Spoiler

BEHAVIOR

On passenger cars and trucks, the chief purpose of having a spoiler is

to make the car look cooler. In race cars spoilers (wings) push the rear

of the car downward to increase the traction to improve both acceleration

and braking.

HABITAT

Spoilers generally are found on the rear of the car body. However, some cars—NASCAR race cars, for example—and trucks have spoilers on their roofs. Less noticeable are spoilers beneath the front of passenger cars.

HOW IT WORKS

The word spoilers comes from the idea that the structures disrupt or spoil the natural flow of air over the car. Technically spoilers and wings are different, although they are lumped together here. Wings are aerodynamic devices whose purpose is to move air. In airplanes they push air downward so the plane has lift. In cars, wings are upside down so they push the car down to give it better traction. Race cars have them over the rear or driving wheels to provide better traction.

NASCAR cars now have safety wings (called spoilers) on the roof to provide downward force when the car is moving backward at high speed. You might wonder why race cars need downward force when moving opposite to the normal direction of driving. NASCAR cars have a tendency to fly when traveling backward after a collision or spin out.

A car moving backward at high speeds generates so much lift that it lifts off the ground, making it uncontrollable. Roof spoilers apply downward force to reduce the chance of lift-offs after accidents.

Passenger cars use devices to cover parts of the car to make them more aerodynamic, reducing drag. A belly pan under a car can smooth the air flow and keep it away from uneven surfaces.

Trucks use spoilers to divert air up and over their trailers. The flat front surface of a trailer presents a large drag surface. The spoiler pushes air up and over this surface. Stylistic spoilers don’t have aerodynamic or wing shapes. They sit on the rear of red sporty cars looking cool.

All rights reserved

Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

ISBN: 978-1-55652-812-5

Printed in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sobey, Edwin J. C., 1948–

A field guide to automotive technology / Ed Sobey.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-55652-812-5

1. Automobiles—Popular works. 2. Mechanics—Popular works. I. Title.

TL146.5.S63 2008

629.2—dc22

2008046620

License Plate

BEHAVIOR

They identify vehicles for law enforcement. They make the connection

between owner and vehicle so you pay parking fines.

HABITAT

In the United States and most other countries, license plates are required to be viewable from the rear. Most are mounted (bolted) to the rear bumper or to the tailgate or trunk lid.

In some states, front licenses are also required. These are bolted to the front bumper.

HOW IT WORKS

License plates identify the registered owner. Each state creates its own coding system for licenses and records vehicle information numbers and other data along with the license plate numbers.

INTERESTING FACTS

License plates have been used from the very dawn of the automobile age. New York was the first state to require their use. In the United States the standard size for a plate is 12 by 6 inches. Most license plates are made by prison inmates. License plates are punched out of mile-long coils of 0.027 inch-thick aluminum. The

aluminum has to be washed and flattened. Plates are not painted; graphic sheets are glued to the plate. The corners are rounded and holes are punched for mounting. The raised numbers and letters that are unique to each plate are stamped into the plate. Prison inmates stamp each plate individually. Then the raised numbers and letters are inked. After that the plates are loaded into an oven to set the ink and adhesive (that holds the graphics).

All rights reserved

Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

ISBN: 978-1-55652-812-5

Printed in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sobey, Edwin J. C., 1948–

A field guide to automotive technology / Ed Sobey.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-55652-812-5

1. Automobiles—Popular works. 2. Mechanics—Popular works. I. Title.

TL146.5.S63 2008

629.2—dc22

2008046620

Caring Radiator

Clean the radiator is actually an activity that should be one of the main part when the car users want to keep the vehicle independently. However, note that for certain types of cars - among them BMW - because the sophisticated cooling system, the activity had to be done by experts. Similarly, for a number of cars on the latest output class.

But most cars, even for a few variants of the Mercedes, the radiator system is developed with conventional technology. So draining and cleaning of the radiator is relatively easy and can be done independently. Here's efforts to care for the radiator cooling system the car can work optimally.

When the engine is cold

Some experts suggest the maintenance of mechanical water radiator radiator done when engine is cold. The trick just after the top cover removed, immediately opened spending taps. Then the water will come out. But most of the radiator only has a small tap expenditure and is located slightly on the top.

Because it is advisable to remove the rubber line at the bottom of the radiator so the water will be faster out. Be careful when opening and removing the rubber this channel. Replace the rubber line with a new one when the object is no longer have the flexibility. Channels hardened rubber radiator fragile and would make a fuss because the water in the radiator must be exhausted.

Spray with pressurized water

After the water is completely discharged, pressurized spray clean water through the top hole so that water will come out at the bottom. Cover with a large hole in the bottom of the hand until the water overflowing at the top and remove the arms so that the water rushing out. Repeat several times until the water enters and leaves the same clean condition.

For a certain type of car radiator is easy to do takedown. If you belong to this type of car, it helps lift the radiator when planning draining. After entering the water, shake the radiator to dissolve dirt.

Pack carefully re-

After removing the radiator and clean it, return it in place carefully and cautiously. Note erectness radiator and maintain an ideal distance to the fan. Tie re-attach and tighten the rubber channels and klemnya. It's good klemnya previously tensioned, is attached with glue specially known as a gasket.

Then clean the metal grating that there are nearly on the entire surface of the radiator by pressurized air. Spray tip compressor evenly. If previously the radiator removed, these activities can be replaced by immersing the radiator in a large bucket for a while until the dust and dirt decays.

Trim lattice with screwdriver tip

Most of the radiator grille was intact due to collision or hit the fan when the spin is not perfect. Tidy up the plot one by one using a small screwdriver tip. This activity is very tedious but necessary so that the air flow lanncar radiator body blow.

Filling water

Once the radiator back in place, fill the water until full. Then turn on the machine, and surface water will surely go down as some of the water sucked up and running on the machine. Allow the engine to heat water and fill to the brim, then tutupkan cover properly. After that fill the water up to 3 / 4 the surface of the reservoir tube is usually near the radiator and connected with a small hose.