Buying a car these days, is not as simple as the earlier days. There are so many options and the customer is, literally, the king. Cars that are manufactured these days, are more than just to carry people from one spot to another. Every customer is different and cars are designed as per a person’s character than need. To match the supply with the demand, there are different genres of cars hitting the automobile markets each year. One of these “new” types are 4WD cars. These cars are not only getting more popular with Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) but cars too. All SUVs and some pick up trucks either offer 4WD or All wheel Drive (AWD). At times, many cars offer both types of wheel drives which may leave the customers confused.

Before driving 4WD cars, it is important to know that it is unlike any other type of car. One needs to have the basic knowledge on how to handle this particular type of car. Understanding the operation behind the vehicle will lead to a deeper understanding of how to drive it. The general mechanisation of a 4WD is primarily to improve the friction and enable one to control the vehicle better, especially on uneven or slippery terrain. True to its name, this vehicle controls all 4 wheels seperately which uses the friction from the wheels to enhance the performance.

There are multiple advantages of driving 4WD cars. Not only off-track roads but they can driven on city roads too. Like every other car, over a period of time and usage, these cars may require maintenace and replacement of certain car parts. There are some disadvantage that an owner may face. For instance, the car dealer may not always have the corresponding car part for an old car. This may temporarily  leave a owner stranded as the shipping of the corresponding part may take some time. But, if the owner is fortunate enough, some local markets may carry the accessories he needs.

When an owner is buying a car part or parts from a car wrecker, it is important to make sure the product is in excellent quality. There is hardly a point in buying defective pieces and replacing the pieces over and over again. But when one buys replacements, one needs to know the quality of the car part before investing in it. But how does one make sure of that? Knowing about the car will help the owner buy the best quality car parts.

There are different types of 4WDs that are available in the market today; a part-time 4WD and a full time 4WD. A part time 4WD gives the option to switch between a 2WD, a 4WD or an AWD. When driving on off roads, one can activate a 4WD, but while driving on crowded city streets, a 2WD is the best. A full time 4WD is the opposite. The system is a 4WD under all conditions and it cannot be changed. The important thing to be kept in mind is one must weigh their needs and options before buying a car; be it any kind.

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Common Rail is basically an advanced fuel injection system which uses a tube to inject pressurized fuel directly into the car engine while maintaining a constant high pressure. The pressure that is present in the engine ensures that the fuel breaks down while administering the injection which helps to mix with the air. This helps to reduce the pollution normally caused by automobiles. When the air and the fuel is mixed the harmful emissions from the vehicle drops. There is an interesting history behind this engine’s emergence.

The first prototype of the common rail was introduced by Robert Huber in Switzerland in 1960. The design was taken ahead by Dr. Marco Ganser at the Swiss Federal Institute in Zurich. It was introduced to the international market as a product in the 1990s. During that time, it was fitted in with a commercial vehicle and sold.

The principle of the CRDi and the conventional engines is not all that different. The only difference is the traditional engine was controlled mechanically and the CRDi is controlled by an electronic control unit. The unit regulates the amount of fuel injected as well as the pressure utilized and required for both injection and combustion. The CRDi works with alongside the solenoid valve. This is an electromechanical valve that controls the flow of liquid or gas by stopping or running the flow of electric current. This valve is capable of controlling the quantity and the time of the fuel engine and calculate the amount of high pressure which is generated by the engine. The first few cars to be put on the market, with this engine were Alfa Romeo 156 in 1997 and Mercedes Benz C 220.

Working of this Engine

In a conventional engine system, the high pressure fuel pump stores a reservoir of fuel at a pressure of at about 29,000 pound-force per square inch (psi) in a common rail. This rail is, in reality, a tube which divides into a fuel injector valve which is fully computer controlled  and which has a precision-machined nozzle and a plunger which is driven by a solenoid valve. With the help of an on board computer, the engine regulates the fuel quantity and pressure. It also notes the time when the injection is actually injected and at the same time, increases the pressure at which the fuel is injected. This usually results in better combustion and fuel atomization which leads to lower exhaust emissions, increased fuel efficency and lower fuel consumption.

Like every new technology, CRDi has its own pros and cons. It has a couple of positive points such as, it offers 25% more power and torque as compared to convential engines. In countires such as India, since diesel is cheaper than petrol this form of injection works as an advantage. The disadvantage is, this form of engine is costlier than a conventional engine.

In the recent times, most big names in the automobile industry have adopted this engine. Some of these names are Fiat, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, General Motors and so on.

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