engine camshaft has damage. This require major repair because you also need to replace all the hydraulic lifters. Make sure that your mechanic checked the camshaft thoroughly and confirmed faulty before you start the repair.

If the tapping sound is due to broken rocker arm or push rod, you car will suffer from fuel wastage, poor performance and also high emissions of Carbon Monoxide to the atmosphere.

Car Gearbox Repairs - Avoid the Dodgy Dealers

Not everyone in this world is honest and trusting. It is fair to say that there are some rather cutthroat individuals out there who would do anything to make a fast buck, and in the world of cars, there are many dodgy dealers that you might come up against. So, when you need to have car gearbox repairs, where on earth do you go? You need to find somewhere with a good reputation.

Car Gearbox Repairs - Some People Don't Have A Clue

Many people assume that dodgy dealers are only really found in car dealerships rather than in vehicle repair centres, but this is not always the case. You need to be aware that there are some people out there that don't care about customer service and it would be unfortunate if you ended up with a car mechanic that did a half-hearted job and ultimately didn't fix the gearbox problem. The automotive industry has many dimensions and it is therefore recommended that you approach people with slight trepidation before handing money over or forming a long-term relationship.

Car Gearbox Repairs - Look For The Professionals

The sad thing is, that due to the high number of suspect car garages and the like, those that are good and honest don't get enough praise, and often get tarred with the same brush. This is unfortunate, because they will inevitably do a very good job and pride themselves on their customer service. Those car gearbox repair specialists that have a website, professional premises and a number of hard-working mechanics is evidence that they can be trusted and this is the sort of place you should be visiting if you need car gearbox repairs or you're simply having a few gearbox problems. It makes a refreshing change to see some places trying really hard to retain their customer base and prove that they are an honest business.

Don't Let One Bad Experience Destroy Your Trust!

Often, it is the driver that has a bad experience with a garage or car dealership and then feels reluctant to try anywhere else, which is why the genuine car repair centres have to try so much harder to convince the consumer that they are worth visiting. Check the centre out before you place your trust in them, or base your decision on word of mouth, and that way you know which place to go to.

Proper Tire Maintenance If You Drive a Lot

Proper tire maintenance is very important, especially if you drive frequently or for long distances. Your tires are the only parts of your car that has to handle various kinds of ground surfaces. Therefore, you should make sure you take care of your tires consistently and the right way. It is best to do even just a few minutes of inspection and maintenance each month to keep your tires in good condition.

Proper tire maintenance that you inspect your air pressure at least once a month. Not having good air pressure is a major cause of tire damage. Familiarize yourself with the tire pressure indicated in your vehicle's manual or on the door post, gas tank lid or driver's side door''s edge. The air pressure indicated on your tire is not the right air pressure but rather the maximum air pressure for the tire. Next, prevent hydroplaning and skidding, inspect your tire tread for irregular wear - if there is, see your tire dealer. You should also rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles or as indicated in your car's manual.

There are some general things you can do to practice good tire maintenance. For instance, try to stay away from potholes or dirt on the road whenever you can. Also avoid sudden stops and starts. When driving on wet road or when it's about to rain, always remember to slow down, as this results in better traction.

However, if your car still skids despite your efforts to drive cautiously, apply a firm and steady pressure to the breaks and maneuver the vehicle in the direction of the skin, rather than abruptly hitting the brakes. When replacing your tires, it would be best to go with the same type of tires.