So Nitrogen in your tires….That sounds odd. Cincinnati car dealerships are seeing a lot of requests for nitrogen filling options for their tires. Not sure what the fuss is about? Are you wondering what it can do for your tires? Well nitrogen filled tires are not necessarily the latest, but the could be greatest craze right now. Did you know that nitrogen is all around us? Of course you did, you passed 8th grade science. Technically speaking, the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and small amounts of other gasses. Science class over.
So what’s this big hubbub about nitrogen? Well, actually, nitrogen is said to have many advantages over oxygen when it comes to tire inflation. Nitrogen enhances handling, improves fuel efficiency, extends tire life, provides cooler running tire temperatures and can keep you safer on the roads….. Overall, filling up with nitrogen won’t hurt and may provide benefits. It’s really up to you to decide what you’d rather have. It is important to note that nitrogen is more expensive than ai (as air typically costs nothing)r, so be prepared for tha added expenset. But here’s the deal on that too. the added expense. You see, nitrogen particles are bigger than those of oxygen so they don’t pass through the tire wall as easily. Check out the diagram.
Here are a few stats on Nitrogen.
Maintain proper tire pressure with nitrogen, and you’ll see these three primary benefits:
• Increased Fuel Efficiency – Correct tire pressure keeps the manufacturer’s recommended “contact patch” on the road. This lessens the rolling resistance and maximizes fuel efficiency.
• Longer Tire Life – When it comes in contact with other materials, oxygen causes oxidation. Oxidation can make rubber brittle and cause it to lose tensile strength. In addition, at high temperatures and pressures, oxygen reacts and damages inner tire liners and belt packages; nitrogen does not.
• Increased Safety – Under-inflated tires cause 90% of blowouts. Nitrogen provides more reliable pressure for reduced blowout potential. Go to getnitrogen.org for more info.
Check out this video with Jay Leno on Nitrogen filled tires. Yes. Jay Leno.
Looking for a shot of nitrogen? Give your Cincinnati car dealer a shout and we can probably help out.
This just might be one of the craziest things I have ever seen. Yes, just in case you were wondering that is a jet powered school bus. Talk about getting to class on time. No worries when your in this bus. Thanks to Automotive Addicts for sharing this video which just possible made my day and the day of some of my readers! Unfortunately I don’t think I give you jet power in your Acura, Honda, Hyundai and Kia but I could sure try!! ha.
In the world of WHY NOT, anything is possible. Paul Stender along side of the guys at Indy Boys, Inc. came up with a ridiculous idea of building a customized school bus with a 42,000-horsepower GE J-79 Phantom jet fighter engine to propel this monstrosity to over 300 mph.
One of the videos below shows the astonishing 80-foot flames coming out of the jet engine as the bus is sentracing down a runway. The school bus’ build incorporated metal structure parts normally found on a 747 jet. I am sure over 300-mph you want some type of stability.
I bet you are wondering what the purpose of all of this is. According to Cnet Stender says, “I built the bus for two reasons. The first is to entertain people because, come on, it’s a jet bus. The second, is to keep kids off drugs. Jets are hot, drugs are not.”
Are you adventurous? Do you like to tinker with your own new or used car? Personally I like to try things on my own before I take it into the shop. Granted if I know I can’t do it then I go ahead and let the professionals take care of it. I can change the oil myself when I am not being lazy!
Courtesy of Edmunds.com check out this list of things you can do on your own. If you have fear and don’t want to the see your Cincinnati Hyundai dealer for help.
The idea of doing anything mechanical fills some car owners with fear and trembling. But there are at least five or six things nearly everyone can do themselves to avoid repair bills and save money. AutoMD assembled a list, and we have our own thoughts on this subject, plus plenty of DIY articles and videos to help shade-tree mechanics.
Doing it yourself not only saves money but avoids the hassle and time of taking your vehicle to the mechanic and schlepping back home again — or hanging out in a grimy waiting room and being serenaded by the whine of power wrenches. An Edmunds.com editor recently wrote about changing his own front brakes in one hour, saving at least $225. So now that you’re sold on the idea, let’s get to the specifics.
According to AutoMd, here are the five things you can do yourself:
1. Replace wiper blades: No tools are required, but it can be tricky at first.
2. Replace a fuse: Locating the fuse box is the only difficulty. Your owner’s manual can tell you where it is and what fuses control which devices.
3. Replace a light bulb: You might have to remove the lens cover with a screwdriver. But once you’re in, it’s just a matter of twisting the old one out and the new one in.
4. Replace an air filter : The filter box is usually easily accessible and the cover is held in place with clips.
5. Change your engine oil and filter: This is a bit more challenging and messy but many DIYers love doing it. Be sure to recycle used engine oil.
If you’ve felt wonderfully empowered after doing one or all of the above, it’s time to move on to Level Two. We can suggest a couple other tasks that don’t require many tools and can save you a lot of money:
1. Change disc brake pads : This falls in the category of “much easier than you ever thought.” And it saves a bundle.
2. Rotate your tires : This is easy to do but is somewhat strenuous, since it involves lugging around heavy wheels. Still, it’s important to do and could be combined with the oil change in the first list.
Well what are some of the things you do with your car on your own? Do you think that you can handle any on these tasks?
I can not stress enough how important it is to make sure that you get your oil changed regularly and on time. Bad or dirty oil is bad for your engine. Your engine will run a whole lot better with fresh clean oil. Did you know that getting and oil analysis could tell you if you have any maintenance issues? Well it can. Edmunds.com has put together this story on how you can get your oil analyzed in your new or used car and find out if it’s trying to tell you something. This is great information!
Analyzing the oil in your car is like sending a sample of your blood to the lab — it reveals an astonishing amount of information about the inner workings of your engine without invasive surgery. By reading the results of the analysis, you can fine-tune the intervals between oil changes and discover problems — such as a leaking head gasket — before they cause more expensive damage.
You might even consider analyzing the oil from a car you are considering buying. Currently this is popular with airplane, boat and heavy equipment buyers, but at least one company may soon offer this as an option for used car shoppers as well.
Test-Driving Oil Analysis
We sent two samples of engine oil to Blackstone Laboratories in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to see what we could learn about a 2000 Mitsubishi Galant with 80,000 miles on its four-cylinder engine. The first sample was oil that had been used for 3,000 miles. The second sample was taken right after an oil change at a Jiffy Lube.
The 3,000-mile oil still had plenty of life left in it, according to the lab results. Blackstone recommended we try increasing the oil change interval to 5,000 miles and send another sample for analysis at that point. Furthermore, the report said the wear metals in the oil were within normal levels, meaning that the engine was not in immediate danger of breaking down. By detecting specific wear metals in the oil, experts can tell which engine parts might be in danger of malfunctioning.
Since the purpose of oil is to lubricate, clean and cool the engine, a TBN (total base number) is used to measure the deterioration of the oil by assigning a number that is usually between 0 and 8. The TBN of the 3,000-mile oil was 3.7. The Jiffy Lube oil was 7.6 indicating it had been barely used.
“Even if the TBN is 1, it doesn’t mean the oil isn’t doing its job,” said Ryan Stark, president of Blackstone Laboratories. “But it does reveal the rate at which the additives are being used up.”
Oil Analysis, a Growing Business
Stark said that his company, which employs six analysts, gets about 20 new customers a day and does between 40,000 and 50,000 reports per year. A single analysis costs $22.50 but discounts are available for multiple analyses. Blackstone can also analyze transmission fluid and other engine fluids to look for possible problems.
Many other laboratories offer engine oil analysis, but Blackstone’s reports are user-friendly, and the turnaround is quick. Within days of our mailing in two 4-ounce samples, the results were e-mailed to us.
“We’ve had customers who were changing their oil every 3,000 miles and now they’ve gone to every 10,000 miles because of our reports,” said Stark. “But we’re conservative. If the oil looks good at 3,000 miles we recommend increasing the frequency by 2,000 miles and taking another look at it.”
A Used-Car Buying Tool?
A Long Beach, California, company that provides pre-purchase inspections for private parties is breaking new ground by planning to offer engine oil analysis to private-party used car buyers.
“With an oil sample test, which essentially is the DNA of a car’s engine and transmission, we can detect any excessive conditions that can lead to serious mechanical problems down the road,” said Alliance Inspection Management Vice President of Sales Eric Widmer.
If the oil sample result meets industry standards, a limited warranty will be offered to the buyer. Edmer said this was the first time an inspection service has used this method to qualify a buyer for a warranty. It would, Edmer points out, provide a level of confidence for used-car buyers shopping for a reliable car.
Stark said that some of Blackstone’s customers have sent samples from cars they were considering buying but it’s far more common practice with buyers of airplanes, boats, motorcycles or even jet skis.
How To Take an Engine Oil Sample
We took the Mitsubishi samples by sliding under the car, unscrewing the oil filter and draining the oil into a glass jar. The jar was sealed securely, wrapped in padding and Fed Exed to Blackstone.
Taking a sample in this manner is messy, and you can burn your hand on the hot oil filter. Instead, you’ll want to use a vacuum pump that takes a sample through the dipstick opening. Such a pump is available from Blackstone or other oil analysis labs.
Oil Analysis for Do-It-Yourselfers
Car owners who enjoy changing their own oil will find oil analysis an inexpensive test and easy to perform as part of engine maintenance. It helps consumers tailor their oil change intervals and experiment with the benefits of different oils such as synthetic blends. Furthermore, some people might try it as a used car shopping tool next time they are looking for a reliable car.
Then again, there is the pure love of knowledge that such a test provides. For a gearhead, that’s an end in itself. “For years and years no one knew when to change the oil, so they went with three months and 3,000 miles,” Stark said. “Now, we can provide a service that’s a good value to people so they really know what’s best for their engine.”
Well do you think this is something that you might like to try on your new or used car? I’d be interested to see what my oil says. It’s probably something along the lines of, “hey there not to bad at all.” You see, I am a maniac about getting my oil changed regularly.
Now this is one new show I am going to have to watch! There’s a new TV show on TLC which is going to highlight all of the bad drivers caught on camera. Wonder if they got me running my car into one of those yellows poles at McDonalds or the time I hit the curb and popped the two tires on the drivers side of my car! I sure hope not! Those were innocent accidents of course!
You know what TV producers love? Cheap, sensational content. That, incidentally, is the Internet’s number one export. Marry the two and you have TLC’s newest special: Out of Control Drivers. We’ll let you guess what the show’s about. If you’re a viral video junkie, you’ve likely seen a lot of these – maybe all of them – already. Still, this is can’t-avert-your-eyes stuff, as demonstrated in the two videos embedded after the jump.
The first promo is just a highlight-reel trailer for the show, designed to whet your overall appetite for vehicular mayhem. The second video is a full segment showing what happens when a sleeping driver takes an unplanned detour through a gas station. Spoiler alert: things get ugly. Fast. – AutoBlog
Check out these promo videos and check your local listings for show times.
Well, did you make these videos? I’m in the clear for now! ha ha.
What a fun game!! How fast can you name these automaker logos? I will admit there were a few I got stumped on. How well do you think you can do? Can you beat 8 minutes? See the original game from Sporacle here. Let me know how well you did!
Growing up as a kid Darth Vader used to scare the crud out of me. I don’t so much mind him now but I really don’t want him telling me what to do! Thanks to Consumer Blogs for putting this out there. I just may by this for my dad for his birthday!
TomTom portable navigation devices (PNDs) have been known for the ability to customize route guidance with downloadable voices, but this latest addition to the voice catalog takes the concept to a galaxy far, far away. TomTom has introduced the first of four scheduled officially licensed Star Wars voices: Darth Vader.
Available for $12.95, the authentic-sounding voice provides guidance as only a Sith Lord can, complete with references to the Dark Side. To complete the navigator upgrade, there are free Star Wars downloads with start-up screens, sound effects, and car icons.
The next character coming is C-3PO, with Yoda expected to follow in July and Han Solo in August. No word on offering Chewbacca. We imagine that the Yoda voice could be a challenge to interpret, given the big-eared Jedi’s tendency to transpose words.
Check out the video of the recording session! Pretty interesting.
What do you guys think? Is this something that you would enjoy or run from? Ha ha!
So you have a teenager that is about to start driving huh? I bet you are trying to figure out what you are going to get them. Of course they want a sports car or a big truck right? Teenagers are invincible after all right? You want them to be in a new or used car that is reliable and by all means it must be safe. I remember when I was a teenager I wanted a Jeep Wrangler and my mom told me flat out NO! Her exact words were, “Over my dead body.” Not that there is anything unsafe or wrong with Jeep’s she just wanted something I wasn’t going to fly around town in acting like a silly boy. Car crashes are the number one killer of inexperienced teen drivers. I now know and understand why my mom made me drive her hand me down Nissan, because it was safe. Almost 6 months after receiving my license I was in an accident and that safe, reliable Nissan saved my life and the lives of 2 of my friends.
Consumer Reports put together a list of the 2010 Best Cars for Teen Drivers and I needed to share with our readers the list. Once again, we were ecstatic that some of the cars on this list you can find at almost any Superior Automotive Group location. When it is time to buy your son or daughter a new or used car I hope that you will remember this list because there is nothing more important in a new vehicle than to be safe and reliable.
Here is a portion of the blog from Consumer Reports. If you would like to see the whole article with the full list of cars just visit ConsumerReports.org:
You should look for a car with features like electronic stability control (ESC–make sure to not confuse ESC with traction control, which many do), antilock brakes, and curtain air bags, as well as good crash-test results. Stay away from trucks and large SUVs because they tend to have clumsy handling, poor fuel economy, and their high centers of gravity make them more likely to roll over. Sports cars or other especially quick cars are another bad idea, with a higher rate of accidents than other cars and insurance rates to match.
The good news is you can get a safe, reliable used car with those important safety features starting at less than $10,000. We’ve listed some good choices below, with a range of model years where important safety features have been offered on each model. We’ve also given a range of what you should expect to pay.
All are recommended vehicles, meaning they scored well in our testing, have had average or better reliability, and performed well in government or insurance industry crash tests. They also had sufficient acceleration to safely merge onto busy highways, stopped from 60 mph in 145 feet or less on dry pavement, and scored good or better in emergency handling.
Small cars
Hyundai Elantra SE (2008-present) $11,775-$18,695
Family cars
Acura TSX (2004-) $13,725-$29,675
Honda Accord (2008-) 4-cyl., $17,725-$22,795
Kia Optima (2007-) 4-cyl., $9,900-$20,365
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V (2005- ) $13,300-$25,805
Can you think of any important safety features that you can not live without in a new or used car?
It has been a difficult year for people across the United States. Even though things seem to be looking better, you may still be trying to get back on your feet. You may not be able to afford to take a nice trip somewhere with your spouse or your kids. A lot of people around the Cincinnati Tri State area are opting for the Staycation this year. There’s nothing wrong with that! There are a lot of fun things that you can do in this city. Maybe you’ve forgotten all the neat things to see and do cause you’ve been to busy to stop and smell the roses. Well it’s vacation time and I was thinking what am I going to do with my family. So I started to do a little research on some of the fun things that I may not have ever done or things I haven’t done in a long time in this lovely city. So….I thought that I would share them with you so you can start thinking about what you want to do with your family this year. I stumbled upon this article written by RandMcNally.com and it really got me thinking about all the neat things there are to do in the Cincinnati area.
Here’s some good advice from RandMcNally.com:
The trick to a successful staycation is to treat it like a real vacation. Research local tourism Web sites. Plan fun activities, don’t work (no email, no dropping by the office, no conference calls, do not check voice mail), and take care of household chores before your staycation begins.
This is the time for you and your family to relax and have fun. Go to a restaurant you’ve never visited, a museum you haven’t been to in years, or have a BBQ or picnic in the park. In addition to saving money, your staycation will help the local economy and you’ll avoid the stresses of packing, lost luggage, and standing in long airport lines.
Here is a list of local hot spots to think about.
For Families: (just a few of my favs, but there’s much much more not listed)
1. The Cincinnati Art Museum, It’s FREE all season long and it’s ranked “Top Artist Museum for Families”.
2. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, It’s 5 great museums at one historic location.
3. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Votes one of the top 10 best zoos for kids!
4. CoCo Key Water Resort, It’s open all year long and the water stays at 85 degrees!
5. Great American Ball Park, Take the kids to see a Cincinnati Reds Baseball game.
For Adults: (again just a few of my favs)
1. Findlay Market, I think it’s a great place to grab some food for a picnic or take it home to fix for a romantic dinner.
2. U.S. Bank Arena, A great place to catch a concert or a show. Dinner and a show. Bring it back.
3. Casino Hollywood, Not that far of a drive and you can make it a weekend trip if you wanted to.
4. Newport On The Levee, Ok almost anyone can find something they love here. It’s a great place for restaurants, entertainment and shopping.
5. River Escape Cruises, Perfect for you and your spouse and a few friends to take a ride up the Ohio River.
6. Henke Winery, A place to sit, sip and savor. Great stuff!
The point is that all it takes is a little bit of planning and you can have a great time without blowing your budget. Can you think of anything cool that may not be listed? Send them on over to me. If you want more information too you can see Cincinnati.com.
It occurred to me the other day that people just can’t drive in the rain. I don’t understand why. It’s not like it’s all that difficult. People tend to drive extremely to slow and I hate it when people don’t turn on their head lights and at the last minute they appear and I have to slam on my brakes. I started researching some helpful tips about this subject and happened upon a blog written by Edmunds.com and thought I should share some of these tips with you. Next time you are caught in the middle of some nasty rain maybe you’ll think about this blog and it’ll help you either drive better or deal with the bad drivers better. Ha! These tips are mostly about safety in general when driving in the rain. It’s not only important to pay attention to what you are doing and be ready but you must also pay attention to what others around you are doing.
Tips For your car: Check your tires periodically, say once a week, for proper pressure, wear and anything odd, such as a bulging sidewall. Keeping your pressures up to snuff and your wheels aligned will maximize tire life in addition to optimizing safety.
Check your wipers periodically. After so much use and exposure to the hot sun, ozone, and airborne particles, a wiper’s edge can get hard and develop small cuts or tears. This will become evident when you see that a large portion (or several small portions) of your windshield remains unwiped, no matter how much you fiddle with the wipers. Don’t be stingy, replace them — oftentimes you can just replace the rubber insert itself, as opposed to buying a whole blade assembly.
Tips For you: Remember to put your headlights on when it’s raining, even if it’s in broad daylight. Some folks don’t, the rational being that it’s not helping them see any better. But that’s not the purpose, the reason to put on your beams is so thatother drivers see you. Notice how in a driving rain you sometimes don’t see cars without their lights on until they’re right near you? Now you see the point.
Easy does it. Slow down as road traction and visibility dictate and allow more space between you and other cars. Those idiots you see tailgating other drivers and zipping in and out of traffic while blasting down the highway at 20 mph faster than the flow of traffic are just accidents waiting to happen. Stay clear of them.
Use your turn signals and change lanes in a smooth and predictable fashion. This applies all the time, obviously, but is even more important on slippery roads. Letting other drivers know your intentions via signaling (what a concept!) could save you from hitting another car (or him from hitting you) who also has decided to take that open spot in the adjacent lane. – Edmunds.com
Can you think of any other tips that might help you drive better in the rain? If so send them on over to me. I’d love to hear what other tips can help.
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So Nitrogen in your tires….That sounds odd. Cincinnati car dealerships are seeing a lot of requests for nitrogen filling options for their tires. Not sure what the fuss is about? Are you wondering what it can do for your tires? Well nitrogen filled tires are not necessarily the latest, but the could be greatest craze right now. Did you know that nitrogen is all around us? Of course you did, you passed 8th grade science. Technically speaking, the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and small amounts of other gasses. Science class over.
Check out the diagram.
This just might be one of the craziest things I have ever seen. Yes, just in case you were wondering that is a jet powered school bus. Talk about getting to class on time. No worries when your in this bus. Thanks to Automotive Addicts for sharing this video which just possible made my day and the day of some of my readers! Unfortunately I don’t think I give you jet power in your Acura, Honda, Hyundai and Kia but I could sure try!! ha.
Are you adventurous? Do you like to tinker with your own new or used car? Personally I like to try things on my own before I take it into the shop. Granted if I know I can’t do it then I go ahead and let the professionals take care of it. I can change the oil myself when I am not being lazy! 
I can not stress enough how important it is to make sure that you get your oil changed regularly and on time. Bad or dirty oil is bad for your engine. Your engine will run a whole lot better with fresh clean oil. Did you know that getting and oil analysis could tell you if you have any maintenance issues? Well it can. Edmunds.com has put together this story on how you can get your oil analyzed in your new or used car and find out if it’s trying to tell you something. This is great information!
Now this is one new show I am going to have to watch! There’s a new TV show on TLC which is going to highlight all of the bad drivers caught on camera. Wonder if they got me running my car into one of those yellows poles at McDonalds or the time I hit the curb and popped the two tires on the drivers side of my car! I sure hope not! Those were innocent accidents of course! 
Growing up as a kid Darth Vader used to scare the crud out of me. I don’t so much mind him now but I really don’t want him telling me what to do! Thanks to Consumer Blogs for putting this out there. I just may by this for my dad for his birthday!
So you have a teenager that is about to start driving huh? I bet you are trying to figure out what you are going to get them. Of course they want a sports car or a big truck right? Teenagers are invincible after all right? You want them to be in a new or used car that is reliable and by all means it must be safe. I remember when I was a teenager I wanted a Jeep Wrangler and my mom told me flat out NO! Her exact words were, “Over my dead body.” Not that there is anything unsafe or wrong with Jeep’s she just wanted something I wasn’t going to fly around town in acting like a silly boy. Car crashes are the number one killer of inexperienced teen drivers. I now know and understand why my mom made me drive her hand me down Nissan, because it was safe. Almost 6 months after receiving my license I was in an accident and that safe, reliable Nissan saved my life and the lives of 2 of my friends.
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