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The head gasket is the weakest section between two cylinders because of its relatively thin construction. It may become damaged in some way, such as by being bent or burned through, allowing leakage. This kind of fault is what is known as a blown head gasket.
The head gasket is located between the engine block and the cylinder head. It primarily functions by sealing the cylinders to get maximum compression while minimizing the risk of leakage of either coolant or engine oil.
Leakage of the coolant leads to frequent overheating of the car, which is the major symptom that a blown head gasket manifests. There are also other signs that you will see, including a significant drop in the level of coolant, blue or white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, as well as mixing of the coolant oil and engine oil. You may also notice that the engine’s coolant overflow tank cap keeps popping out.
Overheating, which is the major symptom of a blown head gasket, is also its main cause. An engine that is frequently overheated leads to expansion of the metal surrounding the gasket, damaging it. It is therefore important to ensure that the coolant system functions well by carrying out regular maintenance.
Abnormal combustion is another possible cause of a blown head gasket. An abnormal combustion exerts more strain on the gasket by causing pre-ignition or detonation problems.
What Does a 4l60e Transmission Mean for GM?
Written by Staff on Friday, December 17, 2010 | Comments Off
Categories: GMC, Other Tags: transmission
The automobile manufacturing company, General Motors, is responsible for the production of a 4l60e transmission, which is regarded as among the best versions of the overdrive automatic transmissions in existence.
4l60 transmission is the advanced model of Turbo 700R that was established in 1982. The 4l60e transmission is its electronic controlled shift model.
Although the mechanical construction of the power transmitting core of the 4l60e transmission stayed similar to the Turbo 700R’s, it uses solenoids and electronic actuators to control both the valve body and actuation system for such things as the bands and clutches.
The 4l60e transmission also uses Vehicle Speed Sensor, which acts as the main feedback sensor, providing the necessary data for making shift decisions. This is another significant enhancement over its predecessors.
The name 4l60e actually provides the specifications for the transmission. It refers to four speeds, longitudinally positioned, and 6000 lbs. However, the 4l60e transmission is used even in trucks reaching 8600 lbs. This type of transmission is popular in performance cars, sport utility vehicles, and trucks.
Some of the reasons why the 4l60e transmission is popular include its versatility and strength. These are the primary characteristics that have earned it its staying power with General Motors for many years.
Many internal combustion engines use a piston engine technology known as variable valve timing. Variable valve timing involves opening and closing of the engine’s control system, timing the valves in different combinations to generate the necessary amount of energy for acceleration. The technology was introduced in 1998 when it was used in Ford pick-up trucks.
Different poppet valves are responsible for the exhaust and intake combustion stages in internal combustion engines. Cams found on the camshaft drive the valves by opening them for a given period during the exhaust and intake process. The timing depends on the rotations per minute of the vehicle’s engine, which controls the cams. Adjusting the timings results in the acceleration required and it is the variable valve timing that makes this possible.
There are various techniques used in variable valve timing that different automobile manufacturers employ in enhancing the engine power of their respective vehicles. Honda developed a system that is known as Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), which combines electronic and mechanical processes. The variable valve timing system that Mitsubishi uses, on the other hand, is known as Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system (MIVEC).
Although different automobile manufacturers use different variable valve timing techniques, they all aim at using as little fuel as possible to get maximum power.
The Dashboard Warning Light is On: What Should You Do?
Written by Staff on Friday, December 17, 2010 | Comments Off
Categories: FAQ Tags: dashboard, light, warning light
In some instances, you may notice the dashboard warning light getting on while you are driving. If this happens, then stop the car as soon as you can.
Your car’s dashboard has different lights that switch on under different circumstances as you operate the car. You should be aware of the relationship between all the lights with their corresponding parts of the car. This will help you to take appropriate action depending on which light turns on.
Battery, Engine, and Oil Lights
The oil pressure light will turn on while you are driving in case the pressure of oil gets too low. Stop the car at the earliest convenience and let the engine cool down then check the oil using a dip stick. Remember that the engine will not cool down completely quickly, so you should be careful against touching any parts that are still hot.
Illumination of the battery light may indicate different problems. It may be that the battery terminals have become loose. The light may also indicate that the alternator has failed, which is more serious.
The Brake system & ABS Lights
If these lights come on, then check whether the emergency brake is stuck. You should also check other components of the braking system as soon as possible.
If you turn on the engine and one or more of the warning lights on the dashboard stay on, do not drive the car before checking what the problem is.
Necessary Steps to Reset the Check Engine Light
As a general rule, you should not reset the check engine light on your own. The check engine light should preferably be reset by a qualified mechanic using specialized code readers. However, when you consider the crucial role that the light performs in your vehicle, you should ensure that any fault it has is corrected quickly, which will allow you to know when there are some problems in the car that you need to fix equally fast.
Cars manufactured after 1996 have computers that keep things in memory even after you have disconnected the battery for some hours. The information kept includes the codes generated. It may therefore be important to reset the check engine light. You just need a wrench to carry out the process.
The first step – disconnect the battery
If you have a relatively older vehicle and you really need to reset the check engine light, then you should disconnect the battery. Then press and hold the horn down for about thirty seconds to ensure that any electric current stored in the capacitor is drained.
The second step – resetting
The above procedure should ideally reset the check engine light unless there is some problem. In such a case, you will need to reset the light manually. However, you should understand that you will also erase idle memory code, which may lead to some inconsistency in driving.
You will need to re-engage memory by driving the car several times at a good speed.
If the check engine light still comes on, let a mechanic check the car well.
If the Check Engine Light Flashes, Here’s What to Do
Written by Staff on Friday, December 17, 2010 | Comments Off
Categories: FAQ Tags: engine light
If you notice that the check engine light in your car flashes, then you should not panic as many people do. A variety of factors may lead to the flashing of the check engine light. If the light is flashing instead of staying on, it shows that the problem concerned needs immediate attention. Here are the steps you need to take in such a case.
Slow Down
You may notice that the performance of your car reduces as the check engine light flashes, in which case you need to slow down to redistribute the load. Take even greater care if you are towing a trailer. Take the car to a dealer at the earliest opportunity.
Check the Gas Cap
One of the things that can make the check engine light flash is a loose gas cap. Stop the car and check the gas cap. Tighten it firmly if it is loose. The light may still keep on flashing for a while.
Check the Other Gauges
There are different gauges on the dashboard that you need to check when the check engine light begins to flash. You will thus be able to determine any other problem, such as overheating or low oil pressure.
Although you need not to panic when the check engine light flashes, you should never take it for granted. Check what the problem is and correct it early before the car experiences more serious damage.
Although many people know that a cold engine is what makes it difficult to start a car, there are times when a hot engine can also create this problem. Perhaps you have noticed that it is relatively difficult for you start your car when the engine is hot and you are wondering what you should do in such instances.
If you are living in a cold climate, then you know how difficult it can be to start your car’s engine. A cold engine can be frustratingly difficult to start. However, there are a number of measures that will help you to overcome this problem. It is important that you understand what causes the problem in the first place so that you can take some preventive measures.
In spite of the fact that the car antifreeze plays a very important role, many people hardly think about it. In many cases, car owners simply refill the antifreeze when the level is low or replace it whenever it changes its color without giving it much weight. As a result, they can easily add too much water to the antifreeze, something that can lead to serious engine troubles.
You may notice a lot of cold water coming out when you bleed your radiator. Although this shows that there is a problem, you should know how to handle the situation instead of panicking. In order to solve the situation, you need to understand what causes it in the first place. Understand that had there been other complications, you would have most probably noticed them earlier. You should therefore not find it difficult to solve the matter and get your car back to good working condition.
If you notice that the brake pedal feels rather spongy, then it shows that some part of the brake line has air in it. There are different things that can lead to spongy brake pedals, which is dangerous because you will not be able to brake at once when there is need. Here are some of the possible problems and how you can deal with them.
