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International surely had no way of knowing just how important their new 6.9 liter diesel would become when they introduced it in 1978. While the 6.9 liters 170 horsepower and 338 foot-pounds of torque arent particularly impressive by todays standards, the fact is this engine laid the foundation for a partnership between International and Ford that would eventually culminate in the well-known Powerstroke series.

Starting Fluid

Starting fluid is a mixture of various volatile hydrocarbons, primarily diethyl ether and heptane, butane and propane. Starting fluid has a much lower auto-ignition temperature than gas or diesel, making it an ideal fuel to start engines with ailing ignition or fuel-injection systems. The 6.9 liter diesel is a simple engine, and responds to starting fluid the same way that any other diesel does. A three to five second burst of starting fluid sprayed directly into the intake tube should be all you need if the engine is capable of starting at all.

The Addiction Myth

Some old-timers will tell you that starting fluid is a death sentence for any engine, especially diesels. According to the wisdom of ages, diesel engines get "addicted" to starting fluid and will forever more require it after the first application. This is patently untrue; starting fluid is a fuel just like any other and your engines physical structure in no way changes just because you start it with ether. More likely, this "addiction" is simply a worsening of whatever condition it was that forced you to use starting fluid in the first place.

Losing car keys is a major inconvenience, especially when you dont have an extra key on hand to use until you locate your originals. When requiring new keys for your 1986 Ford truck, contact your local Ford service department or any professional locksmith. Fortunately, older Ford trucks are not equipped with internal computers so the process of making a new key for your truck is much simpler and less expensive.

Instructions

1

Call a locksmith or your Ford service department to request an appointment to have new keys made for your truck. If you make an appointment with a Ford service department youll need to have your truck towed to their service location. If you call a locksmith they will come to you.

2

Explain that the original keys are lost and that a new key must be made from scratch. Provide the Vehicle Identification Number, proof of ownership and photo identification to the locksmith and/or Ford service department. Keys will not be made if you cannot prove you own the vehicle.

3

Pay for the services rendered once your new key is made. The cost for having a new key made without the original from which to model it after is significantly more expensive because a mold of the lock must be made to determine the cut of the key.

Charging a 7 amp hour (AH) sealed lead acid (SLA) battery with a 10AH charger can be done, but it is detrimental to the health of your battery. Charging a battery with the wrong charger results in overcharging or undercharging.

Amp Hours

The capacity of a 7AH battery is significantly less than a 10AH battery. Since the 10AH battery holds a greater capacity, its charger provides an increased electrical flow. Using a 10AH charger with a 7AH battery results in overcharging. Unplugging the battery early results in undercharging.

Overcharging

Overcharging is caused by thermal runaway. Increased voltage will decompose the water in the electrolytes of the battery. Overheating occurs, allowing more voltage to enter the battery. Overcharging ages batteries very quickly.

Undercharging

Undercharging occurs when lower voltage is applied to a battery. Charging ends early and lead sulfate adheres to the electrodes. Due to the remaining lead sulfate, capacity is reduced. Removing a battery early also results in an incomplete charge. The risk of residual lead sulfate damage is still present. Charge your batteries completely to avoid diminished capacity.

At the time of the accelerator pedal recall early in 2010, Toyota used accelerators from two suppliers. The Japanese supplier was Denso and the American supplier was CTS Automotive Products. The Denso pedals were not recalled. The CTS pedals were. Virtually all Toyota models that are built only in North America, including the Tundra, Avalon, Matrix and Sequoia, were equipped with CTS pedals. Models built in both the U.S. and Japan like the RAV4, Highlander, Corolla and Camry may have been equipped with pedals manufactured by either Denso or CTS.

Instructions

1

Find the vehicle identification number stamped on a small metal plate on the lower corner of the drivers side dashboard.

2

Write down the VIN. If the first character in the VIN is "J", your vehicle was built in Japan and is equipped with a Denso pedal. If the first character is "1", your vehicle has a CTS pedal. If the VIN begin "4T1", you must visually inspect your pedal to determine if it was made by CTS or Denso.

3

Remove the passenger side floor mat and retract the drivers side seat as far to the rear as possible. Crawl under the dash.

4

Inspect the accelerator pedal using a flashlight. Denso pedals have four chrome or silver bolts on the left side of the pedal assembly and are stamped "Denso." CTS pedals have no obvious bolts and have a rectangular, black metal plate on the left side of the accelerator pedal assembly.

The battery in your 8-cylinder Cadillac is dead. A motoring Good Samaritan rolls up and offers you a jump start with his 4-cylinder Japanese import. What are the chances that the 4-cylinder car can start the Cadillac with 8-cylinders?

Background

Jump starting is not about cylinders; it is about power--power expressed in terms of voltage and the amount necessary to crank the engine of a disabled car.

Voltage and Power

A battery stores power as the engine runs and sends a trickle charge to the battery. The power to start a car is delivered by the stored power. If the 4-cylinder car battery is good, it will work.

Safe Jump Start

The jumper cables must be placed correctly for a safe jump start with both car engines off and emergency brakes set. Connect the red/+ cable to the red terminal of the dead battery. Connect the other end of that cable to the red terminal of the good battery. Connect one end of the black/- cable to the good battery. Connect the other end of this cable to a piece of unpainted metal in the engine compartment of the car with the dead battery. Do not connect it to the black battery terminal. Start the car with the good battery and rev the engine. Attempt to start the car with the dead battery. If it starts, remove the cables in the reverse order they were placed.

What Starts the Dead Engine?

Once the jumper cables are correctly in place, the 8-cylinder car is started using the voltage supplied by the engine of the 4-cylinder car. Once the 8-cylinder car is running smoothly and jumper cables are removed drive the car with the dead battery to recharge it. You may want to take it to a place where battery service is offered and have it checked.

In general, if your car needs to pass a state inspection, all parts must be in working order. There are some exceptions to that rule. If you are unsure, check your states inspection code.

Broken Lights

In most states requiring a vehicle inspection, including Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania among others, all factory original parts of the car, including fog lights, must be in working order. However, in New York State, a broken fog light will not cause a vehicle to be rejected.

Safety Check

If fog lights are required to be in working order, broken plastic or glass on the fog light will definitely get you a fail, as will improper bulbs. Most inspectors are looking for safety concerns when they check the fog lights. A small crack or sealant issue may cause the glass to cloud, which can change the light, causing a safety issue. Cracks and missing chunks also divert or brighten the light. At the same time, a wrong bulb could create the same effect.

Other Options

If your after-market fog lights are broken, you may remove the lights as they are not required in most jurisdictions. Make sure you do not leave hanging wires or switches.

At first glance, tire size numbering can be confusing. You may wonder if a 265/75/15 tire is interchangeable with a 265/75/16 tire. Once you understand the tire sizing format, it will become apparent what tires are compatible with your rim size.

Rim size

The most important information about tire interchangeability is the rim size, which is the last number in the display. For a 265/75/R15 tire, the R15 signifies a 15-inch rim. A 265/75/R16 tire is for a 16-inch rim and will not fit a 15-inch rim.

Tire section width

The first number in the tire size after the letter signifies a tire section width. If the number is 265/75/R15, this means the width is 265 millimeters.

Sidewall aspect ratio

The number after the first slash in the tire size is the sidewall aspect ratio. For example, the tire 265/75/R15 has a sidewall that is 75 percent of the width. It is indicates the height of the tire from where it connects to the rim to the tread.

Tire Lettering

Tire type is the first character in the display, such as P265/75/R15. P signifies use on a passenger car. LT signifies light truck tires, T a temporary spare tire. An LT tire of the same size as your previous P tire could be used as a temporary replacement, but this is not recommended.

Building an engine piece by piece or repairing an engine can quickly become expensive. It is always helpful to find ways in which to save money. One way to do this is to reuse parts from your existing engine.

The Facts

Roller lifters are part of the valvetrain. They can be hydraulic or solid (mechanical). They roll, therefore the friction is less, and they can work well even with aggressive cam profiles.

Considerations

While you cant reuse flat lifters, roller lifters can be reused as they are designed differently and generally are subject to less friction and wear. These do not "require the lifter and cam lobe to wear-in or mate to each other," according to Summit Racing. It is important to assess whether the roller lifters you want to reuse are worn. First, check if they still roll smoothly. Also, you should clean and check the lifters for wear and discoloration from heat. You should check the needle bearings and the axle as well as the wheel. If they are worn, at best they will not work well or last very long. At worst, they can end up damaging your engine.

Significance

Roller lifters can be safely reused if you are diligent when cleaning, ensuring there are no signs of wear.