‘Drift Away from DIY’
Hi Julian,
I have been reading your articles since the Zoom
days, and I have noticed the drift away from DIY modifications and enhancements
that originally attracted me. I realise this is the new direction you have
chosen to take, and wish you luck with it.
I had an idea for an article or a series for you,
that I feel would be particularly relevant for your site, given the
collaboration with Silicon Chip and the over-abundance of radar traps in SE Qld.
How about a survey of available radar detectors and jammers (info and detectors
readily available on the web) and perhaps a couple of stealth installations into
your vehicles? I am sure your readers would appreciate learning how to install a
detector into their car with eg. separate power and volume switches. While you
probably don't want to publicly condone speeding, many enthusiasts would
consider a radar detector a worthwhile investment and to get an advanced warning
of a trap that would otherwise have caught you is a gratifying experience!
I hope you find this suggestion worthwhile
Greg Jones
Australia
It’s funny how memory and perception can be so
different from the facts.
When I edited Zoom magazine over ten years ago,
only about 10-15 per cent of the articles in each issue were about DIY
modifications, or tech background stories to allow informed DIY to occur. (That
translated to 2 or 3 articles per 20-article issue.)
When we started AutoSpeed, we initially kept
the ratio about the same. Then over time, we started to increase it. Eighteen
months ago, we largely dropped modified feature cars – and tech and DIY
increased in proportion yet again. Nowadays, typically 40 - 60 per cent of the
articles we do are straight DIY, or tech background to allow informed DIY. (And
it’s about the same ratio for new and re-used material.) That proportion of tech
and DIY is far higher than on any publication I have ever been associated with.
Re radar detectors - given their illegality, we
won’t be doing the story you have suggested.
Julian Edgar
Diesel Gas
You have written a great article on diesel gas and
specifically on Diesel Gas Australia (DGA).
However did you know that DGA fumigates LPG BEFORE
the turbo charger (a flammible gas through a hot turbo charger)? This also means
that, where fitted, the whole intercooler is filled with LPG. Not very safe in
anyone's booked. D-GAS, our product, is the only system that injects LPG into
the manifold (after the turbo and intercooler)
If you are interested in more info, please visit
us on www.eco-gas.com.auor call me direct on
0412 304030
Robert Remedi
Australia
Solving the Problem of CO2 in One Secret
Step
Re: Can you write an article about the new
technology for reduction of greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions
Dear Sir,
Our company is specialized in research and
development in the field of environmentally sound technologies.
We know this letter is totally unbelievable
because the yesterday's physics and chemistry did not resolve the CO2 emission
problem up today on the commercially viable way .
Clear Air is our solution for carbon dioxide (CO2)
emission reduction produced from the combustion of fossil fuels. Now
available.
Our CO2 Emission Reduction Technology called Clear
Air, can be quickly implemented in the different fields of application including
smoke stacks, and land-sea-air transport. CO2 emission reduction is done in-situ
with an optimal reduction of 99.9%. This solution has not secondary polluting
effect.
Clear Air is an effective and relatively cheap
technology, mounted behind the CO2 source. For example in a car mounted on the
exhaust system it is capable to reduce the CO2 emission from 40% even up to
99.9%. In the case of passenger cars or heavy goods vehicle or large off road
vehicles the technology of construction and manufacturing does not need to
change. The Clear Air device can be mounted onto the existing parts of the
vehicle.
The Clear Air know-how together with a
manufactured prototype is our property. The efficiency is measurable and can be
immediately tested. Exact technology exists with computerized modelling for the
CO2 reduction process and a controllable prototype equipment for use as
well.
The principle behind the CO2 emission reductions
solution is part of a secret know-how. The intellectual property is offered for
use by Licensing (Technology Transfer).
The Environmental Unique Solutions AG. is
delivering only technology and know-how for the Clear Air, in form of Customized
Licenses. We do not manufacture and sell the device based on this technology.
(More information at the site: http://www.eusag.ch>> Clear Air)
We are looking for partners, who are really
interested (not only speak about) in the reduction of greenhouse gas emission of
engines,cars, vehicles, ships, chimneys etc.
Can you write an article about this
technology?
Istvan Holbok
Executive Officer of Administration
Switzerland
Glass
Re: Responses
The confusion as to whether glass is an electrical
insulator or conductor is a matter of who is using the word "glass". To
non-technical people glass is a transparent or translucent solid material made
mostly of silicon dioxide. In technical and scientific usage it is pretty any
material that has solidified without crystallising. The material in this case is
a glass made of a fused mix of silicon, aluminium, titanium, sodium, potassium
and calcium oxides
Gordon Drennan
Australia
Fuel Tax
RE: last week's letters, Modification Direction 2
- my understanding is that fuel is subject to both tax and excise.
Excise is a fixed amount based on the quantity
sold. So, (for example) if petrol is at $1.50, there is 38 cents excise, if the
price rose to $2.00, the excise component would be the same (the underlying fuel
cost would have increased ~50c).
The GST is more tricky, because it is a "tax"
added to the value of the transaction - so it is 10% added to the top of the
base price (including excise). So if the price of petrol went to $3 or $4, the
excise would be the same but GST take would increase (but not by much).
Andrew
Australia
Dump or Tip Shops
Comments: DUMP SHOP!
Reading Julian Edgars article about dump shops, I
decided that it sounded like a great way to spend a day. However, I havent been
able to find the lcoation of any dump shops in Melbourne. Do you know of
any?
- Happy reader.
Kyel Smith
Australia
Any other readers able to help?
Throttle Filter
This is about the article "Giving the Insight a
Good Driver" Issue 474.
I own a Civic VX 1992 (lean burn 1.5 sohc) In your
article you suggest a damper on TPS voltage. In the VX service manual, they
explain that the ECU engage lean burn mode under 3000 rpm only and under a
certain vaccum value monitored by the MAP sensor. I'll try the TPS damper you
suggest, but ultimatly, I know that lean burn depend on the MAP sensor and RPM
sensor. I can send you picture of the civic manual if you wish.
And what about a modified cruise control module
that depend on MAP value instead of the speed sensor value ? ... to keep the
lean burn mode activated in an incline on free way.
Philippe De Guise
Canada
We imagine that the Insight's lean burn
function is also primarily based on MAP and rpm. However, as noted in the
article, the car can also drop out of lean burn with sudden throttle movements.
If that applies to your car, the throttle position sensor filter will be
effective at maintaining lean burn longer. Re a MAP-based cruise control – it
would be completely ineffective at maintaining a constant speed. To see what would occur
with such a design, just hold the accelerator in a fixed position, irrespective
of grades.
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