Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
4 • EAST OREGONIAN/HERMISTON HERALD But I remembered to check the oil... By TAMMY MALGESINI Community Editor Reminiscent of the fa- miliar line “This one time, at band camp ... ” in the 1999 ilm “American Pie,” my husband, John, doesn’t let me forget about this one time I added oil to my pick- up. My irst vehicle, a 1973 Ford Courier pickup, ran like a champ. The only problem is it burned oil. I had just graduated from college and struck a deal with the youth pas- tor of the Free Methodist Church. I gave him my 100 Honda motorcycle and a couple hundred dollars and he handed over the keys to the baby-poop brown col- ored pick-up. I loved that truck. It gave me the freedom to throw gear in the back and hit the road. Since I wasn’t able to afford to get it ixed, I bought a case of oil and always carried a couple of quarts with me. When I irst met John, he had an old 1971 Volk- swagen Beetle. To start the VW Bug, you often had to be on a hill to get a roll- ing start and then pop the clutch. So, when we were tak- ing a trip to Seattle, we decided to take my truck. In preparation for the long drive, I checked the oil lev- el and topped it off. I was proud of the fact that I was an independent woman with a college de- gree and could take care of my own rig. I made a point of telling John that I added oil for the trip. After packing, I went to John’s apartment to pick him up. He tossed his bags in and then slid behind the steering wheel. I igured he had driven that rode numer- ous times and could deal with city trafic better than me. We also picked up an- other George Fox student, who hitched a ride with us. We laughed and talked as we cruised up the road. Everything was going smoothly until we dropped the gal off in Tacoma. Stopping at a mall just off the freeway, John turned off the engine while we waited for her ride to pick her up. All hell broke loose with black smoke pouring out of the engine compart- ment. John opened the hood — that’s when he noticed that the oil cap wasn’t on (and the inside of the hood was covered in oil). Evidently in my excitement about the trip, I forgot to put it back on. By some stroke of luck — after driving 150 miles — the cap was still sitting in the engine compartment where I put it while adding the oil. To this day, John grins and shakes his head when- ever we recall this story. And, if I add any luids to vehicles, he double-checks to make sure all the caps are secure. Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life and appears every other week in the Hermiston Herald. Contact her at tmal- gesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539. Her car care tips are something of a cautionary tale of how not to best care vor your vehicle. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 HOME IMPROVEMENT & CAR CARE A cold weather car care checklist Prepare your vehicle for challenging road conditions To ensure vehicles are prepared for fall and winter driving conditions, AAA Oregon/Idaho suggests drivers follow a mainte- nance checklist to deter- mine their vehicle’s fall and winter needs. AAA recommends checking the following things: Battery and Charging System — Have the battery and charging system test- ed by a trained technician. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. Battery Cables and Ter- minals — Make sure the battery terminals and cable ends are free from corro- sion and the connections are tight. Drive Belts — Inspect the underside of accesso- ry drive belts for cracks or fraying. Many newer mul- tirib “serpentine” belts are made of materials that do not show obvious signs of wear; replace these belts at 60,000-mile intervals. Engine Hoses — In- spect cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses and replace any that are brittle or have an exces- sively spongy feeling. Tire Type and Tread — In areas with heavy winter weather, installing snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter trac- tion. All-season tires work well in light-to-moderate snow conditions, provided they have adequate tread depth. Replace any tire that has less than 3/32-inches of tread. Uneven tire wear can indicate alignment, wheel balance or suspension prob- lems that must be addressed to prevent further tire dam- age. Tire Pressure — Check tire inlation pressure on all four tires and the spare more frequently in fall and winter. As the average tempera- ture drops, so will tire pres- sures — typically by one PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Proper tire pressure lev- els can be found in the own- er’s manual or on a sticker typically located on the driver’s side door jamb. Air Filter — Check the engine air ilter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the ilter, it is still clean enough to work effec- tively. However, if light is blocked by most of the il- ter, replace it. Coolant Levels — Check the coolant level in the overlow tank when the engine is cold. If the level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and wa- ter to maintain the neces- sary antifreeze capability. Test the antifreeze pro- tection level annually with an inexpensive tester avail- able at any auto parts store. Lights — Check the op- eration of all headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency lashers and backup lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs. Wiper Blades — The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or miss- es spots. In regions where snow is common, consid- er installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot to re- duce ice and snow buildup that can prevent good con- tact between the blade and the glass. Washer Fluid — Fill the windshield washer lu- id reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing. Brakes — If there is any indication of a brake problem, have the system inspected by a certiied technician to ensure all components are in good working order. Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids — Check all luids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels. Hermiston Glass Serving Umatilla, Morrow & Gilliam Counties & Beyond! • Commercial • Residential • Auto • Windows • Shower Enclosures • Patio Doors • Flat Glass • Picture Frame & Tabletop Glass • Storefronts • Window Repair 541-567-6679 • 1-800-835-3137 • 1895 N. 1st Place, Hermiston CCB #147211 Your Local Fire & Water Damage Restoration Professionals THE ZIMMER AGENCY 911 N. 1st St., Hermiston 541-567-5745 Serving all of Umatilla and Morrow Counties 541-567-2603 24 Hour Emergency Service
