Article by Peter Jones

If you’re into family vans and mid-size SUVs, you’ll want to take a look at the engines of the Mercury Monterey and the Mountaineer and what makes them a hit with satisfied owners.

The Monterey minivan was launched in 2004 to replace the Mercury Villager, derived from the Ford Freestar with added features. It held its own as a versatile family van with good safety and luxury features.

The Mercury Monterey engine is a 4.2-liter V6 Essex, putting out 201 horses and 252 lb*ft (342 N*m) of torque with a 96.5 mm bore, 95 mm stroke and 9.3 compression ratio. This engine is standard equipment on all models marketed in Mexico and Canada.

Ford stopped producing the 4.2-liter V6 after 2008, drawing the curtains on the engine, but not before it had proven its worth as replacement in the 1997 model year for the Ford 300 straight six (used by the F-150), which was beginning to show its age.

The Mercury Monterey engine sports a sturdy cylinder head design that addressed the problem of cracked heads. It also has hydraulic roller lifters that required lower maintenance than previous designs that were prone to oil contamination and tended to require early replacement.

This pushrod OHV was produced until 2000 and was used in the Ford Explorer, Ford Aerostar, Mazda B4000 and Ford Ranger, as well, making it a worthy workhorse for many and not just a Mercury Monterey engine.

The Mountaineer, a good choice offering generous space for families who go for occasional off-road driving, has two engine choices: The Cologne, a 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 and the Modular, a 292-hp 4.6-liter V8.

The standard Mercury Mountaineer engine is a V6 that packs 254 lb-ft of torque with a hefty towing capacity of 5,305 lbs, while the 3-valve SOHC V8 delivers 315 lb-ft to two up to 7,040 lbs.

The Modular has an interesting history. It belongs to Ford Motor Company’s overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 gasoline engine family, which gradually replaced the Windsor small-block and 385 big-block engines over several years in the mid-1990s.

This Mercury Mountaineer engine was initially produced in the company’s plant in Romeo, Michigan, and then additional capacity was ramped up by the plant situated in Windsor, Ontario.

There is an interesting sidelight to the Mercury Mountaineer engine. Contrary to initial belief, the Modular’s name was not derived from the way it was designed or shares parts with other members of the engine family, but it was named that way in honor of a manufacturing plant protocol, where the facility’s layout and tooling infrastructure could be switched out in a jiffy to turn out differing versions of the engine’s family.

If you are in the market for a Mercury Monterey engine, you should deal with a shop or supplier who is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This is because BBB certification indicates that you will be getting your engine from a business outfit that follows ethical standards for customer service and satisfaction.

About the Author

The same is true for the Mercury Mountaineer engine. And for that finishing touch, ask for a six-month warranty or longer, like a year, for complete confidence on your purchase and your ride.

Article by Aloysius Aucoin

Oil prices keep climbing all of the time. For that reason those who need to buy oil are looking for ways to purchase it at the most consumer friendly rates possible. Research that has looked at oil and its rising prices has found that since the price of oil has gone up, the consumption of it has gone down by as much as 40 percent. However, oil change coupons are helping to make the necessary maintenance required on a motor vehicle more and more affordable on an annual basis for the average motorist.

It would appear that the consumption of oil is going down as opposed to going up. Not only does this affect the oil retailers but also the consumers who need the oil to run their cars. One of the money saving strategies that retailers are using to entice customers into their businesses is a special on oil prices. The most popular and most successful of these to date has been the introduction of oil change coupons. If you go online you should be able to find any number of coupons that will offer you discounts for getting oil changes. That should help to keep the prices for your oil maintenance as low as possible!

Changing the oil in your vehicle on a regular basis is one of the most significant tasks that you must perform on your car or truck. What this means at the very basic level is that the old oil in the tank must be replaced with new oil to ensure optimum efficiency of the vehicle. At the same time as this, the filter for the oil should also be changed.

Oil change coupons can come in handy if you decide to take your car into a shop and have a mechanic do the work for you. It is a very smart way to save some money. Some companies offer the coupons through their websites while others may offer them through the local newspaper or at the business itself.

The job should not take very long to be completed if the shop is not busy at the time of your appointment. It is always a wise practice to request that you be shown the old oil filter that was taken from your car’s engine. This is especially important if you take your car to a new garage. Once you are assured of the honesty of the repair shop, this will not be as much of a concern for you. Make sure if you find a coupon online for an oil change that you have it with you when you arrive to have the work done. Oil change coupons need to be presented at the time that the work is done.

If you are one of those people who likes to do your own work on your automobile, and you know how to do it, then give it a try. If you decide that changing your oil is not for you, then you can always take it into a company that specializes in this type of work the next time it needs to be done.

About the Author

For oil change coupons Columbus GA know which shop will help them weather the economic crunch. To get a great deal, check out http://www.meineke-columbusga.com/.

Article by Manish shah

Copyright 2006 Bravos Direct

Ever wondered how that little motor on the front of your model airplane delivers such amazing power?

Model airplane engines come in many shapes and sizes from many manufacturers. By far the most common for the moment is the 2-stroke ‘glow’ engine though the modern electric motor is making rapid inroads as it gains in popularity.

The 2-stroke model airplane engine is an internal combustion engine burning ‘glow’ or ‘nitro’ fuel consisting mostly of alcohol with nitromethane to help combustion and castor oil for lubrication of the metal parts. There are also 4-stroke glow engines that work on the 4-stroke principle. While these two types of model airplane engine produce the same result, and use the same fuel, they accomplish this goal in very different ways and have different characteristics. For the moment we’re just going to consider the 2-stroke engine.

RC model airplane engines working on a two stroke principle means that there is fuel ignition on every second stroke of the piston in the cylinder. When the piston is on its down stroke down the cylinder, fuel and air will enter the combustion chamber between the top of the piston and the cylinder head. When the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke and starts to rise again it then compresses the fuel/air mixture in the rapidly shrinking volume of the combustion chamber. The fuel/air mixture is ignited by the glow plug just as the piston reaches the end of it’s upstroke. The glow plug is so called because it contains a platinum wire that continues to glow from the heat of the last fuel ignition. The new explosion forces the piston back into the next down stroke.

This sounds very simple but the clever part is that the upper, combustion chamber part of the cylinder above the piston and the crankcase below the piston are connected not only by the cylinder bore but also by a transfer port which enables gases to move from the crankcase to the combustion chamber. By careful design, the inlet valve for taking in fresh fuel/air mixture, the exhaust valve for expulsion of exhaust gases and the transfer port which allows movement of the fuel/air mixture from the crankcase to the combustion chamber are always open or closed at the right time by the wall of the piston as it travels up and down the cylinder bore.

The down stroke is created by the rapid expansion of the exhaust gases after the fuel/air mixture ignites. Both the exhaust port and the transfer port are opened as the piston descends in the cylinder bore while the fuel/air inlet is closed. The downward movement of the piston now compresses the fuel/air mixture drawn into the crankcase on the previous upstroke which now rushes up the transfer port into the combustion chamber and helps force out the exhaust gases from that space – and the cycle begins again.

As the speed of this cycle increases, the power output of your RC model airplane engine is increased. Due to it’s simplicity the 2-stroke engine can operate to high RPM and high power outputs. Unfortunately, this also means high noise levels.

The 2-stroke engine in all it’s forms is a very elegant engineering solution. The piston takes the place of 3 mechanical valves, a timing mechanism and a fuel pump – thereby keeping the weight down and reliability up. In addition, the glow plug combustion method allows the battery to be removed after starting thereby dramatically reducing the weight so it is easy to see why the glow 2-stroke has been so popular for so long.

The 2-stroke glow engine is only one of a number of choices you can make for your model airplane engine. Where outright power and speed are the primary requirement it has little competition and the simplicity and high volume production has led to highly reliable and cost effective engines being developed. Noise is really the only negative consideration.

So for your next project balance the cost, maintenance, exhaust noise level, and weight in order to choose the right sort of model airplane engine for your project.

About the Author

My name is manish shah. Am an avid blogger & social media representative. I am retailer by Profession & my blog is http://manish-shah.com
I keep updating my blogs regularly. Do visit me for the latest in Indian Retailing.
I also have another wonderful article directory – where in you can check the latest articles across all the catagories. Do check out – http://articleseat.com & http://omarticles.com

Article by jekky

Behind this successful cooperation, and not just for the TD-SCDMA find an attractive business, more far-reaching impact is China Mobile First hand in radio and television system and got the triple play of opportunities.

“The opening of mobile TV is important, is the mobile and broadcasting sector a good example, both play their respective advantages.” President of China Mobile Wang Formally launched at a ceremony on mobile TV smiling, showing his satisfaction with the successful cooperation.

Behind this successful collaboration, and not just for the TD-SCDMA (hereinafter referred to as TD) was a very attractive business, more far-reaching impact is the first to join China Mobile Broadcasting System, grabbed three Network integration opportunities.

Paragraph 5 million goal with 67 terminals
According to “communications industry newspaper” (Network) to report, a year ago, China Mobile and China signed the wide spread of mobile multimedia Radio and TV Business Cooperation Agreement, in the business after a year after the trial, the CMMB mobile phone business has finally formally launched, as in the TD mobile phone killer-class services and broadcasting system, an important part of export, cooperation, both sides attach great importance to the contract, TD Zhang Haitao, deputy director of SARFT, China Mobile president Wang personally appear even behind the business.

Zhang Haitao said at the meeting, there are already 27 provinces (cities) launched mobile TV services, its business covers more than 303 prefecture-level cities. Wang said that the current functions of mobile phones with mobile TV terminals have been Sell 845 000, is expected to end during the year to support this function will reach 67 models. Displayed at the site personnel to “communications industry newspaper” (Network)’s confirmed, TD in the mobile phone as long as the installation of the miniSD card can be provided by 6 sets to watch TV programs, including the CCTV-1, CCTV-5, CCTV-News and the eyes color film, two local programs, for TD users, no need to replace the phone card.

It is understood that the release of more than TD-CMMB mobile phones were introduced from China Mobile had the cooperation of R & D program, so get the support terminal manufacturers. Yulong Cool, ZTE Communications, Lenovo Mobile, Motorola and other handset makers have made it clear that the full focus in 2010 will make China the demand for customized mobile development, in addition to ultra-low-end products, modules will be mobile TV handset standard as the TD. “I would like to thank them, within such a short time, has produced many compliant with mobile TV functionality TD-S CDMA mobile phone. “Mr Wang said.

TD by Jiang Yuan During the meeting, the move to relevant sources, China Mobile Mobile TV set for the 500 million users of the development goals, which means that CMMB mobile TV services will become an important business TD. According to a previous survey, nearly Liu Cheng of the respondents said they would consider using mobile TV services, its business viscosity is evident.

“Mobile TV will help to foster new consumption hot spots.” Mr Wang said China Mobile is now his network messaging, mobile music, mobile phone and reading newspaper and successful application, in which SMS revenues have already exceeded 50 billion, second only to voice one of the largest value-added applications. “These are some new spending, and now has gradually become a hot spot, mobile TV is a new network technology generated under the conditions, will become a new consumption hot spots.”

According to previously disclosed information, the wide dissemination of China Mobile and China signed an exclusive agreement provides that: three years, only China Mobile’s TD mobile phone terminal can be used in conjunction with the CMMB. This means that in three years, TD will be compared to other 3G Standard asymmetric advantage, the overall industrial chain for WCDMA and CDMA2000 maturity is less than the TD run, CMMB importance of self-evident.

It is understood that compared to other operators with mobile TV streaming media format, CMMB broadcasting standard as used in the operators do not take up the case of the bandwidth, playback was better than streaming TV. Technical staff had had to “communications industry newspaper” (Network), told reporters, CMMB coverage in Beijing urban area only a few towers, mobile base station with frequent compared to thousands of great advantage.

Is why, in the formal launch of TD-CMMB mobile phone, the informed sources, China Mobile will continue the previous policies on the TD mobile phone subsidies, most of these TD-CMMB mobile phone sales will be subsidized. It is understood that China Mobile on sale prior to each of its custom of TD mobile phones, pay incentive fee 300 yuan, to encourage manufacturers to develop TD-CMMB mobile phone initiative, is expected to subsidize the amount of not less than 300 yuan.

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The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Sodium Tripolyphosphate Food Grade Manufacturer, China Sodium Tripolyphosphate Industrial Grade, and more. For more, please visit today!

Article by Carl Jenkinson

Charles “Cheers” Wakefield, Castrol’s founder, was considered an entrepreneur in the grandest perception of the term.

In 1899, when he was 39, he quit a job at Vacuum Oil to get started on a new small business at Cheapside in London, producing lubricants for trains and large machinery. He used to be persuasive individual who could communicate a vision, clearly, and 8 past fellow workers accompanied him to the brand new firm.

At the outset of the new century, Wakefield had taken a personal affinity for not one but two sporty brand new motorised contraptions – the automobile and also the airplane. The business enterprise begun producing lubricants tailored for these innovative motors, which required oils that were runny enough to work from cold at start-up and thick enough to remain performing at extremely high temps.

Wakefield scientists discovered that adding a measure of castor oil, a vegetable oil made out of castor beans, worked very well. They named the new product “Castrol.”

Having helped master an innovative sort of motor oil, at this time CC Wakefield developed a new way to get clients to notice the item. In short Sponsorship. The Castrol brand appeared on banners and flags at competitive avaiation tournaments, auto competitions and at competitive drivers’ efforts to smash the speed record.

When a Castrol-sponsored event won, advertising campaigns heralded the glory, mentioning that the champion had achieved it together with Castrol. The world land speed record was broken twenty three times in the nineteen twenties and 30s, eighteen of them using Castrol in the engine.

Wakefield extended the company’s increasingly lucrative products to provide oils developed especially for car manufacturer’s individual motors.

From 1960, the actual engine oil had nearly eclipsed that of the company’s larger-than-life owner. CC Wakefield and Company evolved into, only, Castrol Ltd. At the same time, the company’s experts delved ever deeper in to the complexities of motor lube. A new modern research center opened in Bracknell, England.

And then in 1966, The Burmah Oil Company purchased Castrol. Burmah Oil, certainly one of Britain’s earliest firms, had once effectively possessed the business that evolved into British petroleum, before selling their majority holding to the British government at the start of World War I.

Once Castrol GTX launched in 1968, to praise from car owners professional and otherwise, Castrol products were on sale at service stations and also garages in more than a hundred and forty international locations. Like the competitors it financed, Castrol product sales acquired momentum. In the 1970 London to Mexico rally, 16 of the twenty three finishers ended up being oiled by Castrol.

Burmah Oil overall fared less well. The global oil predicament of the 70s sent the firm into financial freefall. The Bank of England bailed it out, but only in return for the company’s outstanding stocks and shares in Bp.

Brand-new subsidiaries launching around the globe in the 80s signalled Burmah Oil’s rescue, and Castrol proceeded to launch innovative, new products, like Castrol GTX Magnatec and Castrol SLX.

During the year 2000, Burmah Oil and Castrol came to be part of the BP group. Burmah Oil’s businesses were folded into the group, even though Castrol persisted to lubricate motors using its own popular name.

About the Author

I am interested in all things to do with cars and car racing. Castrol is an important part of the car industry and you can save money with Castrol Oil Coupons

Energy-saving emission reduction policies by controlling the high energy consumption and high pollution industry growth, and promote China’s economic growth to resource conservation, environmental clean-direction changes. Services with low energy consumption, pollution, light, etc., will be more respected, long-term prospects for energy conservation policy is to uphold our long-term strategic choice will have far-reaching economic impact.

High energy consumption and high pollution industry will face major structural adjustment
According to the National Statistics Bureau estimates, thermal power, steel, chemicals, building materials, nonferrous metals, petroleum processing and coking and other six high energy consumption and high pollution industry, increase the value of our scale industrial added value accounted for 33% of consumption of electricity for industrial use 64% of electricity consumption, energy consumption accounts for 70% of industrial energy consumption. High energy consumption and high pollution industries are the focus of regulation of energy saving policy areas, with the implementation of energy saving policies, high energy consumption and high pollution industry faces at least three effects:First, it faced a risk of backward production capacity.

High energy consumption and high pollution industries behind high proportion of production accounted for the industry, such as the end of 2005, iron, cement, thermal power industry accounted for backward production capacity of the industry ratio of 24%, respectively, 19%, 13%, backward production capacity, such as technical innovation can not be achieved New Project access standards, will be eliminated directly. Can be eliminated if a large number of backward production, distribution and structure of the industry will be restructured.

The second is to set off mergers and acquisitions wave.Mainly high-pollution industries with high energy consumption will accelerate mergers and acquisitions, rapid increase in industry concentration, industry leaders face some development opportunities. “Steel Industry Development Policy” to support and encourage qualified large enterprise groups across regions of the joint reorganization plan by 2010, China will form a 2 to 3 30 million tons level, several million tons of international competitiveness large iron and steel enterprise groups, the top 10 domestic steel enterprises steel production group the proportion of total output above 50%, and the present iron and steel industry in China is about 30% concentration. In recent years, China’s steel industry mergers and acquisitions significantly accelerated, and has a series of actions.

Third, approved new capacity more difficult.China’s high energy consumption and high pollution industry standard access to the basic reference to new projects within the international advanced level in the industry, the strength is not strong in the enterprise is more difficult to access standards, the limited scale of their development, while the stronger large-scale enterprises through new high standards projects to further enhance the level of technical equipment. In fact because the state control of high energy consumption and high pollution industry, simply more difficult to get new projects approved, in accordance with the merger and reorganization of the State Development and Reform Commission’s thinking, in order to make high-pollution industries with high energy capacity will not increase substantially, the new projects and eliminate backward production capacity, mergers and acquisitions are often simultaneously.

Energy saving engineering and rapid development of environmental protection equipment industry will China’s energy-intensive products with high energy consumption of high polluting industries, with international advanced level prevailing large gap, in which chemical, cement, plate glass, and petrochemical industry average higher than the international advanced level in more than 40%, saving potential larger. “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” period, through the ten key energy conservation projects in China, will save 240 million tons of coal to achieve economic benefits are very obvious, while promoting the rapid development of energy-saving equipment industry.

According to “renewable energy and long-term development plan”, the next 15 years, renewable energy accounts for the proportion of the country’s total energy consumption will double, in which additional capacity increase of 156% water to 300 million kilowatts installed capacity will be other renewable energy sources 3 times more than the sum, is the most important renewable energy; wind, solar and biomass power generation to achieve leapfrog development, an increase of about 15 times.

Of the more intense competition for energy and resources.China’s oil consumption from 1993 began to gap, gap year and increased dependence on imports in 2006 up to 47% and 50% level close to the redline. China’s steel, cement, non-ferrous metal product output in the world, iron ore, bauxite, copper ore and other resources, larger class of demand for raw materials. China is the world’s largest iron ore importer, China’s steel industry used more than 50% of iron ore from imports, the amount of the increase in global iron ore more than 90% for China’s consumption of iron ore in China in 2007 imports 383 million tons, imports exceeded 40 billion U.S. dollars.With the energy, resource-based product prices rise, countries on energy and the increasingly fierce competition for resources, the domestic enterprises to “go” has become the country’s strategic direction. Iron ore prices in 2005 rose 71.5% over the previous year, in 2006, up 19%, up 9.5% in 2007, up 65% in 2008. China’s large-scale iron and steel enterprises “going out” is inevitable.

Will promote China’s economic growth mode.China’s total energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are listed second in the world, high energy consumption and heavy pollution. Energy-saving emission reduction policies by controlling the high energy consumption and high pollution industry growth, and promote China’s economic growth to resource conservation, environmental clean-direction changes. Services with low energy consumption, pollution, light, etc., will be more respected, long-term prospects.

In most countries, the proportion of service sector GDP, the average value of 67% of more than 70% of the developed countries, India and Brazil are developing countries this percentage is also higher than 50% of the total output value of China’s 2007 GDP share of services sector alone 39.1%, the proportion is significantly lower. “The State Council on Accelerating the Development of Service Industry Opinions” put forward the “Eleventh Five-Year” period of the main objectives of service development to 2010, value added services, the proportion of GDP than in 2005 increased 3 percentage points, services the proportion of employees employed in the entire society more than 4 percentage points in 2005 to improve the service trade volume reached 400 billion U.S. dollars; qualified cities to form a service economy industrial structure.

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Elray Resources, Inc. (OTC.BB:ELRA) recently reported that numerous institutions and agencies expect that in the coming years that Ecuador’s Mining sector will be a major engine of growth. Also compared to other Latin American countries the current investment climate is extremly favorable. A dollarized economy, combined with a stable political culture and low wage levels, create many opportunities for foreign investors. Other investment advantages include an abundance of natural resources and the fastest growing economy in the region, with a non-oil GDP growth rate of 6% for 2010.

ELRA is a junior exploration and development Corporation which has successfully accumulated a portfolio of highly prospective, heavily mineralized mining tenements in South East Asia and South America. Elray Resources, Inc.’s, primary objectives are to source projects, conduct geological assessments and seek Joint Venture partners to develop the properties.

Compass Minerals (NYSE:CMP), subsidiary North American Salt Company, recently reported the addition of a new, premium, pet-friendly product to its Safe Step family of ice melters. Sure Paws, an all-natural, fast-acting ice melter, doesn’t irritate pets’ paws but melts ice down to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Pets are an important part of families, so this extremely efficient product will keep residential driveways and walkways safe but is easy on pets’ paws and skin, said Jerry Bucan, vice president and general manager of NASC’s consumer and industrial business.

CMP is a leading producer of minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer and magnesium chloride. The company provides highway deicing salt to customers in North America and the United Kingdom and specialty fertilizer to growers worldwide. Compass Minerals also produces consumer deicing and water conditioning products, ingredients used in consumer and commercial foods, and other mineral-based products for consumer, agricultural and industrial applications. Compass Minerals also provides records management services to businesses throughout the U.K.

Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE:SLW) is pleased to announce that, as reported by Goldcorp Inc. in a press release, the second sulphide processing line at Goldcorp’s world-class gold-silver-lead-zinc Penasquito mine in Zacatecas, Mexico, has achieved mechanical completion ahead of its previously expected third quarter completion date.

SLW is the largest silver streaming company in the world. Forecast 2010 production, based upon its current agreements, is 22.2 million ounces of silver and 20,000 ounces of gold, for total production of 23.5 million silver equivalent ounces. By 2013, annual production is anticipated to increase significantly to approximately 38 million ounces of silver and 59,000 ounces of gold, for total production of over 40 million silver equivalent ounces. This growth is driven by the Company’s portfolio of world-class assets, including silver streams on Goldcorp’s Penasquito mine and Barrick’s Pascua-Lama project.

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By Diana Kaganovsky

In most cases, the most valuable possession next to our house is our automobile. While we should conserve energy by taking public transportation, the next best option, it seems, is choosing the most environmentally advantageous vehicle. Below are some facts about the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) which I hope will help you make an informed decision:

HEVs have two engines employed simultaneously: a standard gas and an electric motor powered by a battery. This results in better mileage and lower emissions. In addition, less gasoline is required. We’re all too familiar about the unstable oil prices these days. By become less dependent on this natural resource you can save money!
HEVs produce less air pollutants, for which your skin and lungs will thank you in the long run. Who can possibly say no to cleaner air to breathe? Also a much needed break at chipping away the ozone layer is long overdo.
Solar energy may soon join electricity in powering hybrids. Although now solar power is only strong enough to be used in the air conditioning unit of these cars, there’s no doubt that in the near future it will be a key player in propelling the vehicle itself. The song “We’ll follow the Sun” by the Beatles takes on a whole new meaning.
HEVs use a regenerative braking technology, which means that the speed is reduced while converting its kinetic energy (energy while in motion) into another form of energy, which can be utilized for recharging the battery for example, instead of wastefully being released as heat.
Understandably HEV’s aren’t perfected yet and while it might be bothersome not to be able to accelerate as quickly as a regular car, keep in mind that technology is improving at a high speed, raising the level of HEV’s performance.
For those worried about the cost of owning a hybrid be aware that (a) the government allows a tax write off for owners of hybrids, (b) there are warranties providing free replacement of expensive parts, and (c) the depreciation rate of a hybrid is much lower than that of the regular gasoline-powered car due to growing demand and popularity.

There is no doubt that hybrids are the way of the future. Remember, the greater the need, the faster the advancements and improvements made to HEVs. The benefits of using HEV’s are enormous: energy is conserved, solar power is utilized, and eco-friendliness is observed. What’s not to like?

Whether it’s your personal or company car or a large lorry, there are a number of steps you may want to take to protect it (and you) from the elements. Here are 10 tips for winter driving.

1. Your first step should be to monitor your oil, brake fluid and water levels on a regular basis.

2. Due to the icy roads that you may encounter, it’s vital that you check your tyres for both tread and pressure. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm.

3. Anti-freeze plays an important role in vehicle maintenance, including protecting the water in the radiator against freezing. Make sure you check your levels regularly and top it up when needed.

4. You’ll also want to stop your windscreen washer fluid to avoid freezing, so applying a little anti-freeze should help.

5. Batteries are one of the biggest causes of non-starting vehicles during cold months, so make sure you check yours over the winter months. Keeping jump-leads in your car may also prove very useful.

6. For your own safety, it’s always a good idea to keep a blanket or extra warm clothing in your vehicle during winter. That way, if the worst should happen and you do break down, you won’t be too cold.

7. Use a garage, where possible, to store your car overnight. If your car is left exposed to the frost and snow over winter, you may have a difficult job getting it started in a morning.

8. Again, for your own peace of mind and safety, consider breakdown cover as an important safety net in the event of a breakdown.

9. Keep de-icer in your vehicle to avoid having to scrap ice away from your windscreen if leaving your car in cold temperatures for too long.

10. If temperatures plummet dramatically or you intend to drive in an extremely cold country, you may need to use diesel additives – such as cold flow improvers – to stop the fuel from turning into waxy crystal formations and damaging the engine.

If you think cold flow improvers could benefit your business, or want to know more about other diesel additives, it could be time to find out before the winter sets in.