CARNAMA - Episode 20 - Rear Defroster

Episode 20 - CARNAMA - Rear Defroster !

You must have experienced this mostly during the mornings. Your car windows are covered with moisture. What do you do ? Take a piece of cloth and start wiping the windows, but the mositure returns !!!

When the temperature inside is warmer than the temperature outside, this can cause the water molecules to go through a process called condensation. Moisture is everywhere, even in a car that is just sitting. And because of interior items such as carpets, seats and other cloth or vinyl upholstery items, the outside metal surface of the car will get much colder than the interior. This causes moisture to form on the windows, especially on a cold or rainy day. Defrosters combat this phenomenon so that drivers can see out the windows and operate the vehicle safely.

The rear window on most automobiles has tiny lines going through it. These are actually electrical wires, which heat up when current flows through them. In this manner, the resulting heat is used to displace the condensation on the inside of the window, but can also work on the outside. The heating elements have very low heat so humans are in no danger of getting burnt if they are touched while powered on. They put out just enough heat to combat the moisture built up on the window. They are usually wired along the roofline of the car, underneath the headliner.

Some wew model automobiles are starting to come out with heating elements in the front windshield, as well, which will negate the need to let the vehicle warm up before turning on the defroster.

CARNAMA - Episode 19 - Wheel Alignment

Episode 19 - CARNAMA - Wheel Alignment

Everybody does it but doesn't ask this question, "what is wheel alignment and why do i have to get it done?"

In simple words, Wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground, thus maximizing tire life and ensures straight drive along a straight and level road.
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Wheel Alignment should be checked whenever new tires are installed, suspension components installed, when the vehicle has encountered a major road hazard or hit a kerb/footpath.

The primary static suspension angles that need to be measured and adjusted are caster, camber and toe, as shown in the diagram.

Advantages of wheel alignment are:

When your wheels are aligned properly, it cuts down on rolling resistance, which means that you car doesn't have to work as hard or burn as much fuel in order to move forward.

Even the slightest problem with your alignment can have disastrous effects on your tires. If your tires have too much or too little toe-in, a narrow strip on each tire will wear down very quickly, causing you to have to get new tires sooner. By getting regular wheel alignments, you ensure that your tires wear evenly, making them last as long as possible.

Having the wheels out of alignment can be stressful on the rest of the car, too. It means that you continually need to put pressure on the steering system in order to keep the car straight, and when you brake you often feel the car pull even more sharply, indicating that the brakes are needing to work harder on one side than the other.

One of the biggest advantages of having your wheels aligned properly is that your car is easier to drive. No annoying pull to one side or the other. It's much easier and more pleasant to drive a car that has had regular wheel alignments.

CARNAMA - Episode 18 - Driving in the Rain

Episode 18 – CARNAMA – Driving in the Rain

Hi Friends, so when it rains specially over the weekend, many of us want to make most of such weather (particularly in Gulf countries) and go out for a picnic or a leisurely drive. But did you know that this leisure drive in the rain is risky too. Have you ever considered that you need to be extra alert when driving during rainy weather? Here are some tips to guide you:

Ensure your car’s wipers are in good condition. Refer to CARNAMA Episode 2 for wiper maintenance.
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•Drive slowly as it takes longer to stop car in wet weather.

•Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

•Maintain increased distance from the car in front of you during wet weather.
•Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.

• Don't follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision.

•Be more alert when driving in slippery conditions and watch out for brake lights in front of you.

•Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.

•Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you.

•Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.

•Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue.

•Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.

•When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car's electrical system.

Or the best would be to just stay at home and enjoy those Pakoras !!!

CARNAMA - Episode 17 - Nitrogen in Tyres

Episode 17 - CARNAMA - Nitrogen in Tyres !

Hi Friends ! Did u know that the air that you fill in your car tyres consists of a major percentage of Nirogen gas and less of oxygen. It also consists of some amount of water vapour.

A rubber tire is like a membrane, through which oxygen passes three times faster than nitrogen. As a result, the oxygen slowly leaks out through the rubber walls, which leads to under-inflation. This in turn leads to higher tire wear, decreased safety and comfort, and higher petrol costs. In addition, compressed air contains high levels of moisture, which can accelerate the corrosion of the tyre rim.

The difference between the pressure in a tire and the pressure outside, causes oxygen to pass through the tyre. Nitrogen is less likely to migrate through tire rubber than is oxygen, which means that your tire pressures will remain more stable over the long term.

You will not be able to feel any difference in the ride or handling or braking, unless your tire pressures were seriously out of spec and changing to nitrogen brought them back to the proper pressure.

Advantages of Nitrogen in Tires:
•Increased fuel efficiency
•Reduced CO2 emission
•Increased tyre life due to more stable tyre pressure and less oxidation of the tyre
•Increased safety results in more reliable tyre pressure, lower tyre temperature improved grip and handling
•Increased rim life because nitrogen is completely dry; no oxidation of the rim
•Longer term stability of the tyre pressure
•Better grip and handling
•Reduced fuel consumption
•Longer tyre life
•Enhanced safety No oxidation within the tyre

But, filling your car tyres with Nitrogen will be costly as that compared to compressed air.

So give it a try and feel the difference with Nitrogen Tyres !