Green Car Maintenance Tips

Green Car Maintenance Tips -- powered by ehow

Tire Maintenance

Rotate your tires every 10,000 miles to prevent uneven wear (this means the back tires should be moved to the front wheels and vice versa). Also keep a very close eye on your tire pressure. Mazdas use tires with a very soft tread, which means your car grips the road better, but its tires are more prone to leaks and breakage.

Look in your manual to see what the tire pressure of your front and back tires should be, and check all four tires' pressure once a month to make sure no leaks have appeared.

Read more: Mazda Maintenance | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5403620_mazda-maintenance.html#ixzz1yTFvILzq

Change the Air Filter

Over the winter, your car's air filter can get clogged with salt and other thick debris. A clogged air filter can really lower your fuel efficiency. Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

But how do you know when to change your air filter? The recommended interval is every 12,000 miles (19,312 kilometers), but that can be affected by the particular road and air conditions in which you drive. If you do a lot of driving on dirt or gravel roads, then your air filter is going to clog up much faster than an air filter in a vehicle that's used strictly for highway driving. The only real way to know if you need to replace your air filter is take it out and give it a quick inspection.

Interestingly, a slightly dirty air filter works better than a totally clean one. This is because the debris in the filter becomes part of the filtering process, trapping smaller particles that might have otherwise slipped past.

There's no real science to knowing when it's time to replace the filter. If it's really filthy, then it obviously needs to be changed. Otherwise, go with your gut. If you're preparing for a long summer of hard driving, then you might as well replace it. Air filters are relatively inexpensive.

Preserve your car during long-term storage

If you are not going to use your car for more than a month, store it properly to prevent unnecessary damage and repairs upon your return.

• Fill the gas tank to help prevent condensation from accumulating in the gas tank. Add a fuel stabilizer and drive the car around a bit to distribute the additive to engine parts.
• Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
• Place a vapor barrier on your garage floor. A 4-mil polyethylene drop cloth will do.
• Disengage the parking brake to help avoid brake corrosion.
• Put the car on jack stands to take the weight of the vehicle off the wheels and tires.
• Disconnect and remove the battery to keep it from draining. Place the battery on a trickletype charger. Or periodically drain the battery, using a small light bulb, and then recharge it with a low-volt charger.
• Plug the tailpipe with a rag to prevent moist air from infiltrating into it.

Be patient during the break-in period

You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

• During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
• Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

Ready - Set - H2Go!

Ready - Set - H2Go! Ran out of power? Need batteries? NO?? Just add water - What? That's right, it is finally here, the car that runs on water!

This car will not only run on water, it can use solar power as well. The only downfall, it's a toy. That's right, your kids get to have all the fun. Or should I say, the kid inside you can cut loose with this little gem!

A model of a real working prototype, this car extracts the hydrogen from water to provide an energy source to power the car. Using fuel cells for cruising and super-capacitors for speed this remote control car can scream! And even better, the included remote does not even need batteries!

The best part is, that in using the car, the user learns the basic science of hydrogen fuel cell technology. A fuel cell produces an electrical current that can be directed outside the cell to do work. This can include powering an electric motor or illuminating a light bulb or a even a city. The behavior of electricity returns the current to the fuel cell, thus completing an electrical circuit. A chemical reactions to produce this current key to how a fuel cell works.

There are many different types of fuel cells, and each operates a bit differently. basically, hydrogen atoms enter a fuel cell at the anode where a chemical reaction strips them of their electrons. Hydrogen atoms are "ionized," and carry a positive electrical charge. Negatively charged electrons provide the current through wires to do work. Also, If alternating current (AC) is needed, the Direct Current (DC) output of the fuel cell is routed an inverter which is an AC/DC conversion device.

Oxygen enters the fuel cell at the cathode and, in some cell types, it will combine there with electrons returning from the electrical circuit and hydrogen ions that have traveled through the electrolyte from the anode. Some other cell types allow the oxygen to picks up electrons and then travel through the electrolyte to the anode, where it combines with hydrogen ions.

Electrolyte, the medium used to transport the ions, plays a key role. It permits only the correct ions to pass between anode and cathode. If free electrons or other substances were to travel through the electrolyte, they would spoil the chemical reaction.

So who said learning can't be fun. Ready, Set, H2Go - Get the car of tomorrow... Today!

Future Fantasy Cars and Trucks

 

2021 Mazda2/Mazdaspeed2
The Mazda2 hits the entry-level market with a freshly molded composite body that helps hold the curb weight at less than 2000 pounds. Strong development and competitive pricing in the aluminum market means the little Mazda's chassis and suspension is mostly aluminum, with high-strength steel and some small magnesium castings thrown into the mix. A revised and efficiently packaged MacPherson strut design continues to guide and drive the front wheels, while the refined torsion-beam rear is again summoned for service. Shades of 2011, anyone?

Now offered as a three- or five-door hatchback, the '2's lone engine is the recently debuted all-aluminum SkyActiv 1.4-liter double-overhead-cam inline-four developing 140 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. The engine is easily capable of 50 mpg highway with either a throwback six-speed manual or economy-optimized seven-speed automatic. A radically shaped piston crown works in conjunction with precision-calculated ignition and timing control to empower Mazda's spray-guided direct injection, promising the engine series' greatest thermal efficiency yet.

Although the 2021 Mazda2 can run a stratified charge deep into the powerband, it's also a perfect candidate for the now-standard i-stop auto stop-start feature. Inside, there's the option for unconventional gel seats that weigh around 5 percent less than comparable cloth buckets and feature limited firmness control.

But the big performance news comes in the form of a five-door hot hatch ably called the Mazdaspeed2. In response to overwhelming owner and dealer requests, and with favorable market research to back the outstretched hands, Mazda has thrown the enthusiasts a small bone. The SkyActiv 1.4-liter was given a lower compression ratio before it was turbocharged in the Mazdaspeed spirit. A quick-spooling, variable-geometry turbo teams with retuned injection and additional engine friction reduction to produce 205 horsepower. The six-speed stick with limited-slip is the only transmission choice, and it's assisted by a lightened flywheel.

Handling-wise, higher-rate titanium springs supplant the stock Mazda2 pieces. There's added damping to control suspension movement; a lower center of gravity; and sharper electric steering. Standout 16-inch magnesium wheels (the regular Mazda2 has 16-inch aluminum alloys) provide an advantageous footprint for handling excellence. - Benson Kong

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2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata
A light weight and high efficiency will be key in the design of the fifth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, as the brand's purest sports car builds on the success of the upcoming, back-to-basics fourth-generation car. Weight will be pared down from the fourth-gen's 2200 pounds to an even ton, and a small 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be found below the hood. Don't let the diminutive size fool you, this Miata will push out just over 200 horsepower in top spec.

To keep weight down, thin-gauge high-strength steel will be employed by the chassis and aluminum will be used in greater quantities than ever before (both in suspension components and body panels), helping to push the Miata's sticker price up into the $30,000 range. Still, the Miata will be among the more affordable cars on the road, especially when taking into account starting prices for competing sports cars. While Mazda will continue to offer a manual transmission in what will continue to be one of the purest sports cars on the market, a paddle-shift-equipped dual-clutch gearbox will replace the conventional automatic transmission, bringing the car firmly into the new century.

We expect new trim levels that go beyond those currently available. Mazda will finally capitalize on the Miata's broad appeal by offering a car for the daily driver and weekend track junkie - along with a few stops in-between. A Mazdaspeed variant will return as the flagship model and will be tauter and stiffer than base models. Opt for the track package and one-piece race seats, a roll bar, and a hard top will all be included, giving a factory option to those who want to race on Sunday, but still commute to work on Monday. - Rory Jurnecka