What Exactly Are Xeon Headlights?

What Exactly Are Xeon Headlights?

By Ron Haugen

For people who are buying new or fairly new cars, you might realize that the headlights are a bit different. The popular halogen lights are now being replaced by what is called HID lights. HID stands for high intensity discharge lights and are powered by xenon gas. Xenon lights are brighter, last longer and are generally safer for the driver of the car. But the new lights also have a few downsides to them that need to be worked out.

The first HID bulbs using xenon were introduced in high end luxury cars in the early 1990s. These cars had such a difference in view in the dark hours that more manufacturers adopted these styles of lights. They refined the lights to keep making them safer and easier to use in all makes of cars. Now, Xenon powered HID lights can be made available for most makes and models of vehicles.

Xenon is a gas that powers the light bulb, like neon and other gases do. They provide an electric arc, which is a more powerful beam to radiate out from the headlight position. While this provides more light for safety, they cost a bit more as well. There isn't a filament to burn out inside the light bulb like in the past, so the light will last a lot longer. The longer lasting technology will also cost a bit more to the consumer. However, when you don't have to go to a dealership as often and pay for them to install new light bulbs, the savings might work out more towards the car driver's favor.

Lights from xenon gas appear bluish when they are coming down the road towards you. The bluish tint helps to detract from the brightness in a person looking at them, but they still produce a powerful beam to highlight the road in front or if anything were to jump out from the side of the road. Some people are distracted by the blue light, but it just takes a bit to get used to it and a driver can pass a car with those lights with no problem.

Even though more headlights is a good thing on a dark and curvy road, it can be a bad thing to an oncoming car. Headlight glare can cause accidents since people can't see where the road is because of temporary blindness. Make sure if you drive a vehicle with xenon headlights that they are pointed in the correct direction to maximize what you can see and lessen the impact on oncoming traffic.

No matter if you use xenon lights or not, get the burned out headlight replaced promptly. Not having bright lights can be a detriment to your driving abilities at night and for other cars coming against you in traffic.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com

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What Is Bio-Diesel Fuel?

What Is Bio-Diesel Fuel?

By Ron Haugen

For people who spend a lot of time on the road, going to the gas station might become a love-hate type of thing. Filling up can be an expensive thing to do when you have regular gasoline for the engine. For people who are looking at new cars, bio-diesel might be thrown out regularly by the salesperson, but you don't really understand what that means to you as the buyer. Is it cheaper? Does it make the car run differently? Does bio-diesel save you money in the long run, no matter how many miles you drive each year in the vehicle?

Bio-diesel is actually a good thing to have in your car for many reasons. Bio-diesel is a product that is created in the United States. Therefore, having bio-diesel powered cars means that we won't be dependent on other countries allowing us to get their oil and process it in to gasoline. It won't matter what the countries do because we won't have to rely on their supplies to power out vehicles.

Since the product is produced and manufactured in the US, then there is also less charges for shipping. The overall price per gallon will be less to produce which in turn means less per gallon the end user has to pay. And by having a product made and manufactured in the US, then US jobs are supported and keeping money in the US.
Bio-diesel is produced from renewable resources like vegetable oil. There is a process which breaks down the components so that they are able to work within an engine. Bio-diesel does not have to have petroleum in it, but it can be added to make up a biodiesel blend used in automobiles.

Biodiesel is a more affordable option but it is also a smarter option for the environment. Since it is made of renewal resources, it can easily be produced without harming the environment. Biodiesel fuel is non-toxic and biodegradable if it were to ever spill, get in the ground water or have a mishap in nature. Biodiesel also contains no sulfur, make it much safer for all who handle it from the processing plant to those who pump it in to vehicles.

Biodiesel can only be used in engines that are built for it. It cannot be added to a vehicle simply because you want to switch over to the product. If you are looking for a new car, the salesperson can direct you to the vehicles that only need bio-diesel to run. The biodiesel engines can often work with regular fuel in them, but not vice versa. Don't add bio-diesel to your engine if you aren't sure or before checking with the auto repair person who handles your car.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com

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What Function Does a Cabin Air Filter Serve in My Car?

What Function Does a Cabin Air Filter Serve in My Car?

By Ron Haugen

As you drive down the road and realize you are getting hot, you turn on the AC and expect to wait a few minutes for the air to get cool and make the rest of the ride comfortable. But it doesn't get cool after a few minutes. A smack on the dashboard returns no more results and you give in and roll down the window a crack. What is wrong with the AC now when it worked just fine a week ago. Or did it?

Many air conditioning systems in cars that were built after the year 2000 have what is called a cabin air filter inside of them. The cabin air filter sits outside of the engine area and filters air that comes from the outside and in to the AC system. The air filter will get rid of a lot of pollutants getting in the cabin of the vehicle. But, imagine a filter on the outside and what else it can pick up when it drives down the road, mile after mile? Cabin air filters can easily get clogged.

A cabin air filter that hasn't been changed recently can make the AC in the car not work or not work as efficiently. With a clogged air filter, no air can get in - it is simple as that. So when you recently tried to turn on the AC and it didn't produce results, it might be an easy fix as to just switch out the filter.

Skipping the filter can be expensive if you don't have the ability to do it yourself. However, it isn't something you can go without doing, especially if you have discovered the AC doesn't work. Check with your mechanic or dealer and see what the cost is for a filter. They might even be able to look at it and see if that is initially the problem or if there is something else, more sinister going on with the AC system.

The cabin air filter works to keep bad air out of the cabin when it comes in for the cooling process. The air molecules it can keep out include pollen, dirt from the road, pollutants from the air, road grime, dust, dirt, leaves and anything else flying around on the road. The air filter works just like a filter does on the furnace of the home or an air purifying system. Frequent changing of the filters is best and will keep everyone inside a little bit healthier. The cleaner the air, the better it is for those with allergies or even asthma and need to have clean air in order to feel good all of the time.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com

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Hybrid Vehicles - How They Work?

Hybrid Vehicles - How They Work

By Ron Haugen

Hybrid vehicles used to be considered space aged and "ugly" looking. The first ones were so aerodynamic they looked like space capsules going down the road. But now, with technological improvements and so many vehicles adapting the look, hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular and the norm in the United States. But what exactly makes them a popular choice for people? How do they even work to save on gas or energy? Why should you consider a hybrid for your next vehicle?

Hybrid vehicles can be considered hybrids for a few reasons. The very first hybrid cars were space capsule looking because they needed to have the least air resistance as possible so they did get decent gas mileage. Or could drive with an electric charge. Now, hybrids look like any other vehicle from the exterior and it is only what is under the hood that makes them a hybrid vehicle.

Small cars, mid sized cars and even SUVs can be a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid simply means that the traditional method of powering a car with gasoline is combined with another form, such as electricity or alternative fuels. Alternative fuels could be bio-diesel, ethanol or even a different type of energy source. Make sure that no matter what type you use, it is allowed in the user manual and recommended for your engine type.

You can't simply make any vehicle a hybrid, even if you just want to. The car needs to be set up to have an electrical charge if it runs on electricity. Or it needs to have an engine to handle the different types of fuel besides gasoline. Taking a regular gasoline powered engine at the stations and filling up with ethanol will do nothing but ruin the engine in the car you currently have.

Hybrid vehicles reduce the use of gasoline and make things better in a lot of ways. The greenhouse gases are lower since the fuel doesn't have to be processed for the car. The oil isn't shipped from other countries, lessening the dependence on oil from other countries. And you are spending less money simply because you can combine gas with other fuel sources and not have to pay a ridiculous amount per gallon in order to go somewhere.

The engine will still power the car and the brakes will still stop the car. The only difference between a hybrid and a regular vehicle is that a hybrid has flexible options when it comes to powering it up. Hybrids with options will become more popular in the future as the price of gas continues to go up and oil from other countries continues to be unreliable in price and availability.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com

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