When vehicles aren’t properly prepared for winter driving, not only do you risk having to make additional repairs to your Hyundai, Honda, Acura or Kia, but without proper winterization the danger factor actually increases. Winterizing your car isn’t a very difficult thing to do, but make no mistake, our cold Ohio winters can wreak havoc on our vehicles.
There are a number of things that you’ll need to address when you winterize your car: wiper blades, belts, hoses, anti-freeze oil, tires. All of these things you can check yourself, but you may be better off bringing it to your Cincinnati car dealers at the Superior Automotive Group for a thorough and professional review of your winterization needs.
The video below offers some great tips when it comes to winterizing your car.
Our recommendation is to winterize your car now, before the colder winter weather hits. The last thing you are going to want is to be stranded because you neglected to have your belts checked. Trust us, being stuck out in the snow is not only uncomfortable, but it is also extremely dangerous.
We suggest that you bring your car, truck or SUV to any Superior Automotive Location for an evaluation and subsequent winterization of your vehicle. Being prepared now will end up saving you money this winter if you do encounter a temperature related problem. Obviously, it’s easier to fix the problem before it happens than spend additional money on a tow and any other damage you may have incurred as a result of NOT taking the opportunity to winterize your car.
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.”
A new promotional campaign has launched in Australia for the Honda Jazz (Fit) that’s pretty funny. I thought you might like to see some of these cute videos. Here’s what AutoBlog had to say about them. Also if you would like to test drive the new Fit be sure to stop by your local Cincinnati Honda dealer and give it a try!
It’s no secret that the Honda Fit is one of our favorite small cars. It blends nimble handling, good fuel efficiency and an amazing interior package. Few cars with such a small footprint can accommodate four adult passengers and their stuff in such comfort. Now the folks at Honda Australia have launched a new promotional campaign and contest they’ve dubbed Jazz-packing (remember, the Fit is marketed as the Jazz in numerous other global markets).
Just as college students back in the 1960s and 1970s used to stuff phone booths (you do remember what those are, right?) and Volkswagen Beetles, a particularly nerdy looking “scientist” named Rodney oversees the packing of a Honda Jazz with everything from hipsters to ninjas, rappers, and even strongmen and women – you can see all of the clever videos after the jump.
If you’ve got an idea of what to pack in a Jazz and you live in Australia, just upload a photo to the site where visitors can vote and the entries that get the most votes will get produced into a video like the ones you see after the jump. Whoever suggests the most popular entry will win the car used in the making of the ad.
Who’s excited about the new Honda Odyssey? Well I am!! And so is Superior Honda! We just read an article on USA Today and it gets us even more excited! The new Honda Odyssey will have an amazing MPG which could send everyone into a frenzy.
Check this out:
Honda says it recently got the good word from the feds that at least one version of its 2011 Odyssey minivan will be rated a remarkable 28 miles per gallon on the highway, just what Honda had predicted.
That makes the 2011 Odyssey, a major overhaul due in showrooms this fall, three mpg better than the current champ, Kia Sedona, and four mpg better than the four-cylinder version of the 2011 Toyota Sienna, a model Toyota launched to have a lower-price, higher-mpg model. – USA Today
Have you been over to your Cincinnati Honda dealer lately and seen the new cars? I know you want to test drive this new Odyssey, i’ve already shown you how awesome the interior is and all the new features. Well, what do you think? 28 MPG HWY is pretty great for a minivan!
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.
Thanks to Automotive Addicts I was able to come across this story. Could this possibly be the new Honda S2000? What do you think?
Here’s the story:
The rumor mill is spinning fast today as we discover that Honda may be coming out with a successor to the S2000 that will be a mid-engine RWD hybrid.
Reportedly patent filings in Japan by Honda suggest that the automaker is working on a new roadster spun off of the S2000. The patent application states that the car will use “an engine being fitted to a centre frame”. This suggests that the car will be mid-engine and rear wheel drive.
Some may think that this is the answer to when Honda canceled the NSX successor. Hopefully we will see a well balanced (near 50/50 weight distribution) mid-engine sports car that packs a good punch. Potentially it will use some variation of the current CR-Z’s powerplant coupled with an electric motor giving it much more power than the outgoing S2000.
It is speculated that this new vehicle will be released in 2014. Only time will tell. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Your local Cincinnati Honda dealer will keep you posted on any new developments coming out about this Honda S2000. Don’t you worry!
Going on sale this fall the 2011 Honda Odyssey is one minivan force to be reckoned with! Since the Honda Odyssey has been a long time favorite of Car and Driver it’s only fitting that you read their story on the all new 2011 Honda Odyssey cause they are almost as excited as we are about it! When you are ready to see this new Honda with your own eyes make sure you visit your local Cincinnati Honda dealer.
We first saw the 2011 Odyssey in concept form at this year’s Chicago auto show; as is the case with most Honda concepts, the production version differs little. A grille that’s nothing less than garish on the Accord Crosstour actually looks decent here, and the “lightning-bolt” window line breaks up what would otherwise be a lot of bland sheetmetal.
But styling takes a back seat to utility for minivan buyers. Honda added 1.4 inches of track versus the outgoing model, which it touts as increasing stability and space. Up front, the new Odyssey boasts a “media tray” that slides out from the lower dash to hold cell phones and other electronics. Below the tray sits a “cool box” that can store up to six beverage cans or four 20-ounce bottles. The removable center console, which Honda says is commodious enough to swallow purses, has cup holders designed to secure anything from a Red Bull can to an extra-large fountain drink. There are also newly padded door panels and armrests.
Moving to the second row, the two captain’s chairs have a so-called “wide mode” whereby they each move two inches toward the doors, creating four additional inches of shoulder room for the foldable seat between. Wide mode also allows three full-size infant seats to be anchored across the second row, while that middle position can slide forward for easier access to a child from the front seats. A new entertainment system is available with a 16.2-inch widescreen display with split-screen, two-source capability, similar to the Toyota Sienna’s.
The back of the bus is roomier, too, and Honda says three adults will fit comfortably. We’ll believe it when we sit in it; while the van is wider and third-row legroom has increased by an inch, it’s hard to imagine three adults remaining content for longer than it takes to make a Slurpee run. While they’re back there, though, they’ll have access to HDMI and RCA inputs, and a 110-volt outlet. The third row remains stowable, of course, and the overall cup-holder count sits at 15.
The Honda Odyssey has long been our favorite minivan, going beyond utility and practicality to inject a semblance of driving enjoyment into the segment. We’re eager to see if the love affair continues, but bigger brakes and the increase in stability we expect from a shorter (by 1.6 inches) and wider vehicle can’t hurt. The engine will again be a 3.5-liter V-6 with three-mode cylinder deactivation, and Honda says it expects the EPA to return 19-mpg city and 28-mpg highway ratings. Further details—including other trims; Honda only revealed the top-spec Touring Elite model—will follow soon.
Well… Are you drooling yet? I can not wait to see this new Honda Odyssey!
The Superior Automotive Group and Mike Albert Direct have been serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 1928. We care about you, your cars, your safety, and our community.
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