Automotive Technology

Part 1

In last week's post our car doctor was checking over a Mercedes Benz 300SD that was not starting well. The two fuel filters were replaced and the fuel pre-pump was found to be leaking.

Parts Replacement

The order was placed for the new fuel pump. The old one was left on the car until the new one arrived. While waiting for it to be delivered, the spin-on and in-line fuel filters were replaced and then the bay was needed for another car. Time to move her out to the lot and wait for her new fuel pump.

Fix Me Already, OK?

Unfortunately, after getting new fuel filters, the Benz pitched a major fit and was completely unable to be started. It was suspected that after the fuel filters were changed, that the increase in fuel flow combined with the old leaking pump prevented the car from starting. That suspicion would later prove to not be the case. Because the no-start was thought to be the fault of the old pump, the car was given a time-out and left in the bay to await the new fuel pump.

Side profile picture of the fuel filter. The white NAPA piece is the spin-on fuel filter.

Fuel Pump Installation

The new fuel pump arrived and was installed in the vehicle. And still, no start. The tech went back to the basics and checked a variety of things looking for the issue. All systems were working well enough that the car should have started.

Re-Diagnosis

The tech retraced his steps on the job he did replacing the fuel filters. He found that the spin-on filter had fuel coming into it, but not going out of it. At that point, he took the filter apart completely and discovered that a bolt in the top of the filter had a check valve in it. Additionally, that screw/check valve had to align with the receiving orifice to complete the flow of fuel. The first time he installed the filter he had not aligned the check valves so the fuel could not flow freely from one orifice to the other.

Fuel filter shown closer. Line up marks drawn on both pieces.

Upper piece: black mark indicates where the fuel line is located.

Bottom piece: nut screws into top of the fuel filter. It contains a check valve, gets pushed by pressure and opens up, allowing fuel to flow through the orifices.

The tech drew black lines on top of two screws to align the two orifices. This allows the fuel to flow freely between both pieces. The Benz fired up and was good to go. She was driven away happily by her owner until the next issue needs attention.

Happy car with new fuel filters and fuel pump.

References:

Midas Hudson, NY

For Dummies

O'Reilly Auto Parts

Recently, a beautiful 1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD (diesel) rolled in spitting and sputtering and not wanting to start. Here's the poor patient:

The tech had a hard time getting the car started in the parking lot to get it into the garage bay, but with some coaxing and a little sweet talk, he finally managed to fire her up and move her inside.

Sad car - old dirty fuel filters not allowing it to start

Getting to Know the Patient

Car doctors need to find out what ails their patients. When a diesel engine starts sputtering, a solid first question to ask the car's owner is, "When was the last time the fuel filters were changed?"

The answer in the case of the old Benz was, "Not since I've had it", which turned out to be about 3 years. That's actually two years longer than anyone should allow fuel filters to stay in a diesel engine without changing them.

Fuel Filters 411

Most diesel engines have two fuel filters. The first one is the primary filter that's situated between the engine and the fuel tank. This filter cleans the diesel while it's on its way to the fuel transfer pump. The secondary filter is near the engine. The diesel passes through this filter before it enters the fuel injector nozzles.

Both filters should be changed at least once a year since, A) they do a lot of work cleaning the fuel, and B) diesel gels in the winter. This particular car resides in the Northeastern U.S. where winters can be brutal. If the filter is moisture bound, the fuel could freeze in the filter -- not a good situation. Mister, you are just looking to have an unhappy car if you don't maintain that diesel engine and your fuel filters! Without proper filter maintenance in a diesel engine, fuel contamination can clog the fuel injector nozzles. Now you have another problem that needs to be fixed.

Diagnosis

Our fine technician checked out the fuel filters first. The logical thought at the point of sputtering and learning the filters haven't been changed in at least three years is to look at the primary ignition parts. In this car, one fuel filter is a screw-on external filter which looked pretty old and beaten up. The second filter is covered in clear plastic which was super dirty, giving limited visibility to the interior of the filter. When new and clean you can see inside the filter, but the old one was so dirty we couldn't even show it to you* . Bottom line, these fuel filters were toast. They need to be replaced STAT!

*mechanic guy forgot to get a picture for his reporter.

In-line fuel filter - Clear plastic was very dirty. This is the new one.

Stock Image Fuel Filter

Fuel Pre-Pump also a Hot Mess

The technician saw moisture under the engine compartment area and noticed that the fuel pre-pump had fresh liquid around it. The tech pushed the primer and gas spewed everywhere. The seal between the moving parts of the primer had evidently worn out and was causing the leakage.

Pre-pump primer on fuel pump - Leaking diesel fuel from the top

Next Week:

Parts replacement and another problem. What did the car doctor do wrong? Can he get the Benz running again?

References:

Midas Hudson, NY

For Dummies

O'Reilly Auto Parts

Spring is here, and depending on your level of automotive-consciousness it means it's time to wash, rinse and wax that beautiful [car] body, or hope the next rainfall washes the salt and bird poop off your hood. The first time my father taught me to wax a car was akin to a magician handing down his trade secrets; and while he was no vehicular David Copperfield, he at least provided me with some of the most basic lessons.

Change your oil and air filter regularly. Keep your tires properly inflated and balanced, and rotate them too. Run your gears to maintain traction in the snow. Black cars hide dirt but show scratches, and white finishes hide scratches but reveal dirt. Don't buy red cars because they get the most tickets.

I think Dad's knowledge will be passed down to my kids too, but I'm hesitant to explain why red should be avoided. When I think of a Ferrari or a Corvette, none of the other colors are quite as sexy as red. Something also tells me that this long-held assumption is a myth, and I'm just as likely to be hassled by Johnny Law in a grey car as I would a red car.

Last year was the second year in a row that white was the most common color for new cars produced. It unseated silver in 2011, and DuPont - the largest auto paint manufacturer - cites consumer products for the inspiration of car color trends. Silver, used heavily from 1996 to 2005 in cell phones and other electronics, came to represent advanced pieces of technology. Tack on the development time of a typical auto paint (2 to 4 years), and the result reveals silver's popularity through 2010.

In 2012, the most popular auto colors were:

1. White
2. Black
3. Silver
4. Grey
5. Red

Altogether, white, black, silver and grey make up 77% of all car colors globally. White and black have long been the most heavily used colors in the luxury car segment, and have now taken over the entire automotive marketplace. Experts believe that the popularity of smartphones and tablets have steered consumers towards black and white cars. Apple in particular presents their innovative iPhones, iPods and iPads in dichotic black and white. How long until we get the iCar? We'll never know.

As you can see from the graph, red cars make up just 7% of all cars, so anything significantly disproportionate to 7% of overall tickets would make red more or less likely to be ticketed by law enforcement. In 1990, a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times (Florida) conducted his own unscientific study to see how valid the notion of 'red cars get more speeding tickets' really is. He randomly sampled four intersections in two Florida counties. Out of the 1,198 cars he recorded 14% of them were red. He compared the results to the last 924 speeding violations in those counties, only to discover 16% of those violations belonged to red-colored vehicles - a rather moderate difference. However, other vehicles had rates of violation disproportionate to their prevalence. White cars accounted for 25% of vehicles, but received only 19% of the violations. Similarly, silver cars were 10% of all vehicles, but received just 5% of the violations. Unexpectedly, grey cars received 10% of the 924 violations, while representing just 6% of the sample.

Does this indicate that it's favorable to drive a silver car over a grey car? Or perhaps lead-footed drivers are drawn to grey?

While it's dangerous to make such broad assertions, car colors have also been linked to safety and insurance rates. In 2007, the Monash University Accident Research Centre in Victoria, Australia, published the results of a 17-year study that found vehicles that were black, grey, and silver in color have accident rates higher than white cars, at 12%, 11%, and 10% respectively. Red cars and blue cars are 7% more likely than white cars to be involved in an accident, while yellow, beige and tans cars are virtually even with white as the safest color choice. Researchers noted that cars that have low contrast with the road and environment are more likely to be involved in accidents. Perhaps auto insurers should take this information into consideration, though all of them state they do not charge more for certain colors.

While many people contend that red cars are discriminated against, it's often with prejudice. Other psychology studies had concluded that purchasing decisions are based 93% on visual appeal, and most people prefer colors that inspire an emotional response, or essentially your favorite colors. As such, auto paint manufacturers like DuPont are beginning to broaden their color lineups. Green is expected to be the next auto color on the rise. Not only does green have resonance as an environmental term, but it is also commonly associated with feelings of hope, happiness - and perhaps most important on a flashy ride - envy.

So if you're really looking to avoid a second glance from watchful eyes on the road, and you may want a little extra safety, drive a white car. Or, if you would rather make a statement, go with something flashy…like pink!

Resources

(Image credits: My Car Heaven; DuPont; ACE Cash Express; Fox News)

Forbes - Top 10 Most Popular Car Colors

Snopes.com - Red Handed

Car Business Today - The Facts About Safety and Car Color

KISSmetrics - How do colors affect purchases?

Tipperary Hill is a Syracuse, N.Y., neighborhood with a heavily Irish heritage, and the Celtic pride of its residents has led to an 85-year-old traffic anomaly. In the 1920's, locals took offence that the new traffic light that placed the 'British' red over the 'Irish' green, so they took a very Irish approach: they broke it. The city obliged the neighborhood's attitude until the state government demanded the light be hung red-side up. For three more years the locals hurled stones at the light, until finally the city relented and hung the light green-over-red. Today, the light remains this way and it appears to be the only example of a green-on-top red light.

No matter how a traffic light is oriented--and no matter the local identity--red is universally seen as "stop" in motorized countries. As annoying as they are, red lights are imperative in creating a right of way for drivers. And traffic lights have become commonplace on canals, in bike lanes, and for public transport systems.

While many drivers dream about a device that always gives them the green light, other places are integrating computer analysis into traffic signals. And as the traffic light is set to face its sesquicentennial in 2018, some engineers are imaging are new, more efficient means of traffic regulation.

The Past

The first traffic light was installed outside London's parliament in 1868. The design was based upon a train yard signal and included semaphore arms with integral red and green gas lanterns. The signal could be manually rotated, and though the main advantage was increased safety for the operator, a gas explosion maimed the police officer who ran it just a month after it was installed. Until electric designs were invented, the traffic light was considered too dangerous. In 1914, Cleveland, Ohio, installed the first electric traffic light, and over the next decade many light designs proliferated in North America. Early models were commonly mounted on pillars within intersections. These 'dummy lights' required drivers to swerve around them, and only exist in historic preservation instances today. Eventually, lights began to be hung; they gained switches so a signal operator could control multiple light sets (Salt Lake City, 1917); and lights became automated (1922, Houston) or computerized (1968, Toronto). Excepting when countdown timers began to appear in the 1990s, traffic light representation has been largely unchanged.

There is an innumerable amount of configurations for traffic lights worldwide, but red is comprehensively seen as 'stop' in contrast to green's 'go'. The U.S. states of California and Texas sometimes place two red lights on top of each other, if only to gain visibility. Blustery regions of the southern U.S also frequently use horizontal traffic lights to reduce wind resistance. Canadian provinces commonly use horizontal designs as well, but some incorporate shapes into the designs to aid color blind drivers. Red signals are represented by a square; yellow by a diamond; and green by a circle. There are other unique instances of horizontally-oriented traffic lights. Some Chinese cities utilize a horizontal LED bar light which displays in patterned red, blinking yellow, or shrinking green. Other Chinese states use simple red/green arrows, which can be confusing to unfamiliar drivers. Perhaps the most random type of traffic signal can be found in the Netherlands, which sparingly uses a nine dot grid to represent traffic commands (at right).

The Present

Even though the methodology of the traffic light has been stagnant for years, new concepts are beginning to invigorate this old mechanism. Recently, Los Angeles became the first city in the world to synchronize every single one of its traffic lights; that's 4,500 lights across 469 square miles. Los Angeles has the second worst traffic congestion in the U.S., only behind Washington D.C. As a result, L.A. has spent 30 years and $400 million to build a system of magnetic sensors, traffic cameras, and computers to analyze and predict traffic patterns in the metro area. The result is a 16% increase in traffic speed, and a 12% decrease in delays at traffic lights. This was done in large part to be more environmentally and economically friendly-one report estimates fuel and time savings to be up to $1.3 billion.

The Future

As far as the future of traffic control is concerned, there are two very different camps. In one, a visual redesign of traffic lights to modernize them; the second, a future with no traffic lights at all.

The droplet traffic light (seen right) is an invention of a Korean company. The idea is simple: a solar powered light operates normally, directing vehicles in shades of red, yellow, and green. But when the light is red, it rotates to display the news, weather, and traffic info. Before the light is up, it rotates back to the standard color indicators and then finally lets vehicles pass. On the other hand, residents of the Dutch town of Drachten have been guinea pigs for an experiment in which their traffic lights have been removed altogether. The idea, says the engineer behind the project, is to make the roads more dangerous, thereby encouraging people to be more wary of their decisions. Remarkably, major traffic collisions have been exchanged for minor impacts, and traffic deaths have decreased as well.

Personally, I don't see either of the aforementioned ideas coming into wide acceptance. While solar powered traffic lights are definitely smart, I don't think many municipalities are going to install small LCD displays in their traffic lights, which will only further distract drivers. As far as removing traffic lights altogether, that seems far-fetched as well. Russians, in a nation with poor traffic laws but over 30 million cars, have a dash cam in nearly every vehicle to protect personal rights. The result has been such dash cam gold as mirror fight; armor crossing; and jet buzz.

What say you? What does the future of traffic control look like?

Resources

(Image credits: Roadtrippers; My Internet Security; Wikimedia; UC Davis; Yanko Design)

Wikipedia - Traffic light; Tipperary Hill

Telegraph - Is this the end for traffic lights?

NY Times - To fight gridlock, LA...

Design Boom - Psychic Factory: Droplet Traffic Light

Wired - Why almost everyone in Russia...

While it may be snowing across some parts of the U.S. and Canada, spring is actually on its way away. When we steal the best sunrays from the southern hemisphere these next few months, a number of spring and summer traditions renew. The first pitch of baseball is upcoming; students will receive a months-long sabbatical; and of course, the classic family vacation. Right, Clark? (language)

Pack the suitcases and head to the beach or a national park; and fill the gas reservoir with the murky byproduct of dead dinosaurs--which will cost you an arm and a leg. Clark, isn't this the gas tank?

While some speculate that gas prices will recover to previous lows, it's a forecast that seems unlikely to be accurate. Petrol prices continue to hover near four dollars a gallon across the U.S., a country rebounding from recession.

Of course, there are alternatives to your typical octanes. LPG and CNG vehicles are available but rare, E85 isn't worth the money, electric vehicles are still early in their development, and some radical ideas are still in the pipeline. While the kids ask, "Are we there yet?", here's why you're stuck with a $100 gas bill too.

LPG and LNG/CNG

Passed are the days where LNG was considered a viable gasoline alternative. LNG is one of the cleanest-burning fossil fuels known, so it was envisioned as our best compromise between availability and emissions control. Mainly, handling and infrastructure problems have limited its availability. Liquefying and shipping LNG is expensive, and LNG can only be transported by sea, reducing its usage to coastal areas where other gas resources are even more expensive. Building fueling stations is equally cost prohibitive. CNG faces similar issues, but provides less energy for the same volume as LNG. Natural gas vehicles have found homes in the Middle East and South America, but have not been widely adopted elsewhere.

LPG has a small worldwide market share--just 3%--and like natural gas offers less drive range with a comparable volume of gasoline. Its commercial availability is low, despite its ample production; LPG, also called AutoGas, is a byproduct of crude-oil refining. LPG vehicles are often retrofit at a cost of about $3,000, and require a bifuel engine so gasoline can also be used when LPG is not readily available. This adds weight and a second reservoir to the vehicle, and a dual-use engine does not achieve the best combustion ratio for LPG.

Outside of some buses and some trucks, propane and natural gas haven't proven to be better alternatives in North America.

E85

With nearly 2 million flex-fuel vehicles in North America, it's clear that domestic auto manufacturers have hedged their bets on E85 to be the best gasoline substitute available. The United States has publicly supported E85 initiatives, and the Midwest provides an abundance of corn from which to synthesize ethanol. E85 also is less carbon intensive, is less corrosive to engine components, and can be derived from a variety of resources. So why hasn't E85 caught on?

First, a careful ratio determines when it's most suitable to purchase E85. On average, E85 provides 25% less mileage than gasoline, so it's only logical to purchase E85 when it's less than 75% the cost of gas. Some E85 proponents argue that manufacturers aren't doing enough to maximize the mileage of E85 gas, citing that manufacturers are reluctant to purchase the rights to fuel sensors patented to optimize E85 mixture and combustion.

As a flex-fuel vehicle driver, I can vouch that the capability of running E85 was an attractive selling point. Only after my vehicle purchase did I learn that E85 was actually far more expensive per mile than gasoline. (Not that I regret purchasing it!)

Tesla S and Chevy Volt

The two most prominent all-electric vehicles to hit North American shores would be the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf. These cars are meant for two different market segments, with the Model S starting at $60,000 and late model Leafs starting at about $28,000; both vehicles are eligible for thousands of dollars of tax credits. Many other all-electric vehicles have yet to be marketed stateside.

Until very recently, the battery technology to power a whole vehicle has remained unavailable. Oversized battery packs powered undersized vehicles, a shortcoming to drivers who crave large cars. Furthermore, a full charge will only provide 150 to 200 km of range before the battery has to be recharged again, sometimes for 8 hours. Recharging infrastructure is low and no standard charging style or method has been set. Finally, the battery packs on electric-only vehicles will burn out, and manufacturers warranty these batteries as they would a powertrain. Replacing one of these batteries would cost around $10,000.

Electric cars remain on the back-burner, at least until a breakthrough in battery size and cost occurs.

What does this mean for the family vacation? That inhaling petrol fumes through the open window on an expanse of highway is meant to be enjoyed for at least a decade more.

Last month, Peugot revealed plans for car that runs on compressed air. It says that the model will be available in 2016, and it has already driven four prototypes more than 12,000 miles. That being said, the nonstop knock*knock*knock of a gasoline engine was perhaps the only respite from the third singing of 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.

Resources

(Image credits: Retroland; LPG Vehicles UK; Examiner; Motor Trend; Autoblog)

Wikipedia - E85; Autogas; Natural gas vehicle; Tesla Model S; Nissan Leaf

ClimateTech Wiki

Let's face it reader, you probably push the speed limit of your local jurisdiction. It's estimated that two-thirds of drivers at least occasionally speed, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety believes that speeders are more often males below age 30. Guilty.

Totally deserves every ticket he gets!...via Vincent Abry

But speed limits seem arbitrary here in North America, especially when you have examples like the Bundesautobahn in Germany with no speed limit and an exemplary safety record. And speed limits seem just plain annoying after your first dozen speed tickets. Amirite?

...via Autos AOL

How do governments establish speed limits? Where are the fastest roads? And can North America support a pseudo-autobahn? Crank the driving tunes, get out the road maps, and tailgate HUSH in a quick look at speed maximums.

World Speed Limits

The first person convicted of speeding was Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, U.K., in 1896. Arnold had powered his 'light locomotive' (i.e. car) to a blistering 8 mph, 6 mph faster than the legal limit. The arresting officer gave chase by bicycle, and Arnold was penalized one shilling.

In general, speed limits have increased as automobile engineering and road construction has improved. In 1977, Canada switched their signs to read "MAXIMUM XX," registering the numerals in km/h. The highest speeds in Canada reach 110 km/h (68 mph), though authorities in British Columbia are considering 120 km/h (75 mph). China's regulations are similar.

...via Wikimedia

In the United States, speed limits are presented in mph, and are established by state governments. Until 1999, several rural highways in Montana had speed limits posted as "reasonable and prudent." This essentially meant drivers were expected to be responsible, but the vague nature resulted in an established state speed limit of 75 mph. The highest speed limit belongs to Utah and portions of Texas, where the posted limit is 80 mph. The U.K. is the only other country in the world using the Imperial system for speed, and they enforce a 70 mph limit.

While the German autobahn is often cited as having no maximum speed, only one-quarter or less of the roadways are actually limitless. Most of the autobahn is regulated by variable speed limits and LED signs, with 120 km/h the most popular. This offers the German system flexibility to deal with traffic and weather issues. Indeed, the German system is also rather strict, with constraints on tire inflation, eating and drinking, and lane occupancy.

Autobahn signage...via Wikimedia

The fastest established speed limit belongs to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where it is 140 km/h (87 mph)--actually a 2011 reduction from the previous limit of 160 km/h (99 mph). Poland also retains a 140 km/h limit.

Enforcing Speed Limits

Many governments establish speed limits based upon the speed that 85% of vehicles are traveling at or below in free-flowing traffic conditions. Traffic engineers also take into account the surrounding environment, design, crash experiences, and pedestrians. This system isn't perfect however, because a new 85^th percentile will be established when a new limit is posted.

Certain jurisdictions also have tolerances for speeding. In the USA, tolerances are often up to the arresting officer, while the U.K. has a legal tolerance of 10% of the legal limit plus 2 mph. A study covering drivers in Canada and the USA discovered that most drivers caught speeding when over 15 mph the posted limit. Germany has a strict tolerance of 3 or 4 km/h in favor of the driver.

Seeing a marked police car on the side of the road is no longer the most common way method to get caught speeding. Photo enforcement typically involves some type of smart camera or machine vision that calculates the driver's speed between points. These unattended cameras can be placed covertly, or legislation may require their announced presence. French authorities are known to calculate the average speed between two tolls, and assess violations if the speed is over the legal limit.

...via Free Republic

Furthermore, many jurisdictions enforce new editions of the "prudent law" that requires drivers to slow down at night or in unfavorable weather. Heavy trucks may face additional speed restrictions.

Can there be a North American Autobahn?

While the idea of a North American super-speed highway is awesome (hello, Ferrari), it's impossible to replicate. German motorists are more rigorously trained and the German vehicles face additional inspection measures to ensure their safety. That 1992 Honda rust bucket would outlawed in Deutschland.

Texas continues to push the limits of…um, speed limits, by passing an 85 mph statute for portions of the Texas State Highway in 2012. It is the second-fastest legal limit in the world. That same year, Italy passed legislation allowing 150 km/h (93 mph) speeds on highways, but has not found a road with the requirements to safely do so. And these are the Italians with all their super cars and leather!

One of the most critical factors to overcome for a super-speed highway would be the revenue generated by traffic violations. Municipalities would stand to lose considerable income from decreased violations. Insurance companies stand to profit from traffic violation surcharges as well.

Between our substandard training, road safety issues, and a huge loss of income for cities and towns, it is safe to say an autobahn will not be appearing on North American anytime soon.

Resources

Gulf News - Revised speed limits in Abu Dhabi to stay

Wikipedia - Speed limit; Speed limits by country

Red Orbit - Study: Most drivers disobey speed limits

How Stuff Works - How the Autobahn Works

IIHS - Q & A: Speed and speed limits