New from Nebraska

[RedylC94]

My car went most of its first 100K on Arco Graphite, with no problems. That stuff was inky!

Charlie, if I recall correctly, those early Exxon carbon-fiber frames were too flexible because they didn't increase the tubing diameter enough over then-standard dimensions for steel frame tubing. The same was true of early Al ones. By now, nearly all frames, even steel ones, have fatter tubes.

[phoebeisis]

Edwin Redy

Yes-" that fancy new fangled earl busted your engine" was a common tale told by mechanics back then.
Of course back then PLENTY of GM/FORD/DODGE engines croaked early with no help from new fangled oil.
I don't know what the truth of it is/was. It was removed from the market pretty quickly-maybe 5 years or so??
But I suspect the "other story about it" base soooo thin it would ooze past gaskets and make everything a FREAKIN MESS-might have had more to do with it.
And it LOOKED BAD- it looked like USED OIL-SOOTY- when it was NEW!
In the motorcycles- it got all over your pants/shoes/boots-nasty stains!!

Redy- so Exxon (Esso) made those frames??
Yes-even the steel tubing-Reynolds 853 and True Temper OX on my "not really MTBs-MTBs" is noticeably bigger diameter than the 531 and Columbus tubing my 70's road bikes had.
It certainly isn't an asthetic improvement-and I'm old-so I WANT FLEXY!!
Yes frames are better now-especially the CF- but they aren't eyepleasing.
Guess I'm an old crank!

[JakeNE]

Interesting posts by both of you. No need to apologize for hijacking the thread. I am still flabbergasted that your vehicle has gone almost 600K. I am nervous as hell that my vehicle will break down. It seems to run fine, but I just seem to have bad luck. Just the other day the lower radiator hose wore a pin sized hole and leaked coolant everywhere. Luckily it was just the hose and not something worse. Things like that make my blood pressure go through the roof! I am debating doing some needed repairs - A/C, New windshield, etc. - but it is a crapshoot to some as to whether the engine and transmission will last as long as I want / need them to.

Update on mileage: Since i changed from day shift to night shift I have seen a change in numbers. It is much easier to get better mileage up and harder to get good mileage coming back down. I can hit 36 easily both ways but my goal is 40 mpg. I did not see a drastic change based on inflating my tires. Maybe slightly better coasting, but that's all. Unfortunately the 12 psi increase has seen extremely reduced handling. I don't feel that it is very stable and that one wrong move could send me careening off the highway on a modest curve. It is even worse in the rain - it hydroplanes very easily. I am debating whether or not to dial down the psi to half of what I raised it to: about 38 rather than 44. Would it help to align or balance my tires?

Thanks.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Something isn't right here. Hydroplaning occurs when the tread surface "cups" and the build up of water causes the tire to lose contact with the road surface. It has been my experience that increased tire pressure raises the speed at which this can occur to well over the posted limits.

[phoebeisis]

Just drop the pressure back-
as you say the mpg increase is extremely slight
I think I've read 1% lower rr for 5 or 10 lbs over door placard-anyway- not enough to put up with "funny handling"


Yeah-right lane has a good point- you wouldn't EXPECT the handling to drop off with 10 psi

BUT IN A LOWER END CAR-sometimes the tires are more of the suspension shock absorption system than on a more expensive car.

The increased pressure "MIGHT" be slightly bouncing the vehicle -losing the contact patch or just slightly lifting it-even on what appears to be a "good" road.

The higher end cars have "fancy shocks" well set up springs-your Dodge/Chrysler-not Chyslers best effort in that respect

Yeah you might be slightly bouncing-lifting-so effectively less weight on and off on your contact patches-squirrely handling
Back off the pressure until it-handling- feels as "good as possible"

Don't know what your roads are like- but cheaper cars don't have great or even good suspensions(except maybe Civics back when they were considered best in class- but a Civic is a much higher end/better car than a PT Cruiser)


Yeah-dial it back to lose that "bad" feeling.Right lane has a point- but a PT is a cheap car.
Dodge Chrysler always made the cheapest in class Big 3 cars(not MSRP- but actual selling price)

Charlie
PS The change in return MPG- I wonder if prevailing winds are different on way home-7 am (11p-7a ??) than they were after day shift?

[JakeNE]

I think I found the source of the problem as far as handling goes: My tire was flat this morning and I had to replace the valve stem in the tire. I'm sure this probably was the source of the decrease in handling. I'll have to see what happens after this week. The winds have definitely helped my case on the way to work - usually there is basically no wind. But I'm not sure why the slight decrease when returning from work. Usually winds are calm then as well. I'll have to do a little more driving and see what I come up with.

[phoebeisis]

Ahhh

Yeah a more obvious better explanation
Much better than my speculative thought.
Very low pressure in one tire-yeah it will handly really funny.

[RedylC94]

Jake,
Try again with the increased tire pressure? That has a few drawbacks, if taken to excess, but hydroplaning isn't one of them.