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Should I change my engine oil?

February 24, 2011 By GuestPoster

Changing your own motor oil can be an easy way to save a few pounds on your car maintenance. Especially if your car is a bit old and you or the previous owner haven’t really bothered with ‘official’ services by a registered dealer. Changing the oil is a necessity every 5000 kilometers or so. More frequent changes could be required if you drive a lot of miles. The type of driving you do can also make a difference. Long trips are easier on the engine than stop-start urban driving. Either way, when the mileage is up you’ll have to change the oil.

If you’re not sure when the oil was last changed look at the oil on the dipstick. Is it black? New oil is amber and it gets dirtier with age. Run it between your fingers, does it feel rough and gritty? New oil is smooth as it hasn’t been contaminated in the engine. If it’s gritty you could do with new oil. It is a good idea to start with an oil change when you purchase the car. Some simple tools are all you need.

  • Ramps – lift the car safely but driving it into a set of ramps, apply the handbrake tightly and brace the year wheels with some timber or chocks
  • Oil drain pan – a big plastic pan for collecting the oil in
  • Oil filter wrench – remove the oil filter with a wrench. Adjustable wrenches can work on many different types of oil filter
  • New engine oil – of course, you’ll need a can of fresh oil.

Finally, oil change stickers are a small but useful addition to the toolkit so you can keep a record of when you changed the oil and at what mileage the next change is due.
Always choose the best oil you can. If the car is new to you it’s a good idea to change the air filter too.

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Everything You Need to Know About Scissor Lift Training

February 23, 2011 By GuestPoster

As per OSHA requirement, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, all operators of a scissor lift must undergo training before they are allowed to operate one. OSHA is basically a US agency that is in charge of ensuring the safety of all lift operators. The agency is the one that regulates the use of aerial lifts and also take charge of the training of its operators. OSHA classifies these lifts under the category of scaffolds. These lifting devices are types of mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), which is designed to lift people or loads on elevated areas. They can be operated through the use of electricity, hydraulics, or via mechanical power.

Training for lift operators must only be done by qualified training personnel as required by OSHA. It is important that the person who will train the operators to use scissor lifts is familiar with the lift model being used. The training personnel must have obtained a certification or have given a professional standing in lift operation. Also, the person who will facilitate the training must have extensive knowledge on how to operate varying kinds of aerial lifts and must also know how to resolve issues pertaining to the matter.

As a training officer, you have to impart your knowledge on usual causes of unit failure as well as the hazards involving scissor aerial lift operation. It is important that you thoroughly discuss the main causes and reasons of falls, electrocution and other forms of accidents that are likely to occur in the workplace. Also, the training officer must reiterate the importance of knowing the maximum weight rating of the lift before the actual operation.

Training of car hoist and lift operation typically includes safety requirements, accident prevention, work hazards, battery-charging procedures, unit inspection and other essential aspects that lift operators should know. An operator will only be allowed to use a lift when he has successfully completed the training. The training course will be concluded with a certification and an examination. If the operator fails the exam, he won’t be allowed to operate the lift. Passing the examination is critical to ensure that the operator posseses basic maintenance skills and knowledge on proper lift operation.

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What Are Power Inverters?

February 21, 2011 By GuestPoster

Some people have confusion about the power inverters; these are basically invented to change the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). Electrical appliances or devices like, cars or marine battery for automobiles applications and emergencies. These devices are in rectangular shape but recently available in different shapes and also capacity. It can also be plugged directly to the battery having jumper like cables. These inverters are mainly used for the devices like, mobile phones, laptops and other appliances such as T.V, DVD player, juicer machine and other equipments of daily use during picnics or travelling and emergencies. In power crisis inverters are very useful. When there is a power outage you can connect the inverter to the car’s battery and then can supply power to your house for different uses like lighting the bulbs or to tune on the radio and etc. these are best applied where there is no formal power like picnic places, beaches and parks.

With the development in technology; introducing new electronic gadgets like laptops, iPad, iPod, cell phones and etc, which is not possible to charge them everywhere other than home. Installing a power inverter is very necessary so that you can use these electronic devices when you are away from home as well. The inverter is also very economical, you do not have to pay bill when it is connected with your car battery or other batteries. And if you install a solar charger at your home instead of using too much of electricity, at the end of the month you can save pretty much electricity by connecting wires from the battery to the inverter. Then this can be used for the appliances that need a lot of power. This method a bit difficult to install but benefits you by all means and also end up economically.

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