THE CAR NAIRA BLOG

When you see an automobile advertised as being "turbocharged," everyone has the general sense that is a more powerful engine. Here's how it makes that magic. A turbocharger is a device fitted to a vehicle’s engine that is designed to improve the overall efficiency and increase performance. A Garret turbocharger How a Turbocharger Works In a standard internal combustion engine (ICE), it is actually the flow of air that is most critical to the engine's performance, not the amount of fuel sprayed. Normally, in a running engine it is the downward motion of the pistons that draws air into the engine cylinders. The air is mixed with​ fuel, and the combined vapor is ignited (spark plugs) to create power. When you step on the accelerator, you are not really pumping liquid fuel into the engine, but rather drawing in more air, which in turn draws in vaporized fuel to create power.   A cut-out turbocharger A turbocharger is an exhaust-driven mecha

What is a continuously variable transmission? A continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is a type of automatic transmission that provides more useable power, better fuel economy and a smoother driving experience than a traditional automatic transmission. A Continuous Variable Transmission How  CVT works To understand this better, we must make comparisons with a conventional automatic transmission.  Conventional automatic transmissions use a set of gears that provides a given number of ratios (or speeds). The transmission shifts gears to provide the most appropriate ratio for a given situation: Lowest gears for starting out, middle gears for acceleration and passing, and higher gears for fuel-efficient cruising. A conventional automatic transmission The CVT replaces the gears with two variable-diameter pulleys, each shaped like a pair of opposing cones, with a metal belt or chain running between them. One pulley is connected to the engine (input shaft) and

A car's suspension system comprises of several parts. Here's a summary of what they are and what they do. Variants of a suspension system 1. Wheels and Tires.   Tires provide traction (“grip”) that allows the car to accelerate, decelerate (slow down), and turn. They also absorb the shock from small bumps and other road irregularities. 2. Springs.  Springs protect the passengers and cargo from larger bumps. A Macpherson strut showing a coil spring A leaf spring 3. Shocks or struts.  While the spring cushions the jolt when a vehicle hits a bump, the shock absorber or strut, a cylinder filled with a thick oil, absorbs the energy from the same bump, which causes the vehicle to stop bouncing. Struts 4. Steering system.  The steering system translates driver inputs from the steering wheel into back-and-forth movement of the wheels. A steering system 5. Linkages, bushings, and joints.  Every suspension inclu

Ball joints are an important suspension component found on virtually all modern vehicles. They are a spherical bearing in a socket — functioning similarly to the ball and socket design of a human hip — and serve as one of the main suspension pivot points connecting the control arms of the vehicle to the steering knuckles. The front ball joints allow the front wheels and suspension to move back and forth as well as up and down when the steering wheel is turned and the vehicle is traveling over the road. Diagram showing the location of the ball joint Should a ball joint break, the wheel becomes totally free to move in any direction, which can damage the car’s fender, tire, and several suspension components, if not more. Usually, when front ball joints start to fail, the vehicle will display a few symptoms that alert the driver a problem has occurred. Different forms of ball joints Symptoms Of A Failing Ball Joint 1. Clunking Noises From the Front Suspension

A tyre blowout (aka burst tyre) is likely one of the most scary experiences when driving. A sudden loss of pressure on one (or more) of your car’s four corners is certainly a terrifying prospect. A blown out tyre A tyre blow out is a very sudden loss of pressure where the tyre is quickly destroyed, making it difficult to drive. There is also a chance that a blowout can damage the wheel itself and the surrounding area of the vehicle. Tyre blowout causes and avoidance 1. Aging (Old) Tyres An old tyre Tyres weaken over time even if they're not being driven on the road. Although the tyres may appear to be in good condition, the rubber inside could actually be deteriorating if they were not properly stored.  It is recommended that tyres older than 6 years should be replaced, regardless of their tread life or how many kilometres they've been on the roads. The FRSC recommends 3 years. 2. Underinflation Comparison between a properly inflated tyr

Tyre Sealant comprises of a carefully formulated blend of natural fibres, blocking agents and sealing compounds that’s been proven to seal a puncture of up to and above 18mm. How tyre sealant works Pros of Tyre Sealant 1. It's a fast, convenient, and affordable DIY solution. Many tyre sealants come in a pressurized can and are easy to apply. When you spray the product into the valve, the tyre inflates and the formula coats the inside of the tyre, plugging leaks or punctures. Within a few minutes, you can start driving your car so the gel spreads evenly. Even with more major flats, a good sealant will fill up your tyres enough to drive the car a short distance, like to the side of the road. That way, you can get out of the way of dangerous traffic and reduce the risk of harm to you, your passengers, or your wheels. It's a safe option if you don't have a spare tyre. 2. Tyre  sealant may prevent flat tyres. Sealants are most associated with fixing tyre

Tyre Sealant comprises of a carefully formulated blend of natural fibres, blocking agents and sealing compounds that’s been proven to seal a puncture of up to and above 18mm. Composition Tyre sealants are a balanced formulation of glycol, organic thickeners, binding agents, mica, rubber particles and cellulose fibres of different types and strength.  The water based glycol is the liquid carrier of the solution that suspends the solids. The mica particles and fibres, which vary from ceramic, wool and aramid (Kelvar), determine the strength of the solution. The combination of thickener/filler with cellulose fibres quickly forms a permanent rubber plug that bonds to the natural rubber of the tyre.  The stronger the solutions sealing capacity, the denser the mix of fibres and rubber. The composition is adjusted in viscosity to match various applications and conditions eg. different strengths are used in road tyres and off road tyres respectively. How Tyre Sealants Work

Bulls, horses, tridents, coats of arms, wheels, and propellers -- what are all these exotic car logos, anyway? Learn about each of these maker's signature hood ornaments and badges first appeared and why these emblems were chosen to represent the company. Just for fun! 01. Alfa Romeo/Ferrari  What is it?  A four-leaf clover -- quadrifoglio verde, in Italian -- on a white background. When did first appear?  During World War I on Alfa Romeo race cars, then on Ferrari racers when Alfa shut down its racing program in the '20s. Later, it showed up on Alfas again. What's it mean?  It means "good luck". 02. Bentley What is it?  The flying B -- a capital letter B with wings. It comes in two forms: the 3D hood ornament and the flat emblem with the B at the center. When did it first appear?  On the first test car, a 1919 Bentley 3 1/2-liter. What's it mean?  The B is for Bentley, and the wings symbolize the sp