It is that time of year again to check the little things we don’t do on a weekly or monthly basis. Most of us do a walk around of our vehicle on a regular basis, but there are things we miss.

• Lube and check the door locks including the trunk. This is important on vehicles with remote functions as we never use the key and the locks can become inoperable, A major problem when the battery dies in the remote.
• Check the license plate light, had a few too many and should not be driving, this is one of the major reasons law enforcement uses for stopping a vehicle.
• Check the wiper blades and don’t just run your finger across them but clean them with a alcohol swab or something similar. I use either WD 40; hey it has to have some use besides cleaning gunk off.
• Check the spare for air and yes the compact spares do take that much pressure.
• Check your headlights for brightness, one of the problems with the modern bulb is they lose considerable lumens before they burn out. As it happens over a period of time we don’t notice it unless we are paying attention, often we tend to think they are dirty. Also are your lenses cloudy a simple fix.
• Check the tranny fluid this is often not done on a regular basis as the engine has to be up to temp and running. Check your owner’s manual for the proper method to check the level as many are different.
• One last one that may seem obvious but check where you park for fluid spots, often the vehicle is parked when we are close to it and this is often overlooked.

Having to replace the intake manifold gasket at 43K in my wife’s 2005 Bonneville I decided some research was necessary on Dex cool. What I found is the best example of planned obsolescence I have ever witnessed. Introduced in 1996 it has changed very little if any since then. As a coolant it works until it is introduced to air, according to GM, IE you have a slight coolant leak and the system runs low, it causes the coolant to deteriorate rapidly. The coolant does not have to be that low but just a slight loss of volume in the radiator can cause problems. The intake and manifold gaskets are also unchanged to prevent the coolant from causing a problem. There was a change in the gaskets a few years ago but it had nothing to do with coolant contamination. Dex cool is a organic acid technology and when it breaks down tends to drop out inside the engine in the low spots. Dex cool can turn to a gooey, muddy, orange corrosive gel that will attack the plastic surfaces and the gaskets causing leaks. In severe cases it can clog the heater core, radiator and in some cases the water pump. . In severe cases this can harden and actually push the gaskets out of place. If air was in fact the cause of the problem why doesn’t the coolant in the overflow container turn to sludge? Basically all 27 brands of coolant start out the same it is the additives that are added for corrosion protection that cause the problems. For years this protection came from silicates. Recently more of the brands are using OAT and a few are using both. The actually cause of this problem is unknown and the only cure is to replace the Dex cool with a good quality green antifreeze and replace it every 2 years. Why it happens to some vehicles and not others is the question that is unanswered. GM says that the radiator cap may be the answer a cheap form of prevention and I do recommend replacing the cap with an aftermarket when doing the first flush. Even if your coolant looks fine it may be carrying a small electrical charge which will cause corrosion. Check the parasitic voltage with a volt meter, positive lead in the coolant and the other to ground you should have very little if any voltage. If voltage is present replace the coolant and check the engine grounds. I install a ground wire from the radiator to the body, a little anal perhaps but remember the radiator has very little if any metal to metal contact. Rubber hoses and mounted in bushings. There is a class action suit for this problem but that is for a later date.Before I get a ton of Emails, yes I did say aftermarket radiator cap if there is a problem with the GM cap why use another when a aftermarket will work, perhaps better.

Just was posting about a 1964 Mercury Comet with 576K on it. I think that high mileage vehicles are going to become rarer as time passes. What are you going to do with a 5 year old Focus and it needs one of the several computers that it has for a horrendous cost, could be as much as half the worth of the car. The constant transmission goes out on your rice burner and again the cost is prohibitive, you have to go borrow money at the bank to repair might just as well buy a new car, same payments just for a longer period. Body shops have been seeing this for a while now, blow a couple air bags and a little body damage and your car is headed for the salvage yard. This may be a blessing in disguise as more used parts will be available. Have you ever noticed where most computers are located, where are are likely to be destroyed in an accident, there are a few under the dash which is a little safer. Mounted on the inner fender is not a good choice however in the event of an accident. ABS and HVAC controllers are the same story, expensive and poorly placed. We fight to keep home computers cool and the manufactures place them in the engine compartment. As engine compartments become more cramped and hotter I believe we are going to start seeing heat problems on several components as the current day cars get some miles on them. It is going to cause some difficult decision making if we should repair or replace, of course if the price of cars keep going up this may not be that large of a problem.

With the introduction of V-6 engines that are either super or turbo charged, a word of advice on oil change procedures. Most charged engines use engine oil to lubricate the moving assemblies. These move at a very high RPM and need constant lubrication and if certain precautions are not taken when the oil is drained you will cause problems. The most critical of these procedures is to fill the filter with oil before it is installed this prevents oil starvation on start-up while the filter fills with oil, true this is a very short period but it is enough to damage a device with the high RPM of a super charger. When I did my own servicing I always filled the filter before installation, no reason just seemed like the proper thing to do. A quality filter is also important as the charger, more a super then a turbo can be damaged by minute particles not removed by a cheaper filter. Brand and type of oil is also important, stick to the type of oil that the owner’s manual calls for and if possible use a quality synthetic. Contrary to popular belief there is a difference in synthetic oils they are not all manufactured the same. Most formulas are a highly guarded secret so it is hard to say which is which. Mobil one is in its own world as to how it is manufactured, it has been rumored for years they use ethanol. Any quality brand will suffice. A synthetic blend will not work in place of synthetic. True synthetic such as Amzoil the jury is still out on. If your charger is not lubricated by engine oil follow the recommended service to the letter, checking the oil level in some is a pain but it must be done. Asked the service writer where I get my oil change and he showed me a check list they go through when servicing the new Eco-Boost engine, it is a Ford dealership, they of course recommend only Ford synthetic and I am sure GM is doing the same for their new oil.

General Motors will build its 100-millionth small-block engine on Nov 29, a milestone for the company. It is headed for GM’s historic museum.Introduced in 1955, remember the tri colored 555 Chevy with the continental kit on the rear, it has been used to power everything from passenger cars, boats and industrial machines. Currently Chevy, Cadillac and GMC use it in the United States while Vauxhall and Holden use it overseas.Chief engineer Ed Cole transferred from Cadillac to Chevrolet, and started to save the design, deceasing weight and adding power. It was a way build engines that took advantage of current production techniques.I wonder how many 3.8 GM has built, I am sure it will, if it hasn’t already hit a milestone. It doesn’t have the industrial applications like the V8 however an Ii don’t think it is used overseas.Speaking of engines it looks like the Eco-Boost by Ford is not working out like planned as it has numerous complains of low power. These have mostly been towing problems. When will the engineers learn power or mileage you can’t have both.

The most important part of a wintercheck is a weekly walk around. Start by turning on your lights and emergency flashers. Starting on the driver’s side check the wiper and tire go to the rear and check the rear tire and continuing on check the rear lights, now you know why we turned the flashers on.Dont forget the license plate light. Going to the passenger side check the tires and wiper, check the front lights, turn off the flashers. With some help have someone apply the brakes check the brake lights and turn signals, go to the front check the turn signals and flash the brights.Under the hood, check the battery terminals, all fluid levels, if you have ABS be sure to bleed off the pressure before removing master cylinder cover, pay attention to not only the fluid levels but also condition.Do a visual inspection of the engine compartment, looking for leaks, loose parts, hoses etc. and belt condition. You will usually find several items you only want to keep eye on for possible future problems. Many suggest a penny to check for tire wear, I prefer to use the, if they look worn out time to replace. If you tend to be a little anal as I am I would also purchase a few test strips for the brake fluid this can prevent a spendy ABS repair. Here again if in doubt with a fluid change it. 2 fluids I would also smell as well as a visual inspection are the trans and power steering. I was against fluid changes for a number of years but as the cost to repair and the refinements to the systems I am now a fan of fluid replacements. Replacing the brake fluid has cured many an ABS problem and we expect a lot from our transmissions, do not flush but drain completely and replace the filter. I used to do this every Sunday but since I have retired I tend to do it when I am puttering around. The most important thing is to do it; it will prevent many problems from catching you unprepared.

It is that time of year when we start to worry about our cooling systems and overheating. One word of advice if you think your cooling system needs flushing do it. Better to be safe than sorry. If you have the orange dex cool then definitely flush if you see even the slightest hint of contamination. With the 3.8 it is expensive to replace the manifold and if you run dirty dex cool it is not a matter of if but when you will replace it. You may also replace the engine if too much coolant remains in the oil for too long. Many models have this same problem including the head gasket but the GM 3.8 and the Ford V6 seem to be worse.Flushing is really simple dirty out clean in. Drain the system after filling with water several times to get out as much old coolant as possible. If really corroded consider a cleaner. No matter how hard you try some will remain if you can access one a air pressure aided tool to form a vacuum and remove and install anti freeze is a great tool, just be sure your compressor is adequate to provide enough volume. My 35 gallon 140# works fine but it is close to the max. On many new vehicles it is almost impossible to reach the radiator drain. If you have a radiator with tanks on the side, which most are today. Slice a 7/16 hose, or anything close you have, at an angle and insert it into the rad all the way to the bottom, a blast of air across the hose and it will drain. It is a good idea to jack up the rear of the vehicle to aid draining. I use good old green anti freeze along with a bottle of water pump lube and anti corrosion. Many of the newer rice burners, and some others, require a certain type of anti freeze if you have one of these stick to manufactures recommendations.

To warm or not warm is the question? The temp has a lot to do with the answer. The colder it is the longer you should let your vehicle idle. Below 20% I would suggest pre starting the engine and let it idle for a minute for every 10% below 20% IE at 0% 3 minutes at -20% 5 minutes. There is no need to idle your car till it heats up, comfortable yes, but not necessary. If you park in a garage and more so if it is attached these times may be shortened but this is a good rule of thumb. Above 20% by the time you hook up your seatbelt, check your mirrors, set the radio and make sure your cell phone is on mute is plenty of warm up time.Idling does not do any damage or shorten the life of an engine. Today’s fuel system’s have total control over the amount of fuel your engine is using and will not let it run to rich. If your check engine light is on then it is a different story. Some believe synthetic oil would allow shorter times but not only does your engine have to warm up the transmission and power steering and all the other parts in general have to warm up. Techs in New York during the recent blizzard did some research on an idling engine. A 3.8 GM uses .5 of a gallon of gas when idling from cold start for an hour. A 4.7 Chrysler, like in my truck, uses .6 of a gallon for an hour. The only question I have is I believe these were performed in a warm shop. If they were performed outside I believe they would have been slightly higher. One last tip if you use auto start set your HVAC system on one lower then high fan and defrost when parking at night. There are also relays available that will kick on heated seats and rear defrost. Sounds like overkill to me but those heated seats sound comfy.