4x4Wire

Oil is an important part of keeping an motor vehicle running.  And, basics of oil have evolved over the years.  A key measure is “viscosity” which indicates the thickness of oil at various temperatures. The “thickness” factor refers to how fast the oil will flow at certain temperatures. Viscosity is commonly referred to as “weight”.

For reference, the higher numbers mean thicker/slower flowing oil. In short, a 5W-30 oil flows faster than a 10W-40 oil. Generally, using a faster flowing oil (5W-30) in colder temperatures is desirable because more oil flows to internal engine parts for critical lubrication.  This provides faster starting and reduced wear and tear on your engine.

Two years ago I dismantled my reloading bench for a move from southern California to middle Tennessee.  My new location has limited space and I took my time rebuilding my reloading bench to be efficient and conserve space.  It is now complete and I recently tested my setup with a marathon reloading session.

With a supply of cases ready to load and winter weather with a mix of rain, snow, and cold, I opted to stay in warm surroundings as opposed to working on my Jeep in the unheated shop.

Powder, bullets and cases ready, I pulled my reloading dies out and set to work.  For this session, 9mm ammo was the intended end result.  I have two different sets of dies for 9mm, Hornady and RCBS. Each is a 3-die set.  The Hornady set was a new acquisition picked up at a swap meet for way less than a new die set would cost.

One morning I slid behind the wheel of my Jeep, slid the key into the ignition, and tried to start the engine.  I was met with the ominous clicking indicating a low battery.  And, the dash was ablaze with a series of warning lights.

First step, get the engine started.  I carry an emergency battery pack that provides the necessary power to start a vehicle engine.  Within minutes, the engine was started and running very rough.  The dash warning lights were reduced to two, the Electronic Throttle Control warning and the Check Engine Light.

The ETC warning was a simple fix with a few key clicks and timed pressing the throttle pedal.  While that warning light was quickly cleared, the Check Engine Light remained on and idle remained very rough.

Navigable Waters Protection Rule supports rural communities dedicated to clean water

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) released the following statements after the Biden Administration announced its intent to revise the definition of "waters of the United States" and rescind the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR):

Southfield, Mich. – (November 12, 2020) – Armorlite – a complete replacement flooring system for the off-road vehicle market – has expanded its product line to include a full kit replacement system for Jeep Wrangler JK 2-door models. The new kit is available for pre-order at www.goarmorlite.com beginning November 12, 2020 and ending December 12, 2020. 

Launched in January of this year for Jeep Wrangler JKU 4-door models, Armorlite goes where throw‑in mats and spray-in liners can't, providing an entirely new level of durability, style and performance in a complete replacement flooring system. It is easy to install, easy to clean, enables easy draining of the floor area, provides sure footing and substantially reduces cabin heat and noise.