--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00036 Date: 12/24/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:32pm \/To: RONNIE THOMPSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Antifreeze -=> Quoting Ronnie Thompson to JAY EMRIE <=- JE> Correct, my error. My 92 Ford had a 3 year 36000 mile bumper to bumper JE> warranty. RT> I remember when Chrysler was doing a 7yr/70,000 warranty, bumper to RT> bumper. Wonder why they quit(G). Red ink? After advertising it for a while, and getting people used to it you could back off to the more common numbers and ride the wave a while. Don't you just love those marketing geniuses! ;^/ --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00037 Date: 12/24/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 11:27pm \/To: JOHN FAERBER (Read 0 times) Subj: Shake Cured -=> Quoting John Faerber to All <=- JF> I had put out a message about my wifes 90 spirit V-6 having a JF> horrible shake and the gas mileage had gone down to 16 from 26. JF> A neighbor suggested spark plugs, sure enough, that was the problem. JF> 2 of the plugs were fould out so bad that there was no gap for the JF> spark to jump across. You probably still need to see why they fouled, or they may do it again. If they were dark and shiny it is probably oil, light and crusty could be gas additives. If you don't add anything to the gas, it would be a good idea to get gas elsewhere. One thing I look for in a gas station is a good general appearance, hopefully indicating they also keep the underground tanks clean and in good repair. Another idea is to not buy gas from a low-lying station. More than once after getting bad gas I recall the station was in a very low area. Do you recall any detail of the material on the plugs, and do you know how many miles they were run? Also did you check the number on them and get the same ones, or did you look up the number in an application chart? A look at the underhood stickers may also show a plug or gap recommendation change. It is probably a good idea to change the fuel filter, air filter, and PCV valve at this time also. And if it was gas fouled, change the oil and filter too. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00038 Date: 12/24/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 11:44pm \/To: MARC GERGES (Read 0 times) Subj: Vector Auto -=> Quoting John Pummill to Marc Gerges <=- MG> The McLaren F1 was tested at Nardi high speed circuit in Italy, MG> to find its top speed. They stopped testing at 231mph. Not MG> because that's the car's limit, but it is the circuit's limit. Is Nardi a banked oval or a road coarse? And do you know the distance? If the FIA comes to Daytona next year, it may be a good place to test for top speed, as it is a large, high-banked oval. However there may be even larger tracks available, I think Daytona is about 2.5 miles. I have heard of test times somewhere near 250 mph there, so look for some numbers in February, which is a month filled with racing there since it is one of the southernmost (warmest) tracks in the US. MG> BTW: many of the numbers stated here are like '14.5 at 102' MG> or so... could anybody tell me what that's about? I found in MG> the context of the mails that it is about acceleration, but MG> over what distance and up to what speed? Professional Drag Racing here is 1/4 mile and the numbers are listed as ET (elapsed time in seconds) and the speed obtained. The speed is measured across the finish line with lights several meters on each side of the line, so the numbers can vary a bit depending on whether you let off just at the line or at the last measuring light. There are also many small town drag strips that may have 1/8 mile tracks but this is seldom televised or published anywhere but by local news. The largest professional organizations here are the NHRA (National Hot Rodding Association) and IHRA (International Hot Rodding Association). Some current records in the Pro classes: --- Quarter-Mile Record Holders - May 3, 1997 TOP FUEL ELIMINATOR Best ET 4.564 seconds Feb-97 Joe Amato Pomona, California Top Speed 317.57 Mar-97 Joe Amato Houston, Texas FUNNY CAR ELIMINATOR Best ET 4.889 seconds Jul-96 John Force Topeka, Kansas Top Speed 313.04 Mar-97 Whit Bazemore Houston, Texas PRO STOCK ELIMINATOR Best ET 6.883 seconds @ 200.53 mph Apr-97 Warren Johnson Dinwiddie, Virginia. (Pontiac Firebird) --- In addition to these, there are many other, slower, classes that utilize various modified and stock cars, and also some motorcycles. Hope that answers your question and more. If you ever get a chance to see a Top Fuel drag race in person, GO. The power of these behemoths shake the ground and quicken your pulse. The power is currently estimated (calculated) to be in the neighborhood of 6,000 horsepower. That's about 733 horsepower per liter... (take ear plugs :) --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00039 Date: 12/25/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 12:39am \/To: RONNIE THOMPSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Gaps -=> Quoting Ronnie Thompson to Alan Morrison <=- RW> want to get it in the right ball park, use a match book cover RW> (typically .015 thick)...As long as the points make and break contact, RW> the engine should start. AM> So you know to use a matchbook for points and the match for plugs! RT> BIG difference in the gap for plugs today, compared to 25 years ago :) Yeah, and it's real hard to find those points too! So, I no longer carry a small Allen wrench in my wallet because the distributors lost their windows. I once measured a matchbook cover at about 17 to 18 thousandths, and the match at 32 to 35 thousandths. So if you know your plug gap, you could get close with a combination of these. Of course this is just emergency roadside repair, which used to be more necessary when points wore down while on a trip and you were without proper tools. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00040 Date: 12/27/97 From: PETER HARLE Time: 08:30am \/To: JAY EMRIE (Read 0 times) Subj: Electrical connections -=> Quoting JAY EMRIE to PETER HARLE <=- PH> Are you aware of the dangers of using silicone based lubricants PH> anywhere near switch or relay contacts bearing silver? PH> Peter H. JE> Howdy, Pete, JE> No, I am not. Please elaborate. I remember reading in a Technical Bulletin that furniture polish bearing Silicone oil, as used by some "office cleaning companies" to clean telephone handsets, caused extensive problems. Seems Silicone has the highest creep factor of most lubricants, and as such manages to "creep" into telephone touch pads, and relay contacts. Once the contacts actually "arc" the silicone reacts with the silver to produce a very high resistance contact. This apparently caused quite a big problem for British Telecom. Sliding or wiping action contacts are not affected as much, however any switch that breaks a circuit that may cause arcing is supposed to be adversely affected. Since reading the bulletin some 3 to 5 years ago, I'm very careful as to where I used it. Most of the water repellents as used in electrical switch gear are now silicone free. Cheers, Peter H. --- EzyBlueWave V1.20 01fb000b * Origin: Mt.Druitt TAFE +61-2-9839-1310 FidoNet (3:713/709) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00041 Date: 12/27/97 From: PETER HARLE Time: 08:35am \/To: MARK LOGSDON (Read 0 times) Subj: Battery sizes -=> Quoting Mark Logsdon to Peter Harle <=- PH> Marc, most alternators with the engine idling (600-800rpm) won't PH> supply an output current much above 15 amps, that is with full PH> field current applied via the regulator. The only way you will PH> obtain more output current from the alternator is to increase PH> engine speed, irrespective of any additional load placed on that PH> vehicles output. ML> Don't you suppose that at above some certain speed (let's say about ML> 1200 rpm) that the alternator approaches a current source? In other ML> words, due to the increase in frequency and the inductance, the ML> output is somewhat self limiting in terms of current? I'm ML> assuming a fixed field current here. Overall, I'd have to agree with you. If you look at a typical curve plotting output current against rotational speed, the output current is almost proportional to speed up to around 2/3 of maximum output current (2000 rpm). After reaching that value the current output is no longer proportional to speed and reaches a point where output current remains constant irrespective of speed, typically =>3000 rpm. Exactly what limits the current is a combination of factors, in particular the stator winding impedance and the air gap between rotor and stator and the distortion of that field at higher speeds. The shape of the (12 pole) claw rotor also affects output at high speeds. Some units do not have the typical "triangular" pole pieces. Very high output current alternators don't use the "cast iron/steel" two piece 12 pole "claw magnet" structure. Some revert back to individual poles or as BOSCH calls them "single pole" alternators. These usually have 6 "rectangular" rather than "triangular" pole pieces, with individual coils around each pole. This produces a much more uniform magnetic field, particularly at higher speeds, however they also require a current regulator to limit maximum output current. . Cheers, Peter H. --- EzyBlueWave V1.20 01fb000b * Origin: Mt.Druitt TAFE +61-2-9839-1310 FidoNet (3:713/709) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00042 Date: 12/27/97 From: PETER HARLE Time: 06:16am \/To: MARK LOGSDON (Read 0 times) Subj: Electrical connections -=> Quoting Mark Logsdon to Peter Harle <=- PH> Are you aware of the dangers of using silicone based lubricants PH> anywhere near switch or relay contacts bearing silver? ML> Please tell me about it. I know that some silicone adhesives will ML> cure and release vapors of acetic acid, and the acid will attach ML> silver and other highly oxidizable metals. I've never heard this in ML> regards to a lubricant and I need to learn about it. G'day Mark, No doubt you will see my reply to Jay Emrie. I'm aware of the acetic acid in silicone adhesives, and there are suitable electrical (silicone) adhesives that do not use corrosive acids to effect curing, albeit that they tend to be somewhat slower to cure. I'll play the detective and see if I can actually find that Technical Bulleting referring to the problems caused by silicone oil/polish on switch contacts. I vaguely recollect reading about it in a British magazine "Electronics World / Wireless World", but not absolutely sure. I'll get back to you as soon as I find it. Regards, Peter H. --- EzyBlueWave V1.20 01fb000b * Origin: Mt.Druitt TAFE +61-2-9839-1310 FidoNet (3:713/709) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00043 Date: 12/26/97 From: JAY EMRIE Time: 09:27am \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Radiator Leak RW>22 Dec 97 21:08, Ronnie Thompson said this about Radiator Leak to Roy tt. RW> RT> RW> -=>> Quoting Roy Witt to JAY EMRIE <=- RW> RT> RW> JE>> opportunity to get it. - not just those that get on the net. RW> RT> RW> RW>> No, but they do give you a 1-800 number to call so you can get RW> RW>> that information. That is, if you have a telephone...:) RW> RT> RW> RT> With a line that is live :) RW> Or a quarter for the pay phone. Quarter, heck! It's 35 cents now!! * OLX 2.1 TD * Wagner's music is better than it sounds. - Twain --- RemoteAccess 2.50+ * Origin: Northern Lights! * San Antonio * 210-499-6299 V34/VFC (1:387/23) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00044 Date: 12/26/97 From: MIKE S. WELCH Time: 11:53am \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Silicone -=> Tom Walker wrote to Roy Witt <=- TW> I also have seen Silcone Sealant crumble into dust from the TW> effects of SMOG, Ozone and Ultraviolet radiation from Sunlight. I live in sunny Arizona, and silicone rubber is one of the few things that's practically impervious to UV rays, the others being metals, EPDM rubber, acrylic and polycarbonate plastics, and rock. As for ozone damage, European tire makers had to add silicone rubber to their tires starting in the 1950s to make them better withstand ozone created by the LA smog. TW> has Anybody that made the Mistake of trying to seal a Flashing TW> Leak on their House roof with it! Now there Are some sealants TW> that will do the job but it is NOT the Garden Variety Most silicone rubber is very permeable to water, and sealer actually cures from exposure to water. --- AdeptXBBS v1.07g (Registered) * Origin: Tempe, AZ USA (602)491-5285 (1:114/20) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGW00045 Date: 12/26/97 From: KENNY HENDERSON Time: 02:20am \/To: JASON WEDEHASE (Read 0 times) Subj: Forced Induction JW>Kenny Henderson told the story like this: JW> KH> Forced induction has given cubes a serious run for the money:) JW> Need it be said AGAIN?! Do the same to the high cube motor! JW>Then let's talk about it! "My supercharged, nitrous boosted, twin JW>turbo, modified and shifting at 12K RPM 4 cylinder can beat your stock JW>V8." Well, darnit, for $45 trillion dollars difference, I most JW>certainly hope so! Thats my main arguement against these small displacemt cars. If they were performing just as well with less cubes for the same amount of money, great. But, thats not the case. Its hard to get excited about a $24,000 Eclipse GSX even though it runs low 15s out of a 4 banger. Its still $24,000 and for the money you can be over a second faster in an FBody or a Cobra. 'Nuff said. --- * OLX 2.1 TD * There is no wisdom in useless and hopeless sorrow. --John --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Fresh Start BBS * Edison NJ * (732) 248-1678 * (1:107/310.0)