Were paying $1 for a gallon of Fuel. The auto industry is exploring energy-saving ideas that they would have considered zany just a few years ago. Automotive history is ripe with tales of inventors with promising new engine technologies who were never able to bring their “ideas” to market.Ethanol Injection One of the most promising new ideas in energy efficiency comes from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The proposition: get more power and efficiency out of turbocharged motors by injecting ethanol, methanol or E85 (85% methanol, 15% Fuel) into the engine at times of higher demands for power. Shows a 30% increase at MIT. “With aggressive turbo charging, you get a heavy case of knocking if you try to use regular fuel.” The direct injection of ethanol into the combustion chamber has an evaporative cooling effect and eliminates the knocking. Ethanol Boosting Systems thinks it is possible to get as much as 330 horsepower and 360 foot-pounds of torque from a 1.9-liter engine using regular-grade Fuel as the primary fuel. Fuel Tech, Meet Diesel Daimler and General Motors are experimenting with motors that run on Fuel but combine features of traditional Fuel engines (fuel ignited by a spark) and diesel technology (fuel ignited by compression of fuel and air). Daimler calls its version the DiesOtto. Two-Stroke, Four-Stroke An even more radical long shot is an internal combustion engine that switches between two- and four-stroke operations. Most consumers associate two-stroke with chain saws, grass trimmers and smelly exhaust,.The Camless Engine Over the past two decades, automakers have adopted variable-valve technology, in which various mechanical systems vary the lift and duration of valves opening and closing for intake and exhaust in order to maximize power and efficiency and minimize exhaust emissions. This technology in one form or another is widespread in modern automobiles. The next big breakthrough could be the camless engine, a motor that does away with the conventional camshaft to operate the engine valves and replace them with electromechanical or hydraulic-powered values.The lure of the camless motor? A significant reduction in internal friction from powering a crankshaft and associated belts, gears, etc., as well as precise control of valve timing. The challenge is designing a camless system so that a possible failure of the valves is not catastrophic to the engine; other issues are reliability, noise and vibration
Lahe Havsau
Lake Havsau is a strange town to a North Dakota guy. They have no streetlights and this makes it very dark the stars are unbelievable, I had forgotten how beautiful and numerous they are. For some reason they are even brighter than they are at the lakes where there is also very little light.They have no storm sewer system they have dips in the streets that take care of the runoff.There is no such thing a drink of cold water as the pipes run very close to the surface. No grass just rocks and more rocks, they bragged that the desert was alive with color after the recent rains, there was some but not what I expected. The people are very friendly and the service in the stores and restaurants was great ours has been going downhill recently.A number of beautiful older cars but you can tell the ones that are not garaged the paint is literally burnt off. The parks and area around the lake and channel is clean and well maintained as are the waterways.The place we stayed was a new twin home in excellent shape but they tend to skimp on the building materials IE doors windows flooring is not what you expect to see in a $250K house. Coyotes roam the town at night not as frequent as the town grows but still seen frequently. Thew public buildings also have lockers for your gun to be stored in when you enter the building Thye stay on daylight saving time year roundExcept for the lack of green grass I had an excellent vacation and wouldn’t mind a return visit but not for more than a couple weeks. I still think Florida is nicer not quite as dry so it is greener.
Grand Canyon
If you have not made the trip to the Grand Canyon get off your duff and go. With $3.35 gas and in a motor home it was still worth the trip. The immense size is almost too much for your mind to grasp. It is so colorful and has many different formations. We were on the south rim (North rim was not open). There is a 7mile drive’ Hermits run that we took with the motor home, normally you have to take a shuttle but due to the fact I had my cane (only need it when I walk long distances) along we got a handicapped pass.There are 7 stops along the run where you can pull over and look out over the Canyon. They were all different and fantastic. The one pleasant surprise is that the Grand Canyon is not overcommerlized we did not find a decent souvenir outlet. There may have been some on the way in but we did not stop there. There was a few times when were a little too close to edge for comfort (I am not a big fan of heights) but all in all it was a great trip.On Tuesday we went to the sand dunes by Yuma, once again this is a trip worth the time. Would love to take a dune buggy up through them. There were several on the top when we were there. They really need a road through the dunes so you could get a better look but I suppose this would destroy the natural beauty. My daughter in law is prego and is going to start a blog about the bathrooms of the Southeast United States, as she has to go about every 50 miles. More about this and the Towns later.Before any one complains I know this is not DYI related but thought it would be of interest.
NASCAR Drivers Complaining
Tony Stewart comes in second and complains JR, has a higher finish than most of last year and also complains about the tire. Jeff Gordon says he has never worked so hard and felt as if he had driven a 1000 miles. Give me a break with NASCAR being so competitive a top 10 is a great finish sure it’s great to win but there can only be one. Also remember the money you are being paid. I just don’t think you are working too hard. Some of your crew work all year for less than you made on Sunday. And they have to fix your wrecks after you use your car as a weapon. I think NASCAR should make some drivers fix their own car and then race it next week.
Toyota Wins
OK Toyota has won its first race I give the cat in the hat a lot of credit and also to his organization for taking a Toyota to the winners circle after only 4 races. Let’s not overlook the fact that there were 2 other Toyotas in the top 10 along with 3 Chevy’s and 2 Fords, Dodge was missing from the top 10. It was a honest green flag finish. Sooner or later these leaders have to quit racing each other allowing the first place to pull away. Sad to hear that Bill Davis is closing down the # 27 because of lack of sponsorship. I think we will see several more teams follow. Tony Stewart complained about the tire after a second place finish. I wonder if Hoosier sponsors one of his outlaw or other cars. I wonder if there is enough of a profit center for other manufactures to jump in also Goodyear is the official tire. Donny Schatz is from my area and I know he has been doing great after Tony bought his team; I put him in the same group as Danica Patrick after one team gives them a start they leave for another team.On to Bristol.Gentleman charge your batteries. !
Shops Slowing Down
Tight budgets are causing car owners to put off minor repairs, and the result is more expensive repairs in the future. When you wait to have repairs done, a $100 job turns into a $400 or $500 job.As a result some small shops are in danger of going out of business for lack of customers.The price of gas is so high; people are using their cars less. If its not being used it won’t break.”The price of crude oil has doubled since 2005 from $50 per barrel to $104 a barrel.With labor rates between $65 and $110 an hour, it drives customers away.Tools cost $10,000 to $15,000 for the average Tech so these labor rates are not out of line. When the cars are finally brought in, it is far more expensive then the original repair would have been.One trend is that parents of young children are having repairs done quickly.This is a sign that the dollars are there just where do you want to spend them.Another trend is that, as shops slow up they tend to get picky on what is needed for repair and what can wait. Don’t have an answer for this but I still think the honest shops that do good work will come OK in the final result.Also this has be a boon to the DIY industry but for some reason the aftermarket sales are falling I think DIY are still doing just what has to be done.
5 Lap Races
OK NASCAR it is time to take some action about the end of the races lately. Everyone is trying to win in the last 20 laps. We end up with a wreckage strewn track and a yellow caution ending. I don’t have a solution but there must be one I know at one time they discussed leading at 1/2 would have points awarded. Fans spend big money to see an end that is not under the yellow. One of the problems is that there are numerous teams all at about the same level and this makes for some close racing. There are also a number of drivers fighting for there jobs and there is big money on the line. Well see what Atlanta brings but I am afraid it will be more of the same.Lots of racing left this year so I hope thing improve dont know what I would do with my Sunday if I only the last few laps of a race were worth watching and sitting through red flags is also boring.
Asking The Right Questions
Taking your vehicle to get worked on can be intimidating, especially if you’re not familiar with the lingo associated with vehicle maintenance and repair. However, next to your home, your vehicle is most likely the second most expensive investment you’ll make, so it’s important to make sure you leave it in the right hands when something goes awry. “Some customers are afraid to ask questions because they feel intimidated by technicians,” says Bob Arlotta, NAPA 2008 Technician of the Year. “But it’s your right as a customer to ask as many questions as you want. Any auto care center not willing to answer your questions is probably not a good choice for your vehicle maintenance needs.” Whether you need a problem fixed immediately or are simply searching for an auto care center that can perform routine maintenance, there are a number of important questions that all vehicle owners should ask before turning their keys over to an automotive technician: 1. Are you ASE certified? A common indication of quality service is a certificate of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE’s mission is to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals. Arlotta recommends checking with your local repair shop to ensure the establishment and its technicians are in fact endorsed with an ASE certificate. This certificate confirms the quality of work you can expect from the facility is high. If no ASE certificate has been awarded, it’s probably a good idea to take your vehicle elsewhere. 2. What payment policies and guarantees do you offer? Before approving any work to be done, it’s important to ask about the facility’s labor rates, warranties and payment policies. Auto care centers willing to provide this information up front, in writing, traditionally produce high-quality work because they know they’re accountable for it. Also, before letting a technician inspect your vehicle, it’s important to find out the cost involved. Not all auto care centers provide free estimates, and you don’t want to be stuck paying a costly inspection fee you didn’t approve beforehand. 3. What is your used parts policy? Some garages have been known to pass off used parts as new to unsuspecting vehicle owners. To ensure you’re getting what you paid for, Arlotta recommends asking the facility about its used parts policy before having any work done on your vehicle. Does the garage use used parts? Can you request they only use new parts? Can you see the parts before they are installed on your vehicle? 4. Do you have a list of references I can contact? To really find out about the facility’s service record, it doesn’t hurt to request a list of references who have frequented the shop before. They’ll be able to provide an overview of their experience with the technicians and how satisfied they were with the work that was completed. If the facility cannot provide you with a list of references, Arlotta suggests asking friends, neighbors and family members if they have frequented the facility before. 5. Can I receive a written explanation of what work was completed on my vehicle? Requesting a detailed breakdown of what repairs were done on your vehicle not only helps you maintain pristine records but also keeps the auto care center accountable for the work they completed. According to Arlotta, these records are extremely important, especially when warranties are involved. News source: NAPA Auto Care
Extended Warranties
The mail brings you an official looking postcard warning you that your vehicle warranty is about to expire. Also this is your FINAL warning. Everyone receives one of these on occasion. The first clue should be if this is so important why is it on post card? You have 2 choices on what to do with this mail, file it in the round file or save it for fireplace kindling. Missouri has loopholes in their insurance laws, which they are working on repairing, that allow this type of misleading advertising to occur. These warranties are very expensive and do not cover many types of repairs, exclusions that deny coverage are also misleading, and they have a high deductible.There are numerous extended warranty companies that are reputable, but they are also very expensive and I do not consider them worth the expense. I never buy an extended warranty and I have never been sorry sure I have had a few things fail but the expense to repair them was far less then I would have spent on the warranties over the years
Serpentine Belts
I believe it is time for a discussion on serpentine belts. I know many of you cringe at the thought but they are not that scary. Serpentine belts came about so an engine could be installed transversely and the old belt system took up to much space at the front of the engine. True on some of the newer vehicles they are almost impossible to install in fact on a few newer vehicles they are hard to see. One trick is to either buy or rent one of the new ratcheting belt tools and a belt installer, which is only a rod with a fork on the end. They are both a knuckle saver. Serpentine belts are one of the most oversold items in the quick lube bays, behind transmission flushes. If no one has ever tried to sell you one check yours because you probably need one, as they didn’t want to sell you one as it was to difficult to install.In over 30+ years I have only seen 2 or 3 belts actually fail, usually they fail because of a driven component locking up and destroying the belt. It is surprising how cracked a belt can be and still perform and usually they will make noise before failing I think this is why we see few actually fail as the noise they make is unbearable.A good rule of thumb is if you have cracks that are starting to line up across the belt or more than 4 or 5 in an inch then replace the belt. Or if the edges look frayed or the belt has become stiff replacement is in order. If the edges are frayed check the alignment of the pulleys, as they may be a problem. One again they are not that scary just take it off and install a new one.