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af1 1982

af1 1982

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I know there are a lot of people on here who love cars just as much as they love sneakers. I feel it would be a great idea to have a thread NOT solely dedicated to the discussion of all things car related. But rather a thread where a discussion can be had regarding anything. And car news or anything like that (like the threads that RFX makes) doesn't have to belong here, I thoroughly enjoy his threads. Those types of threads can still be made. This doesn't have to be a one all be all cars related thread. This can be a thread for discussion on concepts, designs, technologies. More of the science behind it.

I've been interested in cars for a very long time. I'm currently interning at a heavy diesel truck company and I hope to pursue a career in the automotive industry. I'm fascinated at the amount engineering that goes into automobiles. I don't know a lot about cars but I'm getting there. I try to learn something new everyday. howstuffworks is a great website. Everything I know about car technologies started there.

Here is a list of common technologies.

Engines
Basic Engine
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm

Horizontally Opposed (Boxer)
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5016807_subaru-boxer-engine-work.html

Rotary
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm

DA HEMI
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hemi.htm


Forced Induction
TurboCharger
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm

SuperCharger
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/supercharger.htm


Transmissions
Manual
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

Automatic
 http://auto.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm

DTC (Dual Clutch Transmissions)
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/dual-clutch-transmission.htm

CVT (Continuosly Variable Transmissions)
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm

Clutch
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch.htm

Differential
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

There's a whole ton more I'm missing but that's a solid basis for understanding cars. Hopefully this thread can lead to a lot of intellectual conversions about concepts, designs, theory etc.
 
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http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/mce-5-developme.html

Here's a new technology I came across today. Basically, a bunch of dudes in Europe are trying to develop an engine whose compression ratio varies. The CR has a direct influence on fuel consumption and power output. At higher compression ratios, you are packing the same amount of air into a smaller space. Since this is the same amount of air, the same amount of fuel can be used. And since the air is packed tighter, it has a great combustion, therefore delivering more energy and power.

These engineers are claiming 220HP out of an Inline 4, 1.5L engine which is phenomenal. That's comparable to a 3.0L V6 at a much lower fuel consumption.

The problem here is that it essentially doubles the width of the engine. That means more weight, more parts, more material, and most importantly, more money. They are trying to see if the gains in fuel economy will be worth the extra cost in producing these engines.
 
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Great thread.

Since car owners should be posting, heres the details on the Buy 2 Get 2 Free Tire Sale at NTB

http://www.ntb.com/tires/catalog/promotionlanding.jsp?promoId=promo90001

If anyone is looking for winters, upgrades, or replacing balds then this is a great time to do it.


I'll never get rid of my 6.1L Hemi, but I am excited about the numbers that Ford is getting out of their turbo charged inline 4, and twin turbo charged V-6 engines. I can't wait to see how far the industry can take it while still getting great gas milage.
 
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can someone explain how a new exhaust system can give me more power? like suppose i have stock exhaust and i switch it for a magnaflow system
 
thadocta said:
can someone explain how a new exhaust system can give me more power? like suppose i have stock exhaust and i switch it for a magnaflow system
Click to expand...

Theoretically it allows a larger diameter for exhaust to get through. Exhaust can get out faster and more air and fuel can be delivered at a faster rate.
 
af1 1982 said:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/mce-5-developme.html



Here's a new technology I came across today. Basically, a bunch of dudes in Europe are trying to develop an engine whose compression ratio varies. The CR has a direct influence on fuel consumption and power output. At higher compression ratios, you are packing the same amount of air into a smaller space. Since this is the same amount of air, the same amount of fuel can be used. And since the air is packed tighter, it has a great combustion, therefore delivering more energy and power.



These engineers are claiming 220HP out of an Inline 4, 1.5L engine which is phenomenal. That's comparable to a 3.0L V6 at a much lower fuel consumption.



The problem here is that it essentially doubles the width of the engine. That means more weight, more parts, more material, and most importantly, more money. They are trying to see if the gains in fuel economy will be worth the extra cost in producing these engines.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't a heavier engine then offset the MPG because of the weight? Is the better MPG that much of a difference to justify this? A new tech that couldn't be serviced as easily ?
 
do most of you guys do maintenance work yourself (i.e. oil changes) or do you take it to a shop?

also, looking to buy a foam gun because im lazy and it looks fun. does anyone own one?
 
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grandtheftbike said:
do most of you guys do maintenance work yourself (i.e. oil changes) or do you take it to a shop?
also, looking to buy a foam gun because im lazy and it looks fun. does anyone own one?
Click to expand...

I do all the maintenance myself...oil changes, brakes, suspension, basic upkeep. Only go to the stealership for recalls or warranty work. Otherwise i go to a local tuning shop that specializes on my car to do the major stuff that i cant do at home...alignment, fender rolling (because my car is lowered) etc.

Foam guns are awesome and make your life 1000x easier for washing the car. I dont own one personally but a good friend of mine does and its a breeze.

And for anyone wondering, driving a 2012 VW GTI and love it :smile:
 
MMG said:
Wouldn't a heavier engine then offset the MPG because of the weight? Is the better MPG that much of a difference to justify this? A new tech that couldn't be serviced as easily ?
Click to expand...
Weight is also another problem. They are claiming a lot of things. Companies are literally pouring millions into R&D for new tech new get better efficiency and fuel economy
 
thadocta said:
can someone explain how a new exhaust system can give me more power? like suppose i have stock exhaust and i switch it for a magnaflow system
Click to expand...
It's basically something called 'Volumetric Efficiency". Basically the more air and fuel you burn, the more power you make.  Which is why people ususally get the basic combination of intake/headers/exhaust as bolt on mods.

Think of your car like an airpump. The faster you can get exhaust out of your engine, the more air you can cram into it for more power. Some aftermarket exhaust systems have more volume than the stock exhaust systems.. but theres much more to it than that.

If you're interested, look up "exhaust scavenging" and "volumentric efficiency" and "exhaust back pressure". It gets very technical, but its very interesting. Sometimes going to an aftermarket exhaust will give you more power/ more torque/ less torque or even BOTH. Ususally companies like magnaflow or flowmaster know what they're doing. Same with aftermarket companies like borla, hks, greddy etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scavenging_(automotive)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_pressure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volumetric_efficiency
MMG said:
Wouldn't a heavier engine then offset the MPG because of the weight? Is the better MPG that much of a difference to justify this? A new tech that couldn't be serviced as easily ?
Click to expand...
thats pretty much the debate manufacturers are having these days. This is why turbocharging is so ideal, because you dont need to increase the displacement and the size of the engine to be more efficient. Almost every manufacturer has some type of 4 cyl turbo these days (except honda/nissan/toyota off the top of my head..)
 
friscosfinest said:
It's basically something called 'Volumetric Efficiency". Basically the more air and fuel you burn, the more power you make.  Which is why people ususally get the basic combination of intake/headers/exhaust as bolt on mods.

Think of your car like an airpump. The faster you can get exhaust out of your engine, the more air you can cram into it for more power. Some aftermarket exhaust systems have more volume than the stock exhaust systems.. but theres much more to it than that.

If you're interested, look up "exhaust scavenging" and "volumentric efficiency" and "exhaust back pressure". It gets very technical, but its very interesting. Sometimes going to an aftermarket exhaust will give you more power/ more torque/ less torque or even BOTH. Ususally companies like magnaflow or flowmaster know what they're doing. Same with aftermarket companies like borla, hks, greddy etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scavenging_(automotive)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_pressure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volumetric_efficiency

thats pretty much the debate manufacturers are having these days. This is why turbocharging is so ideal, because you dont need to increase the displacement and the size of the engine to be more efficient. Almost every manufacturer has some type of 4 cyl turbo these days (except honda/nissan/toyota off the top of my head..)
Click to expand...
This. The most fuel efficient cars (besides all electric) out there are Turbo Diesels. Turbos can provide GREAT efficiency if used properly (aka a power outer). And Diesel is a great fuel (cleaner, more efficient, doesn't require a spark plug). Turbo Diesel is going to be one very huge part of the automotive industry soon, especially because everyone is trying to increase fuel efficiency. And once again, VW is leading the way
 
jumpmanjunkie said:
I do all the maintenance myself...oil changes, brakes, suspension, basic upkeep. Only go to the stealership for recalls or warranty work. Otherwise i go to a local tuning shop that specializes on my car to do the major stuff that i cant do at home...alignment, fender rolling (because my car is lowered) etc.
Foam guns are awesome and make your life 1000x easier for washing the car. I dont own one personally but a good friend of mine does and its a breeze.
And for anyone wondering, driving a 2012 VW GTI and love it
smile.gif
Click to expand...
Sweet car! Just remember that tuning shops sometimes dont have the equipment or specialty tools that dealerships have (unless that tuning shop is doing very well).

Hell, just for one of our BMW diagnostic computers is like 10 grand!
 
jumpmanjunkie said:
grandtheftbike said:
do most of you guys do maintenance work yourself (i.e. oil changes) or do you take it to a shop?
also, looking to buy a foam gun because im lazy and it looks fun. does anyone own one?
Click to expand...

I do all the maintenance myself...oil changes, brakes, suspension, basic upkeep. Only go to the stealership for recalls or warranty work. Otherwise i go to a local tuning shop that specializes on my car to do the major stuff that i cant do at home...alignment, fender rolling (because my car is lowered) etc.

Foam guns are awesome and make your life 1000x easier for washing the car. I dont own one personally but a good friend of mine does and its a breeze.

And for anyone wondering, driving a 2012 VW GTI and love it :smile:
Click to expand...

growing up my pops taught me how to do all the work myself like brakes and oil but now my house has a steep driveway and my truck doesnt fit in the garage so im forced to do it by other ppl.
 
great thread, I tried starting one a while ago, but it died down.

Paris autoshow was amazing!
 
^^ Get it done professionally, ive seen some pretty bad jobs done. And just be extra careful if youre goin to park your car outside or curbside. the tint on the glass when broken doesnt make that loud of a sound.



are there any license plate frame screws i can use to prevent it from being stolen?
 
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Jordan Novice said:
Please don't have this thread turn into X car vs Y car in terms of money, power, gas
sick.gif
Click to expand...
I mean that's welcome but I don't want this thread to purely be a discussion about that. Those are all tangibles that can easily be measured and compared.

I want this thread to basically discuss the science behind cars
 
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