Performance Unlimited Blog

'Cooking' is a more appropriate term than you might think The McHenry forecast calls for temperatures close to 90 today and above 90 tomorrow. In the week ahead, the temperature will moderate somewhat with highs in the low to mid 80s. But that’s still pretty darn hot when you get in your car to go somewhere. It’s not unusual for the mercury to hover in the 80s and 90s in McHenry in late July and August. But, while we may be used to such temperatures, that doesn’t make it any more comfortable. Hop in your car on a 90-degree day, with the windows up, and you’re stepping into a virtual blast furnace.  According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, the increase in temperature inside an enclosed vehicle is dramatic. For an idea of what we’re looking at, consider this chart below:  Consider that, at 140 degrees, pork is considered to be cooked to medium. A whole egg is cooked at 144 to 158. Fresh beef, veal and lamb are cooked to a t...

You might call it good news; only 5% of all automotive accidents are attributed to brake failure. But, since there are, on average, 6-million automotive accidents every year, that’s still a substantial number of accidents caused by brake failure. That’s approximately 300,000 automotive accidents due to brake failure. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: More than 37,000 people die in road accidents each year More than 2.35 million are injured Automotive accidents cost about $230.6 billion each year On average, one alcohol-impaired accident results in a fatality every 48 minutes 47% of automotive accident fatalities involve someone who was not restrained by a seatbelt Distracted driving results in approximately 9% of fatal accidents  The causes of car accidents include: Driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted limit or racing – 16.9% Under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication – 10.5% Failure to keep in prop...

There is a misconception that winter is more harmful to car, truck and SUV batteries than summer. It’s not true. Summer in McHenry is harder on automotive batteries than winter. The reason for the misconception is simple. Winter thickens engine oil. This makes it far more difficult to crank an engine over and start your car, truck or SUV. The starter motor has to work harder to turn the crankshaft of the engine. That means that it is drawing more amps from the battery. If the battery isn’t up to the extra demand, the battery can let you down. And who wants their battery to let them down in the middle of a bitter-cold winter night? In the summer, the heat is a battery killer. Think about it; some people store their AA and AAA batteries in the freezer at home. Doing so slows the self-discharge of the battery. The same principle applies outdoors with your car, truck or SUV battery. If it’s frigid cold outside, the battery is simply able to hold its charge longer. Heat, on the other ...

There’s no denying that the 4th of July in Wonder Lake will be different this year. Public fireworks generally just aren’t happening this year due to COVID-19. That includes Wonder Lake’s annual 4th of July Parade and Fireworks. Gathering in large crowds just won’t do when the risk of coronavirus is high. And large crowds are an integral part of Wonder Lake’s traditional 4th of July celebrations. No doubt, next year’s Wonder Lake 4th of July Parade and Fireworks will set standards for the record books. This year, however, you’ll have to find some other way to enjoy the holiday. They say that the purchase of fireworks by private citizens is way up this year, probably in anticipation of the cancellation of public events. If you’re one of those who have purchased your own fireworks, a word of caution. Please, be careful. In normal years, hospital emergency rooms are filled with people who have blown off fingers, damaged eyes and otherwise harmed themselves with fireworks. Even when ...