What's In An Instrument Panel?

By Lyle Ford

Most of us drive a car every day, but how many of us pay much attention to the instrument panels in our car. Sure, we all pay attention to the speedometer so that we do not get pulled over, and even then sometimes we do not pay close enough attention to keep ourselves from getting pulled over and getting that speeding ticket.

So what should you be paying attention to in your cars gauges and more importantly, why? First, they are there to educate you about the condition of the car as we drive down the road. They can alert you about any possible problems that are coming up.

With that said, most of us do not have much more in the way of gauges than a speedometer and gas gauge, which are the only ones most of us pay any attention to. Today's cars typically have warning lights rather than gauges. When auto makers discovered that we were not paying attention to all of the gauges, they decided to do something that would get our attention. Warning lights replaced the traditional gauges and have been our warning when there was a problem, rather than gauges with a dial and numbers.

If by chance you have a car that still has gauges, you should learn what they are for and pay attention. The coolant temperature gauge is a gauge that tells you just that, the temperature of the coolant. It is there to tell you when things are heating up. In the summertime, cars overheating are a particular problem. The average temperature of the coolant in a car running down the road is 200-210 degrees Fahrenheit. When the coolant starts to get hotter than that, you should pay close attention. If the temperature continues to climb and does not cool down as you speed up, then stop the vehicle and let it cool down. If you do not, you will be stranded on the side of the road calling for a tow truck

The oil pressure gauge is another gauge found in an instrument cluster. This gauge reads the pressure (or force) of the oil through the engine. This is important to know, because a loss of oil pressure usually means some big problems are imminent if you continue to drive the car. This loss of pressure, whatever the cause, means that the parts of the engine that need lubricating while running are likely not getting it. If you do not stop the car and turn it off, then you can break something inside and that can be real expensive to fix or replace.

A tachometer gauge is the gauge that tells you the RPM's (revolutions per minute that the crank of the engine is turning). This is important, because the higher the RPM's, the faster everything is turning and in turn, is more vulnerable to breaking. Street cars generally run between 2000-3000 RPM's while driving down the road, reaching no more than 5000-6000 RPM's when getting the car to speed in a lower gear. For some comparison, NASCAR race cars run around 8000-9000 RPM's and Indy cars run between 12,000-13,000 RPM's.

The oil temperature gauge is less common, even in cars that have lots of gauges. However, if you have one it is good to understand it. While oil pressure and water temperature are more important, oil temperature can also signal a potential problem. When the oil gets too hot in the engine, it breaks down and loses its ability to lubricate properly. The lubrication in the engine is crucial to the internal, moving parts. When those parts do not have sufficient lubrication, they heat up beyond the capacity of the part and break, destroying the engine. Most cars that have gauges still do not have an oil temperature gauge, but if they do pay attention to it.

If your car has gauges, you should learn what they each mean and why that is important to you. Pay attention to them to prolong the life of your car. However, most cars today have warning lights in place of gauges. It has been my experience that warning lights in your cars instrument panel usually comes on too late. If you have warning lights instead of gauges in your cart, understand that when a light comes on in your dash, you are already well into a problem and you should park the car very soon and have it looked at by your mechanic. - 21393

About the Author:

I have been brought up around cars and auto racing and I am passionate about cars and high performance. The instrument panel is one of my OCD's because I want to know what is going on rather than relying on the warning lights that come standard in cars today. There are many car gauges that should fill the instrument cluster of a car and they each have a specific use.

Thinking Of HO Model Trains? Think Of G Scale Trains

By Ferdinand Emy

G scale trains are trains that were designed and built to run on a specified kind of standard for model train rail track. G scale trains are very effective for outdoor employ, and Thus they are very commonly utilised for garden trains. That is because G scale trains are build to withstand various degrees of weather, including snow.

Certainly, you mayt scale down snow, so what might be a light snow fall for you, could be a blizzard for G scale trains. A lot of manufacturers have built little snowplows that are attached to the locomotives of such trains, and that aids them clean their own tracks when working. Indubitably, if the snow is so hard that it forces you to shovel it just to park your car, then you'd excellent take your train indoors.

Otherwise than heavy snow and really extreme climatic form s, such as hurries, weather is not a reason to take G scale trains indoors, even though if you live in an area where there's vandalism, you might wish to, just to keep them safe. Another alternative is to set up a fence or a screen, so that your G scale trains are kept out of sight.

Due to the fact that they are mostly employd as garden trains, a lot of persons thing that the G in G scale trains stands for garden. It essentially stands for the German word Gross which means big. This is because G scale was announced by the brand LGB, which stands for Lehmann Gross Bahn, or Lehmann Big Train.

In fact the term G scale train is deceiving, as it does not refer to any comparison scale, for example 1:20. G scale is a reference to the tracks gauge. This is a 45 millimeters standard, which is very resistant to weather and outdoor order s.

All G scale trains run on this standard with no compatibility problem, not even if their scales are different . Tracks are built out of several materials, all with resistance to weather, though some materials are more resistant than others.

The most common material for tracks is brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. This material is known because it is very simple to clean, requiring little more than just a swipe with a cloth. Aluminum is likewise employd for low maintenance tracks, because it is cheaper and because it is resistant to corrosion. A more costly, yet more durable material is stainless steel, which is utilized for tracks that require a more demanding utilise. - 21393

About the Author:

There are a lot you need to learn about hobby trains to get you started on this great pastime hobby, get the Hobby Train Instructions and the hobby trains basics from the experts now

How To Lower Your 4x4 Insurance Premiums

By Susan Reynolds

4x4 insurance rates are often higher than the rates for other vehicles and take extra effort to find good rates for. Your 4x4 will be seen by insurers as extra risky and more hazardous, making your insurance rates much higher. You can avoid these prices by taking the right actions. The most important factor to getting low rates is to search online for multiple different quotes.

Your first goal should be to assure your insurance agent that your 4x4 will be kept safe and out of site while it is parked at home. One of the biggest risks with these trucks and SUVs is that they will be stolen or vandalized. Keep your 4x4 either in a garage or behind the house where it will not be seen. While acknowledging that your vehicle is at lower risk for these occurrences you may get lower rates.

If you have previous experience driving a 4x4 then you may be eligible for a lower rate. While this is not always the case you should ask your insurance agent if it makes a difference. Also by having more experience you will be less likely to get into an accident ad you will know how your vehicle responds better.

Keeping your driving record clean is always an important part to getting low insurance rates. The fewer claims you have on your record, the better. If an insurance agent sees you already have several different claims they will charge you even more for insurance just because you are at a higher risk. If you manage to go for a period of time without any claims you may subject for a claims bonus, a discount given to drivers after about a year of claims-free driving. Mention that you this and your insurance agent will work to get you the best rates possible. Sometimes you may want to pay for an accident yourself just to save money that may add up to more if spend on increased rates from claims. This only works if the accident was very small and with little damage.

The security of your 4x4 will always be looked at before you get a final rate on insurance. Agents will ask what type of features it has and what category the safely standards are. If you have a category 1 or 2 4x4 you can get lower rates. Better security insures that your vehicle will be less likely to be damaged or stolen.

If you are in the military or National Guard be sure to mention it to your agent. Insurance companies offer special rates for these individuals without much hassle. If you are not in the military try to take advantage of the other discounts available to get lower rates. Search around online and compare quotes to find the company with the lowest prices before visiting their company for an in depth policy. - 21393

About the Author:

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance.

Horsebox Information

By Sarah Gaines

If you have horses and frequently travel with them around the country then you will be aware of how your horse reacts to being put into a horsebox. When it comes to horseboxes bigger is always better for both you and your horse. A larger horsebox can accommodate more horses.

For years now people have been using horseboxes as a way to transfer their horses around, traditional horseboxes are very basic and can't accommodate any more that four horses at one time.

However now there is a new toy on the scene. The horse wagon; haorse wagons are massive to say the least. Imagine a bus that has been converted to take up to eight horses plus living quarters for up to four adults including beds, skins and cookers.

So just why are people starting to buy these super horse wagons? Think of it this way, if you were going to be competing and had to sleep in the back of a transit van would you feel rested and ready for the next day's events? No I didn't think so and the same goes for your horses, by forcing them to spend the night in a cramped horsebox you aren't properly resting them for the event. A horse wagon acts as a home away from home for your horses.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend in one of these huge horse wagons and I must say it was rather splendid. The beds were as you would expect to find in a hotel and the kitchen was of a better standard than I have in my home. It had a fullsized shower and when it was my turn to compete I was perfectly rested as were my horses.

As you might expect such luxuries come at a price; the typical wagons start at around 60,000 and the prices keep on climbing the higher the specification. You have to see a horse wagon as an investment but I wouldn't rush out to buy one if I was just starting in the wonderful world of equestrian. - 21393

About the Author:

Sarah works for the cheap horsebox insurance company; Think Horses.

Lee Petty: A Lifetime In Stock Car Racing

By Ross Everett

Though his fame would be eclipsed by his son Richard, Lee Petty was a very successful race car driver in his own right and a pioneer during the early days of the sport. His legacy includes not only his son, better known to NASCAR fans as "The King" Richard Petty and Petty Enterprises has fielded race teams for four generations.

Lee Petty was one of the first to take a businesslike approach to the sport of stock car race in an era when many teams and drivers still supplemented their income via bootlegging and running moonshine. He raced in the very first NASCAR stock car race ever on June 19th, 1949. Among his many firsts in the sport is the dubious distinction of bringing out the first caution flag in NASCAR history. To chronicle his achievements in the sport in a nutshell, he won 50 Cup races, including the first one ever on a paved track. He also caused his share of trouble and was never afraid to mix it up. He once hit Curtis Turner over the head with a wrench after a race, and another time got into a fistfight during the pre race festivities. Lees two sons quickly joined the skirmish but the fight was ended by Mrs. Petty (Richards grandmother) swinging her purse"made heavier than the typical pocketbook by the .44 handgun she carried inside.

His greatest accomplishments on the track were three NASCAR championship victories. He also brought his son, Richard, into the 'family business' and after a rocky start in his first season the Petty offspring would go on to win 200 NASCAR races. That mark may never be broken and earned Richard Petty the sobriquet of 'The King'.

Lee's career as a driver was cut short due to a bad accident at the 1961 Daytone 500. His car hit a guard rail, flipped over a few times and caused a number of broken bones and internal injuries. He tried to race a few times upon his recovery before retiring for good in 1964. He was involved in the management of Petty Engineering for awhile, but soon stepped away content in the knowledge that it was being well run by sons Richard and Maurice. He was never one to seek the limelight, and spent the rest of his life enjoying his success and that of his family. An avid golfer, he played frequently until a few months before his death in 2000 at age 86 after surgery to treat a stomach aneurysm.

Lee Petty holds a few NASCAR records that may never be broken. He finished in the top five 231 times out of 427 races, and still holds the mark for best average finish for a full time driver at 7.6th place. Making this level of success all the more impressive, it was done in an era before big money sponsorships, on poorly maintained tracks and against legitimate criminals who spent most of their time bootlegging moonshine. The fact that Petty enjoyed so much success in that era is a credit to his toughness, dedication and courage. - 21393

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on UFC betting. He's a noted expert sports handicapping theory, as well as stock market investing. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.