Archive for July, 2010

How To Tell If There’s A Problem With Your Exhaust

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Anybody who has been driving their car for a decent amount of time will have a good ear for the sounds that it makes. By the same token they will notice when the vehicle starts to make noises which are out of the ordinary. It is at this point that it may be necessary to carry out checks of important parts.

Don’t make the mistake of presuming that the peculiar rattling noise coming from underneath the vehicle will go away. Noises such as this could provide the alert to a loosening exhaust, which may lead to expensive damage over time.

Another potential problem will be made obvious when you hear a rumbling sound coming from the exhaust. Any knowledgeable car owner will know that this horrible noise probably means that the silencer has been corroded.

You should also be wary in the event that the exhaust starts hissing, this is a sure sign of the emergence of cracks in the manifold or exhaust pipe. If this essential vehicle part starts chugging it will be the sure sign of blockage, which may be caused by a clogged catalytic converter.

It is a particularly good idea to take a regular look over your vehicle to ensure that nothing is wrong. Don’t worry too much if you spot external rust, it is unlikely to be causing any serious damage to the car. You should be more concerned about cracked pipes or rough holes surrounding any seams or joins.

You may be given warning that something has gone awry with your vehicle if you spot a warning light going off on the dashboard. This may tell you that your car is producing more harmful emissions than it should be.

It is worth bearing in mind that the police have the power to remove any vehicle which they believe to be emitting above normal amounts of noxious gases. The police’s suspicion will also be raised should they hear exhausts which are producing excessive levels of noise.

The most sensible means of dealing with any issues that are affecting the performance of your motor is to take it for an assessment at a local dealership. If you’re lucky then you may be able to correct the problem by taking your car for a quick spin around the block. It is also advisable to have a quick look through the handbook, it will provide good advice for carrying out simple maintenance work.

Diesels and Engine Re-mapping

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Having driven many business miles in the past few years in a Diesel car i’ve been amazed at just how diesel car performance has increased so much in recent years.  Twenty years ago, if you drove a diesel then you has to be resigned to sluggish performance as a trade off to your increased fuel efficiency.  Modern diesels however seem to be increasing in power month by month – Audi’s 2.7TDI A5 giving a health 187bhp for example!  So it was with great excitement that when we started engine remapping here at Longlife I drove my car into the workshop for the guys to play with..

I should explain that my VW Passat is now seven years old and completely standard except for the performance exhaust that I had fitted with great results about two years ago.  The standard output of the engine when new was 130bhp which in itself gave fairly lively performance.  Two hours later I got back behind the driving seat and went for my first test drive.  Having experienced a car modified with a diesel tuning box in the past I was expecting much the same but I couldn’t be more wrong.  The much increased power delivery was fantastically smooth with the feeling of more grunt coming in even before the turbo spooled up.  No trail of black diesel smoke as was evident with the tuning box either which was an added bonus.  I returned to the workshop with a huge smile so thank you to Dean in our workshop at Head Office.

My only concern was what all this extra power would do to the fuel efficiency.  My first long drive on the motorway at a steady 85 mph showed an average of over 52mpg.  That’s 5mpg above what I would normally expect which I think is fantastic.  At lower speeds, around 70mph i’m showing nearly 60mpg!

So now I can happily overtake knowing that the extra power is there should I need it and still have a bit of extra money in my pocket as a result of the fuel saving.  I now can’t wait for my next car which will be a more powerful diesel as standard and will for sure be played with by soon after my purchase.

Prepare For A Fantastic Weekend Of Entertainment At Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Motorists with an interest in power and performance are set to be given a treat at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power this month. There will be a great variety of ‘exceptionally rare and valuable cars on show, including some which have competed in the Le Mans and Grand Prix races.

A variety of Car & Bike Club owners will be showing off their vehicles on numerous stands across the site. Anybody looking for inspiration in terms of mods such as sports exhausts and systems will find much of interest at the festival.

One major highlight will come in the form of a celebration of the millionaire Tom Wheatcroft’s life. Visitors will have the chance to see a selection of Thingwalls and Vanwalls from his Donington Collection. Meanwhile, a number of aero-engined ’spitters’ and classic rally cars will take to the track for some exciting racing action.

James Hall, Event Director said, ‘This is our third annual event and one that will really put the Cholmondeley Pageant firmly on the map as one of the UK’s great days out. Not many events can claim they have something that is both unique and best in the world. With the Wheatcroft Tribute that is exactly what we have’.

Anybody who wants to come along and experience the thrill of driving a Formula 1,000 car will be given the chance on the specially laid grass track. For just £25 visitors will be provided with entry, club membership and insurance cover.

Steve Johnson, organiser of the event, said, ‘we wanted to prove to the man in the street how much fun you can have at grassroots level’.

‘Drivers will be timed against the clock, but it’s all about having fun and encouraging new blood into the sport. We are hoping that the whole scheme will prove very popular’, he continued.

Many visitors will be tempted by the opportunity to watch the excellent range of Formula 2 and 4 powerboat classes take to the water in some exciting powerboat action. There will also be some aerobatic fun, provided by the impressive EC 135 Hermes Eurocopter and the magnificent Breitling Wingwalkers.

The whole family will enjoy the splendid Fireworks Concert and Military Tattoo due to take place on the Saturday evening. By coming along to this event you will be doing your bit to support the Help for Heroes Charity.

As if all of these exciting events weren’t enough for one weekend there will also be a variety of stalls providing entertainment and activities during the weekend. So come along for a fantastic celebration of British motoring excellence at the Cholmondeley Castle on the 17th and 18th of July!