If there is one best tip to give motorists, it is that of taking advantage of peak seasons as far as their car maintenance needs are concerned. You don’t have to wait for the season where such parts like air conditioning or cooling systems need to be addressed. If you feel that a certain car part needs checking up, go ahead and don’t wait. Doing so may even aggravate it and cost you more than having it attended to before it actually gets worse.

Here are some tips from JC Whitney for the summer riders:

• Cooling System: In summer, the cooling system has to work harder to prevent the engine from overheating. Check the radiator, belts and hoses for leaks or cracks. Be sure all the connections are snug, and make sure all the fluids are “topped off”. When towing boats, campers, or trailers, be sure to install additional transmission or oil coolers. In all cases, take great care with a hot engine – it’s very easy to get burned by hot engine parts or fluids.
• Air Conditioning: The engine belts also drive the air conditioner’s compressor, so also inspect this system for worn or damaged belts. Have a local mechanic inspect the compressor’s cooling fluids.
• Tires: In contrast to winter tires, summer tires provide more speed, better handling, and better fuel efficiency. Many drivers keep two sets of wheels: one set mounted with snow tires and one set mounted with summer or all-season tires. For maximum mileage and wear, make sure tires are inflated to the maker’s specifications.
• Brakes: Hot weather can increase the temperature of brake systems, causing pads to wear more quickly, so it’s important to inspect the pads and rotors for wear more frequently in summer.

“A qualified technician can check the systems that often suffer from the summer heat,” added West. “Following the diagnosis, car owners can save money by buying the parts they need from JC Whitney and then having their local mechanic install them.”

(Source) Press

Tags: air conditioner, better fuel efficiency, car maintenance, car owners, cooling system, cooling systems, engine parts, hot weather, maximum mileage, oil coolers, peak seasons, press car, rotors, season tires, snow tires, summer heat, summer tires, winter tires

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Most new cars being unveiled in the market today are bragging one feature after another. Some are claiming all-power features, suspensions and engines. The 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3 for its part is banking on a unique engine concept where the usual engine pistons run spirally rather than the traditional up and down pump.

Instead of pistons that go up and down, a rotary engine has — in the case of the RX-8, anyway — three triangular rotors that spin around inside a cylinder. In a regular engine, when the spark plug ignites gas and fuel, it sends the piston down. In a rotary, it sends the rotors spinning.

And that is not all. Check out this features that come with the 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3 sports package:

• Firmer suspension
• Rear spoiler
• Body side cladding
• New front bumper
• 19-inch aluminum wheels with high-performance tires
• Bose audio system
• Bluetooth cell-phone connectivity
• Recaro-brand front bucket seats
• Keyless ignition

Now how is that for a good deal!

(Source) Orlando Sentinel

Tags: front bumper, high performance tires, keyless ignition, Mazda, mazda rx 8, rear spoiler, rotary engine, rotors, spark plug, suspensions

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