dancerjodi: (Default)
dancerjodi ([personal profile] dancerjodi) wrote2009-03-11 10:14 am
Entry tags:

Good Things

Triscuit crackers
Tori Amos' "Famous Blue Raincoat" cover
A new Tori album coming out in May
Helping out in dance class last night, feeling like I'm needed there
Late-night chocolate chip cookies with Brian
Having an auto mechanic conveniently located around the corner*

*Brian is notorious for taking poor care of his truck. His check oil light went off months ago, and we found the closest gas station so that he could check the oil, purchase 2 quarts and dump it in. He meant to get an oil change after that (can't remember the last one, but we were living in Framingham at the time and moved from there in the summer of 2004). He didn't get things checked out. The light went off again last night and putting oil in didn't make it go away (the pressure was at zero). He called the mechanic this morning and they suggested having it towed (seriously) around the corner rather than risking driving it. Of course, when AAA showed up to hook it up the pressure gage moved to normal. They can't get to it today but hopefully some time this week.

Lets hope that Brian learns his lesson and that it isn't an overly expensive one. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR PEOPLE - WOULD YOU ABUSE AND NEGLECT YOUR BODY THIS WAY, OR YOUR PETS, OR YOUR KIDS? He and Andy used to have this saying which I think applies here: "Much too big and useful".

My hope was that we could get enough life out of this truck to allow us to pay off my car loan (at this rate within a year) and then save $1k a month toward him purchasing another one. He only drives about 2500 miles a year to Home Depot and back or the rare trip that requires a big vehicle (or going somewhere without me, while I'm out with my own car).
tiamatlady: (Default)

[personal profile] tiamatlady 2009-03-11 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
*glances at her Change Oil light that comes on every AM*
schedules oil change*

heh. M has been after me too. In my defense, that light comes on every time after about 2000 miles or 2 months AFTER my oil changes. If I obeyed it blindly, I'd have about 8 changes a year. it does need it - my car is choppy in the AM. I just hate having to take all day sitting round waiting on my oil change on my days off. :(

[identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Its not the "change oil" light that's coming on - its the "you have no oil/there is a serious problem with your oil" light. You know, kind of like driving around with an overheating car chronically, or a check engine light (which could be nothing, but could also be something very serious).

Much too big and useful . . .
tiamatlady: (Default)

[personal profile] tiamatlady 2009-03-11 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
hehehehe


now that you mention the check engine light....

HEY, IT GOES AWAY! *snerk*

(seriously, I'm going to call Firestone, make sure they can take it Sunday and drop it off Saturday night so it's done first thing. Plus it needs an alignment and I think my steering fluid is low.)

[identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
You can bring your car to an autozone, they will hook it up and tell you what the check engine light is for. It could be something minor or major (but they should tell you for free). :)
tiamatlady: (Default)

[personal profile] tiamatlady 2009-03-11 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
oh the roommate told me. He said it's the "GET YOUR GD OIL CHANGED" light, since it's been WAY too long, and it pops up when I idle too long, or sometimes when i start the car. With dirty oil. Heh.

Yes precious, Sunday. And I think I'll do the 100,000 mile one in April or May.

[identity profile] zanylikethat.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Ack. Hopefully it's just a sensor problem and not actually that all of the oil was suddenly gone!

My Supra (I had a 1990 Supra Turbo that I bought with 150k miles on it and sold just shy of 200k... that poor baby) used to burn through oil and I'd have to add a quart fairly regularly. Fortunately, my dad is a HUGE car nut, so I'm just a cell call away from someone who can turn "remember to check your oil when you get gas!" into a 45 minute dissertation. ;) We do my oil changes together, though, which keeps my changes regular. The trick is that in modern cars, you don't need an oil change till every 5k miles, rather than the old 3k. So it's really easy to make note of when to change your oil if you get in the cycle of even numbers--I'm coming up on 30k, and thus, the next oil change!

Also per my dad's training, I keep one of those tiny notepads in my glove compartment and make note of things. ("9/10/08 - 25,000 miles - changed oil/filter." "12/2/08 - 28,000 miles - put on snow tires, added 1/2 quart 5W-30. Ran fuel injector cleaner with tank of gas." etc) That way if you are as prone to forgetfulness as I am (and/or drive as infrequently as I do) you always have a log of what's been done, so you can note if something hasn't been done in a while, or if there was recently a weird noise, but now it's getting worse, etc.

[identity profile] developer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
This is why I try to drive the most indestructible car I can find. :)

[identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"This is why I try to drive the most indestructible car I can find."

Dodge Rams are pretty indestructible, but they still do need oil to operate. ;). Its a 97 with around 103k miles, I'm hoping we can get a lot more run out of her because the body is in very good shape.

[identity profile] tk7602.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
well, it definitely HAS oil ;)

[identity profile] developer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, my Prelude used to run out of oil frequently. But I knew from experience that it could go for a little bit (the mechanic explained it) and I carried a quart or two of oil with me at all times.

The rule for the oil light is stop IMMEDIATELY.

[identity profile] deadwinter.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
ooohhh...mechanic recommendation, please?

[identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
On High Street, Paul Salamone (Dad's HS friend), one of the two AAA approved in the city (the other is the Totten Pond Shell I've suggested to you before - Eddie is the Manager over there).

Official: http://www.paulsautowaltham.com/

A Review:
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3715632191

[identity profile] deadwinter.livejournal.com 2009-03-11 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I had the body shops and straight up mechs confused.

[identity profile] ahaseurus.livejournal.com 2009-03-12 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
The "change oil" light is a reminder. The "low oil pressure" light is an emergency if it goes on while driving, and a command to add oil if it goes on while idling (except perhaps on a very hot day after driving at high speed). Been there, paid for the engine rebuild.