MAZDA TRIBUTE RECALL

Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 217,500 Tribute SUVs in the United States due to a problem with the throttle that could make it difficult to slow down a vehicle after a driver fully or nearly presses down the accelerator. The move comes a day after a similar recall by Ford Motor Co. of 2001 to 2004 model Escape SUVs. Ford and Mazda jointly developed the affected Escape and Tribute models, and they were assembled by Ford. The Japanese automaker's recall affects vehicles made for the 2001 to 2006 and 2008 model years that were equipped with the 3-liter, V-6 engine and speed control. Ford recalled 423,634 Escapes in the United States and 484,600 worldwide for the problem. U.S. safety regulators are investigating whether the throttle issue was a factor in the death of a teenager driving an Escape in Arizona earlier this year. There have been 68 reported complaints of stuck throttles, including nine injuries and the Arizona fatality. The problem in these vehicles stems from "inadequate clearance" between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, Mazda said in its filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Mazda said its 2005, 2006 and 2008 Tributes used an engine cover for its 3-liter, six-cylinder engine that was similar in design to the 2001 to 2004 model Tributes. As a result, the company also recalled those models. Mazda did not make a 2007 Tribute, according to the automaker's NHTSA filings. Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel said Ford changed its engine covers for the 2005 model year. "We have determined that the engine cover in the 2005-2008 Escape isn't affected by the issue," she said. "In 2001-2004, it was one large engine cover. In 2005, we moved to two smaller engine covers." Read more: http://www.autonews.com

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How often do you really need to change motor oil?
By Brandy Schaffels, Senior Editor | TrueCar – 4 minutes 40 seconds ago.. .
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Do you change your oil every 3,000 miles? The majority of drivers on the road have been bombarded by advertising that recommends changing their car's oil every 3,000 miles, but the truth is that interval is no longer really necessary. Yes, engine oil does get dirty, and when that happens, it can clog engine parts, but if you’re driving a car that’s less than five years old, you’re probably wasting money — and oil — if you change it as frequently as that. Yes, knowing when to change oil is not as simple as some ad campaigns would have you believe.
Changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles was necessary in the 1970s, when most cars used 10W-40 oil, which tended to wear out within about 3,000 miles. Thanks to improvements in high-quality lubricants and tighter tolerances in the assembly of automotive engines, the 3,000-mile baseline simply does not apply to many cars on the road today; in fact, automakers now recommend you change oil at 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 or even as high as 15,000 miles for newer models under ideal driving conditions. For example, Toyota recommends you change oil at 5,000 miles for a 2005 Tacoma pickup, Honda recommends 7,500 miles for its 2002 Odyssey, General Motors suggests 7,500 miles for its 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, and Ford recommends 10,000 miles for its 2011 Fiesta. A 2008 Porsche Boxster can go 12,000 miles between changes, and a 2010 BMW 3 Series can go up to 15,000 miles before you change oil under ideal conditions; with this kind of complexity, it’s easy for consumers to be confused.

Almost 15 million Californians change their motor oil every 3,000 miles or more often, using more than 150 million gallons of motor oil each year – enough oil to fill 255 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to a recent study by CalRecycle. CalRecycle spokesperson Jeff Danzinger says their studies indicate the state could reduce total motor oil consumption by as much as 10 million gallons per year if motorists were to change oil according to manufacturer recommendations. "If you're changing your oil too soon, you're needlessly creating waste oil and putting a strain on the system and supply," Danzinger explains.

(Photo: JASON ANFINSEN/Flickr)And that’s just California — wonder how much oil is being wasted across the entire United States by people who have fallen victim to advertising and don’t follow the intervals recommended in their owner’s manual? Across the country, reprocessors treat about 1.1 billion gallons of used oil yearly according to the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Unless you’re driving a car that's more than ten years old, or under super extreme conditions, there’s really no reason to change your oil at 3000 miles anymore. Let’s put that amount into dollars: Changing motor oil according to manufacturer specifications would reduce motor oil demand in California by approximately 10 million gallons per year, and could halve the amount of money those drivers spend on oil changes, which average about $25 at quick-change facilities and can cost significantly more if your vehicle uses long-life synthetic oil. Under normal driving conditions, following the automaker’s recommended intervals will not affect your car’s engine, its performance, or your warranty.

What Is Considered Severe Use?

Severe use involves extensive idling or driving frequently in stop-and-go traffic; operating in cold temperatures below 10 degrees or extreme temperatures above 90 degrees; extreme humidity; repeated short-distance trips of less than five miles; towing a trailer or hauling heavy materials; or using E85 fuel more than 50 percent of the time. If you do drive in any one of these conditions in a typical week, you are driving in severe conditions, and may need to change oil more often.

What Happens if you Don't Change Oil in Your Car?

As Alina Tugend of the New York Times says, "It just gets dirtier and dirtier. It’s like mopping the floor with a bucket of water and detergent. The water starts out clean, but the more you use it, the filthier it gets. Eventually, you’re making the floor dirtier if you don’t change the water." Dirty oil no longer lubricates properly, increasing friction, operating temperature, and causing the engine to wear faster.

Do You Know When to Change Oil?

Your vehicle’s owners manual will tell you how often you need to change your oil. If you drive a newer model, the car may just tell you when you need to change your oil. Since 2003, General Motors has equipped nearly its entire North American lineup with the GM Oil Life System; in fact, since the 2010 model year, nearly half of American carmakers now offer Oil Life Monitoring Systems to tell drivers when their car actually needs its oil changed, including Acura, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini. These Oil Life Monitoring systems automatically monitor engine characteristics, driving habits, cold starts, short-distance trips, and the climate in which the vehicle is operated, and then notify the driver when it is time to get an engine oil change with an signal on the dash indicating it's time for service.



If you are an extremely low-mileage driver you should change oil at least once a year. Otherwise, if your vehicle is equipped with an oil life monitoring system, you can trust the info/alert in your dashboard to tell you more accurately when you need a change. Don’t have an Oil Life Monitoring System? Consult your owner’s manual, your auto manufacturer’s official website, or authorized dealer for more information. Curious about your car right now but don’t have an owner’s manual handy? You can find suggested oil change intervals for many makes and models all the way back to the 2000 model year on the nifty widget at www.checkyournumber.org.

Tired Of Changing Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

Then trade in that beat-up 1970's jalopy for something newer! Consider these new models that boast 10,000 to 15,000 oil change intervals:

All 2012 Audi models suggest you change oil at 10,000 miles
All 2012 BMW models suggest you change oil at 15,000 miles
2012 Ford Fiesta, Flex, Focus, and Mustang models suggest you change oil at 10,000 miles
All 2012 Jaguar models suggest you change oil at 10,000 miles
2012 Lincoln MKT and MKX models suggest you change oil at 10,000 miles
All 2012 Mercedes-Benz models suggest you change oil at 12,000 miles
All 2012 Mini Cooper models suggest you change oil at 12,000 miles
All 2012 Porsche models suggest you change oil at 10,000 miles, though some can go as far as 12,000 miles between oil changes
Nearly all 2012 Toyota models go 10,000 miles between oil changes
All Volkswagen models can go 10,000 miles between oil changes


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This article is from TRUE CAR

NLC CAVED IN ON FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Fuel price now N97 compare to N65.Why the suspension of strike? let me guess, The talk with the government official was satisfactory.However NLC has to save face so a modest increase would be fine for now? A struggle is a struggle .Labor went on strike to stop subsidy removal but negotiated a deal to calm the country down.Then what?let me guess,there will be a gradual removal of subsidy which will eventually caused inflation of goods and services only this time the people suffer more because each time there is an increase in fuel prices the traders increase their prices so in essence the consumer pay three or four time for the removal of subsidy that would have been done once or resisted totally. i can predict now that revolution in nigeria would not include the NLC. In the main time please fellow nigerian buy 4cylinder engine vehicle,ride buses to any where you can afford to,travel in group in one car when possible,Just do whatever you can to reduce consumption and save some money because our so call leaders can disappoint us when we least expect them to. God bless the people republic of Nigeria.

The truth about Nigeria fuel subsidy

Our problem as a nation is lack of "Patriotism". Corruption, as a worm, haS brought us to where we are. Corruption and lack of patriotism makes a leader and its followers turn national treasury into private wallet..Who stealS from his own house? But if you don't care about what happens to your house or where you lay your head then you can steal from it. Simple, every man for himself in Nigeria. It's all about what i can get from the followers and their leader.. We need a rebirth as a nation. As for the fuel and the so call subsidy, why the subsidy in the first place? True we are blessed with crude but we can't power our cars with crude (raw materials) or run generators with crude. Hence the need for refineries. Sorry, I forgot most of our refinery are dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. Why.......corruption or negligence ? So, we have to import refined oil? Hmmm and now we have to pay what everyone else in the world pays for refined product...Hhmmm we are so angry...Hmmm Poor people ...Do you remember taking N2,000 naira or a cup of rice to elect your president, senators, governors, or house member?Hhmmm ...yes i think they want their money back.... Did i hear someone say i did not... Did you vote? What did you vote for? Religion or ethnicity? You. Yes you .. Has your candidate ever run anything successfully before you elected him i.e., business or an agency not tied to government? What about you driving a 6 passenger gas consuming SUV or jeep to work by yourself to show you've arrived ....The more gas you consume(demand) the more expensive the price of gas(petrol)...Believe me there is enough blame to go around . We need a rebirth of our nation....To be continued

THE POLITICS OF DEBT CEILING

We are being told by our political leader that we need to cut spending and stop raising the debt ceiling.The other wing said no we need to raise taxes . Debt is debt. You have the creditors and the debtor. If you continue to borrow money and increasing your own debt ceiling until such a time that our creditors say we are concern you may not be able to pay your interest or principle because of your income(revenue) then we would be force to stop raising the ceiling.Income VS expenditures.Now Low income,high expenditure = default on loan obligation or the creditors cut the credit limit themselves or no one touch our bond the what next? Bankruptcy. The banks cut my line of credit because they said my debt to income ration was too high though current on my debt obligations..so why do you think it would not happen to us as a nation? we are simply pushing the debt to our children's children..people wake up and do the right thing.

AMERICAN DEBT VS GREECE DEBT

A lot of people and analyst had speculated that America may be next among the countries to go into flame over debt? Please note America and Greece are two different countries though both in debt and about to go into default. However Greeks are not as productive as American. Any country with excess liquidity or foreign reserve still prefer to lend their money to American or put such in American treasury. American are by far the most innovative people in the world with the best ivy league schools in the world. One of the suggestions made by some analyst to solve the debt crises is to role back the Bush tax cut to Clinton era which will save us about $3.9 trillion over a decade? Now the question is what happen to entitlement programs that gulp 11%of GDP and growing? How did we get to be so much in debt? Simple American love debt .As a matter of fact it is the sole engine of their economy. Another question is American spent more money on programs that bring little to nothing to GDP. So to me the debt crises can be palliated but not solved permanently if we don't reign in spending. The debt crises can however be solve through balance approach to spending,eliminate trade deficit n favor of balance trade, some tax holidays for companies to bring in their overseas profit and for government to mandate those companies to create certain numbers of jobs per certain billions brought in with tax holiday.Rolling back taxes to me amount to tax increase and increase taxes during recovery to me will slow growth.
Just my two cents.

FIRST FEMALE IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR

Christine Lagarde became the first woman to head IMF. Her candidacy became unstoppable when United State and Russia announced their support for her candidacy together with some other major countries. She is a lawyer by profession and had been the finance minister of France since 2007. The question however remain: Developing countries need better representation at this this body. Developing countries borrow more money from IMF than developed nation..who would protect the interest of these nations without diversification of the personnel that runs this group. European has enjoy monopoly of the leadership of this institution. With Us 17% voting share why not an American this time.

Just my two cents