Tag Archives: vital

Motorcycles

Kawasaki Motorcycle Maintenance: A DIY Guide For Common Issues

Kawasaki bikes are among the most strong obtainable, so brakes are important. In truth, in the event you personal one of many fastest motorcycles Kawasaki ever built, you’d higher guarantee your bike’s stopping energy is wholesome. Fortunately, there are some steps you’ll be able to take to determine and probably resolve issues along with your brakes.

First, you may must verify your brake fluid ranges and its colour to assist slim down the reason for your spongy brakes. If the fluid is low, you’ll be able to high it off and bleed the brake strains to take away any air inside the system. If the fluid seems darkish, flush the previous brake fluid out and change it with contemporary product. Remember, in the event you do not feel snug or assured addressing your brakes, it is best to take your bike to an expert store for help.

Bleeding the strains is solely the method of ridding the brake system of any air. You’ll must depress the braking lever, untighten the related bleeder valve, seize the fluid right into a protected container, retighten the bleeder valve, after which let go of the brake and permit it to return to its resting place. Repeat this till the brake lever feels tight and responsive if topping off the fluid. If flushing the system, you may proceed bleeding the strains till all of the soiled fluid is changed. The steps are the identical for each the entrance and rear brakes.

Cars

How To Perform A Transmission Flush On Your Vehicle

transmission fluid draining Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock

Your automobile’s transmission is a crucial a part of its anatomy. It’s chargeable for taking the uncooked energy created by the engine and scaling it down to varied driving conditions. The transmission is what makes it attainable to drive at totally different speeds, take off from a cease, and decelerate when it is time to decelerate. But the transmission is not only a magic field that does all of that by itself. Transmissions work utilizing a selected sort of hydraulic fluid. This pressurized fluid helps actuate valves contained in the transmission, transfer gears, and lubricate all transferring elements. While transmission fluid is sturdy and long-lasting, it is topic to degradation over time and can ultimately lose its means to assist your transmission operate correctly.

Because transmission fluid breaks down over time, it have to be changed periodically. Most producers present particular schedules for transmission fluid flushes and replacements. A transmission flush is a comparatively easy process, however the steps can range relying in your automobile’s make and mannequin. There’s additionally a distinction between a transmission flush and a transmission fluid change.

Generally, a flush entails draining the transmission fluid, connecting a machine or different equipment to the transmission cooler traces to purge any remaining previous fluid, after which refilling the system with recent fluid. However, some autos require further steps, like changing the transmission fluid filter and putting in a brand new pan gasket. A transmission fluid change, then again, is an easy drain and fill process. Typically, a drain and fill is all you may have to do, as flushes are extra time-consuming and require extra gear. That stated, there are methods to carry out a flush at residence for those who’re a assured DIYer. Let’s dive in and take a deeper have a look at transmission flushes and learn how to carry out them.

How to flush an automated transmission

person removing automatic transmission filter Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock

Flushing your transmission is a reasonably simple job. However, the process can differ barely from automobile to automobile and relying in your transmission sort. For automatic transmissions, together with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), the steps are comparatively comparable.

  1. Lift the car off the bottom.

  2. Remove the transmission fluid drain plug or take away the pan and permit the previous fluid to empty (you may must take away the pan it doesn’t matter what for those who plan to switch the filter).

  3. Remove the previous filter and exchange it whereas the pan is off.

  4. Clean the previous gasket materials and the drain pan mating floor earlier than putting in a brand new gasket.

  5. Torque the pan bolts to their correct specification.

  6. Replace the drain plug if relevant.

  7. Lower the automobile and take away the transmission fluid dipstick.

  8. Measure the quantity of fluid that you simply drained from the transmission, and add that very same quantity of clean fluid to the transmission by way of the dipstick tube.

  9. Locate your automobile’s transmission cooler traces.

  10. Attach one finish of a hose to the outlet or return line and place the opposite finish in a bucket or drain pan.

  11. Start the engine.

  12. Allow the brand new fluid to empty into your bucket (that is the flushing process that can filter out any grime and gunk from the transmission).

  13. Continue including extra fluid to the transmission till the liquid leaving the return hose appears to be like vibrant purple and clear.

  14. Turn off the engine and reconnect the return line.

  15. Start the engine and test your transmission fluid degree utilizing the dipstick.

  16. Add extra fluid till the extent is inside the applicable vary.

  17. Test drive your automobile.

How to flush a sealed transmission

pump for a transmission flush Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock

A sealed transmission doesn’t have a dipstick, which means you possibly can’t test the fluid degree or fill the transmission with new fluid from the engine bay. Instead, these transmissions sometimes have a drain gap and a fill gap positioned immediately on the transmission. Flushing a sealed transmission is considerably extra advanced than flushing an unsealed one. You’ll want a pump, which you will discover at most auto elements shops, a chunk of hose, and a transparent container.

  1. Check your car restore handbook to find out your automobile’s total transmission fluid capability.

  2. Remove the transmission drain plug and permit the fluid to empty into a transparent container.

  3. When the fluid stops draining, exchange the drain plug.

  4. Measure the quantity of fluid that drained out of the pan.

  5. Locate the fill plug and use your pump so as to add the identical quantity of recent fluid that you simply beforehand drained.

  6. Locate the transmission cooler hoses and disconnect the return line.

  7. Attach a chunk of hose to the return line and place the opposite finish in your clear container.

  8. Start the engine and drain one quart into the container.

  9. Stop the engine and use your pump so as to add one quart to the transmission.

  10. Repeat this process till you’ve got drained and added the utmost fluid capability in your automobile (at that time, the fluid leaving the return hose ought to be purple and clear).

  11. Replace the fill plug.

  12. Take your car for a check drive.

How to flush a handbook transmission

person installing transmission pan Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock

Manual transmissions differ from automated transmissions in that they are much easier and simpler to keep up. These transmissions wouldn’t have filters or cooler traces, which means you possibly can’t flush them in the identical sense that you would be able to flush an automated transmission. Instead, in the case of servicing a handbook transmission, you may mainly simply be performing a drain and fill. Manual transmissions might be sealed or unsealed, which means you might want a pump to finish the process. You can decide whether or not your automobile has a sealed transmission by checking the engine bay for a transmission fluid dipstick. Follow the process under to switch the fluid in your handbook transmission.

  1. Lift the automobile off the bottom.

  2. Remove the transmission drain plug or the pan and permit the fluid to empty.

  3. Replace the plug or pan (for those who eliminated the pan, you may want to switch the gasket and retorque the bolts to their correct specification).

  4. If your transmission is sealed, measure the fluid that you simply drained and pump the identical quantity of unpolluted fluid in via the fill gap.

  5. If your transmission is unsealed, decrease the automobile and fill the transmission with the suitable quantity of fluid.

  6. Start the engine and let it run whilst you proceed to test the fluid degree.

  7. Add extra fluid if essential.

  8. Take your automobile for a check drive.

When do you should carry out a transmission flush?

person checking transmission fluid dipstick Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock

Your automobile’s producer offers a upkeep schedule for routine companies, together with transmission fluid flushes. The intervals will depend upon numerous elements, together with your car’s make and mannequin, the kind of transmission it makes use of, and the kind of fluid. You can discover this info in your proprietor’s handbook, your restore handbook, or by contacting your native dealership. However, most vehicles want a transmission fluid service each 30,000 to 100,000 miles.

Outside of standard transmission service, you might want to switch your fluid for those who expertise any signs of transmission injury. Some of the most typical indicators that your transmission fluid is unhealthy embrace an overheating transmission, dashboard warning lights, jerky or irregular shifting, and stalling points. Over time, transmission fluid can accumulate particles and steel shavings. It’s important that you simply exchange the fluid repeatedly to avoid damage and preserve your transmission shifting easily. The finest technique to shield your transmission is to observe your producer’s directions and sustain with a routine upkeep schedule.

Technology

5 Ryobi Tools That Will Come In Handy When Crafting DIY Home Decor Projects

The different half of the very important DIY equation is a robust noticed, one thing that may cleanly and exactly chop by way of any crafting supplies you throw at it. There are a few different options for DIY saws, with round saws being a preferred introductory selection, however for those who’ve obtained the house and dedication for it, a miter noticed could also be a greater possibility, particularly if it is one as versatile as Ryobi’s.

Ryobi’s 10 in. Corded Sliding Compound Miter Saw is an absolute beast of a workshop implement, slicing cleanly by way of wooden, plastic, and extra with the ability of a 15 amp, 4,600 RPM motor. The sliding head can deal with cross cuts of as much as 12 inches, whereas the prolonged miter will be adjusted by as much as 47 levels left and proper, offering you with the best flexibility in positioning and chopping. The machine additionally options an LED cutline indicator and work gentle, clearly outlining a potential cutline to maximise precision.

The Ryobi Corded Sliding Compound Miter Saw is on the market at Home Depot for $269.00, the place it has a person score of 4.6 out of 5. Repair and DIY YouTuber Wesley Allen has owned this mannequin of miter noticed for a number of years, subjecting it to constant workshop utilization the whole time, and has by no means skilled any issues. As an added flex, he demonstrated the noticed’s capability to chop cleanly by way of shin bones to offer to his canine.

Motorsport

Worst Cars For Car Seats In Every Class, According To Cars.com

Car seats are an essential safety measure for young children in vehicles. However, not all cars are equally capable of accommodating car seats. To determine the worst performers in this area, Cars.com conducted tests on 56 car models. The evaluation included factors such as the latches, rear-facing infant seats, rear-facing convertible seats, forward-facing convertible seats, high-back booster seats, and third-row access (if applicable).

Cars.com assigned letter grades to the vehicles in their study. To compare the results, we converted these grades to numbers and calculated the average figures. Similar to a school GPA, where a 4.0 represents straight A’s, the closer a car’s score is to 4.0, the better it performs in accommodating car seats.


Technology

New iOS17 Features We Hope Android Phones Will Adopt

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is an important security measure nowadays. Most of us are familiar with receiving 2FA codes via text message, which we need to input to log in to apps or websites. However, these codes can quickly clutter our message inbox if we don’t clear them regularly, making it difficult to find important conversations.

The good news is that iOS 17 has introduced a solution to this problem by allowing users to automatically delete expired 2FA codes. This is a small but impactful feature that would greatly improve the user experience on Android devices as well. It’s likely that Apple’s implementation identifies messages that resemble 2FA codes and removes them, which should be easy for Google to replicate on their own platforms.

In fact, Google’s default messaging app, Messages, already has smart sorting capabilities that categorize messages into “personal” and “business” sections. Adding a filter specifically for 2FA messages, with the option to automatically delete them after a set time period, seems like a straightforward addition for the team at Google.

Featured

2023 Lucid Air Touring Review: The One To Get

When Lucid Motors unveiled its first vehicle, the Air, in 2020, they wanted to make a big impression. The range-topping Dream Edition, with its $169,000 price tag, 1,111 horsepower, and 520-mile range, certainly accomplished that. But for everyday driving, the Touring model is the one that most people will want.

Design and Features

Visually, there are no major differences between the Touring and other Lucid Air models. It has the same exterior styling and color options. The Touring I tested had a Quantum Grey Metallic finish, standard 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and a Glass Canopy roof. However, you can also choose a metal roof for a lower price.

Performance

The Touring model is equipped with a slightly smaller battery pack than the higher-trimmed Grand Touring. It has a range of 425 miles (384 miles on 20-inch wheels) and develops 620 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. It offers plenty of power for daily driving, and its range is more than sufficient for most people’s needs. It also outperforms competitors like the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC and BMW i7 in terms of power.

Ride and Handling

Like the Grand Touring, the Touring model features steel springs, adaptive dampers, and three drive modes (Smooth, Swift, and Sprint). It weighs 250 pounds less than the Grand Touring, making it more agile and easier to maneuver. Its braking system is also well-suited to its weight, with six-piston brakes upfront and four-pot calipers in the rear. The Touring performs well in both city driving and on the highway.

Interior and Technology

The Touring model benefits from the same interior design and build quality as its higher-trimmed siblings. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which are displayed on the Air’s large 34-inch curved main screen. The native infotainment system is well laid out, but it can occasionally lag. The cabin is covered in Nappa leather, and the Touring model offers more interior space than the Grand Touring, especially in the second row.

Pricing

The 2023 Lucid Air Touring starts at $109,050, including a $1,650 destination fee. My tester had a price of $128,550 with options. Compared to its competitors, the Touring offers a significant discount, with similar options on the BMW i7 costing around $150,000, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC coming in at around $135,000.

Verdict

The 2023 Lucid Air Touring combines the best features and design elements of the higher-trimmed models with a more affordable price tag. It offers ample power and range for daily driving and provides a comfortable and luxurious interior. If you’re looking for a fast and practical electric vehicle, the Lucid Air Touring is the one to get.

Motorsport

Discover How Honda Odyssey Performs With Additives Instead of Engine Oil

Engine oil is a crucial component for combustion engines, as it needs regular replacement to prevent potential disasters. Additives are designed to address different engine problems and improve the performance of the oil. But how effective are these additives when used without base oil? Garage54, a YouTube channel, recently conducted an experiment to find out.

The team selected a Honda Odyssey equipped with the automaker’s F23 engine, which was used in Honda vehicles during the 1990s and early 2000s. They drained the engine oil and then flushed the engine. Subsequently, they mixed various oil additives to create a concentrated mixture, forming an oily, greenish-brown substance that they poured directly into the engine.

Before replacing the oil with additives, the Odyssey’s engine was already experiencing issues. Smoke would billow from the tailpipe under heavy throttle. Unfortunately, the additives did not resolve the smoking problem and instead made it worse. As the van drove around town, the smoke changed from blue to gray, eventually leading to large puffs of black smoke accompanied by a loud bang from the exhaust pipe. Nevertheless, despite all the abuse, the Honda Odyssey survived the short test.

To measure any changes in the engine, the Garage54 team monitored the oil pressure in each cylinder. While two cylinders experienced a drop in oil pressure, one remained unchanged, and the fourth showed a slight increase. However, these changes were negligible, and the Honda Odyssey continued to perform without any issues during an extended overnight trip, totaling an additional 62 miles (100 kilometers).

Since the engine did not fail during the experiment, the team decided to reverse the process. They drained the additives, which had turned black, from the van and replaced them with fresh, thicker motor oil before taking the vehicle for another spin. Although the van still emitted smoke from the exhaust, using additives did not appear to cause any significant problems.

Anyone who has visited an auto parts store may have noticed the assortment of miracle fluids designed to prolong the lifespan of older vehicles. These fluids aim to enhance the positive aspects of the engine oil or counteract undesirable effects by modifying the oil’s formula. They can improve lubrication, adjust viscosity, and keep engine components free of harmful deposits and sludge, which could explain why the drained additives appeared dirty.

Motorsport

First Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series Debuts At Goodwood FoS

Bentley brings back the legendary Speed Six model with the introduction of the Speed Six Continuation Series at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This model holds great significance in the brand’s history, as it secured victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house coachbuilder, will produce a limited run of 12 Speed Six Continuation cars, all of which are already sold to enthusiastic buyers.

The heart of the Speed Six is a 6.5-liter inline-six engine. Through rigorous dyno testing, the powerplant has been measured to produce an impressive 205 horsepower. This output is within a mere 5 horsepower of the original competition-spec engines used in the 1930s.