May 28, 2006

• On Friday, I got to do some car maintainance. If you know me, than you know that means I had no idea what I was doing. The day's expedition: change the radiator hoses and recharge the freon. Okeedokee, let me just open the ol' car hood and... it's time for a step-list:

  Step 1: Stare at hood-area and frown knowingly. This is a very important step. This is to establish to anyone who happens to be looking that you know exactly what you're doing. Even though I don't.

  Step 2: Locate old radiator hoses. A very important thing to remember in this step is that not all hoses are shiny, green, and densly knotted. I managed to find them, so you, hopefully, can too.

  Step 3: Drain radiator fluid. Maybe I should have put this as step 2... oh well, live and learn. Anyway, under my car there is a knob that can only be turned by a wrench, and is located where a wrench can't fit. For this step you need to completely disassemble your car, turn the knob, then allow the fluid to drain. I do hope you have something to catch the liquid in.

  Step 4: Replace old, empty hoses. Do make sure they're empty. It gets rather messy when they're not. The tools necessary for this step include: pliers, needle-nose pliers, hammer, and M61 Vulcan.

  Step 5: Replace radiator fluid. This should be a combination of 50% antifreeze and 50% water. As far as I'm told, this proportion must be exact, or your car will explode.

  Step 5.5: Drink Gatorade. Lemon-lime is great, but riptide rush will do in a pinch.

  Step 6: Replace freon. Personally, I didn't do this. I had my neighbor do this. Apparently he is more of a car buff than I am, which isn't hard.

  Step 7: Close hood. It's a little difficult to drive with this stupid thing in the full and upright position.

  And there you have it. Be careful driving out there folks. Be sure to keep an eye on your
   rear-view mirror for a trail of fluid. Now my car is ready for a short trip up to Maryland. See you all later!

  • 6:49 pm
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