"Living Better...For Less"
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
"The Dollar Stretcher" is a FREE weekly newsletter.
To subscribe send e-mail to gary@stretcher.com
with 'subscribe' in the subject and your e-mail
address in the body of the message.
Thanks!
PUBLICATION INFORMATION:
"The Dollar Stretcher" Copyright 1997. All
Rights reserved. Copies may be distributed without
alteration electronically free of charge. "The Dollar
Stretcher" is distributed via email between 6pm each Monday
and 8am Tuesday morning United States Eastern time
zone. The newsletter runs approximately 40k in length.
All articles are printed with the author's prior
consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or
replies to questions may be reprinted. The name and
email address of the sender will not be used unless
specifically requested.
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION is available by email to Gary@stretcher.com. The Dollar Stretcher reaches over 11,000 readers each week.
"The Dollar Stretcher" does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
In this issue:
Introduction
Saving Money With Compact Florescent Lamps
by Gary Foreman
Parties, Picnics and Potlucks
by Nancy Steinkoenig
Zoos!
A Listing for Summer Visits
Ask Bob: The Automotive Answer Guy?
Brakes and Antifreeze Leaks
by Bob DeP
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
We're short on space so I won't take
much time here. I do want to ask your help in suggesting ways that
we can improve the newsletter and web site. The goal is to give
you what you want and need. Only you know whether we're
accomplishing that task. If you have a gripe or suggestion please
send it to me (gary@stretcher.com). I can't promise to do
everything that's suggested, but I'll certainly do my best.
All the Best!
Gary
Our Sponsor
Business Beginnings
I am both a published freelance writer AND a word processing specialist who started my own business. I put the two areas of expertise together and wrote a 116-page book on starting your own at-home business. The book, BUSINESS BEGINNINGS, gives ideas, help, resources, questions to think about, and lots more in regards to starting a home-based business. To receive your copy, mail a $15.90 check or money order to:
RAINBOW SERVICES/Martha Jean Holubec
P.O. Box 75
Blandon, PA 19510-0075
610-944-1976
For more information, email RainbowSvc@aol.com.
Saving Money With Compact Florescent Lamps
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
"What in the world!" Mary had peeked into the bag sitting on the kitchen table. It had at least half a dozen compact florescent light bulbs. "John, I suppose you have something to do with this?"
"Sure, why?" John was already engrossed in the sports section and only paying partial attention to his wife. Typical, thought Mary.
"What are we going to do with all these light bulbs? Am I missing something, or don't we already have light bulbs?" Even though John was usually quite careful, sometimes Mary wondered about his spending habits.
This time, however, John had done all the necessary research before parting with his hard earned money. "No Hon, I checked this out. We'll use these to replace bulbs as they burn out. These new compact fluorescent lamps can save 75% of the electricity we'd use on the normal incandescent bulbs."
Mary was looking at one of the bulbs. What she saw did little to easy her concern. "Why would it cost over $20 to buy a 28 watt bulb? How can that save us money?"
John proceeded to explain that wattage didn't really measure the light produced, but rather the amount of electricity used. A 28 watt compact fluorescent was roughly equivalent to a incandescent 100 watt bulb. In fact, a rough rule of thumb was that you could multiply the fluorescent wattage by four get an equivalent light rating.
"But Sweetheart, look at the cost of these bulbs. Will we ever get the extra expense back?" Mary's question was one that most of us have asked about these new bulbs. And it is a good question.
John pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and gave it to his wife. On it were some calculations. They were cost figures for both types of bulbs producing what we think of as 100 watts worth of light. The incandescent cost about 75 cents. He had done some reading and found that the bulb should last about 1,000 hours and cost about 10 cents per kilowatt hour to run. So he would add $10 (1,000 x .10) to $0.75 and he figured that the bulb cost him $10.75 to run for 1,000 hours.
The fluorescent was more expensive to buy. The bulb cost $25.00. But it would last 10,000 so only $2.50 ($25.00 divided by 10) should be included in his 1,000 hour cost. But this bulb only used 0.23 cents worth of electricity for every hour of use. So he figured that 1,000 hours of use would cost $2.30 ($0.0023 per hour times 1,000 hours). If he added that to the $2.50 for the cost of the bulb his total cost was $4.80.
Mary reviewed the numbers. The first spot she thought of was a lamp that typically was on in the living room every evening for about three hours. Could they save money there? She would be saving about $6 for every thousand hours of use. At three hours a day that worked out to just a little less than a year to save the six bucks.
But Mary was one of those people who have questions about anything new. Not that she wasn't open minded, but she needed to be convinced that the change was beneficial for her family. And she had read some bad things about the compact fluorescent bulbs.
One concern she had was that there were some places that they wouldn't be able to use the newer bulbs. John's reading partially supported her concern. Current compact fluorescence can't be used with dimmers. And come have a little longer body that may not work with all lamps. In addition, they're meant for inside use and don't work as well if temperatures drop below 65 degrees F.
But that still left places where they could be used effectively. John explained that the lamps were recommended for places where you usually left the light on for longer periods without interruption. Locations that remain on for about fifteen minutes or more are best.
After a bit more discussion, Mary decided that John's purchase wasn't so bad. He had selected some spots in the bedrooms and living room that should do well with the new compact fluorescence. Although most of them wouldn't pay for themselves for two or three years, their last years of operation would really be free. Not a bad deal at all! In fact, since their lifestyle wasn't effected in any way, it really was an excellent way to save a little money.
If you have a suggestion for a future Dollar Stretcher column please send them to: gary@stretcher.com.
Parties, Picnics and Potlucks
by Nancy Steinkoenig
nsteinkoen@netexas.net
Whether you attend a family reunion or just go to the park with your friends, its good to go armed with dollar stretcher strategies. Summer brings lots of opportunities for outdoor parties, so I thought I'd throw in my two cents' worth of picnic tips.
Taking food outdoors in the summertime requires ice to keep cold things cold. If you have freezer space, start stockpiling ice cubes. I first tried this as a tightwad idea, but there were several unexpected bonuses. I got 6 extra plastic ice cube trays, froze and dumped cubes into one gallon ziploc bags. In four days, I had enough homemade ice to pack a large cooler. We left on a camping trip on Thursday morning. High temperatures stayed in the 90s for the duration of the trip. We used ice in drinks, kept our food cold, and drank the water as it melted. Bonus #1: ice melt stayed in the bags and the food didn't get waterlogged! Bonus #2: we used ice melt to make tea from instant tea as we needed it. Much cheaper than canned soda and it weighed a heck of a lot less! Bonus #3: it lasted until Sunday -- over 72 hours. We had used a lot of ice, so we bought an 8-lb. Bag late Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, the store-bought ice was completely melted, but we still had some of the homemade ice. Now, what do you think is better? Store-bought at $1.00 a bag, or homemade for basically FREE? Bonus #4: keeping your freezer full (even if it is only ice) keeps the compressor from running constantly. You save energy, save money, and you hardly ever run out of ice.
To organize outdoor eating, recycle a child's lunch box into a picnic basket accessory. Use additional small plastic containers in the lunch box to store packets of salt, pepper, sugar, sweetener, as well as individual serving sizes of mustard and ketchup left over from prior forays into the fast food world. I also used a round cylinder Crystal Lite container to hold plastic "silverware". It fit perfectly in the lunch box. Don't forget to add a film canister to hold wooden "strike anywhere" matches to light the grill. Paper napkins complete the kit. It saves time to keep it packed, because you only have to grab one thing and put it in the picnic basket with the food, rather than searching for all the condiments and utensils.
What kind of food is less likely to spoil in hot weather? Traditional potato salad and coleslaw use mayonnaise, which can produce salmonella if left out too long. My two favorite cold salads make a large quantity, keep well, and I don't have to heat up the stove. They are both ideal for family reunions, church suppers, or for every day use. I mix the ingredients in a rectangular Rubbermaid container that fits into a cooler as easy as it goes on the refrigerator shelf. The number 7 container holds a total of 17 cups, but neither of these recipes fills it completely. You need a little room to mix the salad together.
THREE BEAN SALAD
This salad is tastier and more colorful than any three bean salad you have ever eaten. It has more to offer nutritionally that the sticky sweet and oily kind. Easy to make and great to keep on hand for quick meals when it is too hot to cook. If you subscribe to the theory of food combining to make complete protein from vegetable sources, this salad fits the bill!
2 cans cut green beans, drained
1 can cut yellow wax beans, drained
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 - 3/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 - 3/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
(or substitute canned pimentos)
1/2 - 3/4 cup red onion, chopped
(or sliced green onions)
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup sugar
salt & pepper to taste
Dump drained canned vegetables in refrigerator container. Add chopped fresh vegetables. Shake remaining ingredients in a pint jar with tight fitting lid. Pour dressing over salad and seal with lid. Refrigerate several hours. Shake container every hour or so or stir thoroughly to blend flavors. Makes 12-16 servings.
This salad will keep for a week in the refrigerator, but it doesn't usually last that long at my house! It usually tastes better the second day, as all the flavors have time to blend better. The olive oil, if divided into 12 servings, equals less than 5 grams of fat per serving.
BLACKEYED PEA SALAD
I tasted something like this at a deli salad bar and nearly drove myself crazy trying to duplicate it at home. I finally figured out that the secret ingredient was balsamic vinegar. It may seem prohibitively expensive to you, but I bought the store brand and a bottle has lasted over a year. You might want to see if you could borrow a small amount from someone. I complained about the price to one of my coworkers and she gave me an almost full bottle. She had bought it to see what the gourmet cooking shows were talking about, but had quite figured out what to use it for. The Frugal Gourmet devoted an entire show to balsamic vinegar one time, so he and I at least agree that the flavor is worth the investment. If you want to leave it out, it will still be a great salad, but this is the recipe that we love. The Cajun seasoning used in the recipe is Spice Time brand, 99 cents for 5 1/2 ounces, bought at a discount store.
We revisited the same deli several months later, and found the blackeyed pea salad to be kind of bland. My recipe turned out better than the original I was trying to copy! It is high fiber, high protein, low fat and delicious.
3 cans blackeyed peas, rinsed and drained 1 can whole kernel yellow corn, drained 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup red onion, chopped 2/3 cup cider vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons olive or canola oil 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Assemble and refrigerate just as in Three Bean Salad directions above. Makes 8-10 servings.
Summer is the best time to enjoy these salads because red and green bell peppers are in plentiful supply and cheaper. To cut costs even further, grow your own. According to the USDA, a 1/4 cup of chopped green pepper delivers 37% of the RDA for adults. (As a comparison, 1/4 cup of orange juice delivers 40% of the RDA for adults.) Add those fresh peppers to your daily diet for pizazz and good health. Bon Appetit!
Nancy is a regular contributor to the Dollar Stretcher. She's also
written "The Pantry Game"
Zoos!
(editor's note: as we head toward the end of summer, it's always
good to find a frugal family outing. After all, "Mom, I'm bored"
is the most frequently heard phrase in the month of August. Carol
Flynn from Oklahoma was good enough to send this list to us. Most
zoos are relatively inexpensive and full of information and
entertainment. If you're a member of one zoological society you
may find that you can gain free entry to another through exchange
privileges. Happy animal watching!)
ALABAMA-
ARKANSAS-
ARIZONA-
CALIFORNIA-
CANADA-
COLORADO-
CONNECTICUT-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-
FLORIDA-
GEORGIA-
HAWAII-
IOWA
IDAHO
ILLINOIS-
INDIANA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY-
LOUISIANA-
MASSACHUSETTS-
MARYLAND-
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA-
MISSOURI-
MISSISSIPPI-
NORTH CAROLINA-
NORTH DAKOTA-
NEBRASKA-
NEW JERSEY-
NEW MEXICO-
NEW YORK-
OHIO
OKLAHOMA-
OREGON-
PENNSYLVANIA-
RHODE ISLAND-
SOUTH CAROLINA-
SOUTH DAKOTA-
TENNESSEE
TEXAS-
UTAH-
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON-
WISCONSIN-
WEST VIRGINIA-
INSTITUTES OFFERING DISCOUNTED ADMISSION:
FLORIDA-
TEXAS-
TENNESSEE-
Ask Bob: The Automotive Answer Guy?
Bob,
Fred,
Dear Bob,
A couple of months ago, I returned home from a trip to a
neighboring town. When we opened the car doors, there was a
terrible smell. The car had overheated and the antifreeze was
empty. We took it in. The company replaced the thermostat and a
gasket. The bill also mentions a throttle body clean. Our heat
gauge had not worked for a long time and we assumed the problem
was fixed.
Friday night we came home after the fireworks to the same problem.
Bad smell and no antifreeze. The heat gauge had not alerted us to
overheating. My husband added antifreeze but it has since all
leaked out again. Where is it going? Is there someplace we can
look for leaks ourselves or a common problem we can alert the shop
to? And did they not do their job the first time? I'm not so
sure we can trust this shop now. We've taken the car in to this
shop several times recently and it seems like they are always
finding problems we should have fixed. Frankly, I'm not sure if
they are doing us a favor by finding real problems or padding
their bill.
I don't know if you ever respond by e-mail but we are hoping to
get the car fixed this week as we need it. I really appreciate
the advice you are giving people and enjoy reading your column.
Debbie H. in Illinois
Debbie,
Good Luck!
Bob
Bob answers your auto questions. If you have a question for
Bob just sent it to him though The Dollar Stretcher
(AskBob@stretcher.com)
TIPS, QUIPS, QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
*********
My husband & I live in CA where unfortunately it is becoming very
common to have a job that does not include benefits. My husband
has been at his job over 5 years & this does not seem like it is
going to change. While he is presently looking for another
position (he is in management, by the way), what advice might
anyone have out there for a family of 3 to be able to obtain at
least some type of health and life insurance?
We do not have what it takes to get independent health insurance
which is $200-$300+ dollars or more per month. We also are not
considered "low income" so we cannot obtain any government
assistance. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and my daughter seems
to be accident prone (yikes!) - so we really have to do something.
We also need life insurance and I'm not sure the best route to go
with that as well.
We have been very fortunate thus far, but we don't feel we can
keep testing the waters. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
One thing I've noticed is that there isn't a lot of advice
out there for everyday savings ideas for college students, and we
need them as much or more than anybody. As a continually broke
college student, I have no extra money(ever), no savings, and I
have a $750.00 balance on my credit card. Help?! What can I do
to start saving a little and still have enough cash to live on
without sitting in my room, never going out.
*********
I am going through a difficult time, husband walked out on me and
three kids, and of course I am stuck with all the credit card
bills! I am trying to find a full time job, go to school, and work
part time on the weekends. How can I pay off the bills when I
cant afford the minimum amount due each month...Has anyone put the
bills on hold and concentrated on paying off one by one?? Is that
the secret??? I'd also like to know what the secret is in finding
a lawyer who is willing to help me.
This is for the guy who is doing without air conditioning in his
car. (God Bless by the way, we did without A/C last year through
the hottest of Florida's summer and my husband's car still has no
air.) One other tip I had, aside from all the ones he mentioned
was to get your windows tinted. In FL you can get it done for $69,
but you can do it yourself for a lot less. If you do it yourself,
be sure to follow the directions to the letter (there are soooo
many people driving around with crummy looking tinting!). Use a
squeegee and a spray bottle of soapy water for best results!
This takes discipline, but it is the only thing that has
worked for me. Every evening after doing the dishes, we pick up
and put away 10-20 things. Nights when I have more energy, I'll
pick up extra. Once the house is looking semi-normal again, we
switch to picking up 5 things and 1 minor cleaning chore (wiping
out the microwave, vacuuming our small rug, cleaning toilet,
etc.). On nights that I have extra time and energy, I'll do more
of a major cleaning chore (cleaning out the refrigerator or a
closet). It takes time, but this procedure gets the house clean
if you stick with it. By doing it daily, it makes me more
conscious of the mess I'm making as I make it so I do more wiping
up and putting away as I go too.
I was a single father of 3 for 2 years and at first it
was very hard to keep the house clean, until I came up with these
few ideas.....most have to do with getting the kids to help, but a
few will work if you alone........
Dinner was the worst! After working all day and then getting the
kids from day care, I wouldn't start supper till around 6:30 or
7:00...and then the dish would take awhile after that. Then a
friend of mine suggested I make the dinners before hand, say on a
Saturday, freeze them and then nuke them when I wanted them.
Walla...dinner in 10 mins :) As for the dishes...make simple
dishes that use say only one pan. Hamburger Helper can be pretty
good when you doctor it up :) Or porkchop casserole...again, only
one pan.
As for cleaning......my only suggestion is to clean as you
go. Instead of putting all your dirty close in one hamper, have
one for whites and one for colors. It saves some time. You can
keep your bathroom cleaner if you wipe down the shower and tub
after you use it, mold and mildew won't grow if it's not wet.
Well I hope these few suggestions help...I remember what
spending a weekend doing house work was like.
When you are making dinner, double the quantity and freeze it.
Then some other night, instead of making dinner, you can reheat
this dish and spend the 1/2 hour plus that you would have spent
cooking doing a chore. Also, you can make crockpot meals in the
morning, and come home to a ready made dinner and have time to
clean the bathroom or do a load of laundry.
Break the chores up into 1/2 hour increments. Nothing reduces
motivation faster than facing a whole day of cleaning. A half
hour every day can do wonders, you can even do cleaning while you
are cooking, such as when something is in the oven or needs to
simmer on the stove. Even if you are tired, doing a half hour of
work doesn't sound so bad.
Try to do 15 or 30 minutes of chores before you leave for work if
possible. You can sweep a floor or put away a load of laundry in
this time frame.
If you have to go to a laundromat, go later in the evening on a
Monday or Tuesday when its less crowded. Bring your bills with
you, or a pad of paper so you can do some planning while you wait.
Bubbly Bubble Bath
Stir all together gently to avoid foaming.
This is in response to Sandi, who wanted to get recipes
for homemade bubble bath. Even though I don't have one, I felt
the need to let her and every body else know that for little
girls, bubble baths can irritate delicate skin in the "bottom"
area. When my daughter was little she too loved bubble baths, but
when she became red and inflamed I took her to the doctors and he
said it was from the bubble baths. It hurt her to go potty for
awhile even after I stopped giving her bubble baths, but it did
clear up soon after. I hope I can help prevent any future urinary
tract infections.
After giving birth to six children, I can honestly say that using
your pre-pregnancy shoes while you are in the last six months of
pregnancy is not a good idea. They will be stretched out of shape
from the added weight of the baby and water retention. Far better
to buy low-heeled shoes (flats) in a wider width and save them for
each pregnancy.
Also, for the first six months of pregnancy, consider
getting loose (avoid waisted and belted) clothes that zip or
button up the front. This will be the correct size for after the
baby and convenient for nursing. And by the end of the pregnancy,
they will seem like "new" clothes!
It's really easy to clean up your credit report. First of all,
contact Equifax, Experian (TRW) or Trans Union and request an
updated copy of your credit report. I believe you can get one
free copy every year. If not, the cost is minimal.
It will list any accounts that you have opened, and those that you
have closed within the last 7 years. The report will include the
addresses for the creditors, your account number, outstanding
balance (if any) and current status.
Just send a letter to the creditor, include your account number,
and tell them to close your account effective immediately, and to
report to the credit agency that the account was closed by the
cardholder. This is very important. If they list that the account
was closed by the creditor instead of the cardholder, it's a big
negative on your report! They will send you a confirmation letter
about 2 weeks later.
If you're going to school, live on campus.
My husband and I recently moved to the family housing on campus,
and as part of the deal, our internet access is free, as is our
phone (local) service, and even the local transit system is free
to students! We don't need a car, and when we call long distance,
we buy a phone card (hence, we call long distance very seldom).
This cuts down considerably on our monthly bills. Also, our
utilities (on the year round payment) are less than $100 a month.
Pretty good for living at (practically) the top of the Rockies!
And that, with rent and food, are our only current bills. As for
past due bills, we're working on them. Perhaps we'll have them
all paid off before we have to move again.
Subscribe to "The Dollar Stretcher" free weekly email newsletter
look through the 'by subject' index
check out Past Issues of Newsletter
drop by 'Tips, Quips & Quotes'
visit the Dollar Stretcher Resource Center
send email to the Editor of "The Dollar Stretcher"
Copyright 1997 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc.". All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Write to the Dollar Stretcher at:
or phone:
A Listing for Summer Visits
Montgomery Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
Little Rock Zoo
Navajo National Zoo & Botanical Park, Window Rock
Reid Park Zoo, Tucson
Applegate Park Zoo, Merced
Chafee Zoological Gardens, Fresno
Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero
Happy Hollow Zoo, San Jose
Los Angeles Zoo
Micke Grove Zoo, Lodi
Oakland Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Santa Ana Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
Sequola Park Zoo, Eureka
The Living Desert, Palm Desert
Econmuseum, Quebec
Jardin Zoologique
De Granby, Quebec
Riverview Park & zoo, Ontario
The Valley Zoo, Edmonton, Alberta
Pueblo Zoological Gardens
Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport
National Zoo, Washington
Brevard Zoo, Melbourne
Central Florida Zoo, Lake Monroe
Dreher Park Zoo, West Palm Beach
Jacksonville Zoological Park
Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa
Miami Metrozoo
Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, Gainsville
Chehaw Wild Animal Park, Albany
Zoo Atlanta
Maui Zoo & Botanical Garden, Wailuku
Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu
Blank Park Zoo of Des Moines
Ross Park Zoo, Pocatello
Tautphaus Park Zoo
Zoo Boise
Cosley Animal Farm & Museum, Wheaton
Glen Oak Zoo, Peoria
Henson Robinson Zoo, Springfield
John G Shedd Aquarium, Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington
Niabi Zoo, Coal Valley
Scoville Children's Zoo, Decatur
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Mesker Park Zoo, Evansville
Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend
Brit Spaugh Zoo, Great Bend
Clay Center Zoo, Clay Center
Emporia Zoo
Hutchinson Zoo
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, Wichita
Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City
Ralph Mitchell Zoo, Independence
Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita
Sunset Zoo, Manhattan
Topeka Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Alexandria Zoo
Capron Park Zoo, Attleboro
Greater Baton Rouge Zoo
Louisiana Purchase Zoo, Monroe
Zoo of Acadiana, Broussard
Franklin Park Zoo, Boston
Walter D. Stone, Boston
Baltimore Zoo
Catoctin Mountian Zoo Park, Thurmont
Salisbury Zoo
Belle Isle Zoo & Aquarium, Detroit
Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek
Clinch Park Zoo, Traverse City
Detroit Zoo
John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids
Potter Park Zoo, Lansing
Saginaw Children's Zoo
Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth
Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
St. Paul's Como Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield
Kansas City Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
Hattisburg Zoo at Kamper Park
Jackson Zoo
Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Aquarium at Pine Knolls
Aquarium on Roanoke Island
North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro
Chaninkapa, Wahpeton
Dakota Zoo, Bismark
Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Lincoln
Hertiage Zoo, Grand Island
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Riverside Zoo, Scottsbluff
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Cape May County Park Zoo
Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton
New Jersey State Aquarium, Camden
Turtleneck Zoo, West Orange
Alameda PArk Zoo, Alamogorordo
Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque
Buffalo Zoo
Burnet Park Zoo, Syracuse
Ross Park Zoo, Binghamton
Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester
Staten Island Zoo
Trevor Zoo, Millbrook
Utica Zoo
Ackron Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Colombus Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Oregon Zoo, Portland
Clyde Peeling's Reptile Land, Allenwood
Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown
Philadelphia Zoo
Pittsburg Zoo
Zoo America, N A Wildlife Park, Hershey
Roger Williams Park Zoo- Providence
Greenville Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia
Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown
Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum, Sioux Falls
Grassmere Wildlife Park, Nashville
Knoxville Zoo
Memphis Zoo & Aquarium
Warner Park Zoo, Chattanooga
Abilene Zoo
Austin Zoo
Caldwell Zoo, Tyler
Cameron Park Zoo, Waco
Dallas Aquarium
Dallas Zoo
Ellen Trout Zoo, Lufkin
El Paso Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville
San Antonio Zoo
The Texas Zoo, Victoria
Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City
Willow Park Zoo, Logan
Mill Mountian Zoo, Roanoke
Virginia Zoological Park, Norfolk
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma
Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, Seattle
Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison
Jo-Don Farms, Franksville
Milwaukee County Zoo
Ochsner Park Zoo, Baraboo
Racine Zoological Gardens
Olgebay's Good Children's Zoo, Wheeling
Parrot Jungle, Miami
The Zoo, Gulf Breeze
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose
Nashville Zoo
Brakes and Antifreeze Leaks
by Bob DeP
AskBob@stretcher.com
I read with interest the question recently about squealing brakes.
My problem goes beyond initial brake application squeal. I have a
1987 VW Jetta that I recently got from my sister. The paint is
faded, the interior is almost immaculate and the car runs pretty
good (idles a little rough, but runs good when it warms up and
averages 30-34 MPG). My biggest complaint at this point about the
car is the incessant squealing of the brakes. It is quite
annoying. I have tried cleaning the pads and rotors (air, water,
brake cleaner) and while the squeal disappears for a short while,
it always comes back. I am not sure what type of pads are on the
car, but if I had to guess I would have to say semi-metallic. Am
I going to have to get rid of the semi-metallic pads and put on
organic pads to get rid of the squeal?
--Fred
I am sorry to say, but semi-metallic pads do often squeal a lot.
One thing you might want to try is a product called "squeal-stop".
I think that it is put out by permatex. You put in on the back
side of the pad. The part that goes against the caliper. This is
supposed to help "quiet" those guys down.
--Bob
Boy you got my attention with your recent answer to the person
with the Taurus. We also have a 90 Taurus station wagon. We've
had a lot of problems with it - the air conditioning refrigerant
has had to be replaced several times, the motor on the rear wiper
went out, and you'd better not open the back window or you'll
never get it closed again. However the problem we are now having
deals with antifreeze and I perked up when you said, "keep an eye
out for antifreeze leaks.
Okay, now you say that there is a bad smell of antifreeze... on
the inside of the car or the outside? This is a serious question.
A lot of people look at me funny when I ask, but if you smell it
on the inside, then there is a good possibility that the heater
core is leaking... pull up the floor mats and feel the carpet.
Does it feel wet? if not, try going down a layer and checking till
you hit metal (the floor) most likely place to check would be the
passenger side front. Okay, the floor is dry, is there an oily
haze on the inside of the windshield, if so, again to the heater
core and the defroster is blowing it towards the window... no
haze... hmm... is the smell from outside... start the car and go
in the back of it... is the smell stronger... yes, then the
problem is the head gasket and it is leaking into the cylinder
head, this is bad. No smell in the back... okay... shut the car
off... check the oil... is it frothy (foamy)? if so, then again a
cylinder head gasket leak. Oil clean, lets see... the next spot
(usually the most obvious) is to look for a puddle underneath and
find the broken hose. Now, it could be a high pressure leak (one
that will only leak while the system is pressurized) and is
blowing onto an exhaust pipe. Hence, no drip... but you should
smell the antifreeze stronger in the engine compartment than
anywhere else in the car. Finally, the water pump. I had a
similar situation where I was chasing a phantom leak from hose to
hose and it turned out to be the water pump. JUST DO NOT OVER
TIGHTEN THE BELTS WHEN YOU PUT THEM BACK ON!!!! That will cause
more damage to other things than you will fix! Also the problem
could be with a bad radiator. Either way, most of these repairs
will cost a bundle... to change the water pump, books at 2.1
hours! The thermostat is 0.9 hours and to change the belts is 0.8
hours. So to do a water pump job on that engine will cost around
$300.00. The heater core is a similar situation, all labor and
not cheap! The cylinder head gasket is in the same boat... lots
of labor... probably the cheapest thing to do is change the hoses
(all of them if you cant find the leak) then the radiator. I
would say that you could have someone change those (if not
yourself) fairly inexpensively. Remember before you attempt any
repair, please consult your service manual!
Drive Safely!
The Auto Answer Guy?
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Health Insurance?
--Lynda
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Advice for College Students
Rebecca B.
Iowa State
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Credit Card Debt
Thanks
K.A.
Cooler Cars
--denelle
Cleaning Tips for Singles
--Sheryl
How a Single Dad Did It
--Don
Getting Ahead in Small Increments
--Chris
Homemade Bubble Bath Recipe
1 cup mild liquid soap (Ivory, Palmolive for sensitive skin, Dawn
unscented is good)
1/4 cup glycerin (drug store)
1 tbsp Corn Syrup
1 tsp perfume oil (optional)
5 - 6 drops food coloring (optional)
--Colleen
And...A Bubble Bath Warning
Teresa
Shoes for the Expectant Mom
Cyndi
Sierra Village, California
Clean-Up Your Credit Report
It's as easy as that!!
TM in NJ
Attn: Students
Betty H
Member of the Internet Link Exchange
I Would like to:
return Home
Dollar Stretcher
949 E. Cypress Creek Rd.
Suite 101
Ft. Lauderdale,
FL 33334
954-772-1696