3D Printers Can Make Car Parts

3D printing has come a long way over the years, with many people treating it as a miracle technology that can create anything. That may be an exaggeration of what the technology is capable of, but there is no denying that it can be used for amazing things. 3D printers have been used to create everything from replacement machine parts to custom-made prostheses, and now some companies are using 3D printing to fabricate replacement car parts.

The Benefits of "Printing" Car Parts
There are some obvious benefits to using 3D printing to create replacement car parts, the most obvious of which is that can eliminate the need to hunt down rare automobile parts. Anybody who has ever tried to restore a classic car or even just repair their old vehicle knows how hard it is to find the right parts for a particular job. Some have to search high and low to find what they are looking for, and when they find it they sometimes have to pay an astronomical price due to its rarity. Theoretically, a 3D printer can fabricate these parts easily as long as their specifications are programmed into the printer. It may not be ideal for those who want authentic classic parts, but it could be enough to keep an older vehicle on the road.

3D printing can also allow manufacturers and designers to create prototypes of new engines and other parts. Using a 3D printer to create these prototypes to see how they would function is considerably cheaper and easier than building a new engine from scratch only to find that it needs to be redesigined. The printed prototype doesn't have to be used in a vehicle; the fact that it can be an inexpensive means of testing out a theoretical device is often enough for manufacturers.

The only real disadvantage to using 3D printing for car parts is that the resins that are used in the printing process may not be tough enough for certain applications. 3D printing can yield some durable results, but they may not always be able to hold up to high stress and heat. There may come a time when 3D printing can create something that is better than traditional automobile parts and equipment, but until then, anything that is fabricated should be used wisely and with caution.

Allison Can You Explain What i3 Is?

The modern, sleek design of the BMW i3 has everyone talking. What is it about this revolutionary car that stands out from the others on the market? The BMW i3 has a carbon-fiber/aluminum structure, allowing the vehicle to go from zero to 60mph in under 7 seconds. Here is the real kicker, the car averages 81 miles per charge, and it has a small gas tank allowing the car to run an extra 150 miles if you run out of battery power.  The BMW i3 is the future of cars as it will drastically reduce emissions, contributing to cleaner air, and reducing the risk of global warming.

How the i3 is Different
BMW is known for producing sporty sedans, so to see a smaller car that is energy efficient with an awkward design is unusual from this massive car manufacturer. The top speed of the BMW i3 tops out at 56 mph. The interior has a climate-controlled system, only blowing unconditioned air from the outside.

Responsive Braking System and Engine
BMW found that drivers rely on the engine brakes 75% of the time when they are driving. They found a way to use the braking to their advantage to recharge the engine, and limit the size of the engine. Some people call the i3 the “little engine that could” as it comes in at 3-cylinders, but is still powerful enough to take you over 300 miles. The confusion with the i3 lies in the way you drive it. When you pull your foot off the accelerator, the engine will initiate a regenerative braking scheme that begins converting kinetic energy into electricity. You don’t even need to brake with the i3 once you figure out the responsive deceleration system. It doesn’t slow abruptly, but it will slow the car to a complete stop. The regenerative braking system is a step forward in progressive car design. In as little as 160 feet, the car can come to a complete stop even if it starts at 70 mph all thanks to the responsive braking system.

Construction
The BMW i3 is built in factories that are powered by wind. Using electric energy to run, the i3 is near-silent when it drives. The large glass windows bring sunlight into the car, giving the driver a feeling they are part of the environment instead of closed off from it inside a car.

Do you know the difference between summer tires, all season tires, and winter tires?

When it comes to buying a tires for your vehicle, the large selection of tires can be confusing. What is the difference between summer tires, all-season tires, and winter tires? Use this guide to help you choose the right tires for your needs.

Summer Tires

The summer tires are beneficial when you are dealing with dry roads. Summer tires are built for agility and speed. Summer tires usually have shallow tread depth as they are designed for speed. Despite what a lot of people believe, summer tires actually provide great traction in rain storms. Winter driving requires an upgrade to all-season tires or winter tires.

All Season Tires

The majority of car owners will opt for all-season tires. An all-season tire is set to handle all types of weather from rain to snow. Most people feel the all-season tires are designed to handle rain better than summer tires, but this is not true. The summer tires do a great job gripping a road, even in the rain. With the all-season tires, the main grip ability is for the snow. All season doesn’t mean a tire is set to have great performance for all weather patterns. The all-season tires prevent you from needing to change your tires in the spring and the fall. If you live in an area without a great deal of snow, consider a lower rated all-season tire.

Winter Tires

The winter tire is designed to provide plenty of grip during a snow storm. In deep water at high speeds, the tire need to stay in contact with the pavement. The tread pattern of the tire will provide the gripping ability a car needs to stay stuck to the road. Compare customer ratings of the tires to ensure they will be able to give adequate grip during a snowstorm.

Choosing a Tire

Summer tires are not adequate to handle snow, but they can handle rain for the most part. The problem is ice. A tire needs to have a soft, grippy tread to provide the ability to grip the road. If the car is slipping often in the snow, it is important to change to winter tires. Review the original manufacturer’s tires to find out what tires they recommend for the vehicle. 

Wifi in Vehicles and Safety Issues

Since the advent of wifi internet, it has become ultra convenient to browse the internet, check mail and socialize on the go. You don’t have to be home or at your office table to be in touch with friends, family or clients in a different continent and this perhaps, is the greatest contribution of internet towards making the world a global village.

Portable wifi devices are now available for installation in vehicles so you remain connected to the web wherever you go. While the devices offer portability as an added advantage to the countless more that are associated with wifi, it is important to remember that just about everything in this universe has its own merits as well as demerits, and vehicle wifi devices are no exception. The most prominent and critical of all considerations are road safety issues; mobile internet can easily divert the attention of the driver away from the road which can jeopardize many innocent lives.

According to recent surveys, the USA and various other developed countries have seen a rise in a number of deaths occurring in road accidents, and majority of these are associated with mobile phone usage while driving. The second that it takes to check Whatsapp or Facebook behind the wheel and on the road, is enough to take another person’s life. The time calls for strict implementation of road safety rules which must, for the sake of countless innocent lives, include regulatory measures against individuals using their cellphones or the internet while driving. However, internet and broadband companies with their marketing strategies highlighting only the benefits if installing vehicle wifi devices are doing the exact opposite. The more wifi devices installed in cars around the globe, the riskier it will become to travel by road.

Experts agree that social media, work emails and chat-based applications are not worth diverting attention away from the road for. Wifi devices in vehicles may be marketed as the next best thing in staying connected with the world on the go, but it may also be the very last time you interact with anyone virtually. Promote road safety and refrain from using cellular devices behind the wheel.

Improve Fuel Economy and Extend The Life of Your Car

Do you spend more money on your vehicle than is necessary?

I know that it might be hard to believe, but if you spent a few dollars doing regular preventative maintenance on your vehicle, it would save you in the long run and could improve your fuel economy, as well as assist you in avoiding expensive repairs down the road.

In our world today, car manufacturers are creating more economical, environmentally friendly and technologically advanced vehicles. Vehicles with better features, more fuel efficient and the last longer and longer.  Because of increasingly stringent emissions standards, today’s vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever before. But this is only the case when they are maintained to the manufacturer’s standards.

Here are some maintenance tips to help you save at the pump:


Tires-Inspect, balance, check inflation and rotate tires. Check inflation on the spare and make sure the jack is in its place.


Engine Performance- if your engine isn’t properly maintained it maybe difficult to start in cold weather, if even at all. It may run rough and lose power. Have fuel, ignition and emission control systems checked, necessary components replaced and adjustments made.


Use the right tires – Use the type and size of tire recommended by your manufacturer for optimal performance. The wrong tires can increase your fuel consumption and will likely wear more quickly.

Battery and electrical system-How old is your battery? If it's three or more years old, it should be tested and replaced if necessary.  Have your battery terminals cleaned and tightened, because loose or corroded connections can cause symptoms of a weak or dead battery.

Check engine light – Your dashboard indicators provide you with important information about your vehicle, including its fuel economy. If your check engine light is on, bring your car in to have it checked out by a Certified Service Technician at Metric Wrench.

Replace your air filters – Your car is equipped with a number of air filters to prevent contamination of important vehicle systems. Replacing these air filters as recommended by the manufacturer can save you up to 10% on fuel.

Check your gas cap – A missing or cracked gas cap will allow gasoline vapors to escape from your tank.

Have your car inspected – A regular inspection in the spring and the fall can help you identify other problems that may be affecting your car’s performance, such as misfiring spark plugs, sagging belts, worn brakes or transmission problems.

Prevent Major Damage
Spending a little on maintenance can go a long way toward preventing major damage that can leave you stranded and cost you a lot to repair.

If you have questions or concerns about your vehicle, please call Metric Wrench Billings today and talk to a Certified Service Technician.

Safe Winter Driving

Driving in bad weather conditions can test even the best of drivers, so here are a few tidbits to know about to learn how to handles these driving conditions:

Quit while you’re ahead! If you do not need to go out, don’t! Every time you drive in bad weather is risky, no matter how safe or equipped you think your car is. The number one advice for professionals is avoid driving in this weather at all costs.

If you do need to go out however, like to go to work, go to the grocery store, or pick up the kids from school, make sure to be safe.

Practice, practice, practice! If you are new to driving or new to an area of the country plagued with weather unconducive for driving, make sure to test out your car’s handling capabilities in an open parking lot where you can really figure out how your car will drive in bad conditions, and you can practice driving in these conditions with more confidence.

Is the road clear? If the snow plow has not come by yet, try not to go out, even if you think the snow or ice is not thick enough. Less than a centimeter of ice can send you flying off the road and into the hospital or a repair shop. Always wait for them to clear the road and salt your driveway as often as you can.

Give yourself more time. Give yourself more time with almost everything in these dire conditions. Do not drive too fast, and give yourself time to stop because the loss of traction you will get. Also, give yourself more time to get from A to B, because you do not want to speeding or freaking out while driving in these conditions, because it can be extremely dangerous. The general rule is leaving three times more space and time driving in winter weather.

Helpful Hints:
-Don’t use cruise control, especially on icy roads.
-Be more cautious on bridges and overpasses since these will freeze faster than the rest of the road.
-Put your lights on at all time, and keep them and your windshield clean to not risk reducing your visibility any more.
-Even all-wheel drive vehicles are not fully able to deal with this sort of weather, so do not assume that you can drive faster or your car will be safer.
-If you are stuck on the side of the road, do not keep spinning your wheels. Instead, spread gravel, kitty litter, sand, or salt under your tires to gain traction to get out.
-Notice how there are already tire marks in the snow from previous cars? Survivalists suggest not following the track and instead straddling them, because snow being driven over again and again will turn to black ice and it will be like driving on a frozen over lake.
-When driving uphill, all of these are even more important, because the grade will reduce tractions and increase gravity, which is exactly what will lead to a car sliding down the hill.

Winterizing Your Car

Winter is a time of year that brings snow, sleet, frozen ice and dangerous driving conditions. Despite hazardous weather conditions that make driving difficult, for most drivers, hibernating all winter is not an option. If you find yourself needing to get somewhere at a time when the roads are covered in snow or ice, there are many ways to ensure that your drive is as safe as possible.

Auto Advice Every Driver Needs- It is never a good idea to warm up a vehicle in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Starting and warming up your vehicle inside of a garage causes increased carbon monoxide in the air, which can be lethal. It's also a good idea to never let your gas tank be more than half empty during the winter. Empty or near empty gas tanks are more prone to freezing. All drivers should have their vehicle inspected before winter hits in order to make sure that your vehicle is ready to handle the treacherous weather conditions.

Auto Advice for SUV and Truck Drivers- When driving in wintery weather conditions, your tires are the key to staying on the road. Mixing radial tires with other types of tires is not a good idea during the winter months. It is also crucial to ensure that your tires are fully inflated before driving. Accelerating and decelerating slowly is the best way to navigate slippery roads while driving a large vehicle. Once you get to your destination, ensure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow or ice.

Auto Advice for Sedan Drivers- If you are driving a sedan on wintery roads, it can be easy to lose control of your vehicle. Never use cruise control while driving through wintery weather conditions and avoid using your parking brake when driving on slick roads. Using low gears only is the best way to create the most traction on the road.

Auto Advice for Motorcycle Drivers- Motorcycles are one of the most difficult types of vehicles to maneuver on icy or snowy roads. It is best to avoid driving a motorcycle during snow, sleet or hail. Tire chains can make driving a motorcycle in the snow much safer. It is also crucial to ensure that the battery is in good condition before taking your bike out on the road.

Too Flush or Not To Flush

Your auto mechanic recently did some maintenance on your automobile, and suggested that you needed a brake fluid flush. Right now, you're probably feeling a bit confused about having the work done, and wondering how much money it will cost you. You might also be thinking, "Do I really need to have this done?" Well, here is some good advice about why it is important to have the old brake and flushed on your automobile. You can avoid getting taken for a ride, so to speak, and ripped off by your auto mechanic, when you get a second, or third opinion from other auto mechanics. However, if your current auto mechanic suggests that you need these types of repairs, make certain that you get the work done right away.


Flushing The Brake Fluid On Your Automobile 

When the brake fluid in your automobile turns black, you should have the repairs made to keep your brakes functioning properly. Flushing the old brake fluid from your automobile can help remove moisture and debris from your system. Look for a reasonably priced auto mechanic with a good reputation that will completely flush the old brake fluid out of your automobile. Some mechanics perform various brake flushing methods, such as suction or pressure to flush out the old brake fluid on an automobile. However, before you attempt to have any repairs made, always read your owner's manual. Then, determine, which brake flushing method is best for your automobile. Be sure to ask your friends and family about their auto mechanics, and which type of brake fluid flushing method he uses, when they have their brake fluid flushed. 



Drive Slow Save Gas

Gas is going up this summer and not going down. What can you do to save a few bucks this summer? Driving slow or moderate speed enables your vehicle to maintain the effective fuel efficiency of the car, which in turn can help to reduce the excessive use of gas.

The best speed for most cars to get fuel efficiency is between 45 and 65 mph. Research shows that the average speed for effective fuel efficiency is at 55 mph for most cars. When driving at this speed, the car performs at its best mpg hence reducing the amount of fuel consumption. In addition, you can also increase your speed up to 65 mph with the same fuel efficiency. Best fuel efficiency speed for large and heavy trucks is around 45 mph while for sports cars it is 65 mph.

Decelerating and accelerating.
Speeding up and slowing down is what gets most of us. Most people think that the quicker you accelerate or decelerate, the quicker you move or stop can save gas and time. That would be wrong. When you accelerates or decelerates quickly your car engine uses a lot of power/gas. It is recommended that you drive slower which reduces the power output of the engine lowering the amount of gas used.

Lower acceleration and deceleration technique should mostly be used at stop signs or when making a turn. Use less fuel, save money!

Summer Means More Car Washes

Here are some things to consider:

- Use products sold specifically for automobiles. Household cleaners can contain harsh detergents, abrasives and additives that strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish.

- Clean your wheels with a wheel cleaner that removes brake dust, which can blacken your front tires.

- Be sure to follow the directions on the container of your cleaning products because applications can vary.

- Once your vehicle is clean and dry, check the vehicle for foreign particles on the paint, then apply a wax as directed. The wax will protect the finish and make subsequent washing easier.

Washing Your Car This Weekend…

Planning on washing your car this weekend? Here are some things to think about:



- Use products sold specifically for cars/trucks. Household cleaners can contain harsh detergents, abrasives and additives that strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish.



- Clean your wheels with a wheel cleaner that removes brake dust, which can blacken your front tires.



- Be sure to follow the directions on the container of your cleaning products because applications can vary.



- Once your vehicle is clean and dry, check the vehicle for foreign particles on the paint, then apply a wax as directed.

The wax will protect the finish and make subsequent washing easier.

Hope you have a great weekend!

The Service Schedule is Just a Way For Service People to Make Money-MYTH!

Your vehicle’s service schedule was designed by automotive engineers, not service technicians. Maintaining your car according to your owner’s manual provides you with peace of mind while protecting your investment.

The Service Schedule was created to maintain your vehicle’s high level of dependability and safety, to protect the environment, and to enhance and maintain the value of your automobile.

 A properly maintainedvehicle maintains and enhances vehicle value and saves money in the long term. For example, an un-serviced timing chain can lead to moderate to catastrophic engine damage and a $2000 engine repair bill. Replacing a worn exhaust system bracket can cost considerably less than replacing the entire exhaust system.