January 27th, 2010 admin
Performing An Engine Leak Down Test
The performance of your car’s engine is dependent on the air and fuel that is drawn into each of the combustion chambers during operation. When air and fuel enter a chamber, the intake and exhaust valves close, sealing both inside. Within the chamber sits a piston. It rises and compresses the air-fuel mixture. A spark plug sits atop the chamber and ignites the compressed mix. The resulting explosion forces the piston down and ultimately is responsible for propelling your vehicle forward.
If the pressure within the combustion chamber declines due to leakage, misfires and similar problems can occur. That will hamper your engine’s performance. A leak down test measures pressure loss within the cylinders. A mechanic will often use this test to identify whether a leak exists as well as its root cause.
Below, you’ll learn how a leakdown is performed and some of the potential problems it can help to identify. If you have the proper gauge, you can do the test at home. Otherwise, an auto technician can do it for you.
How The Test Is Done
First, you’ll need to remove your spark plugs. You’ll then need to position each cylinder’s piston at top center of its chamber. Second, connect the coupling on your leakage gauge to the hole in which your spark plug usually rests. Third, fill the chamber with compressed air and take a reading on the leakage percentage.
It’s important to realize that there will always be some measure of leakage from each of the chambers. If the gauge shows less than 10%, your engine is fine. If the leakage percentage is between 10% and 20%, it’s still in good condition, but you’ll want to note any changes in its performance. If the gauge shows 30% or more, you have an engine problem.
Identifying Potential Problems
One of the advantages of a leakdown test over a compression test is that it’s easier to identify where the lost pressure is headed. This is important if fixing a leakage requires taking apart your engine.
For example, if you hear air leaking out of your car’s tailpipe, the problem is likely your exhaust valve. On the other hand, you might notice a whistling sound coming from your intake; that signals a leak in your intake valve. Hissing from your PCV valve suggests the piston rings are failing.
If you look at the top of your radiator reservoir (take the cap off) and see bubbles, it could mean a leakage problem with your head gasket.
As noted, a leakdown test is easy to perform at home. You’ll need a leak down gauge, a source for the air that you’ll send into each cylinder’s chamber, and a few tools (e.g. a socket to remove the spark plugs). Armed with those resources and a little free time, you can perform a leakdown to find the root cause of a pressure loss.
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November 6th, 2009 admin
How To Replace Your Vehicle’s Fuel Filter
Your gas tank is equipped with a mesh that can prevent large clumps of dirt and rust from contaminating the line that delivers gasoline to your engine. However, that mesh cannot catch smaller debris. Over time, small particles of dirt and rust can gain access to the line and clog your fuel injectors. That will affect the performance and efficiency of your engine. Your fuel filter (FF) helps to prevent this from happening by catching particles that are as small as ten microns (a single micron equals 0.0001 centimeter).
The media that is used to catch dirt and debris can be constructed of synthetic fibers, ceramic, nylon, and even glass fibers. Regardless of the material used, if it performs its job well, it will eventually become clogged. If you don’t replace it, you’ll experience output problems, hard starts, and stalls. To help you avoid these types of issues, I’ll explain how to replace your fuel filter below.
Relieve The Pressure
This is important. If your vehicle uses an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system, there is likely to be pressure built up within the fuel line. Disconnecting the hoses without relieving (or at least, reducing) that pressure can be dangerous.
Your car relies upon a specific fuse to operate the FF. Locate that fuse. Then, turn the engine over and pull the fuse out. Your vehicle will continue running until the line is depressurized. Once it loses its pressure, your car will die. Turn the engine off, lift the hood, and don your protective goggles.
Remove The Lines
It’s helpful to have two pens or pencils on hand before you disconnect the lines. I’ll explain why in a moment. You’ll also need a couple of open end wrenches in order to detach the hoses that are connected to the filter. When removing them, it’s a good idea to place a rag over the connections. That will prevent gas from spraying upward. Even though you depressurized the line, dangerous accidents can happen.
After you have removed each hose, stick one of the pens or pencils into it to prevent leaking. Then, slip the filter from its place.
Replace The Old With The New
Installing the new filter is simple. Work backward. Place the component into position, put the hoses and clamps on, and tighten them with the wrenches. Then, replace the fuse that you had removed earlier in order to depressurize the line. Start your vehicle to reestablish pressure.
It’s important to always use a new fuel filter as a replacement. They’re inexpensive; most auto supply stores will sell them for prices that range from $10 (for older vehicles) to $50. It has a critical job to perform. By keeping dirt, debris, and rust from accessing your engine, it improves your engine’s performance as well as the overall fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
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October 21st, 2009 admin
3 Strategies To Boost Your Vehicle’s Horsepower
The muscle car is a part of America’s heritage. It is steeped in the nation’s lore and has become a symbol of the individualist’s spirit. That said, over the past 30 years, there has been less attention devoted to boosting a vehicle’s horsepower. While fuel efficiency and design have taken center stage, muscle has taken a backseat.
Fortunately, drivers who want to add power to their engines have a number of options available to them. Whether their goal is to win weekend drag races (not recommended) or gain a valuable jump on steep hills, the following three strategies can boost your car’s horsepower.
#1 – Supercharge Your Vehicle
A supercharger increases the power of your engine’s output by condensing the oxygen in the air-fuel mixture used during combustion. Because there is more oxygen present, the engine can add more fuel. The result? A significant boost in output. This same “air compression” strategy is also used by turbochargers. Together, they’re referred to as forced induction systems. The downside is the cost. These systems can cost between $1,000 and $10,000 – or more.
#2 – Install A New Chip
All modern vehicles have computer chips (called engine controller units, or ECUs) that manage certain features of the engine. When a car, truck, or SUV rolls off the factory floor, the ECU is programmed by the automaker. The settings are usually geared toward delivering higher fuel efficiency. As you might expect, that limits your horsepower.
You can purchase aftermarket ECUs that are specifically programmed to deliver more power. The increase in output normally comes at the cost of lower fuel efficiency, but automakers have yet to design an affordable engine that can deliver both simultaneously. A high-quality aftermarket ECU will typically cost under $600.
#3 – Integrate A Cold Air Intake System
This is one of the least expensive methods for boosting your vehicle’s output. Normally, air is taken into the engine and added to its combustion process. The amount of fuel added to the mixture is dependent on the amount of oxygen. A cold air intake system delivers cooler air to the combustion process. It is denser in oxygen. As a result, more fuel is added, which makes the combustion output more potent. These systems can cost between $100 and $500, depending on the quality and the manufacturer.
A couple of quick notes: First, if you modify the air compression level, you may need to switch to high-octane gasoline. Otherwise, your pistons can misfire. Second, adding more horsepower usually translates into more heat and higher temperatures. Consider using a synthetic oil that can keep the individual components well-lubricated while managing the extra heat.
There is a viable strategy for boosting your vehicle’s horsepower regardless of your budget. If you’re looking for a little extra power, consider installing a supercharger, performance ECU, or a cold air intake system.
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