engine-101s Aeonity Blog

Yellow is the New Green

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:56:00 -0600

WARNING: The article you are about to read are strictly for color-blind persons only. Yellow is the new green. Yeah, yellow as in the color of the sun (on a sunny weather, of course)! "Live Green Go Yellow" - General Motors campaign is aimed at building awareness and market acceptance for E85 vehicles. As we all know, E85 is the alternative-fuel-idea combining 85 percent of ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. "With the on-going concern over national energy policy, the need to have more renewable fuel choices such as ethanol blended fuels is a great energy option available today. This campaign will ask the simple question, ‘What if every vehicle was yellow?’ In a way, in the world of ethanol, yellow is the new green, since today its main source is from corn," said Brent Dewar, GM vice president of marketing and advertising. General Motors is the pioneer in producing E85 flexible vehicles. This year, the company offers 12 different E85 models including the 2008 Chevy Suburban, 2008 Chevy Tahoe, 2008 Chevy Avalanche, the 2008 Chevy Impala, 2008 Chevy Silverado, 2008 Chevy Uplander and the 2008 Chevy Express. This is part of GM's goal to have half of vehicle production be E85 flexible or bio-diesel capable four years from now. Producing E85 vehicles is one of the auto industry's efforts to counter global warming like what an Acura Legend brake caliper does to your Acura car. Just to remind you, pollutants cars emit everyday around the world is a major contributor to global warming. Gonna check my conscience, hey! Are you still there? According to E85tips.com, E85 has the following benefits:

85 percent of E85 is made with renewable resources. Corn is the main feedstock for ethanol in the US due to its abundance and low price.
E85 is easy to use and handle. E85 fueling equipment is slightly different and of similar cost to equipment used to store and dispense petroleum fuels.
Using E85 reduces petroleum consumption. Use of E85 will reduce a fleet’s overall use of petroleum and replace it with a renewable-based fuel produced in the US.
E85 is good for the environment. Beyond operational ease, E85 offers considerable environmental benefits.
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are available and affordable. FFVs specifically designed to run on E85 are becoming more common each model year, and are typically available as standard equipment with little or no incremental cost.
FFVs have flexible fueling options. FFVs may operate on gasoline, and, in fact, most of the 4 million FFVs on US roadways do today.

Based on US Department of Energy projections, by 2030, the country could produce 90 billion gallons of corn and cellulosic ethanol, a non-food based ethanol made out of a variety of biomass resources such as waste from urban, agricultural, and forestry resources each year. "Biofuels such as E85 ethanol gives consumers a real choice at the pump - a choice beyond regular, 'midgrade' or 'premium'. We believe that ethanol has the greatest near-term potential to displace petroleum and that is why we are committed to working with government, academia and industry to promote both supply and availability," Stephens added. Yellow is undeniably the new green!

Hydrogen Powered Vehicle Receives Award

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:51:37 -0600

Most vehicles today still use internal combustion engines. But the increasing threat of climate change has automakers scrambling to develop powertrains which are eco-friendly. These powertrains though are still in the development process. But, they will soon be available in the auto market. One of these powertrains developed by automakers includes the one on the Chevy Equinox which recently received the Green Car Vision Award from the Green Car Journal. This is according to The Auto Channel. The Chevy Equinox is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell which has been developed by General Motors. The said vehicle beat four other vehicles for the award which are the BMW Hydrogen 7, Honda FCX Clarity, Phoenix Electric SUT, and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid all of which are equipped with components more valuable than a heater core. Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal had this to say: "The Equinox Fuel Cell is visionary on many levels. Zero-emission vehicles destined for our highways in the years ahead will take many forms, from small car platforms to large. Powering a popular crossover model with a future fuel such as hydrogen, and doing so seamlessly with an efficient powerplant that creates no CO2 greenhouse gases, is exemplary and Chevrolet should be commended for this." The development of the Chevy Equinox shows that General Motors is also serious with the development of powertrains for the future. The power of the vehicle comes from the fuel cell where hydrogen fuel is stored. The energy produced from the fusion of hydrogen fuel and the oxygen in the atmosphere powers the Equinox. This means that the vehicle does not burn petroleum fuel nor emit greenhouse gases.

All-New Dodge Ram To Be Equipped With Chrysler's Fuel-Efficient HEMI(R) Hybrid

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:53:30 -0600

The newest Dodge Ram will arrive at dealerships with Chrysler's fuel-efficient HEMI® Hybrid. The company has confirmed that their state-of –the-art two-mode hybrid will join the light-duty Dodge Ram powertrain lineup for 2010. Joining Chrysler's hybrid vehicle lineup is the the Dodge Ram HEMI(R) Hybrid. Chrysler also confirmed that it would launch a Cummins turbodiesel engine in 2009 for the Dodge Ram 1500 unit last year. The engine will assemble 50- state-of-the art emissions standards and at the same time will bring 30-percent fuel economy development. "Dodge Ram is known for capability, utility and performance," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development, Chrysler LLC. "The addition of hybrid and diesel powertrains to our all-new Dodge Ram 1500 lineup is sure to attract an array of new customers looking for the ultimate combination of full-size pickup fuel efficiency, performance and capability."

The Choke

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:12:28 -0600

It is not expected that all of us would know each part of the vehicle and what such part does. But it sure does help if we know what certain parts and features are for so that we can use them as they are designed to be used. For example, what is the choke and what does it do? I am going to share with you on this post just what the choke is all about. The choke is used on engines with carburetors to help in starting a cold engine. Now, the engine needs to burn fuel rich mixture to start it. The choke is sits at the top of the carburetor and it is its job to keep out air rushing into the combustion chamber. Without that extra air, the engine will be burning a very rich mixture. Apart from blocking off the entry of air into the combustion chamber, the choke also creates a pressure in the manifold which draws more fuel into the chamber. This means that a very rich fuel mixture will be injected into the engine. After the engine has been injected with a rich mixture, it would of course need air to continue running. To allow air to enter the carburetor, the choke is designed to be slightly offset on one side which will allow air rushing inside to push it aside. But the choke does not fully allow air to rush in instantly. It slowly allows them in with the aid of a temperature sensitive switch. When the engine temperature reaches a certain pre-set constant, the choke will then no longer block the entrance of air into the system.

Ford To Install EcoBoost

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:24:08 -0600

Ford Motor Co. said that it plans to install a new family of turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines dubbed the EcoBoost. The engine will be used on half a million vehicles over the next 5 years, including the 2009 Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex. The MKS sedan, which the company expects to launch later this year, will be the first Ford vehicle with EcoBoost as an option, according to RTT News. The company noted that EcoBoost will give the MKS's 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 the power and torque of a V8. According to reports, the EcoBoost will include four- and six-cylinder variants. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost will be used for the Explorer America Concept and select vehicles. It is expected to generate 275hp and 280 pound-feet of torque. A twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, which will be used in the all-wheel-drive MKS, will make 340hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. The America Concept equipped EcoBoost will be introduced at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Dearborn-based automaker said that the technology will provide a fuel-economy improvement of 20-30% over current engines. What’s more, the engine is relatively affordable compared with diesels and hybrids. The EcoBoost range is aimed to be applied in a wide variety of applications, including cars and trucks. Additionally, the automaker said that it also plans to install hybrid and diesel powertrains in additional vehicles and is developing plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells for future applications. Ford said on Thursday that its December vehicle sales in the United States dropped 9.2% from the previous year due to a weak demand for both cars and trucks. To note, the automaker, sold 212,094 vehicles in December, down 9.2% from 233,621 vehicles sold in the same month in 2007. In December, retail sales dived 13% and fleet sales plummeted 1% compared to a year earlier. It seems to me that the auto rivalry is intensifying as previously predicted. One automaker innovates, the other upgrades and invents. Nice scenario. But the competition will get tougher and tougher and the upgrade of the ball joint won’t simply suffice.

2008 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Reviewed By John Heilig

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:59:44 -0600

The Auto Channel’s John Heilig gave out his commendations and reviews on the 2008 Nissan Versa. Here are some bits of his insights courtesy of TheAutoChannel.com: The Nissan Versa became one of my North Carolina cars this year. Carolina cars are those I was fortunate enough to be able to use in my frequent trips down south to care for an ailing family member. In these trips we put an enormous amount of miles on the cars and learned to know them pretty well. I must honestly admit that I probably would have preferred a larger vehicle for the trip, especially since the return voyage involved transporting a lot of stuff back home. But on the other hand, the compact nature of the Versa made fuel purchases minimal, and the versatility of the Versa (oops, I did it again) offered more than adequate carrying capacity for all we needed. On the positive side, the Versa was comfortable on long rides and was easy to park and maneuver. SPECIFICATIONS Model: Nissan Versa 1.8 SL HB Engine: 1.8-liter I-4 Horsepower/Torque: 122 hp @ 5200 rpm/127 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm Transmission: CVT Wheelbase: 99.8 in. Length x Width x Height: 177.5 x 67.3 x 55.5 in. Tires: 185/65R15 Cargo volume: 17.8/50.4 cu. ft. (rear seat backs up/folded) Economy: 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway/30.0 mpg test Fuel capacity: 13.2 gal. Price: $17,285 (includes $625 destination charge and $1,100 in options)

The Power Under Nissan GT-R's Hood

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:39:03 -0600

Everybody got excited about the final revelation of the Nissan GT-R as a streetbound race car. And everybody expects a tasty new racing car. Nissan never failed to give us what we expect. Now the car is going out as a street vehicle wearing the powerful racing abilities. One interesting part of the revelation is the rumor that the Nissan GT-R will be wearing the VK45’s engine. Nissan felt its overall style was more Grand Touring than was appropriate, so they reached back to history and pulled out a little something from the R390 LeMans racer. But sure it the same quality as the Acura CL vent visor. The 3.5 liter V8 VRH35L is on the R390 but when it was decided to go under the hood of the soon-to-be-revealed GT-R's VR38VETT, it was converted to only V6. The engine gains 300cc of displacement, for a total of 3.8 liters although two cylinders were taken away. You heard that right. Even if these cylinders were taken out, it still handles the same amount of air pumped by huge machines like the VR38 which is a compact mill with lots of tricky stuff. Among all the new exciting features, I’m pretty sure the integrated turbine housings in the exhaust manifolds will be one among the things that the tuners will hate the most. But just as promised, the new street bound racing car will give you the right speed you just need.

Which Car Is The Most Expensive

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:23:03 -0600

I was actually looking for a Acura CL tie rod yesterday but I visited Forbes Auto first. And so I read about Forbes Auto’s Top Ten Most Expensive cars to own. And I was never surprised to see Mercedes at the top notch. Anyway here are the top ten winners on the list of the most expensive cars to own: 1. Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe Starting MSRP: $99,900 Five-year cost of ownership: $174,264 2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan Starting MSRP: $85,750 Five-year cost of ownership: $171,130 Depreciation: $82,368 Interest and opportunity cost: $36,661 Fuel: $15,807 Maintenance and repairs: $5,130 Insurance: $21,161 Taxes and fees: $10,003 3. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible Starting MSRP: $94,800 Five-year cost of ownership: $168,203 4. BMW M6 Convertible Starting MSRP: $104,900 Five-year cost of ownership: $150,565 5. BMW Alpina B7 Starting MSRP: $115,000 Five-year cost of ownership: $149,809 6. Porsche 911 Turbo Starting MSRP: $122,900 Five-year cost of ownership: $149,574 Depreciation: $66,771 Interest and opportunity cost: $35,557 Fuel: $12,551 Maintenance and repairs: $5,622 Insurance: $21,045 Taxes and fees: $8,028 7. BMW M6 Coupe Starting MSRP: $99,100 Five-year cost of ownership: $144,265 Depreciation: $62,586 Interest and opportunity cost: $30,357 Fuel: $18,313 Maintenance and repairs: $5,349 Insurance: $18,201 Taxes and fees: $9,459 8. Mercedes-Benz G-Class Starting MSRP: $83,700 Five-year cost of ownership: $137,314 9. Audi S8 Starting MSRP: $92,000 Five-year cost of ownership: $136,368 10. Porsche 911 GT3 Starting MSRP: $106,000 Five-year cost of ownership: $129,458 Mercedes covers fours spots on the top ten list. Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe was actually the winner among these four models. Following the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe is Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan on the second spot and Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible on the third spot. Mercedes-Benz G-Class also gets the eighth spot. BMW cars also shared three of its models in the list. The BMW M6 Convertible gets the fourth spot with BMW Alpina B7 on the fifth and BMW M6 Coupe on the seventh spot.

Ener1 Lithium-ion Battery in Cars By End of '08

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:00:53 -0600

A few days ago, Charles Gassenheimer, the chairman of Ener1, Inc. came out in the headlines on Fox Business News. According to Gassenheimer, by the end of 2008, the alternative energy company will carry out its automotive Lithium-ion battery to several markets. Here are some added quotes courtesy of The Auto Channel: "Our batteries have already been tested by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, which is General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. We are the only battery company today using this Lithium-ion technology, which has met or exceeded all of the Big Three's requirements, especially and most importantly best-in-class in safety," Mr. Gassenheimer told viewers of the Fox morning broadcast "CEO Corner". "We have already announced a commercial contract with Think Electric Vehicle in Norway," Gassenheimer added, referring to a $70 million development and supply agreement signed in October. "It's the largest electric vehicle company in Europe. You will see our batteries in their cars by the end of 2008," the Ener1 chairman told interviewer Alexis Glick. "This is really a supply problem," Gassenheimer commented to Fox, adding that the few U.S. companies currently involved in manufacturing Lithium-ion automotive batteries, rather than competing directly against each other, are collectively building a new industry. He says that Japanese automaker Toyota now accounts for 90 percent of the battery market for electrical transportation and that U.S. industry must rapidly catch up or risk ceding a major share of the new car market to foreign carmakers. "Much of the world now, including Detroit, grasps that more efficient internal combustion engines and biofuels such as ethanol will not bring about the major environmental improvements and freedom from foreign oil that the times demand. That the Lithium-ion battery is the Holy Grail is now a given, and we and others have proven that it's a fully realizable technology for revolutionizing automotive transportation," said Mr. Gassenheimer.

Honda Boosts Their Engine Production To 40% In China

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:28:52 -0600

Because of the demand of cars in both local and international markets, the Honda Motor Corporation decided to boost up the production of their car engines to 40%. The increase in the engine production would deifinately take place in their engine production plants in China where most of the cars and other car parts related to Acura CL head gasket s are made. Japan’s second largest car maker is planning to spend a huge amount of 30 billion yen ($271 million) to pursue this particular plan. This coming December 12, the car company starts building a 200,000 units-a-year engine plant in Guangzhou, China to boost their engine production to up to 40% on an annual basis. The news came from the Nikkei business daily as they had reported on Wednesday. Guangzhou Honda Automobile Company is a Honda equally owned joint venture. The new plant will be producing 1.3- and 2.4-litre gasoline engines for models Accord, Odyssey and Fit in 2009, the paper said. The collaboration of two famous Japanese car companies will also supply these gasoline engines to some of the cars made under its name. These engines are sure to have the same quality. Only the number of units produced are going to be different but the Japanese car maker assures that they will still be doing the same quality engine parts like before. The Honda Motor Corporation is the second largest car maker in Japan second to the Toyota Motor Corporation. Honda is also the maker of the first ever hybrid car in the US car market, the Honda Insight, which later stopped its production because of its prize and because of the existence of the Prius.