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Archive for February, 2010

I like my new tires.

I have had the same tires on my car for five years; in that time you kind of forget the why you choose that particular model.  The new ones are sportier, they respond to steering inputs with alacrity. The old ones were soft and unresponsive; I called them my old guy tires.

This is one of many examples of the myth of commodity.  The idea that all filters, tires, oils and such are created equal.  Not so. My new tires are very different from the old ones, the oil we put my engine yesterday is better than the less expensive types that are available.

Even in commodity items, you have a lot of options to choose from. But not every option is as good as another.

Posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 11:32 AM by Fred
Categories: General
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Neutral – The Misunderstood Gear

Have you ever wondered what the N is for on the gearshifter?  It’s not useful for parking. It’s not needed to push the car when the engine is off (you can do that in any gear).  It’s the safety gear. If anything were to happen that prevented you from slowing the engine down by letting off the gas pedal, just shift to neutral. The engine might not like spinning so fast but the brakes and power steering will still work normally. If you turn off the engine, the brakes and steering will still work, but will require significantly more effort to use, as these systems are powered by the engine.

So, if the engine won’t slow down, just shift to neutral.

Posted on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 3:47 PM by Fred
Categories: General
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