What is natural gas

What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons found in the ground independently or together with crude oil. Its composition varies (depending on where it is found), but its main component is "Methane"(CH4}. The rest of the gas is made up of varying amounts of other gases like ethane, propane, butane, and heavier hydrocarbons, plus Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, water and traces of other substances. Natural gas is a by-product of decaying vegetable matter in underground strata. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel; it can help improve the quality of air and water,especially when used in highly polluted places.

Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural gas reserves. At 82.5 trillion cubic feet, these reserves are two times the amount of oil, thus there is opportunity to promote and diversify the use of the natural gas not just as a power source in the industrial and utilities sector; but also as an alternative fuel for vehicles. PETRONAS, through its wholly, owned subsidiary, PETRONAS NGV Sdn Bhd , have been making NGV available to Malaysian motorists through its expanding chain of NGV outlets in the Klang Valley and other major urban areas in the country.

FAQ's at bottom of this page. For more info on NGV visit: IANGV or Green Car Congress

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What is NGV ?
NGV stands for Natural Gas Vehicle. They operate similarly to traditional vehicles, but they use natural gas as fuel. Natural gas can power existing cars and trucks by converting the engines to a bi-fuel capability. To convert vehicles to natural gas requires installing a tank, fuel pressure regulators, and fuel lines. Most systems incorporate an electronic module which adjusts the engine to maintain comparable performance levels with either fuel. Limited production of dedicated natural gas engines and vehicles is under way at motor vehicle manufacturers. Refueling stations use the same natural gas as commercial facilities and residences. These stations now provide compressed natural gas for quick-fill.

FAQ's at bottom of this page

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How a Natural Gas Vehicle Work ?
1. Natural gas is compressed and enters the vehicle through the natural gas fill valve (receptacle).
2. It flows into high-pressure cylinders located in or under the vehicle.
3. In a bi-fuel NGV, a fuel selector on the dashboard permits selection of natural gas or gasoline to act as the fuel for the vehicle. A dedicated NGV operates solely on natural gas.
4. When natural gas is needed by the engine, it leaves the cylinders and passes through the master manual shut-off valve.
5. The gas goes through the high-pressure fuel line and enters the engine compartment.
6. Gas enters the regulator, which reduces pressure from up to 3,600 psi to near atmospheric pressure.
7. The natural gas solenoid valve allows natural gas to pass from the regulator into the gas mixer or natural gas fuel injectors. (Or, it shuts off the natural gas when the engine is not running or when, in the case of a bi-fuel vehicle, gasoline is selected).
8. In a bi-fuel NGV, natural gas mixed with air flows down through the gasoline carburetor or fuel injection system and enters the engine's combustion chambers. In a dedicated NGV, natural gas is injected into the engine's combustion chamber via specially designed natural gas fuel injectors.
9. In a bi-fuel NGV, when the driver selects gasoline, the conventional gasoline system is activated and the natural gas system is automatically shut off.

FAQ's at bottom of this page

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Why NGV?
Presented below is an outline of the benefits that CNG offers:

Green fuel - Commonly referred to as the green fuel because of its lead and sulphur free character, CNG reduces harmful emissions. Being non-corrosive, it enhances the longevity of spark plugs. Due to the absence of any lead or benzene content in CNG, the lead fouling of spark plugs, and lead or benzene pollution are eliminated.

Increased life of oils - Another practical advantage observed is the increased life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil.

Mixes evenly in air - Being a gaseous fuel CNG mixes in the air easily and evenly.

Safety - CNG is less likely to auto-ignite on hot surfaces, since it has a high auto-ignition temperature (540 degrees entigrade) and a narrow range (5%-15%) of inflammability. It means that if CNG concentration in the air is below 5% or above 15%, it will not burn. This high ignition temperature and limited flammability range makes accidental ignition or combustion very unlikely.
Properties

Low operational cost - The operational cost of vehicles running on CNG, as compared to those running on other fuels, is significantly low.At the prevailing price of fuel ,operational cost of CNG vehicles is 68% lower than petrol and 36% lower than diesel.

FAQ's at bottom of this page

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Government Incentives & Legislations To Encourage Use of NGV

NGV is supported by the government of Malaysia with incentives and legislation to encourage vehicles owner to use NGV. NGV price is only 68 cent/litre equivalent of petrol, is cheaper than other fuels. NGV conversion kits are exempted from import duty and sales tax.
Reduction of road tax from existing levels:

* Monogas vehicle (NGV only) - 50% off
* Bi-fuel vehicle (Petrol & NGV) - 25% off
* Dual-fuel vehicle (Diesel & NGV) - 25% off

All these are major factors for potential owners to consider when making their vehicle fuel choices. However, what many owners may not be aware of is the safety record of NGV vehicles. NGV vehicles safety record compares favourably to other traditional fuels or alternative fuels available today. This is due to the superior (and still improving) technology, higher safety standards and the physical properties of NGV itself which makes it as safe or safer to use than petroleum-based fuels.

Cleaning and Repairing Radiator Fins

A radiator-fin comb is a specialized tool designed to straighten out bent radiator fins. Individual comb segments have different widths between teeth, since spacing between fins can vary among different radiators.



It's important to keep the radiator fins and AC condenser free of dust buildup, insects and other debris that can restrict airflow and thus diminish the overall effectiveness of the cooling system.

Figure A

A brush is one fairly effective means of cleaning debris from the intricate network of aluminum fins (figure A). Gently brush in one direction and dislodge any debris that's stuck between the fins. An easier and more effective technique is to use a burst of air from an air compressor.

Figure B

In order to prevent insects from clogging the fins in the first place, you may want to install a bug net (figure B). These mount on your front grill and are particularly beneficial in the spring and summer or if you live in a region of the country that's especially "buggy."

Figure C

Another condition that can impede airflow is bent radiator fins. Fins can become damaged by being struck by rocks during highway driving or by careless handling of the radiator during engine repairs. You can straighten out bent fins with a fine, sharp object such as an icepick (figure C), or you can use a specialized tool designed specifically for the job -- a radiator comb (figure D).

Figure D

Careful use of a radiator comb will help return bent fins to their proper shape and position. Be careful when using the comb, as the thin walls of the fins are delicate. This is a tedious job, so take your time and be patient.

RESOURCES :

Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896

Safety Tips in the Car Park

Car parks are often regarded as high crime areas, with car thefts, window break-ins, and even abductions.

People usually blame a crime on the lack of security at the car park but there are times when such a case happens because of the people’s own carelessness.

Here are a few tips to be safe in the car park.

1. Be aware of suspicious characters loitering around before you enter your car.

2. If you sense something wrong while you are inside your car, sound the horn to grab attention.

3. Always make sure your car is locked and the windows are wound up.

4. Do not leave the ticket or coin chip in your car.

5. Never leave your valuable belongings in your car.

6. Do not park at an empty car park.

7. Take a picture of the pillar number where you park, in case you forget the location later.

8. Alternatively, store the pillar number as SMS in your cell phone.

9. You can always ask a security guard to accompany you to your car.

Cara menghidupkan kereta apabila bateri lemah

Pemilik kereta akan berasa gelabah apabila keretanya tidak boleh dihidupkan kerana bateri lemah atau ada masalah lain pada enjin. Kegelisahan bertambah ketara apabila masalah itu berlaku ketika anda terburu-buru untuk ke pejabat, hospital atau memenuhi temu janji.
Ada sebab mengapa enjin jika tidak dapat dihidupkan walau pun kunci sudah diputar ke arah ‘start’. Apabila enjin tidak dapat dihidupkan dengan mudah kerana bateri dan/atau motor starter dalam keadaan rosak, biasanya enjin dapat start dengan prosedur berikut:

1: Menghidupkan enjin dengan menolak kenderaan bagi kereta manual. Meskipun bateri dalam keadaan lemah, enjin akan dapat dihidupkan dengan cara menolak kenderaan apabila bateri sekurang-kurangnya masih dapat dapat menerangkan lampu besar.
Pertama, nyalakan suis kemudian mintalah bantuan dua atau tiga orang untuk menolak kenderaan anda ke depan. Apabila kenderaan sudah berjalan cukup cepat, maka lepaskan pedal. Apabila enjin sudah dapat berfungsi, pijaklah segera pedal sementara itu pijaklah pedal minyak untuk meninggikan putaran enjin. Menggunakan prosedur yang sama, kereta juga dapat dihidupkan dengan cara ditarik kenderaan lain. Apapun, prosedur kedua-dua teknik itu tidak dapat digunakan untuk kereta automatik.

2: Satu lagi cara ialah dengan menghidupkan enjin dengan pertolongan bateri dari kenderaan lain. Jika ada kenderaan lain dengan bateri yang baik dan tersedia kabel yang cukup panjang, maka enjin dapat dihidupkan dengan menghubungkan terminal positif dengan positif dan negatif dengan negatif dari kedua-dua kenderaan itu. Kaedah ini dapat dilakukan apabila kedua-dua bateri mempunyai kuasa yang sama. Ketika suis kontak starter diputar, lazimnya motor starter berfungsi tetapi ada ketikanya gandar enjin tidak berputar. Dan dalam keadaan lain pula, ketika suis kontak starter diputar, enjin dapat berfungsi tetapi tidak berjalan dengan baik dan kemudian mati dengan tiba-tiba. Dalam keadaan itu, antara kerosakan yang mungkin berlaku adalah kerosakan pada motor starter, gigi motor starter atau roda daya rosak. Kejadian itu bukan kali pertama terjadi. Dalam keadaan lain ketika suis kontak diputar, motor starter berfungsi dan gandar enjin berputar cepat tetapi enjin tidak dapat berfungsi atau ketika suis kontak starter diputar, enjin dapat berfungsi tidak berjalan dengan baik dan kemudian mati dengan tiba-tiba.

Dalam kedua-dua kes itu mereka mungkin berhadapan dengan kerosakan pada sistem penyaluran bahan bakar (sistem petrol) atau sistem penyalaan. Apabila motor starter berfungsi dan dapat memutar gandar enjin dengan baik, tetapi enjin tidak dapat berfungsi, maka hal itu menunjukkan kerosakan tidak berlaku pada bateri dan peralatan start. Biasanya, apabila proses mampatan dapat berjalan lancar, enjin tidak akan secara tiba-tiba rosak. Justeru, kerosakan harus dicari pada sistem penyaluran petrol dan sistem penyalaannya.

Bila keadaan itu terjadi, perkara yang harus diperiksa adalah: adakah minyak dalam tangki, adakah minyak dalam karburetor cukup? Jika cukup, ini bermakna kerosakan mungkin terletak pada sistem penyalaan.

Jika melimpah pula (karburator basah), enjin sukar dihidupkan kerana minyak yang masuk dalam ruang pembakaran terlalu banyak. Minyak melimpah biasanya terjadi kerana tutup jarum yang mengendalikan kemasukan minyak ke ruang pelampung (dalam karburator) tidak berfungsi, mungkin kerana tersekat habuk. Jika melimpah adalah sebab kegagalan enjin dihidupkan, keluarkan minyak daripada karburator, bersihkan kotoran di tutup jarum dan masuk semula minyak.

Enjin yang karburetor melimpah boleh dihidupkan dengan cara berikut. Pijak pedal petrol sepenuhnya, jalankan motor starter. Minyak yang masuk dari karburetor ke silinder melalui saluran isap dapat dihilangkan dan selepas itu enjin dapat berfungsi. Kawal injak minyak sedemikian sehingga putaran enjin terlalu tinggi. Meskipun demikian, ada kemungkinan enjin tidak dapat berfungsi, sedangkan karburetor tetap melimpah. Dalam hal ini, bawalah ke mekanik anda untuk dibaiki.

Penyerap Hentakan Rosak Boleh Menyebabkan Kemalangan Dan Kehausan Pada Tayar

Ketika memandu, pernahkah anda mengalami kereta melantun terlalu kuat apabila termasuk ke dalam lubang atau bonggol jalan? Kereta akan terasa melantun-lantun lebih daripada sekali sebelum kembali ke posisi yang asal.

Ada ketikanya kereta terasa membuai-buai dan sukar dikawal pada kelajuan tinggi di lebuh raya. Pemandu akan sering membetulkan posisi stereng ketika sedang mengambil selekoh. Situasi ini ada kaitan dengan penyerap hentakan atau ‘shock absorber’. Apa yang pasti ia adalah salah satu kompenan terpenting kenderaan yang membabitkan keselamatan dan keselesaan memandu. Penyerap hentakan yang rosak boleh menyebabkan kerosakan lain pada kenderaan dan di dalam kes yang lebih serius, mampu menyebabkan kemalangan. Pada kelajuan tinggi, kereta akan terasa bergerak tidak lurus dan anda terpaksa membetulkan kedudukan stereng terlalu kerap (OVER-CORRECT). Kereta juga akan terasa seperti “terapung” di atas jalan raya. Ini bermakna penyerap hentakan telah rosak dan perlu diganti dengan segera.

Cara mengenal pasti kerosakan penyerap hentakan kereta anda.

1. Tekan dengan kuat pada setiap sudut yang mempunyai penyerap hentakan dan lepaskan. Jika ia tidak kembali ke kedudukan asal ataupun ia tidak turun sewaktu ditekan, ini bermakna penyerap hentkan telah menjadi terlalu keras atau telah tersekat akibat tiada atau kurang pergerakan pada piston rod di dalam penyerap.

2. Anda juga boleh memeriksa secara visual pada penyerap hentak sehinggalah ke tapak pegas. Jika anda gunakan penyerap hentakan gas, ia masih akan mengeluarkan minyak jka bocor kerana penyerap hentakan jenis ini menggunakan minyak sebagai pelincir.

a. Yang paling penting adalah untuk membezakan lelehan minyak dengan wap gas yang mengumpul habuk pada penyerap hentakan kerana wap gas tersebut adalah normal dan bukannya tanda kerosakan.

3. Tayar yang kelihatan tidak rata dan berbonggol, membuktikan bahawa tayar kereta anda mendapat sentuhan pada jalan raya dengan tidak sekata. Ini juga bermakna bahawa system penyerap hentakan kereta anda (damper) telah gagal menolak atau menampung sentuhan tayar (contact-patch) secara sekata.

a. Oleh yang demikian, anda dinasihatkan untuk menukar penyerap hentakan kereta anda dan menggantikan tayar yang telah rosak demi keselamatan anda

Article contributed by AAM