Tag Archives: car

5 Tips to keep your car cool

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keep car coolWe are in the midst of the longest heatwave to hit the UK in 5 years. The Met Office stated that Sunday 8th was the hottest day in England this year when Gosport, Hampshire, reached 32.4C (90.3F). Porthmadog in north Wales holds the UK record for 2018 of 33C on 28 June. So with temperatures in excess of 30C how can you keep your car cool?

Air conditioning is great, for those who have it, but it doesn’t eliminate the issues when you first enter the car. If you’ve been parked directly in the sun for a long period of time then seats and steering wheels can become unbearably hot. To help you out we have compiled some tips on keeping your car cool:

1. Park in a shaded area

If possible the best way to keep your car cool is to find a shaded area to park. Try to ignore your instinct to park in the closest parking space, instead opt for a shaded spot. A slightly longer walk will be worth it when you enter a cooler car.

2. Cover your steering wheel

Probably the worst part of your car to sit in the sun is your steering wheel. Any driver will now that especially leather steering wheels are sometimes too hot to handle. Popping a small towel over your steering wheel could prevent temperatures getting too hot.

3. Use a sunshade

One of the most successful ways to keep your car cool is of course to invest in a sunshade or visor.

4. Throw blankets over your seats

If your car has leather seats you know just how hot these materials can become when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures. A quick and easy way to keep car seats cool is to throw blankets over them. Keeping your seats cool will make your car a much more pleasant place to be on a hot summers day.

5. Keep your possessions out of sight

As well as the car components themselves getting too hot any possessions left in the car are susceptible to rising temperatures. Metal items for example sunglasses can quickly become extremely hot. Try to keep everything out of direct sunlight.

We hope these tips make your car a more habitable space until that lifeline of air conditioning kicks in. If you’re enjoying the sunshine why not check out our blog on the best UK driving roads a great guide to making the most of your driving experience.

We have also produced a blog on how to prepare your car for the summer here.

 

8 ways to upgrade your car

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If you are striving for better performance but can’t afford a car with better specs then you will be looking for upgrades. Upgrading a car can be a great way of achieving the speed, acceleration and efficiency you’re after for a fraction of the cost. Upgrades can range from small tweaks to big system changes. Below we have listed 8 ways to upgrade your car for better performance:

Upgraded Tyres1. Choose better tyres

One of the most obvious upgrades is to choose better quality tyres for your car. Power and performance are great, but if you don’t have the grip from quality tyres to translate that to the road it will be a waste.

Equally if you want your car to perform in all weathers then you will need to ensure you are selecting the correct tyres for the conditions at hand. All weather tyres are a compromise on performance parameters and will likely not meet all users needs or expectations. Selecting a set of summer and winter tyres is the best solution for getting good traction and ensuring you have the ability to put the power to the ground. ‘Which’ have a great article on which tyres to buy here

Upgraded brake system2. Upgrade your Brakes

Arguably one of the most important performance factors is the ability to stop effectively. The better quality your brakes, the longer you can wait to engage them. In corners this means maintaining a higher rate of speed longer than your competitors. Whether it be simply purchasing better brake pads or upgrading the entire system investment in your braking will always be worth your time and money.

3. Install a cold air intake

It’s a fact the better your car breathes, the better it runs. Installing a cold-air intake not only frees up the airflow to your engine, it also feeds it cooler, more condensed air. By replacing your original intake pipe with one that was designed to maximize power, you will simultaneously increase horsepower, and fuel efficiency.

4. Swap out rubber hoses for Silicone Hoses

Upgraded silicone hoses

Another upgrade would be to swap out the standard rubber hoses in your car for better quality silicone versions. Compared to rubber, silicone has superior heat tolerance. The reason this is important is if, for example, you add a nice turbocharger to your engine and don’t upgrade your hoses at the same time you will potentially drive all that extra heat into hoses that aren’t equipped to handle it.

Another reason to upgrade your hoses is that rubber hoses are prone to cracking, getting stiff, or becoming dry rotted over time. Silicone is a very stable material that acts almost like new, even when it’s not. Anyone who has had a hose leak will know what a headache this is to diagnose and correct so upgrading to silicone will definitely impact your performance for the better. You can buy silicone hoses direct from us here

If you’re interested in the specific benefits of silicone hoses then read our blog on what difference silicone hoses make here

5. Exhaust System Modification

Often people think of upgrades to exhaust systems as a purely noise inducing tasks. But as well as giving you a nicer exhaust note when accelerating you can also see improvements in power. Installing a brand new stainless steel exhaust to an older car will result in a big difference as exhaust cats can get clogged up over time meaning performance slowly decreases.

If you choose to install a performance exhaust you could see an increase in power output as the performance exhaust will usually be wider in diameter. This allows more air gases to escape, which in turn increases power output.

6. Upgrade your Spark Plugs

Standard spark plugs often have troubles firing, which can decrease the speed and reliability of a car therefore upgrading your spark plugs will enhance your car’s performance. With newer high performance spark plugs, misfires are far less frequent. This reduces the emissions from the car whilst in turn increasing fuel efficiency.

7. Add a Turbo charger

A turbo charger allows a car to burn more fuel each second. That’s why a turbocharged car can produce more power. Turbos are more efficient than superchargers and can provide a significant increase in horsepower. Not only that but turbo chargers are to improve fuel economy by as much as 20-40%.

8. Add an Exhaust Wrap

We recently wrote a blog on ‘why you should have an exhaust wrap’ which detailed its fantastic heat protection properities. By adding an exhaust wrap to your heat you will see a reduction in temperatures around resulting in more horsepower. This increase in horsepower is down to increased engine efficiency as the exhaust wrap keeps heat in the header instead of it dissipating around the engine. You can buy exhaust wraps from us here

If you’ve upgraded your car recently we’d love to hear how you did it and what performance enhancements you have achieved as a consequence. Get in touch on our Twitter page @viperhoses. We have lots of products available in our online shop. Visit our shop

How to prepare your car for the summer

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Most people understand that preparing your car for the winter months is essential for safety, but do you prepare for summer too? Heat and dust can take a toll on your vehicle and impact its ability to perform. As well as the regular checks, which you should do periodically, there are season specific things that you can you do to ensure your car is ready and prepped for the sunshine.

Check your cooling system

One of the biggest dangers whilst driving in the summer is of course overheating. Ensure that your cooling system is properly topped up with the right mix of coolant and water, and ensure that your vehicle’s water is properly filled. Another element to check is air intakes, be sure to check that they are free from debris and dirt, blockages may contribute to overheating problems.

Change Oil on older cars

If you have a relatively new car then it should be fine to run on the same kind of oil all year round. Older cars however may benefit from an oil change in the summer. Heavier oils will help compensate for internal engine wear and offer better protection for your engine in higher temperatures.

Change Air Filters

Large amounts of pollen can clog up your ventilation systems, as well as upsetting hay fever suffering passengers. Air filters are very easy to replace and you can even purchase washable or reusable filters. Be sure to check the cabin filter too, stopping the internal air from becoming stuffy.

Regularly turn on Air Conditioning

Lack of use can mean that air conditioning does not operate at its maximum output when you need it most. This is why it is important to regularly turn on your AC at all times of year. If you haven’t turned on your air con for a long time then make it today.

Summer Tyres

Summer can be as tough on your tyres as the winter months. Sunlight and heat can work in tandem to break down the rubber. You can choose all season tyres of course but they do tend to be a compromise. The ideal situation is to use wider wheels and summer tyres in the sunshine months and keep your hardwearing winter tyres stored for when they are needed most.

It’s best to be proactive and ensure your car is safe to run to avoid any unwanted breakdowns or damage to parts. When you’re happy with the cars condition why not check out our recent blog showing some of the best UK driving roads and really test out your wheels.

Disclaimer: This blog is for guidance only. If you feel there are any issues with your vehicle in preparation for summer please seek the expert advice of a garage.