Winter can be an exciting time of year to spend time outdoors. While winter can be lots of fun, excessive amounts of snow can make it challenging to drive on roads. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to use a four wheel drive vehicle in the snow.

It’s important to remember that vehicle traction will be reduced when there is a lot of ice or snow on the road. While a four wheel drive can make it easier to accelerate and avoid spinning one’s wheels, braking performance will often be poor with these types of road conditions. This can result in sliding accidents.

To drive in snow, it’s a good idea to put snow chains or traction belts on all four tires of a four wheel drive jeep. For a two wheel drive vehicle, it may be possible to only put traction belts or snow chains on the tires that are connected to the drive chain.

It’s important to understand the differences between snow chains and traction belts. In many cases, putting snow chains on a tire can cause damage over time. If a vehicle with chains is driven on a paved highway, both the tires and the chains can experience a significant amount of damage. However, snow chains offer much better grip than traction belts. If there is a lot of snow on the ground, it’s best to have access to snow chains.

Traction belts should be used when one will be driving on a combination of packed snow and paved roads. Since traction belts have a tighter fit on a tire, there’s less chance of them causing damage to a vehicle when driving on a paved road. However, they offer inferior gripping power compared to snow chains.

When using snow chains or traction belts, it’s important to drive in a safe, responsible way. One should avoid driving at speeds above 20 miles an hour when there are snow devices on one’s wheels. In addition, it’s a good idea to maintain at least a 200 foot distance from other vehicles on the road. This will help prevent sliding accidents.

While rally racing in the snow can be lots of fun, it’s important to take the proper safety precautions. By taking the proper safety precautions, it’s possible to ensure that one will have a great rally racing experience. In addition, proper vehicle safety in the snow can improve the safety of the course for other drivers. This will ensure that everyone on a road rally course has a very good time.

Changing the oil in a vehicle can be a daunting prospect for some drivers. While changing the oil in a car may seem challenging, it’s easy once one understands the basics of an oil change. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to change the oil in a Subaru or other vehicle.

When changing the oil in a vehicle, it’s important to make sure that one has access to the right equipment. For an oil change, this will include an oil pan, a waste oil container, clean cloths, a flashlight and some old clothing.

Before starting, it’s important to make sure that one has a proper place to dispose of old oil. In many areas, it’s illegal to pour used motor oil on the ground or down a drain. In most cases, used motor oil is considered an environmental hazard.

Fortunately, there are a number of places where one can legally dispose of used motor oil.

Many gas stations and landfills will accept used motor oil. Since used motor oil can be reprocessed and recycled, many companies are willing to accept it.

In most cases, the best way to transport used motor oil is in a PVC bucket or container. However, it’s important to make sure that a container is properly rated for transporting oil.

When changing the oil on a vehicle, place an oil catcher underneath the oil pan of a car. Once the oil catcher is in place, unscrew the cap found at the bottom of the oil pan. The oil will start to flow out of the vehicle immediately.

Once the vehicle’s oil has been removed, place the cap back on the oil pan. After doing this, pour the new oil into the engine bay oil receptacle.

Once this has been done, it’s time to put the oil into the newly-emptied containers. These containers can then be transported to one’s local waste disposal facility.

When changing the oil on a vehicle, it’s essential to make sure that one doesn’t introduce any contaminants into the engine oil system. Contaminants can include dust, sand or other small particles.

While an engine is designed to handle a small amount of contaminants, a large amount of contaminants may increase the risk of engine failure and a variety of other problems.

It’s also a good idea to change the oil filter and the fuel filter during an oil change. In many cases, these filters will become clogged every 10,000 miles or so. To avoid problems, it’s important to change them every 3,000 miles. .

Rally racing is the ultimate test between man, car and terrain. As a point-to-point race, rally challenges drivers and their cars with ever changing road and weather conditions.

It was just such grueling tests which prompted Subaru to originally enter rally racing in 1989 to prove the capabilities of its cars and their all-wheel drive technology. The company’s first rally car, the Leone, competed in the formidable Safari Rally of East Africa.

Subaru made significant changes to their car and team in 1989. The Subaru Legacy made its racing debut in 1990 and powered the team to respectable top-five finishes in several races.

In 1993, the Impreza took over as Subaru’s race car and was tricked out in the company’s ionic blue with yellow letters racing colors. At Rally Finland that year, driver Ari Vatanen muscled the car to a second place finish.

In all, Subaru won six titles in the World Rally Championships. Driver’s championship honors were won in 1995 by Colin McRae and again in 2001 with Richard Burns. Peter Solberg won the company’s final driver’s championship in 2003.

Manufacture’s championship honors were garnered for three straight years from 1995-1997. This award goes to the company which produces the most successful vehicle of the racing season.

In 2006, Subaru’s rally team began experiencing successive years of poor showings and downright dismal failures on the racing circuit. Finally, in 2008 the company announced it was withdrawing from the World Rally Championships, citing the world economic downturn as the primary factor for the pullout.

On the home front, Subaru’s Rally Team USA made its first run in 2001, driving cars built by Prodrive. This was the same company which provided cars for Subaru’s World Rally racing.

In 2006, Vermont SportsCars took over the management of the team and production of its cars. The next four years of racing with Travis Pastrana driving the flashy, yet imminently capable, Impreza WRX brought home successive event championships. David Higgins added to Subaru’s wins in 2011 with his own Rally America title.

Subaru continues its rally presence, competing primarily in the US, but occasionally driving over the border for Canadian races. The team also competes in rallycross and X-Games events. In its drive for excellence, Subaru partnered with Puma in 2012 to create a new rallycross team.

Subaru, as a corporation, has been incredibly successful in promoting rally racing in the United States and bringing new life to the sport. Ordinary Subaru owners are now joining the fun in citizen rally races across the country.

Subaru WRX STIs are popular with tuners, but some common modifications are not necessary. Subaru WRX STIs are available from the factory with powerful brakes that will resist fade and sticky tires that hold the road well. However, STIs respond well to certain other types of modifications.

Exhaust

Modifications to the exhaust include everything from a simple catback system that replaces the mufflers to a full system that involves high-flow catalytic converters and a more free-flowing exhaust manifold. Catback systems offer modest power gains, but can help an owner change the tone and volume of his or her exhaust to a suitable level.

Common exhaust modifications for the Subaru WRX STI to increase power include new up pipes, which route gasses from the exhaust manifold to spool up the turbocharger more quickly, and down pipes, which help the gasses exit the turbocharger more quickly. Subaru owners looking for efficient power gains should consider adding these pipes.

Intercooler

With faster spinning comes greater heat. To keep a turbocharger from overheating and to lengthen its life, owners who are modifying the turbocharger should upgrade their intercoolers. Aftermarket intercoolers have larger cores and features that make them more resistant to heat soak.

Intake

Intakes are inexpensive modifications that add power with few drawbacks. Performance air filters will increase the airflow into the engine and provide modest horsepower gains. Cold air intakes will allow a more dense charge of air into the engine. They are easy to install and a hassle-free way to obtain 10 to 15 horsepower.

Upgraded ECU

With turbocharged cars, it is important to change the fuel mapping to account for the increased air flow. A high-quality engine management system can optimize the vehicle’s tuning and prevent the engine from running rich, which will reduce power, or running lean, which can damage the engine. Individuals with more heavily modified machines should consider getting a customized tune from a reputable local turner.

Bolt-On Turbocharger

Individuals interested in serious horsepower gains should upgrade the turbo. A bolt-on turbocharger will permit greater airflow into the cylinders, which can provide significant power gains. Bolt-on turbochargers require supporting modifications.

Owners installing bolt-on turbochargers should also install higher capacity up and down pipes, cooling lines, and either a new ECU or a new tune into the factory ECU. Owners should also ensure that their intercooler is capable of supporting the increased heat. Without supporting modifications, the turbocharger can overheat, not operate at full capacity, and cause the engine to run too lean.

Owning a vehicle can be both a blessing and an burden. While it gets you where you need to go, it can also be a source of problems. Many things can go wrong with a car, but unless you know the right questions to ask an auto mechanic, you could end up spending a lot more money than necessary and not even getting your problems fixed. Here are the top five questions to ask your mechanic.

Do You Work on My Car?

Many imports require specialized tools and knowledge, so some mechanics only offer service on domestic cars. Before you take your car to the auto garage, it’s a good idea to find out if they even work on your brand and model.

Are You AAA Approved?

The American Automobile Association (AAA) gives their seal of approval to almost 8,000 auto repair shops in the United States. To be approved by the AAA, these businesses must meet strict service requirements in order to keep their endorsement. The AAA monitors the garage’s insurance, staff certifications, and rates of customer satisfaction. However, just because a shop isn’t AAA-approved doesn’t mean that it’s no good. Try checking for customer reviews of the company online to see what kind of experiences other people have had.

Do You Offer Written Estimates?

Nobody likes to find out that their auto repairs are going to cost a lot more than they initially believed. To avoid getting ripped off, it’s best to have a written estimate for the work that needs to be done. If it seems likely that additional repairs have to be made, the shop should call you to let you know the details.

How Long is the Warranty?

Any work you have done on your car should ideally come with a decent warranty. If you’re offered a piddly 90 days, it’s recommended that you take your business elsewhere. There are plenty of reputable mechanics that will offer you much better warranties than that.

Are Your Mechanics Certified?

Always ask the business how many of their mechanics are ASE-certified. This can make a huge difference in the quality of the knowledge and work and gives you reassurance that the mechanics know what they’re doing.

Brakes can be expensive to repair if you do not do the job yourself. If you decide to tackle the job, you can save several hundred dollars or more.

Do not try to skimp when it comes to purchasing parts. Make sure you choose the correct OEM brake pads for your car.

The representative at a quality auto parts store, such as Fred Beans Parts, can help you pick from a variety of brake pads specifically designed for your car, driving habits and price range.
Begin by using the lug wrench that came with your jack to partially loosen each lug nut on the wheels you intend to remove.

Raise the car using a jack. Place blocks underneath the car in case of jack failure. Also, place blocks behind each wheel still in ground contact to prevent the car from rolling back. Repeat the procedure with the opposite wheel.

Complete the removal of the lug nuts and remove each wheel. The rotor and caliper will be visible. Remove the bolts of the caliper using a socket wrench. If shims were fitted between the bolts and the mounting surface, they must be replaced in the exact position so the caliper positions properly.

Carefully remove the bolts and the caliper. Move the caliper aside in the wheel well and secure it to something with a piece of wire so the brake line is not damaged.

The brake pads can now be removed. You may need to tap them slightly to loosen them. Move the new brake pads into place.

Next, find the round piston on the inside of the caliper. It is adjusted to your old brake pads and must be reset. Place a c-clamp with the screw side against the piston and the other side over the back of the caliper. Screw the clamp tightly so that the piston moves in. You have reset it enough when the caliper can move over the new brake pads easily.

Once the caliper is over the new pads, replace the bolts and tighten them.

Check the brake pressure by pressing the brake pedal several times until it becomes firm.

If you’ve done the job correctly, your new brakes will work well.

If you have any questions about brake parts or service, call Fred Beans Parts today for expert advice.

Vehicles play an invaluable role in the United States and many other parts of the world. While vehicles are used by millions of people, they can be dangerous if one doesn’t follow the right maintenance for a car, truck or SUV.

The following guide provides effective tips and tricks on how to rotate the tires on a vehicle.

Most tires are designed to last for 30,000 to 100,000 miles. However, the expected lifespan of a tire can vary based on driving styles, road conditions, weather and a variety of other factors.

In many cases, the tires on a vehicle will not wear down at an even rate. For example, two-wheel drive vehicles will often experience differing rates of tire wear.

In many cases, the tires that push the vehicle along a road will wear down at a faster rate than the tires that are not powered.

Because of this, it’s essential to make sure that these tires are rotated on a regular basis.

In addition, tires on different sides of a vehicle may wear down at different rates. If a tire on one side of a vehicle is out of alignment, that tire may experience non-standard wear and tear.

Over time, this can reduce the overall stability of a tire. Under some conditions, this can increase the risk of steering difficulties or a blown tire.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to rotate the tires on a vehicle. When rotating the tires in a vehicle, it’s essential to make sure that all the tires get an opportunity to spend time on each wheel. In many cases, this can help ensure that all tires on a vehicle wear down at an even rate.

When rotating tires, the front tires should be taken directly to the back of the vehicle. However, the rear tires should be crossed to the front tires during rotation.

This will ensure that the tears wear evenly on both sides of a car. It’s also a good idea to balance tires while they are being removed for rotation.

Please contact Fred Beans Parts for assistance with this and other automotive issues.