Here’s the new simulation done with proper conservation of energy:

http://mikessmarthome.blogspot.com/2008/10/update-to-off-topic-ttac-post.html

Happy to email anyone the simulation if they want to play with the numbers.

I think I’m most likely to have a car accident trying to read the word “pulchritude” off a road sign.

Wait – are you talking about the inside of the drum or the outside?

Nah, what looks bad are little, tiny brakes showing through 18″ wheel spokes. Especially if the calipers are painted red (hey – look at me! I have tiny brakes!!!) VBG!

http://mikessmarthome.blogspot.com/2008/10/off-topic-post-for-ttac.html

What he suggests is actually the worst way to brake down a hill. The article recommends alternating on and off the brake to allow for cooling — this simply is not true. Letting off the brakes for five or ten seconds before digging into them again doesn’t give them any sort of sufficient time to cool off. In fact, all you’ve done is allow your vehicle to speed back up, regaining the momentum that your brakes just worked so hard to diminish, and causing you to have to break just as hard next time you push on the pedal. This will generate even more heat that also will not dissipate over ten seconds next time you let off the brakes. And so on…

The proper way would be to downshift a gear or two and let engine-braking mostly hold your car back, while applying a very light, constant, even pressure for the duration of the down-grade. And chances are if you engine-brake you won’t even need to use your regular brakes at all.

Seems to work out fine for me. Normally happens around 5K with synthetic oils. Short trips trash the oil faster as does heavy hauling.

What? How will not coming to a complete stop before shifting into gear ruin my suspension? And for that matter the phrase “sloppy suspension handling” makes no sense at all.

I can’t wait for #10 to happen to me in about an hour when I drop my wife off at class. It’s like a T&A festival as I get closer to the Union. I may be married with my wife sitting right there but I’m not dead and blind.

I’m hoping for some daisy dukes and short skirts on this hot sunny day.

“You know who you are, you’re car is filthy…”

Many people often erroneously use “your” when they should use “you’re” but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it the other way around.

As for all of the automotive stuff, it seems like a list of common sense and wives’ tales.

As far as changing oil goes I do it every 3000 miles, and change the automatic transmission fluid every year or 10,000 miles. Both fluids look like hell even at that short of an interval. Changing the tranny fluid gives slightly better performance, until the viscosity starts breaking down again.

as for debunking the weak list.
1. If you use the parking brake correctly then you are not “locking up the drive wheels” because you get the brake to engage before the pawl. On my truck, the parking brake is on the drive wheels so there’s no change there. If using it would add years to the tranny you’d hear all about pawls failing left and right, I sure don’t. The only think it adds years to is the life of some rear brakes. My 88 z24 would go through rear pads in a matter of months without regular pb usage since they would auto adjust and drag if you didn’t.

2. The gear teeth in a planetary (automatics) are put in constantly reversing loading by design whenever they are running. The only danger would be shafts and only if you fly backward and slam it into drive. In a manual, the synchros take up the wear.

3. Applies only on long steep inclines, not everday driving for most people.

4. Changing oil more frequently cannot “double the life of your car”. It might increase engine life, but won’t do anything for the rest of the car. 5000 miles is an arbitrary number. RTFM is a better recommendation.

5. I tend to agree with this, but people who can’t change their oil aren’t likely to be cleaning their engine.

6. Others have covered this one just fine.

7. I’ll agree with this one too. I’ll even go so far as to say “turn the radio off once in a while.”

8. I’ll agree here. The kids seats especially.

9. I call BS on all of it. Don’t run it out of gas, but there’s nothing majorly dangerous. Also, I highly doubt Mercedes has a different sending unit or calibration for cars sold here vs there.

10. BS again. and it has nothing to do with a 16yr old me rearending an S-class with my 82 Starlet, cause that was sooooo worth it for a second look at her.

1) I drive a car with a manual transmission
2) I just think it’s a good habit all around

The rest of the rules are great if you are in your late twenties, and your car is older than you. Otherwise they are tales of old mechanic’s wives.

For what it’s worth, I am a no kidding (GASP!) elistist. If I offend simpletons because I expect the best from myself, others, and my country as a whole, so be it.

“…your engine doesn’t have to work as hard when starting.”

Or, your starter doesn’t have to work as hard.