Recent content by Pete

Because of electronic windows, a news report I saw a while back suggested keeping a center punch in the car so you can break the window in case you need to escape the car. What do you think?

You'll never see a bumper sticker on any of the cars I own. I think they are tacky looking and when it comes time to remove them, it's a real pain.

The thing that I like about Sea Foam is that it really works and it's so versatile. You can add it to your oil or add it to your gasoline or both. It really cleans up engine parts to keep the car running more efficiently.

I read this motorcycle riding book about how you should imagine a protective bubble around you when riding. That causes you to be aware of your surroundings and to pay attention to who enters your space.

Two accidents convinced me to wear a helmet. A friend was on the freeway and got into an accident. The highway patrol trooper said the helmet saved his life. Another friend was in an accident and wasn't wearing a helmet and was killed.

Same here. I've never had a new car. All of mine have been used. Can't imagine spending the money on a new car or truck only to have it depreciate by 50% the moment I drive it off the lot.

Another story that comes to mind is when my friend was taking his road test for his license. He was pulling out of the parking lot and got into an accident while the evaluator was in the car.

We've all had this happen. You come back from a long trip in a rural area and the front of the car is covered with bugs. A method that I read said to lightly spray the front of the car with something like Pam. When it's time to wash off the bugs, they are supposed to come right off. If you...

I suppose if you had the time, you could always rip the CDs and convert them into mp3 format so you can play them on an mp3 player.

Tony, you can get Sea Foam at any auto parts store. If you can't find it, just ask for it. It'll run about $10 for a 16 ounce can. If you add it to your oil, it'll take about 8 ounces for 5 quarts of oil.

Is it happening to all of the CDs you are using or just one or two? If it's all of them, then the CD player probably needs to be retired, especially after 10 years of being bounced around in a van. If it's only a few CDs, try cleaning them to see if that fixes the problem.

How many of you take the time to clean your EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve on a regular basis? I have no choice because it gets fouled up with carbon deposits around the time I have to get my car tested for safety and emissions.

@ Calvin - that's a pretty good story. My question is, did you get the pretty lady's phone number. If you did, the accident was not in vain. lol

Reminds me of a warning I was told when it came time to harvest zucchini. This guy told me, with a straight face, to keep my car locked during harvest season. I asked why? Because people will "give" you their excess harvest whether you want it or not. lol

What really sold me on using cruise control was a trip I took about 5 years ago. My car is supposed to get 36 mpg on the highway but with cruise control and going 65 MPH, I got it up to 43 mpg. Over a 700 mile drive the savings on gasoline adds up.