Click & Clack: How risky is sleeping in a car?

Tag : salted sheepskin

For years, I have been a field-mouse-poor college student, sleepingin my (crappy, leaky, rusty) Jeep on trips, such as snowboarding,to save money (yes, it gets nippy - hence the zero-degree sleepingbag).
Now, with a job, I bought a "new to me" 2006 Subaru Outback thathas similar sleeping capacity in the back (yes, I can now afford acar, just not the crazy hotel prices at the
ski resorts).
My fear is that this "new" car has far fewer rattles and doesn'tleak air like my Hindenburg/Jeep did. So I fear if I sleep in it, Imay run out of air and just die in my sleep. Can I die in my car ifit is NOT running and I sleep in it? - Jonathan
TOM: Well, let me be clear about this, so our lawyer doesn't die in HISsleep tonight. We don't know.
RAY: Right. But we're more than happy to give our uninformed opinion,like we do every week!
TOM: I don't think you can suffocate in a closed car. I just don'tthink cars are airtight to that extent. After all, when you put acar in a lake, it fills up with water and sinks, right?
RAY: And there are vents that always mix some fresh air with yourheating and air conditioning, and those may very well remain openpathways all the time, regardless of whether the engine is on.
TOM: That's our guess, Jonathan. Of course, if we're wrong, have yourheirs write to us and let us know for future reference.
RAY: We know people who've slept in their cars through the years, andnone of them ever died, or even reported any shortness of breath.Although all of those cars were old heaps.
TOM: We understand that in the 100-plus-year history of the automobile,some people have been known to engage in activities that consumeeven more oxygen than sleeping. We have no firsthand knowledge ofthis, of course.
RAY: We do know that it steams up the windows, though. So we know freshair isn't exactly pouring in.
We've never heard of anyone dying of suffocation in a closed car,Jonathan. But we'll ask our listeners what they know (write to usvia our Web site, www.cartalk.com). And in the meantime, you canalways leave a window open a crack. See if that sleeping bag reallyis good down to zero degrees!
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Dear Tom and Ray: We own a 2005 PT Cruiser and a 2005 Pacifica, and in the next yearor so we are moving to Puerto Rico from northern Illinois. We arethinking of taking the cars with us since they are not very old.
I have heard people say that cars are made for only one type ofweather. Is this true or false? Would the drastic change oftemperature affect the cars?
Is there anything special that I need to do to them so they canadapt to the very hot weather? - Ricardo
RAY: Congratulations, Ricardo. Puerto Rico is a wonderful place, withgreat weather, nice people and excellent arepas.
TOM: And it's thoughtful of you to consider the cars' feelings. But thecars really couldn't care less.
RAY: The island's hot weather would put a heavier burden on the cars'cooling and air-conditioning systems. But if those systems areworking properly, the cars will handle it without any problem.After all, Chrysler dealerships in Puerto Rico sell the same cars.
TOM: But before you ship your cars, you should know that Puerto Ricolevies significant import taxes on vehicles brought to the islandfrom the United States. The tax is based on the value of the car.So, if your Pacifica is loaded up, the tax could be as much as$3,000-$4,000! Even for the less-expensive PT Cruiser, you couldpay a couple grand just in import taxes. And that's not countingthe cost of shipping, which will probably run in the neighborhoodof $1,000 per car - more, if it falls into the ocean.
RAY: If you go to the Web site of the Puerto Rican government ( hacienda.gobierno.pr/ ), there's a link in English to "Vehicles Excise Taxes." Thatallows you to enter your vehicle's details and get an estimate ofthe taxes you'll owe.
TOM: Then there are a few other things to consider. Your cars havespent the first few years of their lives in the snowy androad-salty winters of northern Illinois. That salt is laying thegroundwork for future rust. You might want a car that hasn't beenpre-salted.
RAY: And there are features we want up North that are much lessdesirable in the Caribbean. I mean, your seat heaters won't be ofmuch use down there. Neither will all-wheel drive, if your Pacificahas it.
TOM: But more importantly, you don't want a car with leather seats inthe Caribbean. Leather gets extremely hot when the sun beats downon it. And when it's extremely hot, you wear what? Shorts! Then,when you get in your car and the uncovered portion of the back ofyour thigh makes contact with the hot leather, you're going to endup with a brand, like a range cow.
RAY: So, look at the whole picture before you decide. See what similarcars are selling for down there - or some other car you may want.After weighing all of the information, you may find that you'd bebetter off selling your cars privately before you move and thenbuying replacement cars when you get there.
Dear Tom and Ray:
My mom listens to your show constantly, and I have to say, it's awhole lot better than when she listens to Rush Limbaugh.
Anyway, I've decided to change my own oil as I have a part-time jobdelivering pizzas and I hate shelling out $50 every three months orso. I've done some research online, and what I've found is
scary -- between risking getting crushed by a mislaid car jack andburnt by a hot engine, I'm ready to rethink my plan. What are yourexpert opinions on the safety of an oil change by a first-timedo-it-yourselfer? -- Katie
TOM: Well, a lot of people learn things successfully by just jumpingright in and trying them. That's how I learned to change oil,Katie.
RAY: And he's had cars fall on him many times, which explains both theextreme flatness of his forehead and his frequent lapses injudgment.
TOM: No, the lapses in judgment are what led to the flat forehead!Anyway, it's best if you can get someone to actually show you howto do an oil change, because you can get hurt under a car, Katie.
RAY: The best way to avoid having the car fall on you is to invest in aset of ramps. For 30 bucks or so, you can get a set of steel ramps,and someone can show you how to drive the front wheels up onto theramps so the car is secure and you have room to work underneath.
TOM: Whatever you do, do NOT use the spare-tire jack that came withyour car. It's flimsy, and it's not safe to work under. If youdon't believe me, look at a picture of my forehead.
RAY: Once the car is on the ramps on flat ground, you need to make sureit stays there. You do that by putting the transmission in park (orin first or reverse if it's a stick-shift), applying the parkingbrake and chocking the rear wheels (again, someone can show you howto do this very easily).
TOM: Once you get underneath the car, someone can show you where theexhaust manifold is, so you don't touch that and burn yourself. Andhe or she can show you how to remove the oil filter without havinga quart of oil run down your arm and into your lap, where it getsabsorbed by your Jockey shorts. You'll also need to know how toproperly dispose of the used oil so you don't get fined $50,000 bythe Environmental Protection Agency. After you've seen it doneonce, up close, you'll be able to do it yourself.
RAY: Yup. It's not that hard, and I don't think it's beyond yourcapabilities once you get a little instruction.
TOM: I agree. If you can deliver a triple-anchovy pizza before it getscold, you can change your own oil, Katie. Go for it.
(c) 2008 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman
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Dear Tom and Ray:
I just read an article on winter driving, and I want to make sure Iunderstand what is meant when they say, "Turn into the direction ofthe skid." If the front of our car is veering right, it means therear is going left, so which direction are you skidding in - rightor left?
I want to make sure I understand where I'm supposed to turn mysteering wheel. It seems that if my front is veering right, and Iturn my steering wheel to the right, I'd just end up making acircle. Please clarify. - Sylvia
TOM: If the car starts to slide, and the front of the car ispointing to the right of where it's supposed to be pointing and theback end of the vehicle is moving to the left, that's usuallyreferred to as skidding to the left. In that case, Sylvia, youwould turn the steering wheel to the left to try to straighten out.
RAY: Think about it this way. Let's say you plopped your car down onthe face of a clock. The front of the car is pointing at the 12,and the back of the car is pointing to the 6. You're going straightdown the road, and all is right with the world.
TOM: Now, suppose, all of a sudden, the front of your car is pointingto the 2. How would you get the car pointed straight again? You'dturn left, wouldn't you? You're pointing at the 2, and you want topoint to the 12, so you turn left. That's turning into the skid.
RAY: If the car was suddenly pointing to the 10, and you wanted to bepointing toward the 12, you'd turn the wheel to the right, right?Right.
TOM: But even if you understand the theory, it's best to practice thetechnique before you have to use it. So if there's a snowstorm andyou can find a big, empty parking lot (note: light poles don'tcount as empty), go out and, at a reasonably slow speed, cut thewheel sharply and put the car into a skid, then try to steer out ofit.
RAY: If you're like most people, you'll "over-correct" at first andsteer too far into the skid, causing you to skid the other way. So,you want to make quick, small corrections, bringing the steeringwheel right back toward the center after each correction to seewhere you are and if you need to correct more.
TOM: Or better yet, Sylvia, make sure your next car has electronicstability control. Then the computer does all that stuff, and youjust point the wheel where you want to go and don't have to worryabout reading any more confusing articles about skidding.
Dear Tom and Ray:
My 1996 Honda Accord runs great -- no complaints. However, thismorning, coming back to my car in a parking lot, I noticed somelong hair or fur hanging out from my exhaust pipe. I removed someof it, and a kind gentleman pulled some more out and thought he gotall of it. After driving 60 miles back home, I parked the car inthe garage and noticed a lot more hair/fur hanging out of the sameexhaust pipe. It is long, soft-black/gray/white hair or fur. Inoticed a foul smell in the trunk as I was getting the groceriesout.

What could this be, and how did something - an animal of some kind- get in there? Did it get in from another part of the car, likesomewhere under the hood? I am afraid to touch the car again. Whodo I go to or call to get this taken care of? Thank you so much. -- Linda
TOM: What you've got is something we refer to as muffler hair, Linda.It seems to be unique to Hondas. At least, those are the only carswe've seen with flowing muffler locks.
RAY: Honda apparently uses some sort of insulation in its mufflers thatlooks an awful lot like human or animal hair. It's not hair. It'sprobably fiberglass, or some such thing. It's used to keep thebaffles in the muffler from rattling when the muffler starts to getold and the parts loosen up.
TOM : But when the interior of the muffler really begins todisintegrate, the baffles no longer hold the insulation (i.e.,muffler hair) in place, and it gets pushed out the tailpipe.
RAY: This leads to a fair number of blood-curdling screams coming frompeople's garages when they go out in the morning and think Grandmahas been stuffed up the tailpipe.
TOM: So, it means you need a new muffler, Linda. In the meantime, tryputting it up in a bun or something so it doesn't look unruly.
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Dear Tom and Ray:
I'm a big fan of your show and column, and sure can use youradvice. I've applied to nursing schools in Portland, Me., and Hilo,Hawaii. I currently live in Seattle and have been carless since2000. I am required to own a car in nursing school and am a littlenervous about purchasing the wrong car and ending up with a lemon(I will be on a VERY tight budget, and my mechanical expertise endsat changing the oil).
I'm hoping you can help provide some car-related pros and cons forboth locations, and help me decide where to go to school. Anygeneral car-buying advice for both locations would be greatlyappreciated too (e.g., wait to get there before purchasing the car,don't buy a convertible, etc.). Thanks very much! -- Natalia
RAY : This is an easy one, Natalia. If you buy a used car in Portland,Me., it's probably going to be beat up and rusted from havingsuffered through a lifetime of winters and road salt. And if itbreaks down, you may have to walk miles in the snow, sleet or iceto get help. So, make sure you pay attention during frostbiteclass!
TOM : Whereas if you buy an old car in Hawaii, it will have beenperfectly preserved by the Pacific sunshine, and might even comewith a surfboard rack.
RAY : And if your car breaks down in Hawaii, what do you care? It'llinevitably be a nice day for a walk. You might meet someinteresting people, get invited to a luau and learn to dance thehula.
TOM : But regardless of where you go to nursing school (go to Hawaii,Natalia), wait until you get there to buy a car. Maybe some nursingstudent who's graduating will have a car he or she wants to unload.Or maybe someone connected to the school will know someone with agood used car to sell.
RAY : You also can use our database of mechanics who have beenpersonally recommended by our readers and listeners. It's calledthe Mechanics Files, and it's on our Web site, cartalk.com .
TOM : You put in your new ZIP code (96720 is Hilo, by the way), andyou'll get a list of mechanics who our listeners and readers saythey trust. Call one or two of them, tell them you're moving there,and ask them to keep an eye out for an older Honda Civic or ToyotaCorolla in good condition for you.
RAY : Even if the mechanic doesn't find you a car, you'll still want toknow a mechanic when you get there so you can have any car thatinterests you checked out before you buy it.
TOM : Well, I hope I've made my opinion on this matter perfectly clear,Natalia.
RAY : I'd think twice about specializing in geriatric nursing if I wereyou, Natalia, because it sounds like my brother's getting ready tomove to Hilo and join you!
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Dear Tom and Ray:
My 1997 Honda Accord has 270,000 miles. It still runs great, anddoesn't use any oil. There are some problems I could take care of,like a clicking from an axle, struts that are pretty worn out and apitted windshield. But overall, it runs well. My brother says Ishould get a new
car. He cites safety concerns, and says that things like tie rodscould break and lead to an accident.
Because I'm adopting a 1-year-old child soon, I don't really wantto break down anywhere, but I've never been too worried about itbefore. Anyway, I'm thinking of trying to go to 300,000 miles andthen give her up. What do you think? - Linda
RAY : Ah, the endless mileage contest. I have other customers like you,Linda. You say you just want to get to 300,000. And then when youget there, you'll say, "I just want to get to 325,000." I know yourtype.
TOM : Me too. You have my full support, Linda. As long as the rusthasn't diminished the structural integrity of the car, the safetystuff can be addressed pretty easily. You take the car to amechanic you trust, and you ask him to look it over, stem to stern,as if you were thinking of buying it as a used car.
RAY : Once he gives you the full report, you ask him which of theproblems are safety-related, and you fix those first. And, by theway, the worn struts and pitted windshield should be on that list.
TOM : You're almost always better off, economically, keeping an old carrather than buying a new one. So if you address any safety issues,you have our blessing to keep driving this heap.
RAY : The primary drawback of an old car like this, aside from its lackof the latest safety features, is that it's not as reliable as anewer car. When you have 270,000 miles on a vehicle, at any momentthe fuel pump could have "the big one." That WOULD leave youstranded.
TOM : And sure, that could happen with 70,000 miles on the car, or170,000, too. But the likelihood of breaking down and getting stuckincreases with every mile you put on the car. If you travel farfrom home with a small child, that becomes a consideration.
RAY : Right. If it was just you, it'd be no big deal. You call for helpon your cell phone and wait around for a while. But if it's a hotday, and your last diaper is soiled, waiting a couple of hours forAAA to show up could be a grave crisis!
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Dear Tom and Ray:
Back in the 1960s, when I was an adolescent male, one of my friendstold me that he could get his old car (late-1940s- or early-1950sera) to "fart" whenever he liked. When I expressed skepticism aboutthis claim, he demonstrated the phenomenon several times.
By switching the ignition on and off while manipulating the footpedals, he could make the car backfire with a spectacular fartingsound that attracted the awe and admiration of any adolescents inthe vicinity.
I still don't understand how he accomplished this impressive feat,however. Can you explain the mechanics of "car farting" forarrested adolescents like me? - Bill
RAY : Sure, Bill. How did you know we'd be the people to ask?
TOM: Before we explain how it's done, let me assure any parents ofadolescent boys out there that this won't work nowadays. It onlyworks on carbureted cars, and every single car made now isfuel-injected.
RAY: What your friend was doing was causing a backfire, Bill. We calledit "banging." When you turned the key off in an old car (beforefuel injection, and before steering-wheel locks!), the carburetorwould continue to allow gasoline to pour into the cylinders.
TOM: That gasoline didn't get combusted, because the spark plugsweren't firing, so it got pushed out into the exhaust system, whereit basically sat there, waiting for something to happen.
RAY: When you turned the ignition back on, that first spark wouldignite not only the fuel in the cylinder, but all of the fuelsitting in the exhaust system too. And, kaboom!
TOM: We have a friend, whom we won't name, but Tony had a job duringcollege returning rental cars to the airport in Boston. To get tothe airport, you had to drive through a tunnel.
RAY: And Tony H., the friend we won't name, knew how to make the carsbackfire. He found it particularly satisfying to "bang" thereturning rental cars in the tunnel, where they made a tremendousnoise.
TOM: He also discovered, to his chagrin, that when he "banged" aRambler, which was one of the cars in the rental fleet, not onlydid it make an impressive noise, but sometimes it blew the entiremuffler right off!
RAY: So he would pull into the rental lot with the car sounding like aGatling gun, and the supervisor would say: "What the heck happened,Tony? Another bad muffler?" And Tony would say "Yeah. What a pieceof junk, huh?"
TOM: So if anyone from Hertz wants to get in touch with Tony now toseek redress, let us know. We know how to reach him.

Dear Tom and Ray:
I will be 77 years old soon and would like your opinion as to whichof the following automobiles you would recommend for someone likeme. I love driving, and I drive a stick shift to this very day. Forthe past eight years, I have driven a Honda Accord coupe. Thepractical side of me tells me to get a new Honda Civic, while theless-practical side argues for a Mini Cooper, a car that has greatappeal to me aesthetically. Incidentally, before I bought theHonda, I drove a Toyota Celica, which I loved. Your input will bemuch appreciated. Are there cars you would especially recommend forolder drivers? - Isaac
TOM: Well, there are certain things we do look for when recommending acar for an older driver -- in addition to making sure theblinker-cancel switch is robust.
RAY: No. 1 is modest size. When you were a young whippersnapper, youmight have been able to navigate a 30-foot-long Chrysler Imperialand bring it into dock without smashing up the cars around it. Butthat ability diminishes with time. So we generally recommend thatolder drivers step down a size or two.
TOM: Smaller cars tend to be easier to maneuver and park. And whilesome older folks resist smaller cars at first, it's been ourexperience that they come to appreciate the certainty of knowingwhere the car begins and ends. And they like having to make fewerapologies for taking out mailboxes and tulip beds.
RAY: We also look for good visibility. In general, visibility hasgotten worse during the past 10 years. Car styling has veeredtoward rising belt lines and high trunks.
TOM : That's automotive styling, Isaac, not whether your personal beltline is up around your chest.
RAY: A lot of modern cars are harder to see out of, particularly outthe back and out the sides toward the back. So that's something toconsider.
TOM: Then we look for comfort. Not in terms of DVD players and electricbutt-scratchers, but we want an older driver to feel comfortablebehind the wheel. Because a person who is comfortable driving hisor her car (a comfortable seating position, familiarity with thecontrols) is a better, safer driver.
RAY : There are other specific needs people might have, like ease ofentry and exit, and large, readable instrumentation. Butappropriate size, visibility and driver comfort and confidence areat the top of our list.
TOM: And while the Honda Civic meets all of those criteria, we thinkyou should go out today and get the Mini Cooper, Isaac.

RAY : Absolutely. It has great visibility, it's fun to drive, it's easyto get in and out of, it doesn't feel small inside, and you can fitinto half a parking space when you're late for bingo and theparking lot is already crowded.
TOM: And if you're itching to get one, what are you waiting for? Yourroaring 80s? If the majority of your driving is around town, andyou don't have to schlep lots of kids or passengers, the Mini isthe perfect car for you, Isaac.
RAY: I agree. You deserve it, Isaac, don't you? Live it up! And be sureto get a loaded one with racing stripes on the hood. The80-year-old gals at my brother's nursing home really love thestripes!
Dear Tom and Ray:
For no other reason than nostalgia, and the fact that it's the onlycar I know how to work on (because it broke down on me so manytimes when I owned one), I am looking for a Plymouth Arrow coupefor my kid's 16th birthday. I'm willing to go anywhere in theUnited States for a manual-transmission coupe that is stillrunning. Can you help me? -- Mel
RAY : Can we help you? I don't think so, Mel. I think you're too fargone.
TOM: I suppose we could best help you by trying to talk you out of this.This thing was made in the late 1970s, and it was, to be delicate,real junk. Fortunately for your kid, 99.9 percent of these carshave already been crushed, shipped to Korea as scrap metal, andsent back as Hyundais.

RAY: The Arrow was a compact car made by Mitsubishi and sold byChrysler, which found itself without any small, fuel-efficient carsto sell during the gasoline crisis of the late '70s.
TOM : I think the best thing about the car was the Harry Nilsson songthey used in the TV commercials, "Me and My Arrow."
RAY: The reason you remember it so fondly has nothing to do with thecar itself. It's because you associate owning that car with a timein your life when you were single, carefree and getting to go outon the town more than once a decade. So I think you may be lookingto relive your own youth, Mel, and your kid's 16th birthday is justa convenient excuse.
TOM : But this is not a good car for a 16-year-old, mostly because it'sunsafe. Structurally, it wasn't much to begin with, and I'm surethe rust and the elements (and the mildew) have not been kind toany surviving Arrow you might uncover.
RAY : Plus, it has no crumple zones, no air bags, no disc brakes, noanti-lock braking system, no stability control -- no nothing. And16-year-olds, almost by definition, are knuckleheads behind thewheel (through a deadly mixture of inexperience and testosterone),so you really want some additional protection for your kid in casehe happens to do something dumber than usual.
TOM : So, here's what we suggest: Buy the kid an early-1990s Volvo.That'll help protect him for a few years, until he grows up andgets a little smarter. Plus, it'll be old, it'll break downfrequently and it'll be expensive to repair. That means he'll haveto learn how to fix things, or how to pay someone else to fixthings. Either one is a good lesson.
RAY: Then look on eBay or in Hemmings Motor News (hemmings.com) for anArrow, and buy it for yourself. Then YOU can tinker with it. Whenit runs, we know you'll drive it sanely. And on summer nights, youcan roll down the windows, reminisce and think wistfully about thedays when you had hair for the wind to blow though! Good luck, Mel.
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Dear Tom and Ray:
I went to one of those 10-minute-oil-change places, and I got outof my vehicle to watch the employee work on my car.
He began pumping oil into my engine from one of the overhead hoses,and while he pumped the oil he started talking with his buddy whowas servicing the next car over. He wasn't paying any attention towhat he was doing, and he didn't realize that the oil hose hadslipped out of the hole. He was holding the trigger and sprayingoil all over my engine.
When he realized his mistake several seconds later, he put the hoseback in the hole and continued pumping oil. Once it was full, hetightened the cap and tried to spray off the oil with water andwipe off some oil with a rag. I was amazed and didn't know what tosay.
He had gotten oil all over the valve cover, on all the wiring, onthe spark-plug wires, on the windshield and on all sorts of thingsthat I'm sure I don't know about yet.
Is it possible that I will experience problems in the future as theoil seeps into just about everything? And what should I do toresolve the problem? Will an engine detail be enough? - Alex
TOM: The windshield? Geez, he really painted the thing, huh, Alex?
RAY: Actually, this happens a lot. And while there's no danger ofengine parts being ruined by being covered in oil, there is aslight fire danger. If oil were to pool on the hot exhaustmanifold, it could ignite. And that would be very exciting,wouldn't it?
TOM: That's why, when my brother squirts oil all over someone's engine,he always cleans it off with a solvent.
RAY: Right. It's a pain in the butt, but if we don't clean it up, theoil will burn off and will smoke and smell bad, and we'll probablylose a customer.
TOM: You mean ANOTHER customer!
RAY: Right. So we clean it off with a solvent rather than water,because a solvent will actually WORK. Then we'll run the engine toburn off anything we missed while my brother stands by with twigsand marshmallows, just in case.
TOM: So, having your engine steam-cleaned would be more than adequate,Alex. And you should ask those guys to pay for it.
RAY: And next time, sit in the waiting room and read a People magazinelike you're supposed to, so you won't have to see stuff like this.
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Dear Tom and Ray:
I own a 2001 Jaguar Silverstone XKR. When I use the windshieldwashers, the smell is a cross between very bad breath and cowmanure. I've emptied the tank several times and flushed it withClorox, but it still puts out such an odor that if I'm at astoplight and use the washers, the guy behind me passes me andgives me a look like I ate a gallon of beans and couldn't make itto the toilet. My mechanic is befuddled. He told me to take it to agastro doctor. What to do, short of replacing the whole system at avery expensive cost? - Max
TOM: Max, we have no idea.
RAY: But we're printing your letter because this is the secondcomplaint like yours we've heard recently. We heard the samecomplaint on our radio show a few weeks ago, and then yours camein. So we're starting to wonder if something is going on.

TOM: Maybe Taco Bell has gotten into the windshield-washer-fluidracket?
RAY: We're aware of some windshield cleaners that have a fairly strong,and not entirely pleasant, odor for some people. But we're notaware of anything that smells like, well ... how you described it,Max.
TOM: My only guess is that some particular brand or type of fluid isdripping onto the hot exhaust manifold, and when it vaporizes, itproduces an unpleasant smell. But most windshield-washer solutionsare just water and alcohol, and a little bit of soap.
RAY: So if anyone has had this problem and solved it, drop us a note onour Web site ( cartalk.com ) and let us know. If we can get to the bottom of this mystery,we'll report back.
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Dear Tom and Ray:
Following an end-of-semester party, my university English studentswere headed home for the holidays -- sober, at least for themoment.
One of the girls said she was concerned about driving home in thesnow with a radiator that had been leaking. The response from herclassmates (remember, these are English students) was to put an eggin the radiator. Somebody grabbed a couple of eggs from myrefrigerator, put one in the radiator and gave her the second tokeep in the car -- I hope not for long.
All my students responded to the idea with an: "Of course! Whydidn't I suggest that?" attitude. I never thought to ask if the eggwent in whole or if it was broken. The only possibility my husbandand I could come up with is that the egg would cook in the hotradiator and be pulled toward the leak. Neither he nor I ammechanically or egg inclined.
Were they messing with my mind after a brutal semester by confusingme, or is this a valid short-term solution to a leaky radiator? Andif so, how does the mechanic remove the cooked egg? - Leslie
RAY: It's a legitimate last-ditch potential solution for a leakyradiator, Leslie. But I would emphasize "last-ditch" and"potential." It's something you might try on one of my brother'sheaps, not on a car that's in good condition.
TOM: It would be like, if you didn't know the answer to a questionon your English final exam, you could quote Emily Dickinson. Wouldyou get the answer right? Probably not, but because you've gotnothing to lose, it can't hurt.
RAY: The egg works - when it works - exactly as you describe. Youdo have to crack it open, Leslie. You pour the contents into theradiator. Then the egg cooks and partially solidifies, and ispushed toward the leak, where it might - if you're lucky - lodge ina small hole and plug it up. At least for a while. And how do youget it out? You don't. Which is why we don't recommend this for acar that still has useful life in it.
TOM: Right. Because the egg can also plug up your heater core, forinstance - at least the yolk can. So I'd stick with therecommendations of the country's top cardiologists and use only theegg whites, Leslie.
RAY: Actually, instead, we'd recommend one of the many commerciallyavailable products that work on the same general theory - onlybetter. They use some kind of proprietary compound that dissolvesin the coolant and then hardens when exposed to the air at the leaksite. For all we know, those things have eggs in them, too!
TOM: But if you can afford the four bucks, we'd recommend a can ofsomething like Stop Leak or AlumAseal rather than something thatcame out of a chicken's behind.
RAY: And what would you call OUR advice?