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Break me in gently…
Part III of the Auto Saving Series. If you missed a segment, start at the beginning.
Shiny. Clean. And new car smell. Your new car is a massive investment. Want to save money by not having to repair it next year? Treat it right.
Is your truck your best friend? Already been a quarter million miles together? Did you just put in a replacement engine? Protect it.
Break the engine in gently.
Most drivers need their cars to last more than two years. Over the first 1,000 miles, break the engine in gently. These simple tips are from professional drivers and manufacturers.
Image via Wikipedia
Seal it up.
Except the piston rings, most engine parts operate on a thin cushion of oil. The piston rings scrape oil in the cylinders. While you break in your new engine, the final seal of the rings is occurring.
No jackrabbits.
The best methods of sealing the piston rings are gentle acceleration and moderate speeds (under 65 mph). Auto manufacturers warn of engine danger when new owners tow a trailer during the first 600 miles and use full-throttle starts and hard-braking stops.
Wanna race?
Professional race engine builders are even more cautious (They are not selling new cars.). They suggest varied speeds during your break-in period and not letting your engine idle for more than 2 minutes.
Gentlemen, start your engines!
Do not rev the engine when you start it. Instead, drive gently until the engine reaches operating temperature. Check your owner’s manual. Avoid trips too short to bring your engine to the correct operating temperature.
Ready, shift!
No “lugging”. Lugging is driving in too high a gear for your speed. It is even harder on a cold engine.
When all else fails,…
Read your owner’s manual for additional instructions. If you find more, follow those as well.
Change the Oil
Engines are precision constructed to within thousandths of an inch. The final machining occurs during the break-in period. Tiny metal shavings and particles are left suspended in the oil.
Image via Wikipedia
Do not forget the filter.
The oil filter traps these particles, so changing the filter is mandatory. The first oil change is the most important one for a new engine. Change the oil in your new engine at 1,000 miles.
Replacement Engines
Do not overlook the delicacy of a replacement engine. Your replacement engine in your faithful truck needs a break-in period just like when you got it new. Even rebuilt engines fare better after a gentle break-in period.
Bottom Line
Your vehicle is the sum of its parts. Take care of the individual parts during the break-in is crucial to years of money-saving performance before you need a mechanic.
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NEXT: Arm & a Leg
Which one of your “Old Faithful”s got a new engine?
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(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on Momma’s Money Matters is expressly forbidden.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red on November 23, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/break-in-new-engine/
War Sucks.
In case you have never sat down with a veteran and talked about what happens on the battlefield, I want to tell you a secret: War sucks.
Posted by Red on November 22, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/war-survivors/
Where to go?
You are cozy on the other side of your computer screen, but hungry. Sushi is a great idea, but where to go? Stop. Do not touch the keyboard, unless you are pulling up a map.
Image via CrunchBase
Not on the Internet
Finding a reputable sushi restaurant is not something you can do on the Internet. Reviews of restaurants are not reliable sources of information which affects your health and dining experience. If all you are interested in is the decor, by all means Google away.
Can I use a lifeline?
Yes, but I refer you back to the last paragraph. Your BFF probably does not know what to look for beyond a cute waiter and good sake. Since you read the last post, you know what the risks of not knowing what to look for in a restaurant.
Image via Wikipedia
The newspaper?
Only if you plan on wrapping fish. Get mobile. When you are sitting comfortably at a table within eye shot of the bar, look at the menu. Order something from the kitchen, like tempura. A really good sushi bar will have limited choices from the kitchen. Are you watching the bar?
What am I looking for at the bar?
Have you seen the sushi chef wash his hands or change gloves after each order? Dip his knives? Change his cutting board or sanitize it? All of these actions are necessary to prevent cross-contamination of vegetables and seafood.
What is that?
Watch the trays coming from the kitchen. The vegetables should arrive in small containers, frequently. If there is a large bin of vegetables or sushi in the bar and it takes the chef more than 30 minutes to use them all, this may not be the restaurant where you want eat.
Ginger should be soaking in brine and bright pink. Wasabi is bright green. Roe should be plump. It should remain in a glass container until the maki is rolled in it. The remainder left on the board should be discarded.
What about the fish?
Fresh fish is plump and moist, but does not look like someone wet it with water or syrup. It is either bright white or pink…never yellow, grey or brown. When it arrives from the kitchen, it should be in slabs or whole…never pre-sliced.
Most importantly, fresh fish does not have a pungent odor. No, it does not stink. Take a slug of sake and ask your server or the chef, “When did the fish arrive at the restaurant?” The acceptable answer is: “Today.”
Image by Madhava Enros via Flickr
Maki, temaki, nigiri, sasazhushi, chimashi and sashimi should be made to order, not pre-packaged and sitting in the bar waiting to be ordered, unless you are in a sushi bar which has a massive clientele…in Tokyo.
The fish needs to stay below 40 degrees Fahrenheit until ready to serve. After being rolled in sushi and wrapped in nori, maintaining that low a temperature is virtually impossible. Fluctuations in temperature causes fish to dry out, get rubbery and smell.
This is not fast food.
A busy sushi chef creates artful, delicious food. Be patient while he steadily prepares your fare. Great sushi is always worth the wait.
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What is the Japanese word for your favorite sushi roll or sashimi? Tell me in English, if you do not know!
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(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on Momma’s Money Matters is expressly forbidden.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red on November 22, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/pick-sushi-restaurant-bar/
Am I Bald?
Part II of the Auto Savings Series: Click here if you missed the beginning.
Don’t you dare wait for a blow out to change your tires. They are your first line of defense against the road. Blowouts are expensive and dangerous.
Would you rather buy new tires or replace a rolled car after a blowout? How about a dozen ways for you to know when to replace those tires?
Euro-tread worn out. Image via Wikipedia
1. Measure the tread.
Is there less than 7/32 of an inch of tread on any part the tire? When you place a penny in the tread, it should should reach past Lincoln’s eyebrow. Test both inside and outside the tread.
2. Drove too far?
Have you exceeded the mileage on the tire rating? Tires are rated for a maximum number of miles. Replace tires 1,000 miles of the rated mileage.
3. Th-thump
Do you hear a rhythmic thump while driving? This thump is a tire out of round. Simply put: It has a hernia. When steel belting is severed inside the tire, the inner rubber layer puts pressure on the tread from inside.
4. Psssssssssss
Do you have a leak? If your tire pressure is low within a week, have the tire checked. Punctures within 1 inch (25 mm) of the edge should never be repaired, since they can cause tire exposion during a blowout. Side wall punctures cannot be repaired.
5. Not so fixed?
After the fixative tire inflater, is your tire low (or flat) again in a week? If you used an inflating product, such as Fix-a-Flat or Re-Air, and it is low again, replace the tire. It must not be patched. The fixative chemicals keep the patch from bonding properly.
Note: Americans, you will pay a fine for this tire. After the fixative inflater, a tire cannot be recycled by traditional methods.
6. Wobbly?
Have you notices a wobbling in the steering? This is another red flag you might have a tire out of round.
7. Musical Interlude?
Do you hear a whining, almost whistling, sound? Tires whistle when too much tire surface is touching the pavement. The side wall whining because it is rubbing the pavement. Unusually worn side walls (like the whistler) can blow out at high speeds (over 40 mph).
8. When did that happen?
Did you drive more than half a mile on a flat? The inside tire wall is damaged, as well as the exterior of the side wall. It is unsafe to operate the vehicle.
9. It’s only a flesh wound!
Are there nicks, cuts or wear on the side wall? If the side wall is damaged in any way, replace the tire. Its reinforcement is compromised.
10. Little here, little there…
Do you have uneven tread wear? If the inside or outside of your tire tread is worn more than the rest, the safest bet is to replace it. If the worn tread is already less than 7/32 of an inch deep, replace it today.
11. I’m cracked.
Is there a web of cracks in your tread or side wall? You have dry rot. Do not drive on or attempt to fill this tire with air. The rotten rubber will explode into pieces under pressure.
12. Round and round and round and round…Dizzy.
Have you rotated your tires 4 times? No more miles, replace immediately. After the fourth rotation, the tires have reached the end of their life cycle, even if the rating says they have more miles.
13. Baker’s Dozen
Do you see cracks around the tire stem? Even if you can find someone to replace the stem, you are going to have the flat back in no time. Replace the tire.
Bottom Line
Tires are the only things keeping you on the road. Save money by keeping them at the right pressure and replacing them when they need it.
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NEXT: Break me in gently…
What was your last tire emergency?
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(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on Momma’s Money Matters is expressly forbidden.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red on November 22, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/when-to-replace-tires/
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