Dear Tom and Ray:
A friend of mine suggested that when changing my oil, I drain out the old oil and add just one quart, then run the engine for a few minutes to kind of "rinse it out." What are your thoughts? - Tom
RAY: I'll bet this guy received a special commendation from the Engine Rebuilders Association at their last awards banquet. This guy is nuts, Tom.
TOM: The idea of "rinsing out" the engine is a good one. But running the engine on one quart of oil is a very bad idea. You'll do a lot of damage, even if you only do it for a few minutes.
RAY: It would be like draining all the blood out of a patient during a transfusion, and then asking him to walk around for a day or two with just a couple of pints in his system, in order to "rinse out" his veins and arteries.
TOM: The truth is, when you change the oil, you ARE rinsing out the engine. One thing the oil does is collect all the contaminants and carry them out of the engine when the oil is drained. So if you change your oil regularly (we recommend every 5,000 miles), and you change it while the engine is warm (when the oil is holding more contaminants in suspension), there's no need to do any additional "rinsing."
Dear Tom and Ray:
I read your column regularly, and since you guys seem to be the reigning kings of answering unusual car questions, who else could I turn to? I have only been driving for about a year and a half, and I realized last summer that I have a very unusual problem during the warmer months. My problem is spiders. Yes, spiders! I'll be driving along, when these little yellow-white spiders come crawling out of the vents and other places.
My boyfriend says he's seen them in other people's cars, and they're nothing to worry about. I realize you are both laughing, but this is serious, because I am arachnophobic. I came close to getting into several accidents because these creatures came crawling out of my vents. I don't have thousands to spend on therapy, and I don't think you can throw a bug bomb under the hood of a car. Any suggestions? I am actually petrified at the thought of driving again next summer. - Susan
TOM: Sounds like you need my brother's favorite cologne, Eau Du Raid.
RAY: Actually, Susan, it's a tough problem. You can't really spray pesticides into the vents, because that poses a danger to you, too.
TOM: So unless there's some substance that's not toxic to humans (and we don't know what that would be), the best way to get rid of these spiders is with a good, cold winter. In other words, the problem should take care of itself. The spiders will disappear, and they probably won't come back.RAY: And if they do show up again next summer, you can always simulate winter by blasting them with your car's air conditioner. Try running your air conditioner at full tilt boogie all the time. That may mean you'll have to wear your Bronko Nagurski Long Underwear all summer, but it should send the spiders hunting for warmer climes (like your boyfriend's car). Good luck.
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