Long Term Update 4: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

At 20,000 miles, our long-term Jetta TDI needed new brake pads, per the service techs at Neftin VW in Thousand Oaks, California. VW recommends replacement when there is 4 mm of remaining wear in the pads, which measure 11 mm when new. Cost for the fresh pads was $158.09.

The second service-an oil change, full inspection, tire rotation, and cabin air filter replacement-was free, part of VW's 3-year/36,000-mile no-cost maintenance. "Gone are the days of my dad's clunky, smoky, and slow 1983 Mercedes 300TD," says Martinez. "This diesel is as smooth and quiet as any gas- drinking car. It feels quicker than most too. Thanks to its torque curve, I frequently chirped tires without much enticement of the skinny pedal."

First Drive: Hydrogen-Powered Mazda RX-8 and Premacy

Mazda’s two-car hydrogen fleet doesn’t feel futuristic, and it doesn’t feel like a science project. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE starts immediately with the turn of a key. There’s no waiting for it to warm up. And once the car’s on, there’s no whirring, no clicking, no hiss. There’s nothing to announce the hydrogen being combusted in the 1.3-liter rotary. It merely purrs a soft tremolo whirr.

That’s right: combusted. Instead of developing a fuel cell system, Mazda is running hydrogen through the four-stroke cycle. Doing so in a standard piston engine is difficult because hydrogen is highly combustible -- it's more than ten times more flammable than gasoline. So when hydrogen gets too hot in an engine -- like when it passes valves or a sparkplug -- it combusts prematurely and breaks things.

Likely unbeknownst to Felix Wankel, the rotary engine happens to be uniquely suited for hydrogen duties. Intake and combustion are in two different places, which keeps the hydrogen cool, and the distance between them allows Mazda to fit a larger, more accurate direct fuel injection system. Mazda has been putting rotary mills in U.S. consumers’ hands since the ‘70s, and development is cheaper. Another plus to using a rotary engine in the RX-8: When the hydrogen is all gone, press a button and it switches to gasoline on the fly. It’ll even make the change automatically, should you be too busy bombing down a mountain road to notice the fuel light. To switch back to hydrogen, you have to come to a stop. There’s no danger to going the other way while moving, but Mazda wants gasoline power used as a last resort.

Long Term Update 5: 2009 Mini John Cooper Works Clubman

At around 17,000 miles, the Mini's OE Continental run-flat tires were showing exposed wear bars, so we replaced them with a set of Michelin's new Primacy HP ZP run-flats. Total cost, including installation, was a healthy $993.87.

Wearing fresh shoes, the Mini had little trouble impressing Truck Trend Web producer Melissa Spiering. "The Clubman's third door made it easy to take my two-year-old nephew to daycare and when I had to pile friends into the back seat. I was also impressed that I was able to rake in 437 miles on a tank of gas, especially considering my occasional lead foot and three-hour daily commute)." Nits? "The lack of an armrest left me hanging, and I fumbled with the radio on a regular basis."

Auto Meter 2343 Autogage Mechanical Tire Pressure Gauge

Product Features:

• Economical and requires no electric power
• Used to measure the pressure of tires on a vehicle
• Has a range of 60 PSI
• Size of this mechanical tire pressure gauge is 1-1/2 (38.1mm)
• Offers a race inspired design with the trademark Auto Meter Monster look

Product Description:

Autogage line offers economical instruments for street and street performance vehicles, perfect for those needing good design at an affordable cost. Autogage is famous for its wide variety of black and chrome tachometers and underdash panels for 50's and 60's muscle cars. 60 PSI gauge retains the last measurement until the pressure is released. Patented design assures accuracy and durability, while a large dial and angled chuck enable easy measuring. Bronze bourdon tube 270 degree sweep movements and durable nylon gearing have made these rugged and long lasting gauges a proven high performance favorite for over 25 years. These mechanical gauges require no electrical power for operation making them an ideal choice for vehicles with no or low powered electrical systems.

How to flush a car’s radiator

Your car’s cooling system serves a very important purpose in keeping your vehicle running safely. Because an engine creates a lot of heat, cars needed cooling systems to keep the engines from overheating and leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. One important part of the cooling system is your car’s radiator. The radiator is in place to remove heat from the hot water that goes through the cooling system. When the radiator is functioning properly, the engine is kept as cool as possible to prevent overheating. When the radiator becomes clogged, its functionality is reduced and overheating may occur. This is why it’s important for you to learn how to flush a car’s radiator.

Radiator Function

Your car’s cooling system contains hot water that circulates throughout the system when your vehicle is in use. This hot water enters a tank at the top of your radiator, goes through the radiator, and is circulated out through a water pump. If your radiator was sealed at the auto factory, you need to be aware of leaks, but don’t need to take many more precautions. If your radiator is not sealed, however, you need to check the water level regularly and add water as needed. You also need to clear debris, like leaves, out of a radiator that is not sealed. You should learn how to flush a car’s radiator to keep this auto part maintained and working properly.

Preparation

Preparing to learn how to flush a car’s radiator is relatively easy. You need to park your car on an even service such as a paved driveway or section of concrete. The engine should be off, but the heater switch should be on. Because splashes can occur when learning how to flush a car’s radiator, you should also cover the engine. You’re now ready to begin flushing the radiator.

Instructions

You can learn how to flush a car’s radiator in a few steps. The first step is to take off the cap of the radiator and drain the water from it by removing the cap at the bottom. Watch the fluid as it drains to see if it is clear or very dirty. If the fluid is dirty, you should flush the radiator very carefully to clear out an accumulated dirt and rust. You should also disconnect the radiator hoses and make sure that they are not damaged. If they appear to be damaged, replace them with new ones. The next step is to put your water hose in the top of the radiator and let the water run through for several minutes. Ideally, the water will run clear at the end of this process. Insert the hose into the outlet at the bottom of the radiator and do a reverse flush. This will also take several minutes. Dirt and debris can build up on the engine cooling jacket, so be sure to flush this part of the radiator as well. When you’re done flushing the radiator, put the cap back on, reconnect all of the hoses, and fill it with coolant. Test how well the flushed work by running the engine and checking for leaks.

How to change fuel filters

If you want to improve the fuel efficiency of your car and save money in the process, you should learn how to change fuel filter parts on your vehicles. There are several reasons why you should learn how to change fuel filter parts, all of which can improve your vehicle’s performance and leave a little extra money in your wallet. If you have the right tools, and the ability to follow directions, you can learn how to change fuel filter parts on your cars very easily.

Benefits of changing fuel filters

There are several reasons why you should learn how to change fuel filter parts on cars and trucks. One is that your fuel filter protects other parts of your car by filtering out particles that could cause extensive damage. If these particles are not filtered efficiently and the filter becomes clogged, parts of your vehicle may become damaged, leading to costly repairs. When a fuel filter is changed, you can improve the speed of your vehicle, increase your vehicle’s power, and improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Learning how to change fuel filter parts can also save you a lot of money because you will only have to pay for the new fuel filter and not the labor of having a mechanic change it for you.

Equipment needed

If you want to learn how to change fuel filter parts, you need the right equipment. Safety equipment such as protective eyewear and gloves should be worn. You will also need wrenches, Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, pliers, drive-up ramps, and a jack and jack stands.

Preparing to change the fuel filter

As you learn how to change fuel filter parts, you will also learn what needs to be done to prepare for the change. Put your protective eyewear on first so you are protected for the entire task. Then make sure all of your tools are in one place so they can be accessed easily. Elevate your car, but be careful to do so properly. Don’t elevate the car using a jack unless you also use jack stands, or you risk having the car fall on you as you are working.

Changing the fuel filter

When you first learn how to change fuel filter parts, you will need to locate the fuel filter. You may have to search through your vehicle’s user guide or ask someone who is familiar with your vehicle’s make and model to tell you where it is. The fuel filter has a covering that must be removed next, which can be done with a wrench or screwdriver. Then you need to remove any lines that are connected to the fuel filter. The type of tool you use will depend on what is connected to the filter and what kind of attachments are making the connection.

Use a pencil or similarly-shaped object to cap the fuel lines, and then remove the fuel filter. Insert the new filter, making sure you point the fuel arrow toward the engine. Simply reattach all of the hoses to the fuel filter and the change has been made.

How do hybrid cars work

Hybrid cars are a great improvement over traditional vehicles in terms of increased fuel efficiency and decreased emissions. Many auto makers are focusing on the production of hybrid cars in response to the rising costs of fuel and the demand for more environmentally-friendly vehicles. But how do hybrid cars work and why are they beneficial? Keep reading to find out exactly how hybrid cars work and why they’re able to improve fuel efficiency and reduce air pollution.

Types of hybrid vehicles

Before you can understand how hybrid cars work, you need to understand what a hybrid vehicle is. Any vehicle that uses two or more sources of power that provide power can be considered a hybrid vehicle. In addition to hybrid cars, there are also hybrid buses, hybrid locomotives, and submarines. When you hear about hybrid vehicles on the news, however, you’re most likely hearing about hybrid cars.

Gasoline & electric power

Gasoline-powered cars are able to travel many miles before refueling is needed, and they are also able to travel rather quickly to keep up with the flow of traffic. The problem is, gasoline-powered cars aren’t very fuel efficient and they also produce a high amount of pollution. Electric cars seemed to be the answer to this problem, but they can also go short distances before needing to be charged. Charging can be inconvenient and may take quite a long time, so electric cars were not a good solution for every day travel. Hybrid cars combine the best characteristics of gasoline-powered cars and electric cars all in one vehicle.

Parallel and series hybrids

How hybrid cars work depends on the type of hybrid car being used. In a parallel hybrid, the gasoline engine and electric engine can function to turn the transmission at the same time. The car is then propelled when the transmission turns the wheels. In a series hybrid, the car is propelled a little differently. The gasoline engine doesn’t power the car directly; instead, gasoline is used to turn a generator that produces electricity that turns the transmission.