The work that you do to prepare your car for coming out of storage is just as important as the work done to get it ready for storage. See the Winter Storage link for details on that process. Taking your time and doing the job right will help you on the road to many years and miles of trouble-free driving.
Winter is winding down and it's time to bring your car (truck, motorcycle, or other motorized vehicle) out of storage. Before you jump in and turn the key, there's a lot of work to be done in order to get your car ready for that first start-up and test drive.
Change the oil: Oil will build up condensation over the winter months. It can also become contaminated with water and acids that can lead to premature bearing failure and rust inside your engine. Before starting your car, change the oil and filter.
Charge the battery: Even if your battery has been on a trickle charger over the winter, test it and give it a fresh charge up to full strength.
Check/replace ALL fluids: As with your oil, other fluids can also be prone to water and other contaminates. Check all fluids (brake, coolant, transmission, windshield washer, rear end) to ensure that they are clean and the levels are where they should be. Winter storage can be hard on all fluids and they should be changed more frequently than on your daily driver. Even if you don't do a lot of summer driving, fluids can break down and cause damage. Consider replacing all fluids on a 2-4 year cycle. A handy way to remember is to change all fluids every leap year or every even-numbered year.
Check/replace all filters: Check all filters (air, PCV, fuel) for dirt or contaminants and replace them if necessary.
Bleed the brakes: Also make sure the master cylinder is topped up from a new, previously unopened can of brake fluid. When doing the next step (tires) check your brake shoes while the tires are off. Also check to make sure all four brake mechanisms (disc or drum) are functioning properly with no fluid leaks or cracked hoses.
Check the tires: Block the car up on axle stands and take off all four wheels. Carefully check your tires for sidewall or tread cracks. If you find any, replace the tire and consider replacing all four. Regardless of their condition or mileage, tires will degrade over time. Bridgestone recommends a maximum tire lifespan of 10 years, regardless of mileage. Also check your tire pressure and, if you haven't already done so, take them to a tire shop to have the air replaced with nitrogen. You'll get better tire pressure retention, cooler running tire temperatures, and less temperature fluctuations. All this will lead to improved handling, better gas mileage, and a longer tire life.
Lights!: Do a walk-around with an assistant and check all lights to ensure that they are working properly. Replace any bulbs that are dim or burnt out. Now is also a good time to walk around the car to ensure that everything is as it should be on the car and there is nothing stashed around or under it that could cause you grief when you move the car.
Lubricate your cylinders: Starting your engine is when you cause the most wear. If your car has been sitting for an extended period (3 or more months), your cylinder walls are more than likely bone dry. Remove the plugs and squirt some oil or upper cylinder lubricant into the cylinders. This is also a good time to check the wires for cracks and the plugs for wear or build-up and replace them if necessary.
Turn the engine over, but don't start it: With the battery charged and the spark plugs or coil wire removed, turn the engine over several times. This will help to lubricate the cylinders (assuming you didn't skip the last step) and will also prime the oil and fuel pumps.
Prepare for ignition: The battery is in, the plugs are in place, the wires reattached, and the fluids have been changed. Remove the breather and prime the carb with Ez-Start or similar engine starter fluid. Gasoline isn't recommended as it can spray back and catch fire. The flames may look cool to the casual observer, but they won't do the paint or rubber on your classic any good at all. They can also wreak havoc on the garage.
Add gas de-icer to the tank: Condensation can build up in your tank even if it was full when you parked it. If you added a fuel stabilizer to your tank, your gas should be good but it will still break down to some extent. Gas de-icer will help improve combustion so that you can burn off any bad gas or water in the tank. Make sure the de-icer that you use is the proper type (carb or fuel-injected) for your car.
Fire it up: When you do finally start the car, let it warm up slowly and let it come up to operating temperature without revving it. The easiest way to to this is to adjust the idle speed on the carburetor, but remember to set it back once the car has warmed up. Replace the air breather and let the car run for a few minutes. If it's still up on blocks, check the brakes and transmission by putting the car in forward and reverse gear. Use caution when doing this so that you don't pull a "Bueller" and have your car go flying off unintentionally. Shut the car off and check for fluid leaks. While the car is off, double-check the oil level.
The test drive: Fire it up again, double check the brakes, and take it for a 20-30 minute run. Try to go somewhere with little traffic so that you can drive without the stop and go congestion. Take along a cell phone or a buddy in another vehicle in case of break down. Listen to your car for any odd or unusual noises and lightly test the brakes and steering.
One final check: Once you return home and have shut your vehicle off, check again for any fluid leaks. Once it has cooled off, give it the first wash and wax of the season and get ready for another fun summer of safe and fun cruising.
CanadianRods.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Why Ethanol Is The Wrong Solution
Ethanol has been touted as the solution to the U.S. dependency on foreign oil. Its usage as a vehicle fuel has sparked debate from the scientific community with as many studies extolling the benefits of ethanol as there are the drawbacks. Some will say that the only studies favouring ethanol are the ones sponsored by those with an economic or political interest in its success, but in this ongoing series of blog entries, I will attempt to give you the undisputed facts and why I think that ethanol is the wrong solution to the problem of oil dependency.
First, a little history on ethanol and the auto industry:
Ethanol has been around since 1840 in North America. It first served as lamp fuel and in 1908, Ford adapted the Model T to run on it. Henry Ford called it “the fuel of the future” but in a few short years his plan had failed. Even back then, ethanol production needed to be subsidized by the federal government in order to survive.
In the 70’s, ethanol was once again brought forward as a solution to the oil embargo. Federal money went in to help build 163 ethanol plants in the U.S., but even with a tax credit of 40 cents per gallon, 89 plants closed within a few short years.
So why is ethanol gaining popularity today? There are several reasons and I’ll try to highlight a few of them here.
The price of oil: Oil has more than tripled in price from under $30 per barrel in 2000 to over $100 per barrel in 2008. As the price at the pumps rose, the public started to complain and the government started looking at alternatives.
CAFE ratings: The U.S. Congress enacted a law that would allow car manufacturers to take excess mileage credits for vehicles that were capable of using E85. I’ll have more on CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) ratings in a later post, but suffice it to say as SUV that gets 16 mpg on gasoline and 12 mpg on E85 would get a CAFE rating of 29 mpg. I call it "The New Math" by George Bush. Back on topic, CAFE ratings were going up in order to increase fuel efficiency and American manufacturers were facing multi-million dollar penalties if they didn’t reach the targets that were set for them. While import manufacturers were focused on the car market, the American producers were selling more and more trucks. By fudging the numbers of E85, or flex fuel, vehicles, American manufacturers could still produce fuel-inefficient vehicles and still meet the higher CAFE ratings. On a side note, the poorly thought out ecoAUTO rebate program in Canada gave cash incentives to consumers who buy flex fuel vehicles even though these vehicles got poorer mileage than other vehicles in their class and E85 was only available at a grand total of two gas stations in all of Canada.
The war in Iraq and misplaced patriotism: We’re all familiar with George Bush’s “you’re either with us or your against us” attitude and the effect that it’s had on misplaced patriotism (remember Freedom Fries?). Well, GM started an ad campaign with the slogan “Live Green, Go Yellow” that touted E85 as a way to reduce the dependence on foreign oil and promote fuel production in the US. The ad campaign neglected to tell you that your mileage would suffer by 25-40%, that your annual fuel costs would rise, that your tax dollars were subsidizing the ethanol industry, and that GM was in the flex-fuel business so that they could reach their increased CAFE ratings without actually increasing their vehicles' fuel efficiency.
So beyond all this, why is ethanol the wrong solution?
Ethanol is not compatible with older fuel storage tanks: More on this in a later post, but ethanol is a solvent. It is not compatible with fuel storage tanks manufactured prior to 1986 or lined single-wall steel tanks. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment issued an advisory in February, 2006 stating that fibre-reinforced plastic storage tanks are not compatible with ethanol (even at a 5% blend) and that it will cause a 30-50% reduction in structural strength. It states that pre-1979 tanks cannot use ethanol blended fuel and those built between 1979 to 1986 would require a leak detection system. It’s important to note that ethanol is absorbed in to the walls of these tanks and destroys the protective liner.
Ethanol is not compatible with older vehicles: If you own an antique or classic car, ethanol is not compatible with your fuel system. Since it is a solvent, any rubber hoses or gaskets will be damaged and could result in a fuel leak. Any sludge buildup in your tank will be released and could potentially clog fuel pumps, filters, and carburetors or even cause engine failure. Another problem is that ethanol absorbs water. While this may not be a problem for vehicles that run year round and constantly replace the fuel in the tank, an infrequently run classic car that gets stored for the winter will suffer from this. A lot of antique vehicles can be adapted to run on ethanol by replacing tanks, lines, filters, and rubber components. Switching your car from a carburetor to fuel injection will also help, but for Concours, show cars, or fully restored cars, this isn’t an option.
Ethanol production fuels inflation: It’s simple Supply and Demand economics. As farmers switch to corn production to meet the ever-increasing demand, production of other crops fall. The increased demand causes corn prices to rise and the lack of supply of other grains causes their prices to increase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned in late 2007 that the diversion of corn to ethanol production will cause record corn prices. Since corn is used as a primary feed source for livestock, beef and poultry prices will rise. The move from other grains has already caused the wholesale price of flour to double and it is expected to double again by year-end. Expect the price of your bacon and egg breakfast to go up, as well as your pasta lunch, the side order of bread, that glass of pop or beer, and your dessert to increase significantly this year.
Ethanol doesn’t target the real problem of consumption: The reason ethanol is being proposed as a fuel source is to combat dependency on foreign oil. We simply consume too much oil. Ethanol doesn’t reduce that consumption, it just replaces it with something else. As stated earlier, it will actually cause an increase in consumption. All things being equal, if your driving habits don’t change, you’ll use 25-40% more fuel, plain and simple.
To summarize: Ethanol is wrong on so many levels. Let’s abandon this ill-conceived experiment before it’s too late.
First, a little history on ethanol and the auto industry:
Ethanol has been around since 1840 in North America. It first served as lamp fuel and in 1908, Ford adapted the Model T to run on it. Henry Ford called it “the fuel of the future” but in a few short years his plan had failed. Even back then, ethanol production needed to be subsidized by the federal government in order to survive.
In the 70’s, ethanol was once again brought forward as a solution to the oil embargo. Federal money went in to help build 163 ethanol plants in the U.S., but even with a tax credit of 40 cents per gallon, 89 plants closed within a few short years.
So why is ethanol gaining popularity today? There are several reasons and I’ll try to highlight a few of them here.
The price of oil: Oil has more than tripled in price from under $30 per barrel in 2000 to over $100 per barrel in 2008. As the price at the pumps rose, the public started to complain and the government started looking at alternatives.
CAFE ratings: The U.S. Congress enacted a law that would allow car manufacturers to take excess mileage credits for vehicles that were capable of using E85. I’ll have more on CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) ratings in a later post, but suffice it to say as SUV that gets 16 mpg on gasoline and 12 mpg on E85 would get a CAFE rating of 29 mpg. I call it "The New Math" by George Bush. Back on topic, CAFE ratings were going up in order to increase fuel efficiency and American manufacturers were facing multi-million dollar penalties if they didn’t reach the targets that were set for them. While import manufacturers were focused on the car market, the American producers were selling more and more trucks. By fudging the numbers of E85, or flex fuel, vehicles, American manufacturers could still produce fuel-inefficient vehicles and still meet the higher CAFE ratings. On a side note, the poorly thought out ecoAUTO rebate program in Canada gave cash incentives to consumers who buy flex fuel vehicles even though these vehicles got poorer mileage than other vehicles in their class and E85 was only available at a grand total of two gas stations in all of Canada.
The war in Iraq and misplaced patriotism: We’re all familiar with George Bush’s “you’re either with us or your against us” attitude and the effect that it’s had on misplaced patriotism (remember Freedom Fries?). Well, GM started an ad campaign with the slogan “Live Green, Go Yellow” that touted E85 as a way to reduce the dependence on foreign oil and promote fuel production in the US. The ad campaign neglected to tell you that your mileage would suffer by 25-40%, that your annual fuel costs would rise, that your tax dollars were subsidizing the ethanol industry, and that GM was in the flex-fuel business so that they could reach their increased CAFE ratings without actually increasing their vehicles' fuel efficiency.
So beyond all this, why is ethanol the wrong solution?
Ethanol is not compatible with older fuel storage tanks: More on this in a later post, but ethanol is a solvent. It is not compatible with fuel storage tanks manufactured prior to 1986 or lined single-wall steel tanks. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment issued an advisory in February, 2006 stating that fibre-reinforced plastic storage tanks are not compatible with ethanol (even at a 5% blend) and that it will cause a 30-50% reduction in structural strength. It states that pre-1979 tanks cannot use ethanol blended fuel and those built between 1979 to 1986 would require a leak detection system. It’s important to note that ethanol is absorbed in to the walls of these tanks and destroys the protective liner.
Ethanol is not compatible with older vehicles: If you own an antique or classic car, ethanol is not compatible with your fuel system. Since it is a solvent, any rubber hoses or gaskets will be damaged and could result in a fuel leak. Any sludge buildup in your tank will be released and could potentially clog fuel pumps, filters, and carburetors or even cause engine failure. Another problem is that ethanol absorbs water. While this may not be a problem for vehicles that run year round and constantly replace the fuel in the tank, an infrequently run classic car that gets stored for the winter will suffer from this. A lot of antique vehicles can be adapted to run on ethanol by replacing tanks, lines, filters, and rubber components. Switching your car from a carburetor to fuel injection will also help, but for Concours, show cars, or fully restored cars, this isn’t an option.
Ethanol production fuels inflation: It’s simple Supply and Demand economics. As farmers switch to corn production to meet the ever-increasing demand, production of other crops fall. The increased demand causes corn prices to rise and the lack of supply of other grains causes their prices to increase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned in late 2007 that the diversion of corn to ethanol production will cause record corn prices. Since corn is used as a primary feed source for livestock, beef and poultry prices will rise. The move from other grains has already caused the wholesale price of flour to double and it is expected to double again by year-end. Expect the price of your bacon and egg breakfast to go up, as well as your pasta lunch, the side order of bread, that glass of pop or beer, and your dessert to increase significantly this year.
Ethanol doesn’t target the real problem of consumption: The reason ethanol is being proposed as a fuel source is to combat dependency on foreign oil. We simply consume too much oil. Ethanol doesn’t reduce that consumption, it just replaces it with something else. As stated earlier, it will actually cause an increase in consumption. All things being equal, if your driving habits don’t change, you’ll use 25-40% more fuel, plain and simple.
To summarize: Ethanol is wrong on so many levels. Let’s abandon this ill-conceived experiment before it’s too late.
God Bless Texas
Despite Texans' tough talk about individual rights, the Lone Star State Texas
It's called the "No Refusal" program, and it's designed to "streamline the blood drawing process", something that it does quite well. Here's how it works: you're pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated. The police take you downtown and ask you, on videotape, to take a breathalyzer test. They don't tell you that if you refuse, a nurse, or sometimes the police themselves, will get a warrant from a judge who is on call specifically for the purpose, and take your blood anyway, using whatever force is required.
In a related story, Texas continues to take the DUI crime and their battle against it seriously. Earlier this month, a Texan was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his 10th DUI conviction since 1979. This guy had previous convictions for DUI (9 of 'em), as well as theft, assault, and forgery.
God Bless Texas!
It's called the "No Refusal" program, and it's designed to "streamline the blood drawing process", something that it does quite well. Here's how it works: you're pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated. The police take you downtown and ask you, on videotape, to take a breathalyzer test. They don't tell you that if you refuse, a nurse, or sometimes the police themselves, will get a warrant from a judge who is on call specifically for the purpose, and take your blood anyway, using whatever force is required.
In a related story, Texas continues to take the DUI crime and their battle against it seriously. Earlier this month, a Texan was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his 10th DUI conviction since 1979. This guy had previous convictions for DUI (9 of 'em), as well as theft, assault, and forgery.
God Bless Texas!
I'm Starting To Hate Winter
Here in Atlantic Canada, most regions are experiencing a "good, old fashion winter". In other words, we've received more than our fair share of snow.
We had more snow by the end of December than we have had in the past two winters combined. The total accumulated snowfall has broken records in just about every region and as of this writing (one week after St. Patty's Day), I still have snowbanks at the end of my driveway that are 5+ feet high. This year, March came in like a polar bear and is going out like a sled dog.
On the bright side, I have a trusty Honda snowblower, a 4 wheel drive SUV, and good winter tires. Yes, I know that 4WD is only an advantage when it comes to giving you extra traction for moving forward, but it's nice to know that when you come home from work to find that the plow has worked its magic on your driveway once again, you can still pull in and park. I've also been able to play the good samaritan role a couple of times and help people extricate their vehicles from the grips of snow and ice.
I have a theory that the cold and flu symptoms that people are experiencing this time of year is actually an allergy to winter. Once you've reached that certain level where your body can't take it anymore, you have an allergic reaction to winter. My prescription: head for a warmer climate until winter or your symptoms dissipate.
Our first car show of the season is just 3 weeks and 4 days from now. While it may be an indoor show, I'm wondering how many people will be in a position to actually get their vehicles out.
We had more snow by the end of December than we have had in the past two winters combined. The total accumulated snowfall has broken records in just about every region and as of this writing (one week after St. Patty's Day), I still have snowbanks at the end of my driveway that are 5+ feet high. This year, March came in like a polar bear and is going out like a sled dog.
On the bright side, I have a trusty Honda snowblower, a 4 wheel drive SUV, and good winter tires. Yes, I know that 4WD is only an advantage when it comes to giving you extra traction for moving forward, but it's nice to know that when you come home from work to find that the plow has worked its magic on your driveway once again, you can still pull in and park. I've also been able to play the good samaritan role a couple of times and help people extricate their vehicles from the grips of snow and ice.
I have a theory that the cold and flu symptoms that people are experiencing this time of year is actually an allergy to winter. Once you've reached that certain level where your body can't take it anymore, you have an allergic reaction to winter. My prescription: head for a warmer climate until winter or your symptoms dissipate.
Our first car show of the season is just 3 weeks and 4 days from now. While it may be an indoor show, I'm wondering how many people will be in a position to actually get their vehicles out.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
More DUI Convictions Now Include Vehicle Forfeiture
Here's a new slogan for you: You booze, you lose.
It seems that more and more provinces are adding provisions for vehicle forfeiture to their DUI laws. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario now either have, or are considering, civil forfeiture legislation. More power to them.
This week, a New Brunswick judge sentenced a repeat DUI offender to 6 months in jail and the Crown served notice that it will make an application to have the offender's vehicle forfeited.
This story, in the March 5 edition of the Moncton Times & Transcript newspaper, stated that the person caught had his last DUI conviction about one month ago. The judge considered this in her sentence of 6 months in jail and a three year ban from driving.
More provinces need to consider vehicle forfeiture as part of the normal procedure for DUI convictions. I've said it many times before and I will say it again. Driving under the influence of alcohol is the Number 1 preventable cause of death in Canada. We need to get these criminals off of our roads and we need to do more to prevent them from becoming repeat offenders.
It seems that more and more provinces are adding provisions for vehicle forfeiture to their DUI laws. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario now either have, or are considering, civil forfeiture legislation. More power to them.
This week, a New Brunswick judge sentenced a repeat DUI offender to 6 months in jail and the Crown served notice that it will make an application to have the offender's vehicle forfeited.
This story, in the March 5 edition of the Moncton Times & Transcript newspaper, stated that the person caught had his last DUI conviction about one month ago. The judge considered this in her sentence of 6 months in jail and a three year ban from driving.
More provinces need to consider vehicle forfeiture as part of the normal procedure for DUI convictions. I've said it many times before and I will say it again. Driving under the influence of alcohol is the Number 1 preventable cause of death in Canada. We need to get these criminals off of our roads and we need to do more to prevent them from becoming repeat offenders.
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