Gas Theft

[Bill]

Just run a bottle of good fuel system cleaner like Chevron Techron at every oil change. Regular gas is 10% ethanol and clogged the injectors after 60k in my old truck, had to have them professionally cleaned. A bottle of Chevron every 5000 miles since then and had no issues for the next 150k.

I've never used a fuel cleaner. Most gas stations here state they use ethanol. I haven't had a problem with clogged injectors in any vehicle I've owned. Maybe it's the gas I've used (mostly 76, Costco, and Marathon).

Ethanol is a pretty good solvent. It should do a good job at preventing fuel-related deposits. So, it's probably not the ethanol that is the problem. It could be the water ethanol absorbs that causes some problems. You do want something to absorb small amounts of water in your gas tank, and burn it off. If you have excessive amounts of water in your gas tank it is probably time to figure out why.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just sold a perfectly running car with 278k on it a few years ago.

My DD is sitting in the driveway with just over 200k.

Knocking on wood I have yet to either run a fuel additive or have injectors cleaned.

They both pretty much only see E10, I run non ethanol in my carburated stuff as much as possible though.

 

[JohnnyO]

I've never used a fuel cleaner. Most gas stations here state they use ethanol. I haven't had a problem with clogged injectors in any vehicle I've owned. Maybe it's the gas I've used (mostly 76, Costco, and Marathon).

Ethanol is a pretty good solvent. It should do a good job at preventing fuel-related deposits. So, it's probably not the ethanol that is the problem. It could be the water ethanol absorbs that causes some problems. You do want something to absorb small amounts of water in your gas tank, and burn it off. If you have excessive amounts of water in your gas tank it is probably time to figure out why.

I was told that the water comes from condensation in the underground storage tanks and the more ethanol in the gas, the more water it will absorb, and that causes problems when it burns. I'm just saying I did have a problem when I didn't use fuel system cleaner and no problems after I did.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

dang. the cost of living in cali. crazy gas prices for you guys.

well, crazy for us too but really crazy for yall

You need about $5k/month take home to be not broke, especially if raising a kid.

 

[Bill]

You need about $5k/month take home to be not broke, especially if raising a kid.

You need more than that in the larger cities. I really don't understand how some people do it on anything less than that.

 

[superj]

5k a month sounds ok for where i live if you don't have any car payments and buy a house that fits what you need instead of one that is just to impress people. but, people here are trying to keep up with the joneses

 

[Bill]

5k a month sounds ok for where i live if you don't have any car payments and buy a house that fits what you need instead of one that is just to impress people. but, people here are trying to keep up with the joneses

People need to earn enough for savings, healthcare, and retirement. We have been in a savings and healthcare crises in this country for two, maybe three decades. We are now headed into a retirement crises because a substantial amount of the population hasn't been able to put money away for retirement and many employers quit contributing to employee retirement funds.

 

[superj]

but the savings and retirement issue is because the people want to buy things they don't actually need. why do people need 3/4 ton trucks and 5 bedroom houses when its just two adults and two kids?

that is really common where i live. people living beyond their income. so the future they have built themselves is their issue to deal with. if they have to move in and live off their kids and be unhappy, they should have planned better.

it might be different in bigger cities because jobs are harder to find and living space is way more expensive but look for jobs elsewhere so you can get everything straightened out for the future.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

You need more than that in the larger cities. I really don't understand how some people do it on anything less than that.

Me either.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

but the savings and retirement issue is because the people want to buy things they don't actually need. why do people need 3/4 ton trucks and 5 bedroom houses when its just two adults and two kids?

that is really common where i live. people living beyond their income. so the future they have built themselves is their issue to deal with. if they have to move in and live off their kids and be unhappy, they should have planned better.

it might be different in bigger cities because jobs are harder to find and living space is way more expensive but look for jobs elsewhere so you can get everything straightened out for the future.

There's plenty of jobs and living space, but the jobs are low paying and the living spaces are high cost.

Most people around here with 3/4 ton trucks need them. It's the excess of luxury cars that are unecessary.

 

[Bill]

but the savings and retirement issue is because the people want to buy things they don't actually need. why do people need 3/4 ton trucks and 5 bedroom houses when its just two adults and two kids?

that is really common where i live. people living beyond their income. so the future they have built themselves is their issue to deal with. if they have to move in and live off their kids and be unhappy, they should have planned better.

it might be different in bigger cities because jobs are harder to find and living space is way more expensive but look for jobs elsewhere so you can get everything straightened out for the future.

You're generalizing Yes, there are people buying expensive things they don't need, but I really don't think they are the majority. Also consider that people may buy a newer car or house because they don't have the knowledge to troubleshoot and repair a car or even do minor household repairs, and there really aren't many newer homes that aren't oversized. Looking for jobs elsewhere isn't always a solution either. Smaller cities usually have a much narrow choice of job types and even different regions have different economic sectors. The biggest factor in all this is wages have barely budged. I see jobs advertising the same wages now as they did 25 years ago. So, there are a lot of people earning a 1997 salary, but rent is five or six times what it was in 1997.

 

[superj]

All true. All things affecting the issues

 

[Blmpkn]

Man, 5k take-home a month where I am is stylin.

We're full though, unless your cool.

 

[19Walt93]

Man, 5k take-home a month where I am is stylin.

We're full though, unless your cool.

We don't need 5k a month in New England- we have 6 months of winter with subzero weather, frost heaves that will launch small cars into orbit, a month of mud season, and mosquitos the size of humming birds instead.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Here you go