That's my philosophy -- once it's paid for, keep it running. Repair anything that can be reasonably repaired or rebuilt, because it's still cheaper than payments on a newer vehicle. Even my well-used '78 F100 is cheaper to fix (even major fixes) than to replace. Works out to about $300/year, including the long-ago engine rebuild. Still does what I need of it, and doesn't look too embarassing.:)
(And what with all the trouble it was to find exactly what I needed in a tow rig, and the MPG it gets for that big engine, I'll keep that '91 F350 til it's a pile of rusty scrap, thanks very much.)
So what's your thoughts on the commonly-available premixed antifreeze? It claims to be good down to -50 or so, but nowhere on the bottle does it say what the mix IS.
(I live in Montana. -45 is routine; -65 isn't out of the question.)
In January 1969, KMON (Great Falls MT) radio's weather station, which was up on the hill north of town, recorded -72F.
Recently when it was a bit below zero, I needed to put some power steering fluid in my truck... had to bang it out of the bottle, cuz it was closer to a solid than a liquid. (Next time, I won't toss the bottle into the back of the truck!)
My '63 Olds would start right up in any weather (including -45F Montana winters), but if it hadn't been plugged in, it took forever to get the glass defogged (not so with the block heater running, which actually got the entire interior of the car warm too -- helluva lot nicer than holding onto a steering wheel that's also at -45. It would even melt the ice off the windshield.)
But if it's below zero, my Ford pickups (otherwise better vehicles) won't start, or start with grave reluctance, unless plugged in -- then they start right up. And if not plugged in, my F350 flat refuses to come out of 2nd gear until it deems itself sufficiently warm, which at zero or below takes about 20 minutes, during which time it gets 7mpg instead of 12mpg, and I get to dawdle along at 25mph.
So, you bet I deem that 500W block heater a good deal -- just the gas it saves me for that first 20 minutes more than pays for the electricity it used the night before. It cost me $99 to have installed and it's probably already saved half that in gas in the first two months, even tho I only drive it once a week.
Yeah, but I couldn't afford to spend $1200 on tires twice. So I did the best compromise -- deep-tread all-weather tires. If it gets really nasty, I'll put cables on the outside rears. -- I've experimented with trying to make it slide on ice, and was happy to note that whatever they did to the rubber, it's almost sticky on ice. (I've been told you can get such an effect from rubbing the tire with dry laundry detergent... ???)
The best winter tires I've ever had were Atlas 6-ply highway tires. Next best was studded snow tires on all four wheels. Both on a little sports car. Couldn't skid the thing on ice with either set.
I haven't actually looked it up myself, but just a couple days ago I saw a stat that we've had fewer* major hurricanes over the past 30 years, compared with before, yet supposedly we're getting more?? I guess we -can- have it both ways...
I dunno... in summer you've got the twin-engine mosquitoes...
But if I ever get there again, I'll have to do that researcher tour. I've been to the mines and that was fun, but looking at the earth that deep with my own eyes... wow.
When I was younger, it had to be -25 before I thought it was too cold to be outside. As I got older, my cold tolerance went away.... turns out I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism (which is probably more common than we think). So now I take thyroid supplement, and I'm back to taking my coat off when I'm working outside at 15-20F, cuz I'm plenty warm.
Actually, so long as it's dry, cotton is slightly warmer than wool. Not by much, but a little. But while wet wool is still warm, wet cotton will freeze your ass.
We had a demo of this at my high school (Great Falls, MT, ca. 1970). Four one-gallon cans of hot water (I think it started at 120F), wrapped in equal quantities of dry cotton, dry wool, wet cotton, and wet wool (soaked, then wrung out). At the end of the demo (about half an hour), the can temperatures were compared. Dry cotton was 103, dry wool 100, wet wool 90-something, and wet cotton was down to room temperature. Well, that sure made it obvious... if you're gonna get wet in the cold, wear wool.
As to other materials... I have an ugly old work coat that I often get totally soaked, and it's still warm when it's wet (I don't usually realise how wet I am til I take it off and drip all over the place). Polyester fill with a nylon shell.
Dogs have a higher core body temperature, and they also have a much more active thyroid gland, which makes a *huge* difference. It's why pound for pound, dogs need about double the calories a human does.
Acclimated dogs don't really start noticing cold til it's -25F or so, and then only if inactive. I've never seen one get frostbite, even with routine temps in the -45F range. Yeah, if they're standing around, they'll start lifting the feet after half an hour or so at zero. But, cripes, even my 6 pound toy poodle house pet was okay so long as it wasn't below zero, and her feet were clipped.
The salt used on city sidewalks will eat a dog's pads, tho, and it probably itches like hell.
Only frostbite I've seen in animals was in outdoor cats, who'd lose the paper-thin tips of their ears when it got down below -40F. They'd just get crisp and fall off.
[I'm a pro dog trainer, and I've lived half my life in Montana. My working dogs are not indoor pets.]
I drive an F350 dually. Dually is supposed to be bad on ice, right? Well, it's not. It was decent even with crappy street tires (no problem stopping and starting, tho steering was an Adventure). It's damn good with all-seasons (some off-brand actually made by Cooper). They're an extremely stiff-sidewall tire, and that makes a BIG difference.
Sounds like how I dress up to do chores every morning... except I don't bother with the goggles, and about halfway through, if it's above 15F or so I usually have to shuck my coat. 'Course I have 3 and 4 layers on under it, so it's not like I'm nekkid.
And I have more gear in my truck (blankets, sleeping bag, giant coat that will fit over everything else).
But the point being... people don't die from the cold. They die from being *underequipped* for the cold. Eskimo gear isn't just a fashion statement.
Sure -- but it's still going to express in the range of that gene. If it's a gene for making an amino acid, it's not suddenly going to start making cyanide.
You know all those weird colors you can now get in commercial petunias? came from a corn gene. But it doesn't suddenly turn them into mandrakes.
An AC says, "No it means the 'natural' plant have centuries of testing behind them. GMO introduces a large number of elements quickly that are not so well tested."
Well, not exactly. It means the 'natural' version is GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) because of long usage, but that doesn't mean it's been *tested*. And in fact we eat a lot of 'natural' things that would never pass ordinary FDA testing, were they developed as a new food product today. Honey (full of random contaminants) and spinach leap to mind (you could probably poison a baby with a diet too heavy in dark green leafy vegetables). Avocados would probably be banned as unsafe for people with undiagnosed heart disease.
Lots of plant products have to be extensively processed to make them safe to eat at all, because of alkaloids or other toxins. If you don't believe me, go forth and consume unblanched acorn meal for a few years. Or raw taro root.
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That's my philosophy -- once it's paid for, keep it running. Repair anything that can be reasonably repaired or rebuilt, because it's still cheaper than payments on a newer vehicle. Even my well-used '78 F100 is cheaper to fix (even major fixes) than to replace. Works out to about $300/year, including the long-ago engine rebuild. Still does what I need of it, and doesn't look too embarassing. :)
(And what with all the trouble it was to find exactly what I needed in a tow rig, and the MPG it gets for that big engine, I'll keep that '91 F350 til it's a pile of rusty scrap, thanks very much.)
So what's your thoughts on the commonly-available premixed antifreeze? It claims to be good down to -50 or so, but nowhere on the bottle does it say what the mix IS.
(I live in Montana. -45 is routine; -65 isn't out of the question.)
Is Alaska still part of the U.S. ?? :)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0930150.html
A bit closer to home (I live here):
http://montanakids.com/facts_and_figures/climate/Temperature_Extremes.htm
Roger's Pass, officially -70F. It probably was colder up away from the pass itself (which is fairly sheltered).
In January 1969, KMON (Great Falls MT) radio's weather station, which was up on the hill north of town, recorded -72F.
Recently when it was a bit below zero, I needed to put some power steering fluid in my truck... had to bang it out of the bottle, cuz it was closer to a solid than a liquid. (Next time, I won't toss the bottle into the back of the truck!)
It depends on the car, tho.
My '63 Olds would start right up in any weather (including -45F Montana winters), but if it hadn't been plugged in, it took forever to get the glass defogged (not so with the block heater running, which actually got the entire interior of the car warm too -- helluva lot nicer than holding onto a steering wheel that's also at -45. It would even melt the ice off the windshield.)
But if it's below zero, my Ford pickups (otherwise better vehicles) won't start, or start with grave reluctance, unless plugged in -- then they start right up. And if not plugged in, my F350 flat refuses to come out of 2nd gear until it deems itself sufficiently warm, which at zero or below takes about 20 minutes, during which time it gets 7mpg instead of 12mpg, and I get to dawdle along at 25mph.
So, you bet I deem that 500W block heater a good deal -- just the gas it saves me for that first 20 minutes more than pays for the electricity it used the night before. It cost me $99 to have installed and it's probably already saved half that in gas in the first two months, even tho I only drive it once a week.
Quite possible, especially with a religious view, to be perfectly accurate in your observations, yet completely wrong in your conclusions...
Yeah, but I couldn't afford to spend $1200 on tires twice. So I did the best compromise -- deep-tread all-weather tires. If it gets really nasty, I'll put cables on the outside rears. -- I've experimented with trying to make it slide on ice, and was happy to note that whatever they did to the rubber, it's almost sticky on ice. (I've been told you can get such an effect from rubbing the tire with dry laundry detergent... ???)
The best winter tires I've ever had were Atlas 6-ply highway tires. Next best was studded snow tires on all four wheels. Both on a little sports car. Couldn't skid the thing on ice with either set.
Modern children are delicate snowflakes, and they might melt in all this global warming.
http://rt.com/news/winter-snow-russia-weather-275/
Not near as bad as the pics from a couple years ago, tho. (Which I couldn't find offhand, but...)
And those doors on the 2nd floor of older buildings in West Yellowstone are not for decoration, either.
Really??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:65_Myr_Climate_Change.png
And I'm wondering what kind of trees they planted.
Something like saltcedar makes a helluva desert windblock, and will survive all manner of malicious abuse from both man and climate.
The fact that GW is cast in terms of "believe in" even by its proponents should be our first clue.
I haven't actually looked it up myself, but just a couple days ago I saw a stat that we've had fewer* major hurricanes over the past 30 years, compared with before, yet supposedly we're getting more?? I guess we -can- have it both ways...
I dunno... in summer you've got the twin-engine mosquitoes...
But if I ever get there again, I'll have to do that researcher tour. I've been to the mines and that was fun, but looking at the earth that deep with my own eyes... wow.
When I was younger, it had to be -25 before I thought it was too cold to be outside. As I got older, my cold tolerance went away.... turns out I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism (which is probably more common than we think). So now I take thyroid supplement, and I'm back to taking my coat off when I'm working outside at 15-20F, cuz I'm plenty warm.
Actually, so long as it's dry, cotton is slightly warmer than wool. Not by much, but a little. But while wet wool is still warm, wet cotton will freeze your ass.
We had a demo of this at my high school (Great Falls, MT, ca. 1970). Four one-gallon cans of hot water (I think it started at 120F), wrapped in equal quantities of dry cotton, dry wool, wet cotton, and wet wool (soaked, then wrung out). At the end of the demo (about half an hour), the can temperatures were compared. Dry cotton was 103, dry wool 100, wet wool 90-something, and wet cotton was down to room temperature. Well, that sure made it obvious... if you're gonna get wet in the cold, wear wool.
As to other materials... I have an ugly old work coat that I often get totally soaked, and it's still warm when it's wet (I don't usually realise how wet I am til I take it off and drip all over the place). Polyester fill with a nylon shell.
Dogs have a higher core body temperature, and they also have a much more active thyroid gland, which makes a *huge* difference. It's why pound for pound, dogs need about double the calories a human does.
Acclimated dogs don't really start noticing cold til it's -25F or so, and then only if inactive. I've never seen one get frostbite, even with routine temps in the -45F range. Yeah, if they're standing around, they'll start lifting the feet after half an hour or so at zero. But, cripes, even my 6 pound toy poodle house pet was okay so long as it wasn't below zero, and her feet were clipped.
The salt used on city sidewalks will eat a dog's pads, tho, and it probably itches like hell.
Only frostbite I've seen in animals was in outdoor cats, who'd lose the paper-thin tips of their ears when it got down below -40F. They'd just get crisp and fall off.
[I'm a pro dog trainer, and I've lived half my life in Montana. My working dogs are not indoor pets.]
I drive an F350 dually. Dually is supposed to be bad on ice, right? Well, it's not. It was decent even with crappy street tires (no problem stopping and starting, tho steering was an Adventure). It's damn good with all-seasons (some off-brand actually made by Cooper). They're an extremely stiff-sidewall tire, and that makes a BIG difference.
Try these on for size!
http://montanakids.com/facts_and_figures/climate/Temperature_Extremes.htm
During the hard winters of the 60s and 70s, this wasn't even remarkable weather. We had a number of mild years between that's spoiled us, is all.
Sounds like how I dress up to do chores every morning... except I don't bother with the goggles, and about halfway through, if it's above 15F or so I usually have to shuck my coat. 'Course I have 3 and 4 layers on under it, so it's not like I'm nekkid.
And I have more gear in my truck (blankets, sleeping bag, giant coat that will fit over everything else).
But the point being... people don't die from the cold. They die from being *underequipped* for the cold. Eskimo gear isn't just a fashion statement.
This looked like a whole lot more fun!
http://io9.com/what-lava-looks-like-when-poured-over-ice-615928722
Sure -- but it's still going to express in the range of that gene. If it's a gene for making an amino acid, it's not suddenly going to start making cyanide.
You know all those weird colors you can now get in commercial petunias? came from a corn gene. But it doesn't suddenly turn them into mandrakes.
An AC says, "No it means the 'natural' plant have centuries of testing behind them. GMO introduces a large number of elements quickly that are not so well tested."
Well, not exactly. It means the 'natural' version is GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) because of long usage, but that doesn't mean it's been *tested*. And in fact we eat a lot of 'natural' things that would never pass ordinary FDA testing, were they developed as a new food product today. Honey (full of random contaminants) and spinach leap to mind (you could probably poison a baby with a diet too heavy in dark green leafy vegetables). Avocados would probably be banned as unsafe for people with undiagnosed heart disease.
Lots of plant products have to be extensively processed to make them safe to eat at all, because of alkaloids or other toxins. If you don't believe me, go forth and consume unblanched acorn meal for a few years. Or raw taro root.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taro#Toxicity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_oxalate#Occurrence
Which is why I'm prone to vote for he who promises least. He who does least is also less likely to further damage our country.
(And I think I've missed voting in one election in 40 years, tho sometimes it's hold-my-nose and vote for the least horrid.)
If they already eat the fish, why should it matter if the fish DNA is in a plant instead??