This WWII B-17 landing at Chicago Executive Airport has four air-cooled engines. The cars on the road below, however, must have quality coolant and cooling systems.

Some piston-engine aircraft are air cooled. The engines have oil to reduce friction within but no coolant. That’s not a problem for the aircraft as aircraft don’t get caught in stop-and-go traffic while flying. The air is constantly rushing in and around the engine. Even the propeller helps to pull the air through. As the air goes by it carries much of the heat with it.

Your car, on the other hand, can’t get away with an air-cooled engine. Your car engine is water cooled. A car engine produces a lot of heat. Even though your engine has oil to reduce heat-inducing friction, the moving parts moving rapidly against each other produce tremendous amounts of heat. Without the coolant, an engine will rapidly overheat and the parts could fuse together.

When you stop at a red light, go through the drive-up window of a diner or you’re caught in construction traffic, the only air running across the engine is the air drawn by a small fan. Without an effective cooling system you’re bound to overheat your engine with potentially catastrophic results.

The importance of a cooling system in a car is matched by the importance of good quality coolant. This is truer today than in years gone by.

“Many of today’s car engines are made up with a mix of parts constructed with aluminum, iron or composites,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “When you have different metals in contact like that they can create electrolysis. Where the aluminum is touching the metal, the metal corrodes and the aluminum eventually falls apart.”

Engineers understand the effects of electrolysis and design engines that will withstand those effects. Such engines rely on high-quality, extended-life coolant to retard that process. On the other hand, lesser quality coolant can actually promote corrosion.

Long before the parts inside your engine fall apart, they create corrosive particles that are carried away in the coolant. Those particles are apt to collect in narrow passages within the cooling system, such as in the radiator or heater core. As particles of corrosion build up they can eventually block arteries in the system. Even if they don’t, they’ll reduce the flow of coolant.

When a radiator’s efficiency is reduced an engine will run hotter. It won’t last as long before wear and tear takes its toll. Likewise, the heater core will do a lesser job of heating the interior of the car, a crucial factor with winter a couple months ahead.

Yes, winter is coming. That doesn’t, however, reduce the importance of coolant in your engine. That friction will continue to produce heat inside the engine on the coldest of days and nights. The coolant’s ability to maintain its liquid state when the car isn’t running is a factor in the winter and another reason to ensure your coolant/antifreeze is up to the task.

Call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 to have your coolant and cooling system checked. Through Nov. 31, Performance Unlimited is offering a “Free Cooling System Checkup,” as well as a “Free Charging System Checkup.” Between the two, you’ll be well on your way to winterizing your car for the season ahead.

What kind of winter will we have here in Northern Illinois and McHenry County? Some are predicting a harsh winter this year – bitter cold and lots of snow. Hopefully, they’re wrong. But, what if they’re right? Are you prepared? Is your vehicle prepared?

Preparation starts with having the right clothes and making arrangements for snow removal – either a good shovel and strong back, a snow blower or a contract for snow removal. Preparation, in terms of your automobile, is at least as important and probably more.

Some auto repair shops are aware of these concerns and are doing what they can to help car owners get ready for the winter ahead. Recently, Denny Norton, owner of Performance Unlimited, an auto repair shop in Ringwood, announced a Free Fall Charging System Check. He knows how important it is, on a bitterly cold day or night, to know that they car will start. But, there’s more to winterizing a car than just checking the charging system.

Car owners are also wise to check the cooling system as winter approaches. At a glance, that doesn’t seem to make sense – the cooling system? Yes, the cooling system. The fluid in the cooling system goes by two names – coolant and antifreeze. The two are one and the same fulfilling both jobs, if up to the task, with equal aplomb.

“The coolant cools the engine and helps to ensure it doesn’t overheat,” said Norton. “As an antifreeze, it ensures that it remains in a liquid state so it doesn’t harm the engine when it’s not running.”

If the coolant/antifreeze in an engine freezes, it can crack an engine block. Now the car owner needs a new engine. And, even on the coldest days, the coolant needs to cool an engine that’s running. Though it will take longer when the temperature is below zero outside, an operating engine can still reach dangerously high temperatures if the oil and coolant don’t work together to reduce and remove heat from the engine.

A Free Coolant/Antifreeze Check includes inspecting the radiator and ensuring the cooling system is operating correctly.

“We’re hoping, for drivers’ sake, for a mild winter,” Norton said. “But, if we have a rough winter, we hope everybody is ready.”

For more information about Performance Unlimited and their Free Cooling System Check, as well as their Free Fall Charging System Check, call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.

It’s comforting to know your car is ready for winter, assuming it is. Sure, we have a little while yet before we have to seriously worry about sub-zero temperatures and falling snow. But, if your car isn’t ready to start when that time comes, on a frigid day only a few months away, you don’t have to stand in a walk-in freezer wearing shorts and an Hawaiian shirt to know it will be cold.

When the car won’t start there are several likely offenders – the car battery, alternator and/or starter. All three are critical elements when it comes to starting your car. Maybe they’re doing fine starting your car now. Of course, it’s in the 80s out there, the oil is nice and thin and the engine is easy to start but, when the temperature is North-Pole cold, that oil will thicken some.

If there is a weak link in your charging/starting system, the cold will help you find it. And that’s one way to find it. You can wait until you have to be somewhere on a mid-January morning and discover, “Well, I guess my car won’t start when it’s this cold.”

Of course, you could also avoid the discomfort and inconvenience by having your charging/starting system checked now at your convenience and in the comfort of a warm summer day.

It doesn’t matter how well the alternator pumps electricity back into the battery if the latter won’t hold a charge. If the starter is drawing too many amps even a good battery will have trouble keeping up. And, if your battery is fine but the alternator isn’t putting out the expected electricity, there’s nothing to keep your battery fully charged.

Break one element in that chain and you’re in trouble. A cold winter day will send the dominos tumbling in a hurry. The result – “tick, tick, tick, tick,” as you turn the key hoping to hear the engine turn over.

It only takes a short time for a qualified auto repair shop, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, to check out your charging/starting system. How long does it take, sitting in a cold car on the side of the road, for a tow truck to arrive?

For more information, call Denny at 815-728-0343.

You’re driving down the highway thinking about work, those cute shoes you’ve finally decided to buy at the store or, maybe, that it would be nice to go out for dinner tonight. The last thing on your mind is the variance between your speed and the speed limit.

Just then, you notice the nose of a white car off the side of the road behind a large clump of bushes. As you draw closer, you see the lights on top and the uniformed officer inside. In a millisecond, your mind shifts gears as you simultaneously lighten the pressure on the accelerator.

The previously neglected speedometer now becomes the focus of your attention. You feel a sense of relief, assuming your speed is within the posted limit. If not, your pulse begins to quicken as your eyes shift to the rearview mirror. Gazing in the mirror you utter a little prayer: “Please don’t pull me over. Please don’t pull me over.”

Maybe the officer was busy writing reports and didn’t notice you speeding by, even if only slightly over the limit. On the other hand, you may see the lights go on and watch as the squad car pulls out behind you. Bummer.

 Tom, an Illinois State Trooper, recently shared some dos and don’ts of the proper etiquette when you’re pulled over for a traffic violation.

The first question, when you see the lights go on behind you, is, “Where should I pull over.”

Safety is the key factor, both for you and the officer. The officer is unlikely to appreciate it if you pull over where he or she has to stand in the middle of traffic while talking to you through the driver’s window. Since that officer can make an expensive decision on your behalf, if for no other reason, it’s best that you’re considerate of their welfare, too.

The protocol for pulling over depends on the type of road, as well. On a highway, the nearest shoulder is best – whether to the right or left. What you want to avoid doing is crossing multiple lanes in the process. However, on a side street, pulling to the right curb or onto the shoulder is customary. Be sure to pull over as far as safely possible.

Once you’re pulled over, then what? Tom said that you should just sit tight, though you may want to have your license and insurance cards ready when the officer approaches.

“Don’t exit the vehicle and come at the cop,” Tom said. Such behavior can make the officer nervous – never a good idea when someone has a sidearm.

He also suggests you keep your hands visible, such as on the steering wheel.

If you want to argue the ticket, that’s your choice but it probably won’t endear you to the officer. Your efforts will, most likely, sway the officer in terms of whatever flexibility they have in terms of deciding if you’ll receive a ticket.

Tom said that, with the State Police, if they pull you over they have to give you a ticket or a warning. “If I’m stopping you, it’s because of something you did,” he said.

Local police and county sheriffs may have more flexibility. How and when they apply that flexibility is about the same either way. The further over the limit you were driving, or the more hazardous your maneuver, the more likely you’ll receive a full-fledged, meet-you-in-court ticket.

Of course, you don’t always have to go to court. You can pay the ticket. Even Tom doesn’t recommend that.

“You can go to court and ask for court supervision or traffic school,” he said. The prior requires that you go a certain period of time without another ticket. It’s not readily available to those who commit a more serious violation, or for those who commit violations with frequency. Traffic school lasts about four hours.

If you pay the ticket, it’s considered a guilty plea and the ticket is permanently placed on your driving record. This makes it harder to obtain court supervision or traffic school in the future. It also bumps up the cost of your auto insurance.

In the worst-case scenario, if you have too many moving violations within a year, you may have your license suspended. How long depends on a point system worked out by the State: http://www.dmv.org/il-illinois/point-system.php.

This message is brought to you by Performance Unlimited where they distinctly hope that you’ll have a safe, enjoyable and ticket-free driving experience. If your car requires a little attention – repair or maintenance, the expert technicians at Performance Unlimited are there to help: 815-728-0343.

Good vision is a nice thing to have when you drive. It’s extremely helpful in avoiding accidents. With good vision, it’s easier to notice potential problems while you drive. With impaired vision, your awareness is diminished.

A child runs into the road after a ball. Do you see the child in time to stop or swerve away? A truck at an intersection runs a red light into your path. Will you recognize the danger in time? If you’re having trouble seeing the odds start to build against you.

Vision starts with a clean and clear windshield. Proper lighting and wiper blades are also imperative in dark and/or rainy conditions and at night. And this is not a 50/50 proposition. If your headlights work but your wipers only streak the window, your vision still suffers. And, if your wipers are great but you’re missing a headlight, you still have a problem.

Newer cars are sealed tighter than older cars. This may create a problem with moisture or frost building up on the inside of the windshield. To compensate, newer cars often use the air conditioning compressor to dry moisture from the windshield. You turn the defrosters on and, even if you’re blowing heat across the inside of the windshield, the AC is on and drying the air, too.

Once again, if the glass isn’t clean, what are you to do?

Properly cleaning the inside of a car’s windows is sufficiently difficult that there are videos on the internet showing you how. Some of these help tips work better than others.

Denny Norton, the owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, recommends an expert window cleaner for some solid advice on the subject. Bill Thomas, of Northern Illinois Windows in McHenry, has been cleaning windows professionally since 1990. When he cleans a window, it’s clear and streak free.

“The real key is to make sure the windows are really, really clean,” said Thomas. “For that, you may need to apply a little elbow grease.”

He also recommended using a cloth that doesn’t streak the glass or leave any lint on the windows, such as a cotton rag. Thomas also recommended using a proper cleaning fluid that doesn’t leave chemical residue on the glass, such as deionized water. Deionized water is pure and is available at many box stores and water treatment companies.

You may have trouble getting the glass clean if you’ve used a vinyl cleaner on your car’s upholstery, which can get on the glass. If so, the solution is the same but with extra elbow grease and, possibly, by repeating the process once or twice.

In the daytime, a window can look sparkling clean. But, the next time you’re driving at night, when headlights are coming at you, you may discover the glass is not as clean and streak free as you thought. It’s an unpleasant surprise you can avoid by using the steps above.

For more information about Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-0343.

Not too many years ago, car owners expected to get about 30,000 miles out of a set of spark plugs. Today, with advances in automotive design, 100,000 miles or more is not uncommon.

Spark plugs are an essential part of a combustion engine found in most automobiles. They are designed to fire an arc of electricity across two contact points. That arc initiates an explosion of compacted air and fuel particles. The explosion forces the piston down from its high point in the cylinder causing the crankshaft to turn. That motion is transferred, through the transmission and other parts to the wheels.

When operating under optimal conditions, spark plugs are relatively durable. When a vehicle is not operating at peak performance, often, the lifespan of the spark plugs are shortened. Of course, the shortened lifespan of spark plugs is not the only problem with a poorly operating engine.

There is a long list of problems that could cause a car’s engine to run poorly. These include problems with sensors, fuel injectors, loss of vacuum leak, vapor lock, a faulty onboard computer, improper idle and other settings, a clogged fuel filter, bad plug wires or distributor cap, inadequate oil pressure, worn and/or broken internal engine components and more. Bad spark plugs also fit into this list of potential problems.

The point is that, if you’re car isn’t running properly, it’s time to bring it in to a trusted auto repair shop.

“If your plugs are bad, your car will run poorly,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “And if your car isn’t running right, you can foul your spark plugs. Either way, spark plugs are an integral part of your car’s engine.”

When the plugs are fouled, the engine will run rough, use more fuel and have less power. An engine that is running that poorly can also damage a car’s catalytic converter. While spark plugs are relatively inexpensive, catalytic converters are quite expensive.

“The point is that, if your car is running poorly, you need to have someone take a look at it, whether the problem is related to the spark plugs or not,” said Norton. “And if you wait too long, you could cause other problems, too.”

“Hey, Hey!!” yells Jack Brickhouse over the car radio as Willie Smith slaps a three-run, 3rd-inning homer to help propel the Cubs to another division-leading victory. It’s July 12, 1969, and the temperature is nearing 90-degrees here in the Chicago area. Of course, you have your car windows down. Rolling the windows up on a day such as this is just crazy. Inside the car would quickly turn into a sauna.

There are some folks driving around with their windows up. At one time, that was the Lincoln and Cadillac crowd. On this hot day in July, 1969, however, more than half the people with new cars have paid extra for the optional auto air conditioning. A few others have gone to Sears to install an after-market auto air conditioning unit that fits under the dashboard. Still, many folks simply roll the windows down and sweat it out.

Today, in 2013, auto air conditioning is standard equipment on virtually every car. We don’t have to roll the windows down and dab at our sweaty necks with a handkerchief. We drive through the heat in the comfort of an air conditioned car that makes the hottest days as potentially pleasurable as a mild day in May. When the temperature goes up, the windows go up, too, and the air conditioning comes on.

Auto air conditioning is so common and reliable these days that we generally take it for granted. The last thing we expect is for the car’s AC to fail in its task of cooling the inside of our cars. While it doesn’t happen often, it can happen.

If a car’s air conditioning suddenly stops working, the first place to look for a solution is the fuse. If the fuse is blown, replace it with the recommended fuse (using a fuse rated for a higher amperage could cause serious problems and, possibly, a fire). If it blows again, bring it in to your trusted auto repair shop to have the auto air conditioning checked out.

If the fuse is not the problem with the car’s AC stops working, something else has gone wrong. For instance, the compressor could breakdown. But, most of the time, the problem with auto air conditioning is not something that happens all of a sudden. It’s a more gradually diminished capacity of the car’s AC to cool the air inside the car.

This happens because the auto air conditioning begins to lose its charge of Freon. This is a natural process overtime. It’s not even a bad idea to have your car’s AC checked and recharged each spring.

“Recharging the car’s AC is the way to keep it operating at peak performance,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “While we recharge your air conditioning, we also check it out to make sure there aren’t any apparent leaks and that the compressor is operating correctly. Any qualified auto repair shop will do that.”

Norton said that seals, valves and hoses can develop leaks but that usually isn’t the case. Usually, it’s just time for a recharge.

“At this point in the summer, as the days are getting hotter, if you didn’t charge you car’s AC earlier and it’s a little low, you may notice the air conditioning has to work harder or doesn’t quite cool the car the way it used to,” Norton said. “That’s not a problem. We can have your air conditioning working like a charm in no time.”

To have your car’s AC checked, or for more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.

With some exceptions, motorcycle riders make better drivers. The skills they develop and refine to stay safe on motorcycles translate to behind-the-wheel driving, too. In a sense, those skills are the antithesis of the level of attention drivers have while texting. To put it simply, qualified motorcycle riders are hyper attentive when compared to many drivers of automobiles.

Hyper-attentive driving means that they are actively trying to see everything that is going on while they ride or drive. At an intersection, they’re watching to see if someone will run a red light in their path. After all, the price of an automobile-vs.-motorcycle collision is fairly obvious. The motorcycle rider is going to lose that battle with a two-ton vehicle.

Someone in a car may not have the same sense of vulnerability in terms of potential accidents. After all, they’re protected by metal on all sides. Unfortunately, that sense of security is largely illusionary. If that weren’t true, states wouldn’t compile extensive records on traffic accident fatalities and injuries.

Smaller cars, often designed to improve rates of fuel consumption, are even more vulnerable than larger cars, though only marginally. All in all, the best way to improve your chances in an accident is to avoid the accident altogether.

Attentiveness is the key. But, motorcyclists are not merely attentive to what is happening around them; they’re also attentive to what can happen. They see the lights on the back of the parked car ahead and realize it may suddenly back into traffic. They see someone park and realize they might open the car door in the path of the motorcycle.

“When you’re riding a motorcycle, you’ll see children playing in a front yard and realize one of them could suddenly run into traffic after a ball,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based auto repair shop Performance Unlimited.  “If a driver up ahead suddenly hits the brakes because they almost missed their turn, motorcycle riders are not as surprised as other drivers. Motorcycle riders are always scanning their surroundings and expecting the unexpected.”

Motorcycle riders are, as a rule, also more aware of road conditions. They know what rain will do to traction and they allow more time. More time to brake doesn’t just apply in front of them; it also applies behind them.

The weight of a vehicle plays a significant role in the vehicles ability to stop quickly. The larger/heavier the vehicle the more the brakes will have to work to bring it to a stop. Therefore, motorcycle riders are cognizant of how close they’re following the vehicle in front and how close the vehicle behind is following them.

Motorcycle riders also know that the center of a lane is where the oil drips from a car’s engine. When that oil mixes with rain it creates a particularly slippery surface. That’s why motorcyclists will ride in one side or the other side of the lane but not in the center. If a car has to hit the brakes, and one set of tires is in the center of the lane, that set of tires may not grab the road as well.

Yes, there are some people on motorcycles who seem determined to tempt fate to the fullest. Most, however, are well aware how quickly an auto-vs.-motorcycle accident will adjust that kind of perspective for anyone with rational thought.

The point is that four-wheel drivers can learn from their two-wheel-riding brothers and sisters. Yes, it’s a terrible idea to text and drive. On the other hand, if you really prefer to avoid accidents, constant vigilance and defensive driving can go a long way.

What do you have planned for this summer? Are you going somewhere on vacation? Will you drive there? Maybe you’re not taking an extended trip but still planning to make same day-long excursions. In either case, you’re certainly expecting to have a good time at your destination. You may even expect to enjoy the drive.

The last thing you want to deal with while driving to the Milwaukee Zoo, fishing in Northern Wisconsin or even doing something closer to home in the McHenry County or Northern Illinois region is to have your trip interrupted by car trouble. Who wants to sit on the side of the road with the flashers on watching the other cars go by while you wait for a tow truck?

There are a number of automotive problems that could cause a costly inconvenience during your trip. For instance, you could have …

•    A flat tire
•    A car that overheats
•    Engine belts that break
•    Radiator hoses that burst (this could also lead to the overheating issue listed above)
•    A dead battery or faulty charging system
•    Steering or suspension problems
•    An engine that doesn’t run or runs so poorly you have to pull over
•    Brakes that fail

That’s quite a list. Before you get too worried, remember that you don’t see cars on the side of the road every other mile. In other words, there’s no reason to assume these problems will occur. Rather, they may occur. But, if you drive often enough, eventually, you will, almost certainly, experience one of these issues. The good news is that you don’t just have to drive along waiting for a problem to happen. You can do something to increase the reliability of your automobile.

Before you work yourself into a frazzle worrying, all you need to do is ensure that your car receives appropriate automotive maintenance. This is something you should do anyhow. But, if you are taking a trip, a trip where you’ll be farther from your trusted auto repair shop than usual, it’s a very wise idea to make sure your vehicle is up to the task.

It’s a good idea to bring your car in for an oil change every few months (refer to your owner’s manual for your car’s specifications). While changing the oil, a qualified auto repair technician will look your vehicle over for any safety and reliability issues. While no one wants to hear that their car has a problem, it’s better to hear it while you car is up on a lift than to wait for the car to tell you itself while you’re driving down a barren road in South Dakota.

“Maintaining your car is less expensive in the long run,” said Denny Norton, the owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “And it’s a lot more convenient. You also have peace of mind when you know you’re on top of your vehicle’s maintenance.”

You can ask Denny yourself by calling 815-728-0434.

You missed McHenry’s Green Street Cruise Night last week? That’s a shame. After all, a good time was had by all – hot cars, entertainment, good food. If you’ve attended Green Street Cruise Night before, which means that you’ve attended the annual summer event last year, or a previous year, you know what that means.

Green Street Cruise Night is the equivalent, for automotive enthusiasts, of a kid in a candy store. The city parking lots south of Route 120 and west of Green Street have been repeatedly filled, Monday nights in the summer, with an incredible array of custom and classic cars. So, if you did miss Green Street Cruise Night last Monday – not to worry – you’ll have another chance tonight.

Tonight, as you stroll through the parking lots, among the best Ford, GM, Chrysler, AMC and other foreign and domestic car manufacturers have offered over the years, you’ll appreciate the craftsmanship and ingenuity auto makers bring to the process. You’ll witness vehicles that were at the peak of automotive engineering in their day. You’ll also see examples of engineering excellence from today’s automotive engineers.

Some of the cars you’ll see have undergone radical customizations. The current version of the vehicle may only offer a limited reflection of the original vehicle that rolled off the assembly line years ago. With these fine automobiles, you’ll discover the imagination and creativity of car owners who see in the assembly line the base of something more, something different, something unique.

You don’t see a lot of cars coming off the assembly lines with blowers on the engines. For all their engineering prowess, car manufacturers tend to limit the use of a vehicle’s potential horsepower. Some custom-car owners seek to maximize that potential and it shows as you peruse the horses at Cruise Night.

There are other custom-car owners who have focused on aesthetics. They’ve taken the best automakers have to offer and changed it to fit their personal perception of automotive perfection. Chrome, anodized metal, layers of lacquer, leather and more: these are the tools of their imagination.

Others have spent their energies returning older vehicles to showroom condition. These cars take you back to the day when that ’69 Camaro was fresh off the assembly line and waiting at a dealer for its first owner to take it home. But, whether a vehicle is customized or restored, all the cars at Green Street Cruise Night have one thing in common; they were all handled with tender-loving care. They all represent their owners’ hard work, dedication and love for fine automobiles.
Some of the owners have done all the work on their cars themselves. Others have brought their cars to expert technicians for some of the work, such as the folks at Ringwood based Performance Unlimited.

“We can take someone’s dreams about their car and turn it into reality,” said Dennis Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited. “Whatever they can envision for their car, we can make it happen.”

For those who would like to join the ranks of exhibitors at McHenry’s Green Street Cruise Night, if you want some help, you can call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com for more information.