Materials in Automotive Bumpers

Modern automobiles use many safety standards designed to reduce the chances of serious injury or death. One such element is the bumper. Vehicle bumpers are located on both the front and rear ends and are designed to absorb shock in low speed collisions. This is intended to minimize damage to other important components of the vehicle. Bumpers are also being designed to reduce injury in pedestrian accidents.

When considering the design of a bumper, one of the most critical factors to consider is the material that it is made from. There are many aspects that come into play when automotive manufacturers determine what material or combination of materials to use. Cost is generally one of the largest concerns associated with the design, as are aesthetics, weight, and government safety standards. The higher the safety rating of a bumper is, the higher the cost of the bumper will be. The manufacturer will pass this cost on to the consumer. One way to keep the cost down is to use cheaper materials. Bumpers on cars made decades ago were almost exclusively made from steel, as this was the one material most readily available. It proved to be the strongest choice and was the easiest material to work with and form into a bumper. Modern advances in materials, along with the new government guidelines introduced in the late 1970s, paved a road for automotive manufacturers to make safer and lighter weight bumpers.

In modern vehicles, manufacturers use a wide array of materials. Many combinations of materials are used, such as steel, aluminum, plastics and fiberglass composites. The steel and aluminum is generally used for the bumper supports, or the framework that attaches the bumper to the frame of the vehicle. Plastics can be used as a cover for the bumper as modern injection molding processes allow for quick and easy manufacturing while assuring the desired aesthetics are met. These materials can also be used inside of the bumper as an energy absorbing device and is usually created from polypropylene or a plastic honeycomb. Fiberglass, while generally more expensive than plastics, can also be utilized as a material choice for bumper covers. Fiberglass is easier to customize and is lightweight.

There is no doubt that automotive bumpers have evolved through the years. Their safety has increased as modern advances in materials have changed, allowing for easier production, higher safety ratings, and more affordable pricing.

Are Red Cars Pulled Over More By The Police?

When shopping for cars, people like to think about a large number of different factors. Among those factors is how likely a car is to draw the attention of the police. No one wants to get pulled over, as this can lead to big fines and higher insurance rates. With that in mind, there is some thought that certain types of cars and certain colors get pulled over more often than others. On a percentage basis, this is probably true. One must look past the statistics, though, and understand exactly what they are saying. This is important for anyone trying to purchase a car.

What the Statistics Say

When it comes to looking at which colors get pulled over most often, one will see red at the top of the list. Red cars are among the most pulled over in almost every part of the country. This has been true for many years and it figures to stay true for the coming years. That information in and of itself does not provide any meaningful information, though. One must look past the statistics if they want to draw any sort of logical conclusion from this information.

Looking Past the Statistics

Some might believe that red cars get pulled over more often because police are more likely to notice a speeding red car. Though there might be some merit to this, chances are that there are some other, more plausible explanations. The fact of the matter is that red is a bold color. People who choose to drive red cars often have bold personalities. These people are more likely to speed and break the law than other people. Someone driving a conservative white mini-van, for instance, would be less likely to speed on average. A person driving a red sports car is more likely to speed and this is the likely explanation for the higher rates. A red car owner who drives within the law will likely find himself safe.

Ultimately it makes sense to consider this factor. It also is important to know that red cars do get pulled over more often. This might not be an indication of any sort of trend among police officers, though. When one looks a little bit harder and peers through the statistics, there is something else lurking. This means that it is probably alright to purchase a red car without too much fear if that is something you are thinking about doing.

Refurbish Your Vintage Car

Restoring vintage cars is one of the most popular hobbies in the world today. Unfortunately, it’s also a prohibitively expensive hobby to get into if not done properly. This is a detail that many would-be car restorers fail to consider when they make their first classic car purchase and try to do their own refurbishing. The following are the steps taken to restore your vintage car:

Engine
The first thing that has to be done, before anything else, is to get the engine running. For beginners who’ve never restored a vintage car before, it’s actually best to start off with a car that runs and drives, but perhaps could use a little polishing. Engines that are seized up typically require extensive internal work to get them running again, and in fact may be little more than what in the restoration industry is euphemistically called a “boat anchor.” Some restorers may skip the engine entirely, though, opting instead to install a crate motor into their vehicle.

Body

After determining the extent of the damage to the vehicle that has to be repaired, the next step is to get the car’s body back into shape. The difference between the engine of a vintage car and its body is the difference between math and art. While the engine is predominantly a matter of engineering, the body requires finesse to work out the dents and rust, leaving behind a clean, smooth finish. On classic cars, you’ll typically use replacement body panels. Popular cars may have some aftermarket panels available, but less popular vehicles will require fabrication of the parts or scrounging vintage junk yards for parts.

Straightening the body is typically done with body hammers, but may involve body filler if the damage cannot be worked out with hammers. In high-value classic cars, this is not desirable, but it is an inexpensive alternative to replacing the body panels of the vehicle.

 

Interior

Many enthusiasts choose to have the interior of their vintage car redone by a professional upholsterer. However, only the seats usually need upholstered. After gutting the interior, replacing the dashboard and carpet with reproduction carpet is an easy task. For budget-minded restorers, it’s possible and acceptable to use an inexpensive seat cover.

Restoring a vintage car takes time and patience. A lack thereof will certainly result in unsatisfactory results in the finished product. If you’re detail oriented and ready for a challenge, though, a vintage car could be well within your grasp.

Do you have a vintage car you want to be restored? Fill out a free estimate form here!

Beyond MPG – Keeping Your Automotive Life Green

Keeping your automotive life green doesn’t mean trimming your car with Bermuda grass or just slapping a few green leaf stickers on the back. In fact, staying green is much more than just keeping an eye on your MPGs. It’s about maintaining and caring for your car in the most environmentally friendly manner possible while minimizing your environmental footprint. The following information can help lessen your environmental impact, no matter what you drive.

For starters, you might not want to wash the car yourself. As it turns out, washing your own car with a hose, bucket and rag wastes large amounts of water. The water runoff from your driveway can carry oil, salt and grease directly into local streams and lakes. Commercial car washes not only use less water, they also feature treatment systems that filter and reuse runoff water. If you still insist on washing the car yourself, park it on the lawn. The soil acts as a filter for runoff water before it reaches downstream water sources. Plants will also benefit from the phosphates in certain car wash detergents.

Keeping your car tuned up is another way you can keep it green. A properly tuned vehicle puts out fewer exhaust emissions than one allowed to fall out of tune. Most tune-ups involve the replacement of spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters and other basic performance and emissions related equipment. Not only will a tune-up keep exhaust emissions low, but it will also improve your car’s fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, according to the EPA. Regular tune-ups will also help your car maintain its original performance.

While you’re at it, have those fluids changed. Sooner or later, you’ll have to have your engine oil, engine coolant and other fluids changed, as these can wear out and compromise the performance of your car. An experienced auto mechanic at an automotive repair shop can easily change these fluids for you at a reasonable price, but if you plan to change the fluids yourself, make sure to do it in an environmentally friendly manner. Never pour your car’s fluids down storm drains or directly onto the ground, as these fluids can seep into and pollute groundwater. Engine coolant is especially dangerous, since it has a sweet taste that attracts animals and small children. Keep used fluids covered up in a sealable container and transport them to your nearest automotive parts outlet for proper disposal.

Can Your Insurance Company Tell You Where To Make Repairs?

If you have had an accident, and you need work done to your car, you are going to need to find a body shop. When it comes to getting your repair work done, there are two schools of thought. The first says that it is cheaper all around to go to a shop that your insurance company recommends. The other is that you should go to wherever you feel most comfortable.

Cheaper Is Sometimes Better

When it comes to making the decision, you should ask yourself whether it is more important to save money, or to get a good repair job. If you don’t care about your car as much, it could be better

 to go where the insurance company tells you to go, or if you don’t know where to go in the first place.

Insurance companies save money if you use a body shop in their network. They usually don’t have to pay for towing the car or storing the car in the shop. That savings can be passed on to you. If you’re lucky…

Your Rights As A Consumer

Learn How to Fix Dents in the Body of Your Vehicle; Using Eco-Friendly Methods

You can fix dents in your vehicle yourself using supplies you may have at home already. This simple fix can be accomplished in an eco-friendly manner due to the tools you will be using as well as the ability to do this yourself. For more eco-friendly ideas and techniques, be sure to visit Gili’s Auto Body eco-friendly body shop in Rockville, Maryland for your eco-friendly auto needs.

Some items are required before you can start this project. The items you will need to gather are: a power drill with a 1/16-inch drill bit, a screw that is 1/16-inch, a pair of pliers, piece of wet/dry sandpaper, fine grit sandpaper, sponge, water, auto putty, painting tape, primer and matching paint.

The first step in popping a dent out of your vehicle is to survey the area. Verify the best way area to penetrate the metal with a drill. This should be as flat of a surface as possible to assist in a straight drill hole. Plug in your electric power drill

and equip it with a 1/16-inch drill bit. Drill a hole into the center of the dent. The next step of the process involves actually performing the technique to pop out the dent.

To perform the next step, insert a a 1/16-inch drill bit into the center drill hole in the auto body. Grip the screw with a pair of pliers tightly and pull on the screw. This technique will pop the metal back out; and while it may not be flush and as perfect as before, it should be quite an improvement. The remainder of the process involves using putty to fill out the cracks and then it may be painted.

Use a piece of sandpaper to sand the dent scratches out; afterwards use a wet sponge to smooth the area out. Apply putty to the indentations in the dent, while filling every nook and cranny. You may smooth the putty out using your hands. Once done with the putty, allow it to dry and sand it smooth using fine grit sand paper. Apply painters tape around the specific area to avoid painting where you don’t want to. Prime the area and once dry, paint it.

This eco-friendly method of repairing a dent in your vehicle is cost friendly, since you are the one performing the task. This also allows you to see that the job is completed thoroughly and to your satisfaction. Be eco-friendly when repairing your vehicle dents and you will be happy about your choice.

Repair Simple Auto Body Scratches; The Eco-Friendly Way

You can sand smaller scratches out of your vehicle yourself by using a few basic supplies and techniques. This is a simple way to repair small scratches the eco-friendly way. For more in-depth and professional service that is also eco-friendly, be sure to visit Gili’s Autobody – a full service eco friendly body shop in Rockville, Maryland. The items you will need to gather for this job include: a very fine sheet of wet/dry sandpaper, a sponge, bucket of water, auto body putty, auto primer, auto paint and auto body painters tape. Once you have gathered all of the items, you may begin with prepping the area.

To begin, use a piece of wet/dry sandpaper to lightly brush the scratch in a feather like fashion. Wet a sponge in a bucket of water and use the sponge to assist in smoothing out the area being buffed out. The scratch has been successfully feathered when you can move your finger on the edge and not feel an edge on the scratch. The next step of the process involves using putty to fill the scratch as well as finishing touches.

Paint Can Be “Green”, No Matter What the Color

In our last blog post, we discussed some of what makes Gili’s Autobody a green auto shop. We do our best to recycle plastics and metals in addition to motor oil. That’s one way to be environmentally conscious: by being reactive, so to speak, by helping clean up a “mess” that was already made. However, we also act in a way that’s proactive, by making choices to act in an environmentally friendly way before making a mess.

One way we try to proactive avoid environmental damage is through the car paints we use. Once upon a time (let’s say in the ‘50s), most paints had a solvent base. Also called “oil-based paints”, you may have noticed solvent paints by the smell present on a freshly-painted building. On one hand, the solvent helps you apply the paint more quickly and leads to faster drying; on the other, after it dries, it releases chemicals into the air. Because of this health risk, more and more water-based paints are being used today.

State governments are more and more frequently passing regulations to dictate what kind of paints can be used in order to keep us safe, and in fact, roughly 80% of paints sold today are water-based.

If you’re wondering how to know if a paint is water- or solvent-based, you can check the can for instructions on how to clean the brush. Water-based paints are easy to clean, requiring just soap and water. Solvent? Turpentine.

At Gili’s , we use an environmentally friendly waterborne painting technology to meet the standards that will be set for the industry in Maryland over the next few years. By using these products, we reduce application time and materials usage while giving our customers the glossiest, most durable finish in the industry. Waterborne paints are odorless and 45% less harmful to the environment than solvent based paint.

As always, come down to Gili’s with questions about how to make your vehicle as environmentally safe as possible. Motor oil, paint, or anything else-every little bit helps! If any of these things seem unnecessary to you now, I can assure you that they will soon be the norm.

What’s Your Favorite Color?

Do you have a favorite color, boys and girls?  Ours is green. I know, I know, there’s something about the colors red and black when it comes to sports cars (need I remind anyone over the age of 35 of the scene in “Vacation” when Christie Brinkley pulls up in the red Ferrari?)

You can have your red or black; at Gili’s Autobody, we’re going with green. Not for our cars….for the environment. “Green” is the color of the 21st century. No longer used only to indicate slightly healthier than normal foods like veggie burgers, “green” is now a way of life, a lifestyle which includes recycling, building roofs to reduce air pollution, and eating organic foods which aren’t chock full of pesticides and other stuff.

At Gili’s, in addition to recycling motor oil as we recently wrote about, we also recycle metals and plastics. Take a bumper, for example. (No, really-take it to be recycled!) The bumper is just one part of the car which can be used again in a new car. If not, many parts of the car can be melted down as scrap plastic or scrap metal. About three-fourths of most cars is metal, sheet metal in fact. Almost 100% of that is recycled.

As always, each manufacturer is different but consulting with them will let you know if their bumpers can be recycled or not. In some cases, the best thing to do is to bring it to an auto body shop (like ours); in others, you’ll bring it to an auto dismantler to take off the bumper and recycle it themselves.

What else can be recycled from a car? If they aren’t scratched too badly, wheels and their covers can be sold as used parts. If not, they can be sold as scrap. Car seats can also be taken apart and their metal, plastic, and foam parts recycled.

If you have any questions as to what can or cannot be recycled, don’t hesitate to come on down to Gili’s and ask. The more we can recycle from your car, the better world we can all live in.

What the Heck is a Tweel?

So much of the car talk today focuses on technological innovation related to computers and the environment. Solar-powered cars….electric cars….cars that drive themselves! (I’m not gonna lie: this one scares me a bit. What, you didn’t read “Christine” by Stephen King?)

Here’s a piece of innovation which doesn’t require a built-in computer chip or GPS. Today we’re here to talk about Tweels. No, not tires. And not wheels. Tweels. Developed by Michelin, the Tweel (tire + wheel…get it?) is a product which may revolutionize car tires in the coming ten or so years.

The next-generation of tires may not look so different until you get close. They are actually see-through. In the words of a Michelin representative, “It’s a composite reinforced tread band connected to a flexible wheel via rectangular polyurethane spokes.” (Don’t worry, most Michelin employees probably don’t even understand it.) In short, the “tire” does not have air in it.

While driving, the spokes absorb the impact from the road and the bands move with the bending spokes before popping back into place. Thus far, in the early days, some wheelchairs and segways have already adopted these new Tweels as have some military vehicles as well, as they are less susceptible to damage from blasts, having no air in them. What are some of the benefits? There is no more need to monitor air pressure, as they have no air. They are more reliable, their weight-carrying ability is superior, as is their shock absorption and ride comfort. Bye bye, flat tires, bye bye air compressors….

The biggest disadvantage so far is that at higher speeds, the Tweel vibrates quite loudly and is noisy, and also generates a high amount of heat which could lead to problems. You can be sure that Michelin is working “fast and furiously” on this and will have these issues resolved in the coming years.

So be on the lookout for these new Tweels in the coming years. With all these improvements in the industry leading to a safer driving experience, maybe those self-driving cars won’t be a dream after all….

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