Category Archives: TIPS

TIPS

These 6 driving hacks might help you reduce traffic congestion and accident risks

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WHAT comes to mind when thinking about driving during festive seasons or school holidays? Traffic congestion and higher accident rates, right? This is due to the increased number of vehicles on the road as many people have plans for vacations with family or friends.

The issue is that most of the congestion or traffic jams and accidents should not occur if our drivers are more disciplined and use common sense while driving, rather than solely relying on instinct. So this time, we would like to share six (6) ‘driving hacks’ that can be adopted to reduce the risk of congestion and road accident risks during the holiday season.

It is important to remember that these sort of ‘hacks’ are not too strange or new, but rather common things that we all already know and have learned. We will simply explain in more depth why practicing them will reduce congestion and the risk of accidents.

1. Maintain a distance from the car ahead

Just another common advice, isn’t it? Before you yawn from drowsiness, let us explain. Do you feel great because you’ve managed to aggressively squeeze in front of the car ahead?

Actually, this aggressive tailgating practice is not the smartest to adopt. Even if you ask professional racers, they do not drive closely on the road.

This is because by driving too close, you are likely to brake suddenly and repeatedly, triggering a domino effect for traffic flow, especially on highways.

Have you ever stopped in the rightmost lane of a four-lane highway? And when you move, you see that nothing is happening? Yes, this is the result of the “great” guy who tailgated 25 cars in front.

2. Avoid driving too slowly in the middle lane

“Hey, why can’t I drive slowly? Where are you in such a hurry to go?” Well, you can drive slowly, no one will be angry, but in the left lane, right? Not the middle lane.

For example, if there are three lanes on the highway, there should be THREE different speeds. But when you drive slowly in the middle lane, at the same speed as the left lane, there are only two different speeds on that highway. This causes unnecessary congestion.

What’s the point of building a three-lane highway if it operates the same as two lanes, right?

Even worse if it’s a four-lane highway, but three lanes with the same speed, only the right lane is a little faster. The reason? The slow driving gang in the middle lane. Congratulations.

3. Don’t be ashamed to sit on the left

This is a continuation of the previous ‘lifehack’, if we feel like driving slowly, chill out, use the left signal, and switch to the left lane. “Isn’t the left lane just for buses and trucks?” Heavy vehicles are prohibited from being in the rightmost lane, but for us ordinary passenger car drivers, it’s no problem to be in the left lane. There’s a difference.

If you feel like driving slowly, want to chat vigorously with the passengers, or ask someone at home to pass you snacks, this is the lane for that. Not the middle lane.

4. Accelerate in the merging lane BEFORE entering the main lanes

This is also an important lifehack. Did you know that the entrance merging lane to the highway is the most underused? Many are in a rush to get to the right lane but are still crawling, causing the cars in the main lane to brake for them.

As a result, another domino effect. You can see examples on the main highway during peak hours or the start of holidays. Traffic congestion near the merging lanes, then flowing smoothly again. Cars from the merging lane rush to enter the right lane even though the lane is still long. Any prizes for who gets to the right lane first?

Ideally, accelerate, signal right, and merge at the same speed. Not signal, merge casually, and then speed up. It’s tiring to teach one by one…

5. Looking far ahead

This ‘lifehack’ is actually one of the defensive driving techniques. Use whatever we can to see far ahead. Perhaps we can look ahead through the front car mirror, or maintain our distance. When we are too close to the front car, it’s more difficult for us to see what’s ahead of it.

For example, we can be prepared to slow down before the car in front hits the brakes. This is crucial for smooth traffic flow. Imagine if all drivers maintained distance, looked far ahead, and avoided sudden braking, surely the traffic flow would be smooth even with many cars.

6. Matching speed with traffic flow

Finally, the key to smooth driving is to drive at a speed that matches the traffic flow. Not too fast and not too slow. Driving too fast in heavy traffic, other drivers will think you’re possessed, and believe me, they’re all cursing you. If it’s an emergency, that’s a different story.

But driving too slowly is also dangerous because other cars have to change lanes a lot to “avoid” you. Like a stone rolling in a fast-flowing drain. Don’t be in your own world, driving as you please, “as long as you don’t exceed the speed limit,” it said. Follow the traffic flow, be aware of the surroundings.

How about the six driving ‘lifehacks’ we shared? If you’re not sure, it’s okay. Take a deep breath, and reconsider while driving during the holiday season. And try to observe the causes of congestion that occur. Drive safely!

TIPS

5 signs to look out for when buying a used car to avoid previous accidents

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WHEN we want to buy a second-hand or used car, we definitely don’t want to end up with one that has been in an accident. However, not many people are skilled at inspecting this. If you know that a car has been in an accident, you probably wouldn’t want to buy it, right? Or if you still want to buy it, ask for a substantial discount. So, let’s take a look at 5 signs that indicate a car has been in an accident.

Gap in the body panels

Usually, there is a tolerance for panel gaps, not exceeding a certain size set by the quality department. It’s within 5mm, and it should be consistent throughout the car. For example, if a car has been hit in the front, check the left and right sides to see if the panel gaps are the same width.

If they’re not the same, this could indicate a car that has been in an accident. Just bring a ruler, measure everything, and no one can stop us. Let’s make sure and be satisfied before buying.

Uneven color

Next, check for uneven color. For example, between the front door and the front fender, or with the hood. The most noticeable and easiest is the white color. If the color is uneven, there may have been panels that were replaced or repainted. If you want to be more skilled, just bring a paint thickness gauge.

Check for rust

Modern cars nowadays are very resistant to rust, even if they are 10 years old. This is because the painting process with undercoat is sufficient to protect the metal components. If the car has been in an accident and has bent components, the process of pulling and straightening it back can cause rust in certain areas.

Try checking the engine bay frame, if there is rust, there is a possibility that this car has been in an accident. The same goes for the doors, try looking at the rubber seals, make sure there are no signs of rust or changes here.

Many new components in the car

Alright, the next sign is the presence of many new components. A used car that is five years old, for example, will definitely have wear and tear components that have been replaced. However, if suddenly there are components such as a new and shiny radiator or engine hoses, you need to investigate further.

If the owner or seller claims to have replaced the radiator because it was damaged, ask for proof of purchase. If none is provided, there is a possibility that the car has been involved in a front collision damaging the radiator tank, hence the new replacement.

Strange noises

Lastly, for signs that a car has been in an accident, are the strange noises that seem to come from nowhere. For instance, when closing the door, there’s a “creak” sound before it can be shut. Similarly, when trying to close the front hood, it takes several attempts before it closes properly. During test driving, there might be a “squeak squeak” or a sound like that of a rat coming from the tire area or suspension.

So, during this test drive, take the opportunity to identify any strange sounds or sensations. You don’t need to drive fast, but enough for you to drive on various road surfaces, go on uneven roads, and then try it on the highway.

These tips for signs of a car being in an accident were shared by Hasbullah Syarah on his YouTube channel, and you can watch the full video below:

TIPS

Warming up engines: Do you perform it correctly?

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THE issue of engine warm-up has been debated for a long time, from casual conversations at coffee shops, hanging out at TT gatherings, to discussions in internet forums and Facebook groups.

Why is it necessary to warm up the engine? Is it just a fad, or does it serve a real purpose? We will attempt to explain this with an easy-to-understand explanation and relate it to several common situations we encounter.

Warming up the engine has been a practice since 30 to 40 years ago, when carburetor engines used a choke to mix air and petrol for combustion. In cold weather, petrol doesn’t vaporize, and since the carburetor doesn’t have a temperature sensor, it cannot adjust combustion efficiently and effectively. More fuel is used during this time. Therefore, the engine needs to be warmed up before driving.

For most modern cars that we drive today, their engines are equipped with sensors to precisely calculate the air-fuel mixture ratio. This ratio is also adjusted based on the temperature.

Therefore, in cold weather, engines with electronic fuel injection systems will inject more fuel (burning rich) to ensure proper combustion until the engine reaches the ideal temperature. This process is much faster compared to older engines with carburetor systems.

How long should you wait before driving?

The simple answer is to start the engine, wait just a little while, and then drive immediately. You actually don’t need to wait 15 or 20 minutes to warm up the engine. It’s just a waste of fuel.

Do you have deep pockets and don’t care about the cost of fuel? Well, a mechanical engineer from the Argonne National Laboratory reported that fuel is a solvent and can thin the engine oil on the cylinder walls if the engine is left idling for a long period.

As you may understand, if there is less oil on the cylinder walls, there will be more friction, and various components can be damaged or have their lifespan shortened if we warm up the engine for too long.

According to a representative from Volvo who conducted cold weather tests in the Arctic, they stated that new cars do not need to have their engines warmed up. “It’s best to start the engine for a short time to build fuel pressure, and then drive as usual,” they said.

But don’t start the engine and immediately press the accelerator hard. After about 20 or 30 seconds of starting the engine in the morning, you can slowly drive out of the housing estate, then a few turns before accelerating on the main road.

What about a car that’s been left unused for a long time?

There are times when we leave a car unused for a long period, regardless of the reason. This also raises the issue of warming up the engine, which means starting the engine briefly before leaving the car again.

But what is the correct way to warm up the engine, start and let it idle for 10 minutes? The answer is that the above method is not correct. If you have a car that is rarely driven, the best way to warm up the engine occasionally is to start the engine, drive it out of the house, and drive slowly in the surrounding area. There’s no need to do it for a long time. 10 or 15 minutes is enough.

This method is better because not only does the engine components move, but the fluid and oil in the transmission system also move around the entire area, as well as the tires and axles, everything moves. So, the grit and lubricating oil can be spread evenly.

To revisit the initial point of the article, merely warming up the engine by idling in place is less effective and can even jeopardize some components.