I agree with those saying that the sky is falling with the addition of 15% ethanol. The gates Co. is even jumping on the band wagon, they are not sure if there fuel line can stand up to long term exposure to 15%.
I was a skeptic when 10% ethanol was introduced, and was correct in being so. Fuel injectors were fouled by rust and cetane build up, worse when cheap fuel was used. I owned an Amoco station at the time and we seen very few injectors problems. Later I owned an Auto repair shop across from a cheap fuel location, and we seen a lot of injector problems.
I don’t think that the fuel industry can regulate the percentage of ethanol as close as they say they can. Temperature makes a huge difference when it is added to fuel. I have read where the present percentage varies from 8% to 12%, IF we would go to 15% it could go as high as 17%. That is way too high, and would cause damage. This would lead to many problems in older engines.
Leaving it at 10% and regulate it closely, is also an option. I would only agree if the farmers and those that say it is hurting our food supply would agree, and I doubt that is going to happen. It would also have to be proven that the problems with power and fuel mileage are incorrect and I don’t think they are.
Drop ethanol and provide dollars to further develop power options such as eco-boost.
I just don’t think using food for power is a good idea.
Pick-up Truck
Trivia… Ford, who made the first pick-up trucks, shipped them to dealers in crates that the new owners had to assemble using the crates as the beds of the trucks. The new owners had to go to the dealers to get them, thus they had to “pick-up” the trucks… And now you know the “rest of the story”.
The VietNam Wall
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall. There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger. 8,283 were just 19 years old. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old. 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old. 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old. One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old. 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. 31 sets of parents lost two of their sons. 8 Women are on the Wall. 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall. The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths. The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties were incurred.
Tesla Is A Safe EV
I just don’t see the big hoopla being made over 2 Tesla EV being crashed and caught on fire. True both crashes resulting in a fire is a concern or is it just a fluke. I assume many Tesla’s have been in crashes but it is only the ones on fire that reach the news. Having a fiery video to show is also a plus to the news media. Tesla has taken several precautions to protect the passenger compartment from fire. More than has been taken to protect it from a Fuel fire. We have driven vehicles for years with a container containing an explosive fluid IE gas tank without many safeguards and except for the Pinto and a few Chevrolet pickups with side mount tanks not had a lot of problems. Have any Tesla’s been crash tested? I am curious to hear the insurance industries take on their safety. Take into consideration that they are very fast and responsive for an EV, many drivers are going to drive past their abilities and cause problems. I think Mr. Musk is making the industry nervous with his forward thinking design and unlimited resources and the press is filling its 24 hours of news at his expense. On the other hand they are spendy and out of a lot of drivers reach.
600,000 Uniques
Why Are LEAF Sales Up
Nissan Motors LEAF has finally taken off their sales so far this year surpasses 2012. The sales increase has caused a supply problem and all dealer order may not be filled. A problem many manufactures would like to have. The question I have is this because they cut the price $6000, made a lease plan $199 a month available or moved there production to the US. Perhaps it was just time for the buying public to take a look at buying a EV and all of the previous items made them take a serious look at an EV. I also think more Americans like to buy US products where possible. Many and I am one have just started to accept the price of gas is going to stay high and we should start to plan our transportation purchases accordingly.The LEAF is the highest selling EV in the US but I think it still has some drawbacks and the main one is charging. IF you want a slow overnight charging system most household’s electrical systems can handle it, but if you want a quick charge the cost can be substantial. Also charging stations available to the public are hard to find. I just don’t think that the average driver is ready to plan his trips around available power or charging stations. I know I would not be comfortable if I had my grandkids and waiting for a LEAF to charge before I had transportation. I don’t see myself with only one vehicle either. I don’t know how high gas would have to get before I would give up my 4X4, I do know I am driving less. I am doing more several stops in one trip and planning my errand runs. Also living in North Dakota I just don’t see a LEAF being my vehicle of choice when it is -40 and the snow is blowing .
Drivers Switching
Business before friendship or Hass has the money and Smoke does away with an old friend, Ryan Newman. Bring in Kevin Harvick or Budweiser’s sponsorship money and so the silly season of switching drivers begins. Many are waiting to see who lands where, Kurt Busch, is one on the bubble, his past may hurt him, I think him or Ryan will end up at RCR, depending on what Richard decides about his Grandson, and the other at Furniture Row. Tony Stewart and Gene Hass will have 3 of the most sought after sponsors in the garage area with Mobil1, Bud and Go-Daddy. Of course RCR is OK with Menards and Cat who may be leaving. With Richard Childress grandsons coming up he would be smart to keep an old dog like Jeff Burton around in some capacity and as of now he is a member along with Paul Menard and . Driving the #3 it should not be hard to find sponsors for Austin to make him the # 3 driver. Which comes first the money or the driver, Teams have to have the money to field a car before making a commitment that is why when a driver brings a sponsor along it is much easier to put a deal together. They have to have the money to field a team before making an offer and once the top drivers start to go it does not take long for others to fall in line, and there are not that ,many top drivers looking. I do think Kevin Harvick is making the right move; it seems to give their career new life when they make a team change. As we all tend to get in a rut so do drivers. One driver I think is a sleeper in all of this is AJ Allmendinger he did well at the Indy 500 and may go to open wheel if the situation arises.
Fuel Prices
I wish someone would explain to me how gas prices can be in the high $3 range and at times above $4 when crude is $93. I don’t mind paying a fair price even the 43 cents we pay for gas tax I think is fair. I just don’t understand how the Exxon’s are getting by with what I consider price gouging and at times it could be considered profiteering, which is illegal. Our economy has made some strides at improving but as long as energy prices stay high the economy is not going to improve past a certain point. Everything we buy has to moved from point A to point B. Remember nothing happens until someone sells something to somebody and after the sale it has to be delivered. Washington DC has not made any movement to improve my life style, lowering gas prices would be a move in the right direction. 1 in 5 kids at sometime goes without a meal I am sure this would improve if energy prices were lower. A family should not have to choose between gas to get to work and food for their kids.
Veterans families
As we honor and thank the veterans and serving military, today don’t forget the families of current military personnel they also serve and sacrifice. I really miss the Hooligans fly over on this day of course with the cloud cover there would not be one but I still miss it. I know this does not mean much to many of you but the Hooligans were a Air National guard unit that flew cover over Washington DC during 9/11 and they have since changed missions and no longer fly fighters.
Coolant Flush
Every spring the subject of flushing the cooling system comes up. It is almost as if some DIY flush as a rite of spring. My opinion is that you should flush for 4 reasons.
- Coolant is over 5 years old.
- You have GM orange extended life coolant in you r system. If it is over 3 years old even if it is the original get it out. This coolant is affected by air infiltration into the cooling system and will turn to a gasket destroying sludge very quickly.
- You have anything more than a slight parasitic voltage across the coolant to ground.
- it is dirty cloudy or in any way not pristine looking.
Use a glass container to examine the coolant closely, or place some on a clean paper towel this also works with transmission fluid. The only test that requires any explanation is the voltage test. Place the negative on the negative battery cable and the positive in the coolant do not touch anything other than coolant, you should read .02 volts or less, if it is higher start the engine if the voltage increases you have a bad ground on a component. Start by turning all components on and off if the voltage jumps you have found the culprit. No problem found ground the heater core using a simple flat ground wire. Flush and recheck. With the many different metals and plastics used in the manufacture of a modern engine this is becoming prevalent on a regular basis. Owners of vehicles that have a problem bleeding out the air after a complete drain, mostly expensive European with oddly mounted engines. They will cheat the system by draining only the radiator and performing this twice as often. This will work if you never let the coolant deteriorate. When replacing the coolant stick to manufactures recommended fluids. Why we need a dozen different antifreezes I don’t know there should be a standard.Use caution when workings on a hot engine never remove the cap until cool. Dispose of your old coolant properly.