Some say we are in a recession but that was not the case at Pebble Beach. The most prestigious car show in the world, in my opinion, there was top dollar paid for some rare cars. 2.5 mil for a 52 Jaguar C-type 5.1 mil 62 Ferrari 2.7 for a 58 Ferrari but top dollar still goes to a good old American muscle car 7.6 for a 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe . There were only 6 made by the man himself Carroll Shelby.I just cannot believe the money some of these vehicles are bringing, the odd thing is the Corvettes and some of the other cheaper collector cars are going for a lot less then top dollar. One that seems to hold its value is the Cuda and Challenger of the 70s vintage. Of course I only see the vettes and others on TV so it is hard to tell if they are in excellent shape or not, mainly with the Corvette and small cracks, as they tend to have do not show up on TV. An invitation to Pebble Beach would be nice but my letter of credit would not cover the cost of the invite.
All posts by John
Missing Brake Fluid
Where does my brake fluid go? When checking the fluids, on a weekly basis as you should be doing, you notice the brake fluid slowing dropping, with no noticeable leaks, until you decide it is time to add some. Hint: deplete the pressure in the system if you have ABS or for that matter on any vehicle built since 1990, safer to pump the pedal a few times then end up with a face full of fluid.As your brake pads wear the cylinder in the caliper moves out to take up the space from the wearing pad. Many new vehicles have large calipers and pistons and this is where your fluid is going. This is also why it is important to remove the master cylinder cover during brake replacement. Never let the fluid from the caliper return to the system when compressing the caliper this will contaminate the fluid and will cause ABS problems. Loosen the bleeder screw when compressing the cylinder and clamp off the brake hose. A set of plastic pliers is now available to block off the hose and they will not cause any hose damage. They are also self locking and cheap. Have heard of several internal brake hose failures, which are a SOB to diagnosis, I expect most of these are from improper pliers being used to block off the brake hose. Do not use a vicegrip better to go without then use them as a clamp. When I replace brakes I also exchange the fluid it is an easy time to do it and will prevent problems in the future. I have solved many ABS problems by changing the fluid. Do not let the fluid run low as you will need a scanner to reset the brake lite on many vehicles. Without the use of a scanner some of the fluid will not be replaced, on some ABS units, but unless it is in really bad shape this should not be a problem. If it is in bad shape seal the system, start and pump the brakes several times, and then run some more fluid through the system. Still bad time for a trip to a shop. Remember fluid does not run through the system it merely applies and releases pressure. This is why it is important to remove the fluid from the caliper as it is contaminated with wear from the piston seal and the outer wall of the piston the seal does not keep everything out.Remember it is a problem if your car doesn’t start but it is a huge problem when it fails to stop.
Oil Change Intervals
Oil change intervals can bring about as many opinions as hair color in women or brands of oil among techs. There are light and heavy duty among many other items to consider. Many of the newer one have the interval figured by the body computer taking into consideration number of cold starts, highway miles driven and time spent idling and several other factors depending on the model.When I had 3 cars to take care of I just changed one ever month, made it simple but then over the years my kids got cars they married and their spouses had cars and my stable increased to 5 of my own. Now the situation became a little different. I would say to check the owner’s manual first and to follow the schedule and weight of oil they suggest. Stay away from the 0-30 and 15- 50 and other extreme weights stick with either 5-20,( only during severe cold) 5-30 or 10-30 There is a certain amount of leeway in these schedules so they are not hard to follow. Many now allow 6 months or 6000 miles between changes sounds like a lot to me but oil and engines have improved. Use any oil that has a starburst on the container and stick with the same brand, I would also use a name brand and not a store label IE Checker or OReillys. GM, Ford, Chrysler and the rice burners all sell their own oil but it is usually overpriced.With the dollars we pay for our vehicles I think using synthetic is a no brainer sure it is a little more expensive but it also protects and lubricates more efficiently. If you live in a colder climate then I would definitely use synthetic it is more efficient at cold starts. Oil change intervals should also be shortened in the winter if you live in a cold climate. Today’s computer controlled fuel systems do an excellent job of cold start fuel control but there are containments entering the oil during cold starts and short trips during cold weather. Manufactures discovered several years back that a thinner oil lubricates the upper part of the engine more efficiently so they tend to recommend thinner oils at lower temperatures I would lean towards the conservative side of their recommendations by conservative I mean to use the higher temps on the cold side and lower on the warm side. Good luck and remember it is more important to change your oil regularly then to worry about schedules. If you change your own oil please dispose of it properly
Cleaning oil
A recent question about leaving the oil cap off for a brief drive, he claims it helps clean the oil.“Very little oil is kicked out but the open vent allows volatile impurities in the oil to boil off and really cleans up, or keeps clean, the (full synthetic) oil”!A fire under the hood will also help keep dirt from building up on the engine. Makes, about as much sense, another concern would be containments entering the engine before the oil filter and causing problems. I do not recommend nor do I think it is necessary to remove containments from your oil with this method. Simply change it when necessary.
Car Shopping
My wife has been looking at a new vehicle recently and I have to say I have been disappointed in what we have seen. I won’t buy new as I hate the depreciation the first couple years. She at first was interested in a Buick Rainer A really nice SUV but a little bigger then what she had in mind and it has no third seat, it is not offered as an option it did have an excellent ride and was very quiet. We have 4 grandchildren in town and she hoped to have room for them all. Next was the Buick Rendezvous, it has a third seat but neither the rear nor third seat should be called seats as they are so small and tight, and it rode like a truck. We also drove a Lexus and a Mercedes and we were very disappointed in them both. Nothing I could put my finger on I just was not impressed with them for the money they wanted for them. She bought a Pontiac Bonneville 2005 with 35K and every option available it is very similar in ride to the Rivera she is dumping. They are both excellent road cars with great gas mileage. This will be our 3rd Bonneville. I won’t drive it that much but I look forward to the heated seats this winter. I don’t know which my grandfather would hit the roof higher over heated seats or buying bottled water. The automotive sales game has changed a lot since I was last involved with it. No more high pressure in fact one salesman never even gave us a card just told us to ask for grandpa. Most just gave us the keys and said come back whenever. One had so little gas we didn’t have much of an option. Most cars we looked at we in very good shape and well prepared for sale there are a ton of vehicles out there with over a 100K.
High Mileage Vehicles
Many of the vehicles listed for sale that have high mileage often say it is mostly highway miles. Does this make a difference in the life of the vehicle? When you ask a tech it is like asking them which oil, tool brand or blonde brunette or redhead they prefer. It does cause less wear and tear on the doors and the interior and the brake system but as far as the engine goes there are several factors that come into play. Cold starts are when most of the engine wear occurs but synthetic oil eliminates a lot of this wear. Also the service or TLC in general the vehicle has had plays a major role in the life of the vehicle. Most drivers that put on a lot of miles tend to take better care of their vehicles as they want them to last and a breakdown would cost them valuable time. So it would play a role in the purchasing decision but many other items should also be considered. Cars with high mileage are usually used in business so most of the expenses are deductible and the owner should be able to provide a record of service. I tend to buy a car a I like and live with the repairs, my Bonneville has a new GM engine that runs great but the rest of the car is having problems, water pump, alternator, wheel bearing Etc. My is presently looking at a 2005 Bonneville and it is a nice ride, thought she wanted a SUV but she likes the Pontiac.
Flushing Coolant
This is the time of year when we start to see overheating problems, unless you live where I do as we have had an unusually cool summer, There are several things that can cause overheating, thermostat, low coolant, inoperative cooling fan all of these are easy to check if you don’t have a noncontact thermometer I would suggest purchasing one Sears has one for a little over $40 on sale. You will be surprised at the uses you will find for it. One overlooked problem that can cause overheating is a blocked space between the radiator and condenser. Easy to clean at the local car wash or at home with a garden hose. Also check for blocked passages in the radiator a simple check with a flashlight if they are blocked the radiator will have to be removed and professionally repaired. I recommend flushing every other year. To flush simply locate the input heater hose and attach a hose let the water run, until it comes out of the top of the radiator clear. If the coolant is severely dirty you may want to add a chemical flushing additive.There are also some odd problems that can cause overheating, a lose water pump impeller, an obstruction in the system IE a collapsed hose, air in the system. Do not run the old coolant into the storm drain as it will pollute some places this is also illegal.
Battery Cleaning
Cleaning your battery is just a matter of common sense. The myths that coke works as a cleaning agent is true but why waste part of a rum and coke. Baking soda also works but on older batteries with vents on the top or if you have a loose post some may get into the battery and then you won’t have to clean the new one. Most cleaning agents are baking soda so also be careful with these. The solution I use is 5 parts water one part vinegar one part oxy clean and a squirt of Dawn. I usually preclean with any orange or green heavy duty cleaner they all are about the same be sure to rinse thoroughly before using the second solution. A few minutes with a brush, and you have a clean battery it doesn’t hurt to remove the battery once in awhile and clean the tray, always check the area between the battery and the inner fender many manufactures run wires here Chrysler vans are prone to problems at this location. The connection between the terminal and the post should be shiny there are several brushes made for this, there is also a metal scraping tool but this removes to much material that may cause problems at a later date. One last hint that I have mentioned before spray the terminals with clear lacquer not only will it keep then clean but they will also look good and be easy to clean next time. If you need experience check for parasitic voltage and do a voltage drop test on the terminals you may be surprised.
Parasitic Voltage
Parasitic voltage is not a rare disease but it can cause problems when present. The most common parasitic voltage problem is when a battery top surface becomes contaminated with certain materials and creates a connection between the positive and negative terminals, most common on top past batteries, the amount of voltage is small but can cause problems over time. Very easy to check with a volt meter, check between both post and the top as in very rare instances it will only be present on one terminal.The other place parasitic voltage can cause a problem is the cooling system. The main cause is the different metals in the engine create a voltage in the fluid. Here again easy to check positive test lead in the fluid the other to the negative battery terminal. There should be no voltage present.FYI A voltmeter should be RMS capable as most are today and be able to read milli volts. I use a craftsman that sold for around $20 on sale.
Synthetics
Should you use synthetic products in place of the present lubricants? If there is a compatible product available then the answer is yes. If you have an older 4X4 then I would definitely replace the lube in the differential and transfer case the transmission is a matter of personal choice, the jury is out if synthetics will displace heat as well as transmission fluid, if you have a cooler or do not do heavy hauling then this is not a problem. I use Lube Gard,, increases the ability of transmission fluid to dissipate heat, in all my vehicles and do not use synthetic in the transmission. My 4X4 Dodge Dakota has a slight leak at the transfer case and I know synthetic would only make it worse, also I drive it only on occasion, or else I would change it. The differentials are synthetic. Synthetics will not in all cases increase a leak but it will in some cases IE the metal to metal seal on the transfer case split. First check your owner’s manual for the fluid that the manufacture recommends then go to the synthetic of choice web site and check that there a is a product available as a replacement. I binged, I use this instead of Google, and found the majority sites were Amzoil. I do not use Amzoil as it is hard to find in my area. Mobil one would be my choice. A little more money than most but they have the most experience and the largest product line. There are also some synthetic products available from the manufacturer. I would search the web for these as they are cheaper than from your local dealer. I would also check with the dealer if the vehicle is still in warranty to be sure this would not affect the it. When you first change the fluid in any gear driven part of the drive line you may at first hear a slight increase in gear noise. This is caused by a film on the gears from the old lube and this prevents the synthetic from adhering to the gear as it moves out of the fluid. This will go away in a very short period and if it does not then add a high pressure lube additive this will also help with a differential whine with regular fluid. If you rebuild a differential and replace the ring and pinion I do not recommend synthetic as a refill. The gears are self polishing from the metal particles in the lube and synthetic will not hold these in suspension. Synthetic can be installed after 3 or 4 thousand miles. Many of you who read this on a regular will be surprised by my mentioning several additives and I will explain this in greater detail at a later time.