Recent content by cowpie1

Side note to all this from one who has tanked a LOT of fuel... All gasoline, regardless of brand, has the SAME terminal source! It is all the same. Refined at industry standards for grade. The ONLY difference is the additives (including ethanol) specified at the time the load is put on the...

OK... from one who has tanked fuel. Most of the fuel coming out of the terminals is warm in relation to ambient temps. ALL storage tanks today below ground are double hulled or better due to EPA standards. I realize that things are cooler underground, but the fuel will stay relatively warm for...

Regarding the "if synthetic were so good, the manufacturers would use put it in the new car" argument. I have been directly involved with GM and Ford assembly plants for over 2 decades. They are as tight wad about costs as anyone. They go with the lowest bid on a product that only meets the...

I used Kendall 15w40 in my last semi, Freightliner FLD with Cummins N14. I changed at 30K. Got 1.4 million miles out of it and traded. The truck is still working and hasn't had the engine overhauled. It is not burning oil at a rate that concerns the owner and UOA's are tolerable. My current '06...

I would change the oil. I would change at least once a year even with such low miles. Problem would be condensation issues that would contaminate the oil. Also, any acids that are not neutralized would be doing a job by 18 months. My .02 worth.

Just to mix things up a little. I have used Amsoil's ATM 10w30 for some time in various vehicles. I switched all my lawnmowers, generators, etc over to it just because I didn't want a lot of different oil products around. Everything has worked great with the ATM. Checked with the techs at Amsoil...

A lot of Jeep Liberty CRD owners compain of transmission "shudder", especially around 50-55 mph. I experienced it a little myself. About 10K miles ago, I did a tranny flush, replaced filters, and then loaded it up with Amsoil UATF. I haven't experienced the "shudder" since and shifting is firm.

Ok... real world. I use synthetics (Amsoil) in most everything, but my last truck (Freightliner FLD w/Cummins N14) I used nothing but Kendall 15w40 and Baldwin filters. Did 30K oil changes and put 1.4 million miles on it. Did not ever have a major problem (just a couple of injectors and a head...

My wife used to have a 2002 Chevy Cavalier that was not a FFV. Just for grins, we loaded it up with E85. The check light came on about 30 miles down the road. Ran good though. The problem is the programming for the ECU regarding the oxygen sensors. Running E85 causes the ECU to go crazy. A...

Jury is still out on long term results for most flex fuel vehicles running well on E85 mostly because There are not enough E85 pumps scattered around. I live in Central Iowa which is heart of corn/ethanol country, and E85 pumps are not anywhere close by me. I am not driving 50 miles to fuel up...

I learned a trick back in my youth that I have used ever since. Fine steel wool will remove the rust spots and not harm the blueing. Have used this trick for over 40 years and works every time.

Guess you haven't been around the trucking industry. Profit margins are not all that great. I've seen the spreadsheets at a number of trucking companies. Most would be very content to see a consistent profit margin above 3%.

I have given up on the biofuels viability issues. Living here in Iowa, the "ground zero" of ethanol and biodiesel production, I have come to realize it is just a three card monty. It is just a money shuffle by the government and a "warm fuzzy" for the population. Yes, it has caused corn and...

Ok... Then we'll have to add more tax to the price of fuel to pay the troopers and buy more patrol cars. And of course you know that any state govt will find a way to waste the money and never achieve the desired results. In Iowa the combined Fed and State tax on a gallon is now $.68 And they...

As someone who has tanked fuel for a number of years, I can confirm that! All fuel is the same. Just like what was said, the refiners put it in the pipeline and it gets picked up by any number of terminals. The stations look for the best price from a series of terminals and we would pick up...