Engine Leaks Take a Brutal Toll on Cars and Car Parts

If you own a car then you have probably already had some experience with car leaks, at least to some degree. Even new cars can develop leaks that are both annoying and frustrating. In the 1980s and 1990s engine leaks and other automotive leaking problems were the cause of a large majority of auto service appointments.

Now there are better engineering designs and materials used in the automotive manufacturing process. This has resulted in a decrease in customer complaints because new car parts have been noted to have substantially less problems with leak malfunctions.

Keep Engine Leaks at Bay

For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the basics of engine seals here is a list of what a car engine needs in order to be leak-free.

1.      Motor oil

2.      Proper compression

3.      Fitted gaskets

4.      Intact seals

5.      Engine coolant

6.      Fuel

Understanding Engine Seals

Most of the seals that protect your car engine are designed with double lips so that the motor oil can not leak out. One of the seals is designed to contain the oil, and the other is meant to stop any debris from contaminating the oil system. Although these lipped seals do not move they still have a big job to do because the car parts that they are surrounding are in motion. This is why many automotive techs refer to these car accessories as dynamic engine seals.

You will find dynamic seals used on car parts that are either rotating or belt driven. Two examples of these are crankshafts and camshafts. These are crucial elements for your car engine and it only takes a small leak to create a great deal of damage. An oil leak from a camshaft seal can result in ruined valves and timing belts which are both costly repairs.

How Leaks Begin

Small bits of grit, dust and road dirt are always flying about the exterior of auto engines. If there is a small opening in any seal it can allow some of these contaminants to adhere to the inner surface. Then as the shafts are moving they are being abraded by these particles' sharp edges.

The constant motion of these rotating and belt driven car parts will soon cause small grooves to form along the sides of the shafts. Now the integrity of the seals and shafts are both compromised. Once these irregular grooves have formed on the metal surfaces, leaking will soon follow.

Fixes for Seals

There are times when worn metal surfaces can be repaired instead of being replaced. Some mechanics are able to grind and weld the shafts until the surface area meats the necessary specifications.  There is also a slip-sleeve that is available for some front crankshafts. This product is a fine metal covering that can be applied to the damaged area and will then cover the grooves. These are both elaborate and high priced technical projects that are only suggested for ultra expensive vehicles. Car parts such as engine seals and shafts can be replaced at a more affordable cost.

Gaskets and Engine Leaks

In the past a lot of car accessories and engine parts used gaskets that contained cork. The cork would work for a while but it deteriorated at a relatively quick pace. This material would stop a leak by swelling up and forming a tighter seal, but only after a small amount of oil had leached into the gasket.

Another type of engine gasket was made from RTV silicone and this could create a secure seal but only under special conditions. The silicone base meant that it had to be applied to an engine surface that was absolutely clean and free of any oily residue. Many mechanics had trouble getting the metal surface prepped to these exacting specifications.

Most of today's new gaskets are made form synthetic rubber compounds. These engine gaskets are reliable and are much less likely to form a leak. This is the type of gasket that is preferred by knowledgeable mechanics and auto enthusiasts.  

Gasket Seal Problems

When placing gaskets onto surfaces it seems that many auto techs and mechanics tend to tighten them too much. In order to address this problem there are some newer designs that use metal spacers. These spacers are actually in the gaskets which helps prevent the over tightening seen in the past. Newer car parts such as the cast aluminum engine covers and those made from plastics have also been responsible for protecting gaskets from this common problem.

There are also some gaskets that are more likely to be the source of engine leaks even if they have been properly installed. A car's head gaskets and those used on the intake manifold are the ones that should be checked first if an engine leak is noted.

Internal Manifold and Head Gaskets

Engine compression, coolants and oil all depend on an intact head gasket seal. The intake manifold gaskets that are on cars are responsible for insuring the integrity of coolants, gas and diesel fumes and air. If these seals are damaged, or compromised you are assured of having leaks from your car that are going to be noticeable.

Engines and Aluminum Car Parts

The fact that so many engine car parts are now made from aluminum is an additional problem. Because of this metal's expansion and contraction the gaskets must be allowed some movement allowance. This means that a mechanic needs to make sure that when the repairs are done the gaskets are capable of allowing for the movement of internal car parts as the temperature and weather changes.

Torque to Yield Bolts

Gaskets are internal car parts and they are placed in areas where bolts are going to be required. A mechanic can use incorrect bolts or too much torque and this will result in gasket failure. In this type of situation there could be a compression leak or coolant leak from head gaskets as well as warping of the heads. To prevent this from occurring most auto shops are now using the type of car engine bolts that are known as "torque to yield".

Check and Repair Engine Leaks

No matter how old, or new, your car is you will need to check on any type of coolant engine leak. Just 2-3 tablespoons of an antifreeze liquid seeping into the oil compartment could ruin some vital car parts. Antifreeze and oil is a mix that can ruin the bearings in any car engine.

If you do not want to take your car to a garage you can handle the situation yourself. Certainly there are many different products that you can use to repair gaskets and seals. Your mechanic or auto supply store can help you find the right one for your vehicle. Just remember if you are doing the repairs yourself you need to make sure that you are using a quality product and applying it correctly. Follow the specifications and make sure to clean the surfaces properly and have exact alignment before making the repairs. 

Borrowing Money With Bad Credit

How To Hassle Free Borrow With Job Earnings

It you have a job and need to borrow money for a short term emergency, you can use your salary as "collateral" to a bank or lending company and they will let you borrow the money you need. When borrowing money with bad credit you need to be creative. Payday loans are the most common loan of this type that accept people with bad credit but if your income is high enough you can use it to qualify with a regular bank for more traditional borrowing.

With a job pay advance loan you must provide a post-dated check and lender will deposit the money you borrow into your checking account, repayment will draft automatically when you receive your due paycheck from employment. Payday loans are very popular because of their flexibility, near instant funding and easy approvals, with millions of dollars borrowed each and every month.

Advantage:
Near Instant Money Funded Direct Into Your Account
No Credit Check - Bankruptcy OK, Foreclosure OK, Repossessions OK
Quick, Easy Online Application Process - Fill Out A Quick Form To Borrow
Loans Borrowed Are Unsecured - No Security Needed

Disadvantages:
Attaches To Your Bank Account
Expensive Borrowing Costs
Paycheck Deductions Mean Smaller Paycheck Come Next Payday
Typically Short Borrowing Repayment Periods

Have you heard about the dangers of borrowing payday loans? Well there is truth in what is said, borrowing too many payday loans at once can lead to a bad situation in which all the payments are deducted from your paycheck leaving little left for you come next payday. As you can imagine, not an ideal situation that can lead to financial trouble, but if you know how to manage payday loan borrowing effectively, it can be a powerful financial tool in a pinch.

Learn How To Easily Borrow With Creative Security

If you are cash strapped, broke, in need of money fast, the first avenue many turn to is to use a pawn broker where you can pawn personal items of real value to the store. These stores will accept personal items like jewelry, watches, gadgets, musical instruments and even personal computers.

The pawn broker will assess the value of your item and the money will be given to you in exchange for your personal items as security for the loan. If you fail to meet the repayment obligations the pawnshop will keep what you put up as security for the money.

Advantage:
Instant Funding of The Money You Borrow
No Credit Check - Bankruptcy OK, Foreclosure OK, Repossessions OK
Simple Borrowing Process - Typically a Short Form To Fund
Very Flexible Acceptance of Security Items

Disadvantages:
Requires Security Deposit of Something Valuable
You Can Only Borrow A Small Portion of The Securities Actual Value
High Borrowing Costs

Most pawnshops will keep the items you have for a month or more with interest. If you are not able to pay to redeem the loan in a month, you can renew the pawn agreement effectively extending the terms paying only interest. It will go on until you get your item back. If at any time you stop paying the monthly interest on the money you borrowed, your personal item will be forfeited, put on sale or auctioned off. The monthly interest rate is high too. Not necessarily the ideal solution to borrow money with bad credit, a pawnshop loan offers an option that can be considered in an emergency.

How To Quickly Borrow Against Your Car Title

Another method for borrowing money with bad credit is to use your car as collateral. Most title loans for bad credit people will not require a credit check and use the car to secure the money you borrow.

Additionally you can consider borrowing using a refinance of your car loan, in which you borrow in excess of what you currently owe. In lieue of a title loan check out our recommended bad credit car loans for a possible refinance, in some cases you can quickly reduce what you pay in bills and free up additional money. Both borrowing options require a certain minimum value in your car and or the equity you have in the car. The amount you can borrow is based on your autos value.

The lender will ask to assess your vehicles value which as you would suspect includes factors such as the vehicle model, its condition and the year it was made. Borrowing with bad credit based on a title loan will let you get access to money in a hurry, but the lender will keep the title on your car as security for your repayment. Much like payday loan borrowing the grace period for repayment is typically 30 days and it is renewable every month thereafter, but this can vary so read your contract carefully.

Like all borrowing with bad credit, a title loan will inherently have a high percentage interest charge, and can be considered expensive when compared with good credit loan options. This is the unfortunate reality when borrowing bad credit money. If you default in payment or you are falling too far in arrears with your payments the lender has the option to repossess your vehicle.

Advantage:
Fast Borrowing Option
Bad Credit OK - Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Repossessions Accepted
Possibility Of Borrowing Bigger Loan Amounts

Disadvantages:
Car Value Assessment Must Be Made
Car Pledged As Security - Risk Of Losing Car In Case of Default
High Borrowing Costs

If you default, the lender will sell your vehicle to replace the borrowed money. If the cost of your vehicle is not enough to cover the loan that you have borrowed, you will be asked to pay the difference on top of losing your car to repossession. You have the option to recover the vehicle in some cases but you will have to do it before the vehicle is sold to another buyer and you need to pay the necessary fees which can include the interest, repossession fee and the outstanding loan amount you have with the title lender.

Beware of title loans as you could well be pledging as security your means of getting to and from work.

Understanding How To Borrow Money With Bad Credit

Are you noticing a trend among the borrowing options for people with bad credit? Higher costs, interest increases, risk of pledged security, and hassle. To borrow a with bad credit history you need to make it worthwhile for lender in some way, to make it worth the higher risk of letting you borrow the money you want. Unfortunately that translates into higher fees in most cases.

Knowing how to borrow with bad credit is as much about understanding what the lenders want to make the loan a win win for both parties.

Your bad credit score need not prevent you from borrowing, but the best option is to work to fix your credit, get back on your financial feet and unlock all the benefits good credit borrowing can provide.

If you want to learn more about creative borrowing for people with bad credit check out our guide on how to buy a house with bad credit. Or check out how to get a mortgage with bad credit if you are interested in financing your home.

Why You Should Consider Umbrella Insurance

Why do you carry an umbrella? The easy answer is so that you protect yourself from the rain, right? Well, not exactly. You also carry an umbrella in case it rains, at least forward-looking people do. And business owners and professionals looking for the right insurance always have to be forward-looking, don't they?

In other words, an umbrella is an "insurance policy" in the event that weather disaster strikes you. You may have a waterproof coat on. You may be wearing rain boots. You might have even picked a route to walk on which provides you the maximum shelter from rainfall. But you'll still carry that umbrella around with you because you want to make sure you don't get soaked once the unwanted event occurs, don't you?

Well, it's not all that different when it comes to formal insurance polices. It's why they've come up with something actually called umbrella insurance. Those creative geniuses in the insurance industry have an answer and a name for everything, don't they?

To put it in the simplest terms, umbrella insurance is extra coverage you get just in case you your basic coverage runs out. So, if you have, say, professional liability coverage of up to $1 million, and a claim is made against you for $1.5 million, the umbrella portion of your coverage can kick in and prevent you from paying the full amount. Just as a real umbrella can save you from the disaster of your hair getting wet, despite the most waterproof hat on the market, good umbrella coverage will provide you with protection in case your basic coverage gets soaked, too.

There are essentially two advantages to obtaining umbrella insurance. One is that it can leave significant assets covered for a relatively small price. The other advantage is that it can simply provide you with more comprehensive coverage -- above and beyond individual policies such as professional liability.

Individuals or professionals who have considerable assets that could be at risk under the threat of a lawsuit might want to consider an umbrella policy. Professional liability alone may not be enough, since the limit of that policy could only cover a certain amount of your assets. By investing in an umbrella policy that would increase the amount of your assets covered, the potential savings in the end could far outweigh the additional costs. Liability insurance is meant to protect you from the nightmare lawsuit. Umbrella insurance does just that if you have considerable assets that could be at risk.

The other thing to take into consideration is that, not only does an umbrella policy provide you with added insurance, just like a real umbrella, but it also provides you with coverage that brings together various different aspects of your specific insurance policies. In other words, this kind of policy puts under one umbrella components that would otherwise be included in separate coverage. There go those insurance experts with their clever titles again. So, a good umbrella insurance package can not only end up costing you a bit less to cover more assets, it can save you the time and effort to seek out individual policies to cover various different components of your business.

For example, instead of, say, getting one policy for professional liability, another policy for property coverage, and yet another for worker's compensation, a cleverly constructed umbrella policy can create for you elements of all of them, save you money, and leave you more widely and deeply covered than you otherwise would be. Like all good insurance policies, it leaves you prepared for when that rainy day hits. You'll have that umbrella over your head to meet that day when it comes.

Now, before coming to the conclusion that, despite all the warnings and all the concerns, you probably don't need umbrella coverage, think about some of the consequences of not getting it. For a relatively small extra investment, is it really wise to simply write off the concern and pretend that you don't have to worry about it?

Here' some food for thought. No matter how careful or good you are, and no matter how prepared you think you are to avoid mistakes and causing harm to others, there are two things you have to worry about with respect to umbrella insurance and professional liability.

The first is that you're human. You're not superman -- or superwoman. As a business owner or professional, you are going to make mistakes. You don't know when or how, but being human means that they mistake can occur one way or another. And they can certainly happen in the normal conduct of your business. In fact, all that has to happen is for there to be a perception of a mistake made by someone you do business with, that causes damages, that you can still end up paying for in terms of legal fees and awarded damages.

The second thing to worry about if you don't have umbrella insurance or professional liability coverage is human nature, especially in today's environment of the frivolous lawsuit. You almost can't imagine the ways in which your business might touch others, and the ways in which someone out there may claim that the harm they suffered was as a result of something you did. You cannot possibly protect yourself from such a scenario without things like professional liability which may include added umbrella insurance. With these under your belt, you help protect yourself from the nightmare lawsuit you never dreamed of ever having to fight.

Used Cars As Part of Debt Free Living

Used cars can be a part of a frugal lifestyle. In fact, some financial experts who specialize in helping their followers become debt free advocates only buy pre-owned vehicles for cash. Being in debt is like having an anchor attached to your ankle and dragging it around. One false move, and you could fall into the ocean of bills and sink.

One of the first steps in becoming free of debt is to build up an emergency fund. This rainy day account is put into place to pay for unexpected car repairs, broken appliances, a doctor bill, lost job, or anything else that might send you running to your credit cards for help. Some motorists are afraid that buying used cars might lead to more repairs than they can afford and so stick with new vehicles. With a rainy day fund in place, unexpected repairs aren't problems.

A recommendation that frugal zealots recommend is to start out buying used cars that can be paid for in cash. If you can only afford a clunker to start with, that's okay. The goal is to save up enough money to move up to the next tier of quality in pre-owned vehicles. Trading in the clunker with some more saved cash will buy a nicer pre-owned vehicle. The goal is to keep upping the ante until you are driving the pre-owned vehicle of your dreams without any monthly payments. Does this seem like an impossible dream? It's a tactic that many drivers have been successful with.

Along with driving a pre-owned vehicle that's been paid for in greenbacks, it's also important to progress on the path toward a more solid financial life. Other debts such as credit cards, personal loans, and overdraft-protection-gone-wild should be whittled away as well. It's often recommended that the smallest balances should be paid off first. Why? Because it will allow you to feel successful when you are able to cut up a credit card. This won't happen overnight, of course. It's a one-day-at-a-time plan that may take years but will build momentum the longer you stick to the plan. It's also important to add some dollars to the emergency fund each month so you could survive for 3 to 6 months if you lost your job.

Driving used cars can help you build a stronger financial house on a solid foundation. By starting small and paying off one debt at a time while saving a few bucks each paycheck, everyone with willpower can be debt-free eventually. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Canadian Debt Solutions You Could Try Out To Improve Your Situation

In spite being a prosperous country, Canada is also plagued with a number of economic problems stemming from external and internal factors. Although its citizens have yet to experience the tragedy that fell Americans a few years ago, there are impending signs of instability currently observed in many sectors of society. Aside from the decrease in the number of full time employment, the recent debt ratio of Canadians has been set at 164.6% in 2012, which is the highest it’s ever been. With this, it comes as no surprise that more and more people are now curious about Canadian debt solutions to acquire, in case they are pushed to their limit.

Well, most financial institutions will offer the same set of suggestions when it comes to settling loans. But some of them will be more focused on practicing only one at a time to improve their effectiveness. In light of this, it is vital that you know what each option is characteristically so you can determine what you should and should not consider. Although there is generally no bad way to go about resolving debt, there are times when you won’t be qualified for a certain method. So you should endeavor to know the details before you jump into any prospect so as to avoid wasting your time. Among the most common debt relief options firms provide is that of debt settlement. And what it actually entails is a negotiation to decrease the actual amount of debt a person has to pay in order to resolve it. It is mediated by a third party (usually from the debt relief company) so that those with interests can agree on a midpoint that favors both of their situations.

Another one of the popular Canadian debt solutions made available through local agencies is that of debt management. And here, they will again mediate the payment of the loans by approaching creditors and negotiating deadlines and then helping people out in terms of figuring out which assets they could use to pay off certain obligations and how they could earn extra income to meet monthly disbursements. Sometimes, they go as far as paying off the charges and then collecting payment with a new interest rate as well as due date established. This is somewhat like debt consolidation, which is another debt relief approach financial companies follow through. But these are usually observed for those people who have numerous loans from different resources that observe a variety of interest rates and are using the same collateral.

Of course, some debts cannot be resolved in such methods because of the lack of income-generating opportunities. And so there are companies who specialize in Canadian debt solutions that provide bankruptcy services. There are different types of bankruptcy cases that could be filed in behalf of a person. And they all are tailored maid to fit a specific circumstance. So folks can’t just file for a Chapter 7 or 11 without knowing the basics. False claims can be grounds for imprisonment. So you have to work with experts on the manner to get any payment demands from loans you’ve made dismissed.

Young Drivers Car Insurance - Part 3 - Yet More Ways to Get Discount Auto Insurance

This is part three of our series of articles that will target young drivers car insurance , and will help teenagers and young adults get a lower rate on their car insurance policy. In my first two articles we gave easy tips on how to get a lower rate but in this article we will give you tips that will not only lower your monthly payments but will also save you money outside the realm of car insurance.

The first tip here is to buy a more conservative type of car. The souped up sports car is great for the ego and can get you places really fast, but they stand out on the highway to policeman like a bull's-eye mark ready to be ticketed. Buying a car like a Honda Civic or until your Camry will not only save you a lot of money in purchasing your vehicle but will also help you cut down on speeding tickets and keep your monthly car insurance payments to a minimum. Even if you were not speeding on the road policemen target owners of sports cars even more than others , and not just because the car stand out but because they know that the owners of these cars have enough money to pay their tickets off.

Teenagers and young adults that have taken a driver's ed course will also qualify for some sort of discount on their monthly insurance rates as this is another sign to the car insurance company that you are mature enough to want to learn how to become a better driver and that you know all of the rules of the road.

Professional Association Disability Insurance Programs and the Residual Disability Rider

Many professionals that purchase their own Individual Disability Insurance policies will at some point look to their Professional Association for guidance, support and available discount programs. Associations like the American Medical Association, American Bar Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Institute of CPAs and American Dental Association offer Disability insurance programs at a discounted premium. Consumers should be aware however that there are a few concerns to consider when it comes to Association Disability insurance. In many cases, these policies are inferior to those offered directly from insurance carriers.

The first concern is regarding the renewability provision included in Association programs vs. that which is available on an individual basis. Typically, Association programs are Guaranteed renewable but not Noncancellable, which means that the premiums are not technically guaranteed to remain level for the duration of the policy life. Although this is not the biggest concern since many of these associations have never increased their premiums in the past, having a guarantee creates a different and greater level of comfort.

The second concern is in regard to the definition of total disability. Most Association programs have limitations on the definition of disability they offer. Although some of them may have their own version of the True Own Occupation definition of disability, it is likely to be less favorable than that which is offered with individual contracts. Regardless of what occupation a person has, having Own-Occupation income protection is always better than not having it. Consumers should be cautious of sales professionals recommending that these more comprehensive definitions are not important. In reality no one knows which definition of disability is the necessary one until a debilitating injury or illness has already occurred. When it comes to protecting a person's income, family, future and livelihood, the more cautious route can never be a bad thing.

Perhaps the most important factor that professionals should be aware of with Association Disability insurance is the structure of the Residual Disability rider that is offered. Residual Disability benefits are meant to cover partial disability claims where a professional has incurred a 20% or greater loss of income due to an illness or injury. Considering that the vast majority of Long-Term Disability claims are due to illness and not injury, the structure of a policy's residual benefits can be very important.

Most illnesses do not just appear over night, instead they progressively worsen over time.

Strangely enough though, many Association Disability programs offer residual disability benefits which require the insured to experience a period of total Disability prior to benefits being payable. Unlike Association Disability policies, individual Disability policies do not require a person to experience a total disability before paying residual benefits. Although every claim can be different, the residual benefit design used by Association Disability programs could deprive a claimant of benefits that would otherwise be paid with an individual policy purchased directly from an insurance carrier.

Having Disability insurance is an important part of any wise financial plan, but is not something that should be rushed into. When purchasing Disability insurance, you should work with an expert in the field who can assist you in understanding the various options available to you. Do not purchase your income protection solely based on pricing as there are many fine policies that can be purchased at an affordable cost.