THE CAR NAIRA BLOG

Internal combustion engine requires two basic things to function – oxygen and fuel. Tubes and valves guide oxygen and fuel into the cylinder, where a piston compresses the mixture to be ignited. The explosive force pushes the piston down, forcing the crankshaft to rotate, giving the user mechanical force to move the vehicle, run generators, and pump water, to name a few of the functions of an automotive engine. The air intake system The air intake system is critical to the function of the engine, collecting air and directing it to individual cylinders, but that’s not all. Following a typical oxygen molecule through the air intake system, we can learn what each part does to keep your engine running efficiently. (Depending on the vehicle, these parts may be in a different order.) Air intake system The cold-air intake tube is usually located where it can pull air from outside the engine bay, such as a fender, the grille, or hood scoop. The cold-air intake tube marks t...

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

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

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

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

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