How Often Do You Change Oil?

When do you need to replace your lubricating oil? If you have a large quantity of lubricating oil to change, it is going to burn a hole in your pocket. So most plant operators try to preserve the properties of the lubricating oil for as long as possible.

One of the most important functions of lubricating oil is to reduce the friction between the moving parts of machinery. But there are other features to look at.

When do you know that the oil needs to be changed? Below is a rough guide:

1. Viscosity has changed by 10%

2. Flash Point has dropped to 150 degree Celsius

3. Water Content has reached 2%

4. TBN, or Total Base Number has reduced by 20%

5. Insoluble Content has increased to 5% of the oil

Due to the oxidation of the oil when exposed to heat and oxygen, the viscosity of the oil tend to reduce. With the reduction of viscosity, the film of oil between rubbing metal surfaces becomes more difficult to maintain. This results in metal to metal contact, micro seizures that leads to scuffing, abrasion and other damages.

How Can We Decrease the U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil?

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THE U.S. DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL

In late 2004, the Hudson Institute conducted a survey with the following results:

* 75% of Americans prioritized "reducing our reliance on foreign oil" over "cheaper prices for oil and gas."

* 83% of Americans agreed that "reducing our dependence on foreign oil must be a top priority for the next administration."

* 91% of Americans concurred that "when it comes to energy, we need an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation-not the Saudi royal family."

How much oil we depend on from foreign sources affects our economy and our national security. Today, we import more than half of the oil we use, and it will increase as we use up domestic resources. The majority (65% to 75%) of the world's oil reserves are in the Middle East and are controlled by the OPEC oil cartel. The U.S. depends on oil for most of its transportation needs--up to 95%. Until alternative energy vehicles start becoming more common place, our dependence on foreign oil will only grow.

Nine Top Tips to Maximize Your Fuel Efficiency and Save Money on Gas:

With the escalating price of gas, buying a fuel-efficient car makes a lot of sense. Approximately 15% of new car buyers reject a model due to poor gas mileage. Nearly 40% of those consumers who eliminate a full-size SUV due to gas mileage ultimately purchase a midsize SUV instead, while nearly 20% purchase another model altogether. (J.D. Power and Associates, Sept. 2004.)

But even if you don't currently own a fuel-efficient car, there are lots of ways you can improve the fuel efficiency of your present vehicle until you're ready to purchase one of the best gas mileage cars. Your personal driving habits have a big effect on your fuel use and costs. You can better manage your vehicle operating costs as well as minimize the emissions it produces by driving less and more efficiently. Here are some tips to help. 

Want a Chopper? Build Your Own!

Motorcycle chopper kits are a growth industry. But what does that mean to you and me? Well one thing that we know is that we will have more choppers to ogle at. There is not a single day that goes by without more and more pictures of chopper bikes that have just been finished showing up in all the motorcycle magazines. Then at the weekends, when we are on our "hot" rides, we will see four or five show finish level bikes. There are more choppers around now than there have been in the last twenty five years.

Most of these choppers have been built from motorcycle chopper kits, the "bike in a box" approach. But hey, don't knock it! Building your own chopper has never been easier. There are rolling chassis kits, complete bike kits, and frame manufacturers give you a multitude of choice when it comes to take the plunge and buy a motorcycle chopper kit.

Drag Racing - Take It Off The Street And To The Strip:

Drag racing, a contest between two cars starting from dead stop to determine which car can accelerate quicker to a given point. Drag racing started in the 1930's where competitors raced along desert stretches of road to see who's hot rod was faster. Over the coming years the sport became more organized and the National Hot Rod Association was formed in 1951. 54 years later, the NHRA is now the largest sanctioning body in motorsports with over 80,000 members.

Most people probably got their start with drag racing on the streets, sitting at a light when your neighbor or friend pulls up, both of you itching for the light to finally turn green so you both can hammer the throttle and see who could get to the next light first.

Radar Detector Primer:

Radar detector use is very common these days, for many people, speeding is a normal part of daily life. This law-bending is so prevalent and commonly accepted that there is even specialized electronic equipment to help drivers get away with it. Since its introduction in 1970s, the radar detector has become a must-have accessory for would-be Andrettis everywhere, keep on reading our radar detector review and find out the details.

More money buys more features

Radar Detector Buyers Guide:

Radar detector manufacturers are constantly playing a game of catch-up with new technologies designed to nab the lead-footed, some of the critical factors when buying a Radar Detector are :

False Alarms : The case when too many false alarms occur. If your Radar Detector constantly falses than you'll start to ignore it eventually - and then in a case of a real radar trap it will be too late.

x/k Radar Sensitivity : These frequencies have been used already in the 60 and 70, therefore the radar detectors manufacturers already know how to detect them from miles.

KA Radar Sensitivity : More expensive components are required for this type of frequency, most manufacturers prefer not to include this feature to save money on the development of the device.