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 Do you have a Classic Car that needs a Meticulous Interior Restoration?
Do you have a late model car that needs some rejuvenation to its carpet, dash or upholstery, or do you have a convertible that needs a new soft top?
Car Interior Plus specializes in such work. They are a small family business located in Artarmon, on Sydney’s lower north shore, and have an established reputation in delivering high quality results.
If you wish to find out more about their work, please click on the link to their website www.ciplus.com.au
The Rising Popularity of Diesel Engines
You can be excused for identifying diesel engines with trucks that belch black, smelly smoke and buses whose engines throb and vibrate uncomfortably when idling.
Things have changed with the introduction of the modern 'common rail' diesel engine in passenger cars. Coupled with sophisticated engine management systems and higher quality 'European standard' diesel fuel, the result is a brace of small engined cars being offered by leading manufacturers, which feature
o Spirited acceleration from low speeds
o Effortless open road touring
o Amazing fuel economy
o Acceptably smooth and quiet engine operation
Diesel fuel is still priced quite high in Australia, but as the use of diesel-powered cars grows, the price will gradually fall to be comparable with premium conventional fuel.
A diesel powered car commands a price premium of several thousand dollars over a conventional engined car, but if you cover long distances, the extra cost can be easily justified.
Diesel engines feature extremely strong internals, as they have to withstand very high compression, and are renowned for their durability. However, if you buy a diesel car, it’s important to keep the engine filters regularly cleaned, to ensure efficient operation.
You can also expect diesel cars to maintain good resale values on the used car market.
When filling your car with diesel, it’s a good idea to use a pair of gloves, as diesel fuel is rather sticky and smelly if it gets on your hands!
Saving Fuel
Although the exorbitant fuel prices from late 2008 have dropped back to more affordable levels, our awareness of the need to save fuel has been raised by that experience. Here are some simple tips on how to do just that!
o Drive smoothly-look ahead to anticipate having to slow down for intersections and pedestrian crossings and moderate your use of the accelerator accordingly.
o Keep your tyres well inflated-low pressures cause greater drag on the road, which increases fuel consumption and tyre wear
o Check your boot for surplus stuff, that adds weight, forcing the engine to work harder and consume more fuel
o Remove unnecessary roof racks-they cause aerodynamic drag, which adds to fuel consumption
o Care for your car- simple measures outlined below will enhance its efficiency
o Regular oil changes with a quality oil
o Annual check of engine electronics
o Shaking out the engine air filter to remove dirt
The Classic Throttle Shop
If you wish to buy a rare or classic sports car, you may find the search process difficult and time-consuming. You must usually check advertisements in classic car magazines and on the internet and then spend time to inspect cars whose condition and history may not match the claims of their over- enthusiastic owners.
This process has been made easier by the recent expansion of the Classic Throttle Shop in North Sydney. This company sources and sells premium sports cars (and even some racing cars) that are either in original condition or that have been restored to original or near original specifications. Prospective buyers can expect such cars to have a 'pedigree' in the form of a comprehensive service and/ or restoration history, to support the prices being asked.
The cars are displayed in a roomy and 'atmospheric' showroom just north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you are interested, please click on this link to www.classicthrottleshop.com
Are you worried about tyre pressures?
Most of us struggle to check tyre pressures, now that the days of full service petrol stations are gone. How often do you find that your local petrol station’s tyre hose is disconnected or faulty? Do you have trouble operating the self service digital tyre pressure system at some filling stations?
A simple device is now available to deal with this problem. It’s a tyre valve cap that is preset to the correct pressure for your car’s tyres. When your tyre pressure is correct, a green band is clearly visible at the top of the cap. If the pressure drops, the band will change colour to yellow and then red, to indicate that you need to boost up the pressure to the correct level.
This is a clever and inexpensive way of eliminating the guesswork about your tyre pressures.
Please contact Carminders if you would like us to obtain a set of these caps for you.
Do you want to save money on your car’s air filter?
Just like humans, your engine must breathe enough air to work properly. If your engine's air filter is clogged or inefficient, your car’s performance and fuel economy will suffer.
Unifilter Australia is the leading Australian manufacturer of a range of air filters to suit just about every car and motorbike available in Australia. Unlike old-fashioned paper and cardboard air filters, Unifilter’s products are made of foam and are treated with a specially formulated oil to trap minute dust particles. They are far more efficient and effective than conventional air filters. What’s more, they do not require replacement if they become dirty! They can be easily cleaned with turpentine and re-oiled with their replacement oil.
You should benefit from improved engine performance and fuel economy, and benefit by saving money at service intervals, if you use a Unifilter product.
Unifilter’s products are exported around the world and are fitted by leading companies such as Yamaha as original equipment on their motorcycles.
If you are interested in a Unifilter product for your car, please click their link on the Carminders website.
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