Saving on vehicle costs

[Finance Dave]

I thought fanmail was asking about exterior paint, and I answered as such.

Oh ok. I don't know of any relationship between EXTERIOR car color and the heat inside a car...but maybe it's a study I've not seen. As a matter of fact, I was wondering if a reflective color like silver may cause more heat inside the car.

I pick colors for my "special" cars based on appearance. I pick colors for my daily cars based on how they look when dirty so that if I don't wash it every week it doesn't look horrible. IMO white and black are the two prettiest colors when clean, but they look horrible when dirty. I like more of a beige/brown/champagne/silver and even many shades of other colors are fine. Even red isn't too bad depending on the shade.

 

[Finance Dave]

You want a black car in Alaska not Phoenix.

Again, I'm not sure why. If it's exterior color he's talking about...I know of no relationship to interior temperatures. If it's interior color, that's a different story.

Perhaps someone can share a link or something on how exterior car color affects the heat inside a car?

 

[REWahoo]

No direct knowledge of this, but who cares...why are you asking?

Those of us who live where internal car temps can exceed 120 in the summer - and can kill - care a great deal.

Perhaps someone can share a link or something on how exterior car color affects the heat inside a car?

Depends on which "expert" you believe:

Curiosities: Does a dark-colored car heat up more in the sun than a light-colored car? (July 27, 2009)

Silver and white cars are cooler, says study

 

[Finance Dave]

Ah, that is definitely a useful device to detect that the engine oil is worn out and needs to be replaced.

But, if the oil is thinned, the bearings are worn, and the ambient temperature is high, causing the oil pressure to be too low when the engine is at idle, what do you do to get more oil flow? One could use a variable-displacement oil pump like what has been used in aerospace applications. That would be a complex and expensive device.

I say why not put in an oil pump with excess capacity so that one can be sure of having sufficient flow under the worst case conditions? My point was that it appeared to me that car makers did not do that in the 60s and 70s, and they do now. But of course I was just surmising, having no inside knowledge in the automotive industry.

I don't know if it predicts when the oil is worn out...not sure on that aspect. The ones I worked on were made so that at startup and after warm-up the oil pressures were nearly the same. On diesels (which is where I helped design ours in the early '90s), startups in cold weather would result in extremely high oil pressures that would have an adverse impact on engine wear, seals, piston ring performance (due to piston cooling nozzle spray), and so on. Then when the engine warmed up, the oil thinned and everything was ok. Our company designed the visco sensor to address this issue.

As far as not having enough capacity in the '60s...I don't know much about that. I do agree that in high-perf engines, most people replaced the stock pump with a higher capacity pump....which is what I did in my Camaro.

 

[Finance Dave]

7. Each year, before the winter in cold climates, spray a bit of powdered graphite into each exterior lock on your car. You’ll never have another frozen lock…at least not on the inside of the lock.
http://www.amazon.com/Panef-Corp-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B0016GZQ60

 

[NW-Bound]

Curiosities: Does a dark-colored car heat up more in the sun than a light-colored car? (July 27, 2009)

Silver and white cars are cooler, says study

Well, the first expert made a statement while presenting no data.

The second actually took data, using two identical cars but of different colors.

Hmm... Whom do I believe?

Still, I would say that this is a good subject for a Myth Busters episode. I love no-nonsense stuff like this.

My guess is that dark color cars get their interior temperature higher due to heat transmission from the roof. The lining under a car roof is perhaps 1/4" inch thick. What's the R value of that? And everybody knows dark objects get hotter under the sun than a light object.

PS. How about a compromise for people who live in the SW and want a darker color for stylish reasons? A two-tone car, with a white top.

Oh yeah, they used to have that, and with a white top of a vinyl cover for a bit more R-valued insulation too.

 

[Finance Dave]

Those of us who live where internal car temps can exceed 120 in the summer - and can kill - care a great deal.



Depends on which "expert" you believe:

Curiosities: Does a dark-colored car heat up more in the sun than a light-colored car? (July 27, 2009)

Silver and white cars are cooler, says study

Thanks for the links. My comment about "who cares" was based upon my hypothesis that the exterior color didn't matter, just the interior. I was not implying that I don't care about someone's life. As the subject is one of debate and the links posted are the first I've seen of it, I have no further opinion on this topic.

 

[samclem]

7. Each year, before the winter in cold climates, spray a bit of powdered graphite into each exterior lock on your car. You’ll never have another frozen lock…at least not on the inside of the lock.
http://www.amazon.com/Panef-Corp-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B0016GZQ60

Another seasonal cold weather tip: Apply (and buff off) vehicle wax to the inside surfaces where the door seals meet the bodywork. This helps the seals "slip" into place better and reduces road noise, and the big value is that it reduces the chance that ice will "glue" the seal to the doorframe and prevent the door from opening.

(I can hear the snickers from the folks living in the 50th state from here . . .)

 

[NW-Bound]

7. Each year, before the winter in cold climates, spray a bit of powdered graphite into each exterior lock on your car. You’ll never have another frozen lock…at least not on the inside of the lock.
http://www.amazon.com/Panef-Corp-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B0016GZQ60

I do not have problems with door locks freezing, but the heat of the SW has caused one of my cars, an 11-yr old, to have one of its electric door locks sticky.

I looked at that, and it appeared that grease had dried up and became gummy and the actuator could not provide enough force to operate it. After having to lock that door manually for a month or two, it irked me to the point where I had to do something about it.

So, I pulled off the door panel cover, and tried to see how to lube that mechanism. Boy, I could not see much though the openings in the inside door panel, and it appeared that I would have to take apart even more off that door.

Out of desperation, I got my WD-40 can, reached inside the door, and just sprayed liberally in the general direction of the door lock mechanism (which I could not see), while operating the electric lock up/down with my keyfob.

What do you know? That WD-40 literally and figuratively hit the spot. The door lock now works, excuse me, like they say, smooth as a baby's ass.

Let's see how long that lasts.

 

[meierlde]

I just left Walmart and bought a 5 qt container of 0W20 Synthetic Mobil One for $24.95. The filter for my 4 cyl Camry is about 4 bucks so with tax it's about $30 to change the oil and filter.

That is assuming you do it yourself. If you have it done, it may range from 50 on up. (If you look at adds for oil changes they say excludes synthetic oil). Of course the oil change place does charge extra for the synthetic oil compared to Walmart. But then you don't have to worry about oil disposal either.

 

[NW-Bound]

Regarding oil disposal, I have been taking it to O'Reilly (former CheckerAuto). And to make it fair, I also buy oil and filters from them. I understand that some Walmarts also collect used oil for recycling.

 

[samclem]

I understand that some Walmarts also collect used oil for recycling.

FWIW, I've read that only a tiny percent of waste motor oil is actually recycled, the stuff we turn in gets burned to make heat/energy. Nothing wrong with that (except maybe the heavy metals going into the atmosphere).

 

[rbmrtn]

That is assuming you do it yourself. If you have it done, it may range from 50 on up. (If you look at adds for oil changes they say excludes synthetic oil). Of course the oil change place does charge extra for the synthetic oil compared to Walmart. But then you don't have to worry about oil disposal either.

I get oil mostly free after rebates and sales. Filters almost free after rebates. Drop the used oil at Walmart when convenient.

 

[73ss454]

That is assuming you do it yourself. If you have it done, it may range from 50 on up. (If you look at adds for oil changes they say excludes synthetic oil). Of course the oil change place does charge extra for the synthetic oil compared to Walmart. But then you don't have to worry about oil disposal either.

I've always done my own oil changes and most other work also. Disposing of the old oil is no big deal. About 1 mile from the house is an auto parts store that gladly takes the old oil.

 

[fanmail]

I was asking about exterior car color for keeping the interior cooler. Thanks guys.

 

[73ss454]

I was asking about exterior car color for keeping the interior cooler. Thanks guys.

I would think the lighter color of the car the cooler the interior would be. Tinting the windows will also help.

 

[travelover]

So, getting back on subject - I can save on my car's air conditioning bills by painting it a lighter color? Roller or a brush? Latex?

 

[73ss454]

So, getting back on subject - I can save on my car's air conditioning bills by painting it a lighter color? Roller or a brush? Latex?

I would think the paint would cost you more than the savings.

 

[travelover]

I would think the paint would cost you more than the savings.

I get my paint off the curb. Just mix a couple cans and you have a nice grey.

 

[rbmrtn]

just physics ? black bodies absorb the light generating heat, light bodies reflect the light.

Probably little cost savings but more for comfort.

Man, remember blister your thighs as a kid sitting down on those almost melting vinyl seat covers.

 

[NW-Bound]

I think we will want to do more than putting on a light color paint. How 'bout putting in R-30 insulation all 'round?

Well, one may not be able to go that far, but how much can one do? How thick a ceiling liner? Spray the door cavities to fill up with foam? Can't lower glass windows, but how many of us drive with windows down anymore? Double-pane windows and windshields?

I thought I would just suggest to retirees here something to mull over in our spare time, other than SWR, AA, and future inflation rate.

 

[73ss454]

I get my paint off the curb. Just mix a couple cans and you have a nice grey.

You could put it on with an old roller and the end result should be fine.

 

[Cessna5354]

In addition to maintaining my vehicles myself, with 200K+ miles on some, I like to think my driving habits greatly assist in longevity.

I really am like Driving Miss Lazy !! My acceleration is slow, I take curves, off/on ramps with low speed, and all this is on NJ. I cruise at 68-70 mph, and get favorable fuel mileage, but it takes me a little longer to do so.

This was breed in me by driving a 240D diesel Mercedes with less than little power/acceleration.

Just the way I like, but I believe it minimizes wear on engine, trans, dirvetrain, tires, etc.

 

[samclem]

My acceleration is slow, I take curves, off/on ramps with low speed, and all this is on NJ.

You do this in New Jersey? It might be better for your car's longevity than your own.

 

[Nords]

I think you can get them from a dealer but I'm not sure if there are any manufacturers options. AFAIK (and it ain't far) it's 99% aftermarket.

The Nissan Leaf has a 3G connection to start its air conditioning. Just use the touchscreen on an iPad or a smartphone to turn it on and set the thermostat. Kinda nice when you're in the last five minutes of a meeting and not looking forward to going outdoors into that unshaded concrete parking lot.

(I can hear the snickers from the folks living in the 50th state from here . . .)

Nah, that's only in season between 1 May and 1 October! The rest of the year would just be too mean.