Palace119 Power Tools

Pressure Test

Would a cooling system pressure test detect a head gasket issue?

i have a 1998 subaru that i bought new and have been driving since purchase. recently i had an issue where the car overheated - i added coolant, and brought it in for a pressure test. aside from needing a new radiator cap, they found nothing.

the other day i noticed a white smoke coming from under the hood - it smelled like antifreeze, unquestionably. it wasn't a heavy smoke, but was certainly burning coolant. there was no obvious leak under the hood.

the car drives fine, but i constantly smell burning antifreeze.

this leads me to believe that i have a more serious issue, either a cracked cylinder, cracked case, blown head gasket, etc. my question is, would the pressure test have found such an issue?

second question is what does it cost to replace a head gasket? my gut feel is that this spells the end of my subaru.

your thoughts appreciated, thanks very much.

yes, it would.

Fuel Pressure Test

Oil Pressure

What is the correct oil pressure on a 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio?

What is the correct oil pressure on a 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio? because I am going to test it with a oil Pressure gauge and I need to know what its suppose to be. Thanks

around 50psi is average. make sure to check it cold, hot, idle, revved up, etc.

Installing GlowShift oil pressure, oil temperature and vacuum gauges. - Part 1

Gasket Pro

How do I properly replace the screen in my door? It's the type with the channel and the tubular gray gasket.

I already gave it a shot, but it's somewhat loose. I'd like the job to look clean and sharp.
My local hardware store guy that always did this retired.
I enjoy fixing everything else around here, but this is one of those things I just never got around to learning the pro's technique. I know there must be a simple step by step procedure for doing this.
I have lots of screen, the roller tool, and it seems the gasket still has plenty of grip - but let me know if I should replace that as well.

Thanks in Advance;
Curt

Buy a spline tool at Home Depot for about $2.00. Buy a roll of screen and a roll of the grey spline. Roll out the screen material over the frame first without cutting it. Take the spline and on one side, use the tool and push the spline and screen into the groove up the entire length, pull the opposite side tight and run the spline on that side the same way. Then, finish by doing the top and bottom the same way.

It is best to get new gasket or spline. The old stuff, even though it masy not seem like it, does not have the elasticity to do this properly.

1985 NHRA US Nationals Part 6

Tire Pressure

Tire Pressure Monitor System

Tire inflation monitoring systems became noticed about the year 2003 and was built to easily inform drivers of their air pressures, warning them of a difficulty tire before the tire became flat. This new technology helped save us from a possible disaster while towing our sail boat behind our RV!

Attaching Sensors to the tires ( via replacing the valve stem caps ) would detect low tire pressures and display the location, information and info thru a flashing light which then signals the particular pressure of the tire to the driver thru a Monitor found in the dash area of their vehicles. It would even display tire pressures while driving down the line. Over-inflation, causing high temperature tires, as well as under-inflated tires, wouldn't go un-noticed anymore, as a tpms would report an alert thru a wireless electronic machine.

For years , we had travelled in our RV worry-free and without experiencing any significant tire issues, but in 2001, we started on an RV trip, pulling our 19' sail boat behind us on a trailer, blind to the flat tyre that had occurred on the sail boat trailer. But then a temporary automobile honked and pointed at the boat trailer behind the RV, so we pulled over to inspect the ship and trailer. Because we had a flat tire and didn't know about it, we had been pulling the trailer down the highway with only 3 instead of four tires. The problem tire on the sailboat trailer had no wheel, nor fender, nor leaf springs ; the spindle was also damaged. The spindle grease was on fire and the axle was softening down into the asphalt. ( Also on the back of the sailboat was an outboard engine full of gas. ) We had come so close to a major disaster!

Naturally this ruined the remainder of our day as we were consumed with coping with the difficulty. Since we were in the middle of the desert with no help in site, we dismantled and removed the spindle, put it in the RV center isle, and drove 2 hours to the nearest city, leaving the ship trailer by the side of the road. We finally found an RV parts store and a welder to patch up the damaged axle. It was dark before we eventually got back to the boat trailer and re-installed the spindle. Whew!

We then began to realize that thousands of other people on the road have tire Problems too ( we had passed them on the road many times, thinking how lucky we were that we were not the ones with the flat tire ) ! Many low-tire issues, if caught in time, could just be corrected by repairing the tire, and would avert an impending blow-out if one knew about the deflation earlier. An additional benefit of having a tpms is the major, improved fuel savings due to properly inflated tires. No necessity to check tires anymore in bad weather by kneeling down to check pressures with a tire gauge!

The above terrifying experience caused us to look into some sort of technology that would supply a warning and a caution to a low or high pressure tire, also adding and increasing safety while driving, whether or not it's for an RV, a vehicle, for trucking fleets or any kind of automobile with wheels. Although initially I became concerned in doing my research on tpmss, I learned of a company who had already come up with a wonderful tpm system, PressurePro, at a reasonable cost, so we made contact with them and became their north America Distributor for the product, finally hiring Dealers in the usa to work for us. The system includes an aftermarket illuminated Monitor attached to the dash area thru Velcro, and plugs into the ciggie lighter plug, or it can use an optional hard wire. Small Sensors use batteries and replace the schrader valve stem caps. They then transmit wirelessly to the Monitor. The range is approximately 2 hundred ft. Line of sight ; accuracy is within psi. The Sensor requires new batteries ( about each five years ) ; replacement Sensors are going to be available at a reduced price.

For a quality tire pressure monitor consider one by www.TirePressureMonitor.com

About the Author

Motorcycle tire air pressure: How important is it to have an exact psi value?

My motorcycle's manual tells me that the optimal tire air pressure is 25psi for the front wheel. At what level of discrepancy in psi reading should I be concerned that I need to adjust tire pressure? Is a difference in +2 / -2 OK? What if it is +5 / -5? How exact should this be?

+/- 2psi is not too bad, but its best to be right on, the air pressure is probably the most important handling factor on a motor cycle considering it controls everything from contact patch to side wall flex. Keep it as close to what is recommended! Good luck hope this helps!

How To: Check Tire Pressure and Inflate Tires by Edmunds.com

Oil Sender

Roush F-150 Lpi™: the First Propane-powered Pickup Truck

Roush has recently introduced the first dedicated propane-powered F-150 pickup truck which is equipped with an advanced liquid propane injection (LPI™) system. The Roush F-150 LPI™ is designed and manufactured to operate solely on propane while providing the same horsepower, torque, and drivability similar to an F-150 equipped with a gasoline powered 5.4 liter, 3 valve Triton™ V8 engine.

Roush has already started taking orders for the propane-powered F-150. And not only that, the 2007 model year truck may now be ordered, delivered, and serviced through a nationwide network of selected Ford dealers.

The Roush F-150 is available in Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew cab styles with XL or XLT trim and the full range of bed lengths. The LPI™ option also includes dedicated propane fuel lines, fuel tank, and fuel rail assembly. The vehicle’s computer has been fine-tuned to provide optimum performance and fuel economy.

The base LPI™ option is priced at $6,500 and includes a one-of-a-kind toroidal fuel tank, mounted in place of the underbody spare tire. For customers who want to increase range, a 50 gallon, in-bed fuel tank is being offered as an option.

The Roush F-150 LPI™ has made its debut at the recent NPGA Southeastern Convention and International Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was held last April 14 to 17 and was considered as one of the largest propane industry conferences in the United States. According to Tom Arnold, Director, Alternative Fuel Products for Roush: “Aside from its superb engineering, this vehicle is right here, right now! It is an alternative fuel vehicle that has an established refueling infrastructure to support it. This vehicle will have a positive impact on reducing emissions and our dependency on foreign oil.”

The LPI™ fuel rail assembly is made up of two billet aluminum propane injection fuel rails, an insulated cross-over, a combined pressure/temperature sensor, and a service port that provides data to the engines’ computer resulting to a more precise fuel control at the intake port. Roush also make use of the fuel injection and fuel storage systems supplied by CleanFUEL USA and ICOM, Italy. By the way, LPI™ is a registered trademark of CleanFUEL USA.

The standard toroidal fuel tank and optional in-bed fuel tank include a special high flow fuel pump, dual filters, and the required control valves needed to run the engine. The tank also contains the fuel sender and electronic auto stop fill system. The fueling is done through the fuel filler door, and an automatic stop fill device that prevents overfilling. This process enables the vehicle to be filled without using the bleeder system that vents propane vapors during filling. Fuel is also filtered before it is made to enter the tank.

Vehicle start is controlled by a one-touch system to provide the driver with the fastest possible start and the least possible emissions. The OEM engine control is used with unique calibration values to suit the changes in properties from gasoline to propane. The maintenance schedule for the Roush F-150 LPI™ is similar to that of a regular gasoline engine schedule only without the special oils or change intervals required. The Roush F-150 LPI™ just like any type of truck may have its looks further enhanced with the addition of hood shield. Hood shields are the latest in add-on trucking accessories. A hood shield truck is perfect for any type of truck since it doesn’t bend, flex, or flutter even when traveling at high speeds.

The PERC short for Propane Education and Research Council awarded the contract to Roush in February 2006, and Roush designed, manufactured and brought the truck to market in only 14 months. Brian Feehan, managing director of engine fuel programs for PERC, “Roush has an unparalleled reputation for technical expertise, quality and value. It is because of this expertise and experience that we chose Roush to develop this vehicle.”

About the Author

Gertrude Sayzer finished her degree in Marketing at Western New England College. She is passionate about writing and loves to travel as well. At present, this 32 year-old mother of three works full-time at an Ad agency in Boston.

Where is the oil pressure sensor/sender located on a 93 Ford Bronco 351 Windsor?

My pressure indicator keeps jumping up and down and I need to eliminate bad wiring as a possibility before I start looking at oil delivery. I just had this engine put in, and my wiring was old. The oil pump and the sender/sensor are both brand new. No leaks, no head problems. Does the sender/sensor send the pressure reading any where else(as in to any other controls) or is it just for the operator to know the pressure level for diagnostic purposes?
I think it's a 351 M
I'm definitely looking for the oil pressure sensor/send, not the regulator, I had my mechanic put one in. It's a small hex head brass plug with a terminal on the end.

My 351C is left of center on rear, behind manifold.
It sends a simple grounded signal to regulator then reads on guage.
some models have electric fuel cut-off also.

Oil Sender change out (Adapter fitting change)

Pressure Washer

Accidentally put oil in the air filter in a pressure washer's engine?

Yesterday while trying to set up a pressure washer, I accidentally put the motor oil into the air filter spot. Turned it upside down to drain the oil but the engine starts and stalls. Not sure if it's ruined forever or what to do. It's a Robin engine and a Karcher pressure washer.

It is unclear to me how you would put oil into the air filter but you should never turn an engine upside down. The first thing to do is check the oil level in the crankcase. It should not be above the full mark. Remove the air filter, if it has oil on it replace it. Clean all the oil from the air box (where the filter goes) and install the new filter. Remove the spark plug and give it a few pulls. Replace the plug and start it up, it may smoke a bit but should clear out.

Pressure Washer Basics

Vacuum Gauge

1996 Ford Explorer Vacuum Gauge/Vacuum Line?

Where the f*** is the vacuum lines that I can tap into? I want to add a vacuum gauge but I don't know where the vacuum lines are that I can put a "T" tap into. PLEASE HELP!!

They are on the inlet manifold.

Vacuum Gauge

Washer Cleaning

How to clean a comforter without a washer?

I know that sounds weird, but I have a gigantic denim comforter that I need cleaned. My washer is too small, the local laundromat is closed for renovation, and we don't have a dry cleaner in town. However, it does fit into the dryer... so is there an alternative to cleaning it in the washer?

Does it really need washing? If it just has some marks, maybe careful spot cleaning will do. I did wash a big comforter in the bath and then couldn't lift it by myself. Wringing it out was incredibly hard and took two people twisting it and even then it was still soaking wet - much too wet to put in a dryer. It took about a week to dry and was not worth the trouble. If I were you I would wait for a very sunny day and hang it out over a couple of lines on the washing line and then look for any marks and clean them whilst it is hanging up. Leave it out on the line for a good airing in the sun and turn it over after a few hours to let both sides get some sun as well.

Fossil Cleaning with Pressure Washer

Air Regulator

Why You May Want Healthier Air at Home

Why You May Want Healthier Air at Home

- and How to Get It

 While we worry about smog, worse pollution is closer to home.  In fact it is in our homes.

 As reporter Chandra Shikhar discovered, “more than three decades after the Clean Air Act, the air outdoors is much cleaner, even with many more people, cars and industries … but indoor air is another matter.” 

"It is an insidious kind of poisoning of our lives," said former California state legislator, Fred Keeley who successfully fought for indoor air regulation.

“Pollutants inside buildings vastly outnumber those outside”, said Jed Waldman, who heads the Indoor Air Quality program at the California Department of Health Services.

Yet there’s good news. You can take a few, powerfully simple steps to make the air inside your home – the one place you can control – better than the air outside. Here’s to living healthier and longer with clean air at home.

 Five Alarming Facts to Motivate You to Act

 1.  50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

 2. Asthma is now the most common chronic disorder in childhood, affecting an estimated 6.2 million children in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association.

 3. The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality as one of top five public health risks. (Asthma, allergies, and other breathing difficulties, lung and heart disease, headaches and dizziness.)

4.  Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors.

5. Indoor air pollution can be two to fives times to sometimes 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution.

 

Who is Most Vulnerable to Dirty Air?

 Those most at risk to polluted air at home:

•  Infants and young children.

•  People with asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses or who have heart or lung problems – especially those who also lead stressful lives. 

•  Elderly, most of whom have reduced lung capacity.

•  Smokers and those who live with them.

•  People who work at home.

•  Those in colder climates who tend to stay inside even longer.

•  People in urban areas.

•  Those living in energy-efficient or other well-built homes that seal air inside.

Even Tidy, Conscientious People Get Sick From Their Home

Even if you use non-toxic products, clean regularly, have a HEPA vacuum cleaner and do not smoke, nor have asbestos or damp surfaces or use a fireplace or a wood stove, you are still vulnerable to the tiniest dust particles in your home – the respiratory suspended particulates (RSPs).

They become airborne from even slight actions such as walking on the carpet, sitting on a sofa or lifting a blanket. The particles are microbial air contaminants, ranging from bacteria and viruses to fungi and spores. They include pollens, spores, asbestos fibers, insect debris, food remnants, and pet dander.

What Makes RSPs So Dangerous to Your Healht?

Size does matter. RSPs are so small that you can breathe them deep into your lungs. Multiple studies show they cause acute or chronic health effects.

They enter the blood or lymph tissue and cause a host of respiratory problems. Those who are allergic to respirable particles succumb to a range of health problems, from allergic rhinitis to bronchial asthma.

Radon and benzo-a-pyrene (suspected carcinogenic agents) are transported by RSPs into the lungs.

Gases or other substances may also be carried by RSPs into the lungs.

Respiratory illness, especially chronic illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma may be linked to, or aggravated by, exposure to RSPs.

Lung damage may be small yet it is cumulative. That is especially devastating for young children as the effect of the damage increasingly reduces lung capacity as they age.

Recent research shows that respiratory problems from RSPs and other air pollutants can also lead to heart problems. 

It Gets Worse

These pollutants affect you more if you are sensitive to them or the longer you are exposed to them – for example, the amount of time you spend at home.  Health dangers range from itchy eyes to allergic reactions to more dangerous effects such as a damaged immune systems, reduced lung capacity, heart difficulties and cancer.

Slightly larger particles, such as pollen, dander and house-dust allergens, don't penetrate your lungs as deeply, but they can cause debilitating allergic responses.

Consider Testing the Air Quality in Your Home

Consider getting a whole home air test, conducted by a certified indoor air consultant. Also consider testing how efficiently your HVAC system is working.  Most are at about 58% efficiency.

Some people simply buy a continuously high-performing, whole home air cleaning system for peace of mind. They want to feel secure that they are making the air healthy in the one place they can control – their home. 

Now, here’s to helping you make the smartest choice in a home air cleaner.

Choose the Most Efficient Air Cleaner for Your Home

You can get a whole home air cleaner if you have a forced air system, meaning you have a furnace or furnace and air conditioner. Then you already have a basic mechanical filter. That’s your first, crude level of defense against air pollution.

These mechanical filters are typically made of a coarsely woven metal. They can only remove large particles of dirt and hair.  Even that capacity is greatly reduced when the filters are not replaced regularly. Worse yet, these mechanical filters can’t capture the tiny RSPs.

If you do not have a forced-air system or want to consider a portable, room-only device, here’s the basics you need to know.

Get a Portable Room-only Device or a Whole Home System?

The next step is to choose between a portable room-only cleaner and a whole home cleaner. Unfortunately, some don’t have that choice. You can’t get a whole home system if you do not have a forced-air home furnace or air conditioning system. 

In considering portable devices you have two kinds: ones with mechanical filters or ionizers.

Mechanical Filter-Based Portable Air Devices

The best kind of portable systems meet the HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filters) standard.  That means they can capture 99.97 percent of the airborne particles 0.3 microns and larger that pass through the filter. These include tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen. Mechanical filters draw air through a flat, pleated or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) surface to trap particles.

That design means HEPA filters can be efficient in the beginning yet tend to clog easily. Clogging reduces airflow and thus their ability, over time, to remove pollutants. Filters must be changed with some frequency to maintain HEPA-level efficiency. Not all if us remain that diligent, even if we intend to be.

“Gary McEldowney, the marketing director for AllergyBuyersClub.com, said the cost of a purifier could range from $150 to $700, depending on size and features. Replacement HEPA filters cost $40 to $150.” Other models are much more expensive.

Another obvious disadvantage is that a single room cleaner can’t keep the rest of the air in your home clean.  It can’t even maintain the high HEPA standard in the room in which it is used, unless it runs continuously and the door and windows to the room are kept closed – an unlikely possibility.

This room-only approach is akin putting a bandaid on a wound.

Portable Room Ionizers

Ionizers emit a small charge to the air stream that causes particles to adhere to the filter or other surfaces by a magnetic-like attraction.  But this is not efficient as particles can become re-suspended.

Worse yet, ionizing emits ozone, a lung irritant that is also linked to other health problems. It can have damaging health effects, especially for those with asthma and other lung diseases, children and the elderly.

According to Consumer Reports and the EPA, “While some indoor air pollutant concentrations decline in the presence of ozone, other pollutants increase. In fact, upon reaction with ozone, some previously undetected, toxic chemicals emerge in indoor air, including formaldehyde and other aldehydes.” See the EPA’s article, "Ozone Generators Sold as Air Cleaners."

To add insult to injury, the units make a zapping and other noise as they emit ozone. Also it requires time-consuming cleaning and frequent filter changes to maintain even a lower level of performance.

Your best option, if you cannot get a whole home air cleaner, is to get a portable, room-only device with a mechanical, HEPA-grade filter.

If your home has a forced-air system you can get a whole home system. Now you’ll see your options. The good news is that there are clear choices. You do not have to spend a lot of time nor money to get healthy air throughout your home.

How to Choose the Most Efficient Whole Home Air Cleaner

Whole home air cleaners can be placed in the ductwork of forced-air systems heating or air-conditioning (also known as in-duct air cleaners). 

“If you are using forced air for, the best way to clean the air in your house is to add a filtration module to your system,” said Alex Wilson, president of BuildingGreen in Brattleboro, Vermont.  As you’ll read further down, however, you may not have to mess with the ducts, with a hybrid system. It can be retrofitted, that is bolted right onto your existing unit.

Here are the kinds of whole home air cleaners from which you can choose:

 Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPS)

 All electrostatic precipitators use electricity to charge particles passing through them and then attract them electrically (make them “stick”) to either plates or a filter.

 As you compare systems consider these five key factors:

1.  Performance over time: Efficiency goes down over time in some systems.

 2.  Maintenance: It is key to continuously high performance. Some systems are considerably more complex, messy and time-consuming - as are some filters. Even a diligent person can get tired of the upkeep and avoid doing it. Some systems require more frequent filter changes than others. 

3. Ease and cost of installation.

4. Sound: Some systems create noise while others are quiet.

5. Ozone emission: Some cleaners emit ozone, the pollutant in smog. Ozone can cause lung damage and other health problems. It also creates noise as it arcs, sparks and pops.

Following are the categories of air cleaner systems, described in the order of increasing levels of air cleaning performance, maintenance needs and convenience. 

1. Electrostatic Filters

This is the least expensive kind of filtering system, removing 90% of particles that are 0.3 microns or less. It requires frequent filter change and, more importantly, performance goes down over time.  One example is the Filtrete. Electrostatic units filter the air using static electricity. They have a static charge on the filter to allow airborne particles to "stick" to the filter, just like static-charged clothing sticks together.

The drawbacks to these units are that they capture fewer RSP’s and the filter needs to be replaced frequently

2. Conventional Electronic Air Cleaners

 EACs charge particles and cause them to stick to plates inside the unit or to a filter. In this way they trap and filter up to 98% of pollutants from the air passing through your heating and cooling system. This kind of air cleaner can capture microscopic impurities like dust, smoke and smog particles in addition to larger particles like mold spores and cat dander.

Collected pollutants are removed by cleaning the plates in the sink or dishwasher.  Some EAC’s use grounded filters instead of plates but these require expensive replacements.

 

3. Hybrid Electronic Air Cleaner

A hybrid electronic air cleaner eliminates the need for wires (or pins) and plates.  Instead it uses a non-metallic material to conduct the electricity and charge the RSP’s. Thus you can avoid the messy and time-consuming cleaning that comes with metal-based EAC technology. 

Then, it uses an inexpensive, recyclable but highly-efficient, loosely woven filter to capture the particles.  This loose weave enables the unit to operate with low static pressure. Filters replacements are easier than with conventional EACs.

Once to twice a year, depending on amount of air pollution filters are changed. 

As a consequence of these innovations, consumers get the upside of a conventional EAC (high efficiency) without the downsides (higher maintenance, costlier and more invasive installation, ozone emission in some, etc.).

Plus, since this hybrid operates in a way that reduces system wear and tear and is easier to maintain, the initial high-performance is continuous. It does now go down over time.

One final thought. Winter is coming. Days are getting colder and shorter. You may be spending more time inside. Consider installing an air cleaner soon. Healthier air is the priceless gift for yourself and those who share the holidays with you at home.

 

About the Author

Emmy-winning former Wall Street Journal and NBC reporter, Kare Anderson is a speaker and author of SmartPartnering, Resolving Conflict Sooner, Getting What You Want, Walk Your Talk, Beauty Inside Out and LikeAbility and publisher of the blog+podcast, Moving From Me to We and the blog+newsletter, Say it Better, collectively serving over 42,000 subscribers in 26 countries.
She speaks on communicating to connect and collaborate to become high-performing and happier with others. Her clients are as diverse as Pfizer, google, Human Rights Watch, Venrock, National League of Cities and Nordstrom. As David Rockefeller said after hearing her speak, "Kare forever changes how you see yourself and your world."

what is the flow of air in cu. ft from a regulator with 3500 psi inlet and 150 psi outlet.?

air is supplied from a cascade of 6 cylinders of 300 cu. ft. capacity.

Would need to know the orifice diameter that is flowing air from this 150 psi source.........and if you are asking cu ft per minute.......

The rate of flow won't change whether there was 6 or 60 cylinders, but more overall delivered cu ft when the cascade was depleted.

Guerrilla Air Myth G2 Regulator Preview

Back Pressure

36 weeks weird back pressure is labor near?

I'm 36 weeks along I went to my doctor friday and she said the baby is very low. For the past couple of days I have been having some weird lower back pressure it don't hurt just pressure. and also been using the bathroom a lot more frequently discharge has increased but nothing unusual and out of breath more these days anyone else experienced this?
@6 weeks thats how I have been feeling too! he can wait a little longer lol!

Labor could be near, but you could just be having more pressure because the baby is so low. My baby moved down 3 weeks ago and I found myself peeing all the time, feeling the need to poop more often and it was harder to walk he was sitting so low! But I am still not dilating at all. I would not get your hopes up too much, it really could be anything.

Cassidy Ft. Big L - Dome Pushed Back - Apply Pressure Pt. 2