Can Synthetic oils be used in roller bearing applications?

I have heard that

Synthetic oils can't be used in roller bearing applications because synthetic oil is too slippery. Because of this, the rollers bearings tend to slide rather than roll which leads to accelerated wear of the rollers.

No!. The exact opposite it true. The chopping action of the roller bearings causes the failure of the viscosity improver additives found in petroleum oils, not high-quality synthetics. For example, a 10w-40 petroleum oil might sheer back to something like a 5w-10. This loss of viscosity results in breakdown of film strength. When this happens, there can be metal-to-metal contact of the surfaces of the roller and crankshaft(or camshaft) inside the engine which results in scuffing damage of these parts.

In fact many Harley Davidson dealership technicians for years up until recently have been are telling customers that synthetic motor oil is "too slippery" and can cause flat spots on roller bearings because the bearings won't turn. Now Harley Davidson recommends synthetic’s!

Automatic vs. Manual transmissions-Which is more durable and economical?

I have heard that cars with manual transmissions are more durable and economical then those with automatic transmissions. Is this so?

No, Some years ago manual transmissions were more durable and made the vehicle more fuel efficient than automatics, but now you can kiss that rule goodbye. This turn of events comes from two significant changes; lighter weight materials, and automatic transmissions, which have become more efficient in transferring power from the engine over the years. While the automatics have been steadily marching forward, most manual transmissions have just become lighter and smaller.

This brings us to a very important point. When you buy your next car don’t buy a manual transmission unless you enjoy the sport of shifting. Simply stated, if you’re a person who hates to shift but purchases stick shift only because you think it’s more durable, buy an automatic. Given proper care and usage the automatic will usually deliver nearly equal gas mileage and life.

Whether there is a penalty in fuel economy between automatic and manual transmissions depends solely on the skill of the driver. Usually automatics doing slightly better for Real World drivers. That's due to the fact that proper manual transmission driving skills are not usually taught these days.

Is there a need to put any additives in diesel fuel?

I have heard that there’s never any need to put any additives in diesel fuel. Is this so?

No! That statement was made by Mike Allen a writer for Popular Mechanics magazine. While they can add a few more dollars to operating cost, they reduce the risk of the engine having problems with untreated fuel. The risks are water contamination, which can cause injection failure. Additives stabilize the water, preventing from accumulating in large quantities. Prevent injection nozzle deposits which cause poor fuel atomization and fuel consumption. There are also lubrication problems with less sulfur in the fuel today, which additives can remedy. Additives can also increase your cetane number. So additives in diesel fuel are a good idea!

The picture on upper the left shows the BG Diesel Fuel Lubricant with Conditioner. It provides the necessary film strength and lubricity to low-sulfur and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel to prevent fuel pump and injection parts from scoring and seizing. One thing that is pretty good about this product is that just Two ounces (60 mL) of BG Diesel Fuel Lubricant with Conditioner treats up to 40 gallons (150 Liters) of diesel fuel. Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe. Part No. 227D

Miss Belvedere... Miss Belvedere...

By now I would assume that everyone knows the fate of Dear Miss Belvedere.

(Be certain to click on the link at the end for the latest photo gallery)

But, was it a delight? or a disaster?... That really depends upon your point of view and also what you were expecting from this 'time capsule' endevour.
I personally was hoping to see that Miss Belvedere had survived the ravages of time with little if any harm.
After all, she was "properly" sealed and entombed to suffer little if any harm for the next FIFTY years.
Imagine my heartbreak when I saw those first reports and pics.
The "capsule" had leaked.
In fact, from what I could see in the pics, the whole dang vault was FILLED with water.
I can see the water-line in the pics, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!

So here I am, wanting to place blame and tell them so-and-so "engineers" how they *should* have built it, how they *should* have realized basic liquid/hydraulic properties.
How their PHD's didn't mean squat and how *I* had more common sense than them!

Thank Goodness they couldn't hear me!

You see, it took a few days for my common sense to return.
A few days for my disappointment to wane.
A few days until I could REALLY appreciate the TRUE meaning of Miss Belvedere.

As the days went on, more and more reports and pics of the Tulsarama event became
available (I must admit, they did a good job keeping the website up to date).
Especially the contents, THE TOTAL CONTENTS, of the "time capsule".
And also the people, they were not sad. Everyone was jumping out of their seats!

THAT is when I finally realized...
It didn't matter what condition Miss Belvedere was in!
It didn't matter if ANY of the contents survived!

This was about HOPE.
A better future.
Our (their's) prediction of what the future may hold, NOT THE PAST!

We all know "dust to dust" (refer to your favorite scriptures for the whole answer).
We CAN'T stop what is "gonna be" or even "what was".

We can see however, evidence of what we wanna be and evidence of what may come.

As you peruse the pics at the official site, keep in mind the glory of this endevour, the effort that was put into place, for our benefit.

Also take careful note how well preserved (WELL PRESERVED) the items are from
the capsule within a capsule.

You will be DELIGHTED!

How many of you remember these records!!!














Go here to see the most recent pics!!!

http://www.buriedcar.com/photo_gallery.asp

Pics from
http://www.buriedcar.com/photo_gallery.asp


.

Are all Gas caps created equally?

I noticed there are so many different Gas caps on the market. Are all gas caps created the same?

NO, according to Stant a major manufacturer of radiator caps, thermostats and gas caps, there are many different caps on the store shelves and they aren’t any good. They fail to keep the gas in the tank and in a crash they may fail to seal properly. They can leak enough vapor to turn on the check engine light and cause the vehicle to fail an emissions test. So if you lost your cap beware when shopping for a replacement, since not all gas caps are created equally. Be aware of cheap bogus replacement caps, stay with original equipment or buy a name brand like Stant, Robertshaw, or Gates.

A bit of history of Gas Caps can be found at http://www.stant.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1252&location_id=170

Raising The Belvedere, This Friday!

Remember that next Friday is the day when Tulsa's "time capsule" gets unearthed.
You may recall that Ken posted in March about the Belvedere that was buried in Tulsa in 1957 as a time capsule.

Here is the official Schedule...

Tulsarama! 1957 Plymouth Time Capsule Unearthing, 6.17.2007

On June 15, 1957, a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe was buried in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa, OK. The time capsule was part of Golden Jubilee Week: Tulsa's celebration of Oklahoma's semi-centennial. The car is buried under the sidewalk in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse, approximately 100 feet north of the intersection of Sixth Street and Denver Avenue.
As part of the "Tulsarama!" festivities, citizens of Tulsa were asked to guess what the population of Tulsa would be in the year 2007. The guesses were then recorded on microfilm and sealed in a steel container buried with the car. When the car and artifacts are excavated, the person whose guess is closest to Tulsa's 2007 population is to be awarded the Belvedere.


Time Capsule Event Schedule

Friday - June 15, 2007 @
noon
UNEARTHING. Limited VIP and special seating on Denver Street. LIVE SIMULCAST of the unearthing in the Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A.

Friday - June 15, 2007 @ 6:30pm
UNVEILING in the Arena in the Convention Center. $5 AND $10 tickets available through Carson Attractions. The l957 Plymouth will be pulled on a trailer into the Arena where we will open the automobile, have simulcast on screens above the arena of the interior of the car.
Time Capsule will be opened, contents pulled out. OU Engineering Research will take a very small sample of the gasoline put into the l957 Time Capsule for research on fuels. $10 tickets will be good for one time admission into the Car Show on Sat. and Sun.

Saturday - June 16, 2007 10am to 8pm
TULSARAMA INVITATIONAL CAR SHOW in Exhibit Halls B&C in the Convention Center Starring "THE BURIED BELVEDERE" Very special classic and collected automobiles will be on exhibit, displays of Tulsa History and culture and of course....the Unearthed Buried Belvedere and its contents will be on display for everyone to view.

Content Derived From:

http://ww3.visittulsa.com/events.asp?id=11&eventsid=2050&seldate=6/1/2007
~AND~
http://www.buriedcar.com/photo_gallery.asp

Engine oil flushing- Is it a necessary part of engine maintenance?

I have heard that Engine oil flushing is a necessary part of engine maintenance. Is this so?

NO! At best engine oil flushing does nothing but lighten the consumers wallet. At worse flushing the engine with a flushing machine thins out the oil which causes accelerated engine wear. Remember that the flushing machine flushes out the oil but does not get all the flush out, which is left behind, and that flush does not provide lubrication when you start up the engine again. It takes a bit of time to get the oil pump going.

So at the very worse it can cause engine wear, and even chunks of sludge can become dislodged and plug up the oil filter. Typically flushing increases engine wear and does not do anything for the sludge, because the sludge is above where the flushing material is and does not get even touched as the flushing solution moves through the engine.

Seat Belts

You jump into your vehicle, turn the key and start the motor, put it into gear and off you go. Did you forget to do something?? How about buckling up. In most states, that’s a law. But what do we mean by” buckling up”? It means to put your seat belt on. Why should I wear my seat belt? Because it can save you from injury or even death. The seat belt is a harness designed to secure the occupant against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. Seat belts are intended to reduce injuries by stopping the wearer from hitting hard interior elements of the vehicle or preventing the wearer from being thrown from the vehicle. Most seat belts are equipped with locking mechanisms that tighten the belt when pulled hard like by the force of a passenger's body during a crash, but do not tighten when pulled slowly. They work with a centrifugal clutch, which engages as the reel spins quickly. Alternatively, they may also be secured by a weighted pendulum or ball bearing: when these are deflected by deceleration or roll-over they lock into pawls on the reel. They are included in the cost of your vehicle. Why not use something that you are paying for.Buckle up and you will definitely stay with your loved ones a lot longer.

Dark engine oil- does it mean it needs changing?

I have heard that dark engine oil indicates the need for an oil change. Is this so?

No! The way modern detergent motor oil works is that minute particles of soot are suspended in the oil. These minute particles pose no danger to your engine, but they cause the oil to darken. A non-detergent oil would stay clearer than a detergent oil because all the soot would be left on the internal engine parts and would create sludge.

If you never changed your oil, eventually the oil would no longer be able to suspend any more particles in the oil and sludge would form. Fortunately, by following the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval, you are changing your oil long before the oil has become saturated. Remember, a good oil should get dirty as it does it's work cleaning out the engine. The dispersant should stop all the gunk from depositing in the oil pan.

A good test to see if the oil needs changing is to feel it in your fingers.(Caution: used oil is toxic and carcinogenic. If you get it on your skin, it could cause problems. Use gloves!) If it feels grity, that is an indication it should be changed.