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Transcript

Why Cars Dropped Gas Caps And What Replaced Them · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 1:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, they're different nowadays.
• 1:06
  Jeff Dziekan: So why?
• 1:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, for decades, pulling up to a gas station and then unlocking the fuel door, twisting off a cap, setting it aside, and filling up.
• 1:13
  Jeff Dziekan: That ritual was so standard that it became second nature.
• 1:17
  Jeff Dziekan: But here's a few things that we didn't know, and here's why.
• 1:20
  Jeff Dziekan: So one of the things, one of the biggest motivators behind the capitalist fuel systems is tighter emission control.
• 1:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Traditional gas caps wear out, crack, or even get loose, allowing vapors to escape.
• 1:30
  Jeff Dziekan: These vapors not only waste fuel but also contribute to smog and air pollution.
• 1:35
  Jeff Dziekan: Capitalist systems seal automatically every time, meeting strict environmental standards and reducing the likelihood of a check engine light to be in the evaporator emission leak.
• 1:45
  Jeff Dziekan: In fact, those are bad gas caps, and one of the most common causes of emissions are failures for vehicles today.
• 1:53
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one would be easier for drivers.
• 1:56
  Jeff Dziekan: The convenience is a big role in the move away from the gas caps.
• 2:00
  Jeff Dziekan: With no gas cap twist, drivers can insert the pump nozzle directly into the filler neck and start fueling.
• 2:06
  Jeff Dziekan: This means no fiddling, no worry with the cap clicking tight enough, no risk of leaving the cap behind in the gas station, which we've all done once or twice.
• 2:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Who dislike dealing with that kind of stiff, dirty, frozen caps in harsh weather.
• 2:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Also, the modern caplist systems are often tied to the car's locking system.
• 2:29
  Jeff Dziekan: So you can't even open the fuel door without unlocking the vehicle.
• 2:33
  Jeff Dziekan: This deters casual theft or tampering.
• 2:35
  Jeff Dziekan: Another benefit is the capitalist filters are designed with nozzle-specific openings.
• 2:40
  Jeff Dziekan: The gas vehicle's filler neck won't accept larger diesel nozzles, and the diesel truck filler neck are too big for the gas nozzle.
• 2:48
  Jeff Dziekan: These designs help prevent costly misfueling mistakes that can ruin an engine.
• 2:53
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one, Mike, we talk about uh believe it or not, the humble gas tank is responsible for countless trips of the mechanics.
• 2:59
  Jeff Dziekan: A loose or cracked seal can cause vapor fuel leaks and trigger the check engine light.
• 3:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Replacing the cap usually fixes it, but owners often spend unnecessary money in diagnosing the effect before realizing it was just a gas cap.
• 3:13
  Jeff Dziekan: Capitalist designs eliminate the weak point entirely.
• 3:16
  Jeff Dziekan: There's no rubber gasket to wear out, and the system seals back more consistently than any human can twist.
• 3:23
  Jeff Dziekan: And there's another reason.
• 3:25
  Jeff Dziekan: If you're ever unscrewed a grimy old gas cap, got dirt and fuel and rusty flakes on your hands, you would appreciate the cleanliness of a capitalist design.
• 3:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Because the flap seals uh tightly, but it keeps out the dust, debris, road grime that also reduces the chance of contaminants getting into the fuel system itself.
• 3:44
  Jeff Dziekan: No drivers have to worry about setting a dirty cap on the trunk or dropping it on the ground and obviously driving off with it.
• 3:52
  Jeff Dziekan: And then you got Ford, who was one of the first major automakers to roll out a capless uh capless fuel filter widely by introducing its easy fuel system in the mid-2000s.
• 4:02
  Jeff Dziekan: GM quickly followed, adding capless designs to the models like the Chevrolet Malibu and the Cadillac CTS.
• 4:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Chrysler also adapted them in the Dodge and Jeep lineups.
• 4:11
  Jeff Dziekan: Today capless filters are common across the wide range of brands, though not universal.
• 4:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Many economy cars and imports still use traditional caps, partly to cut the cost and partly because some drivers still expect them.
• 4:23
  Jeff Dziekan: And then you've got the capless fuel filler that uses a spring-loaded metal flap and multiple seals within the filler neck.
• 4:31
  Jeff Dziekan: When the fuel nozzle is inserted, it pushes the flap open.
• 4:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Once the fueling is complete, the nozzle is removed and the cap snaps shut by creating an airtight seal.
• 4:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Most systems include a secondary door deeper inside the neck to prevent fuel siphoning or tampering.
• 4:46
  Jeff Dziekan: This setup is surprisingly robust and designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle without any maintenance.
• 4:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Just a couple more things.
• 4:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Reactions to the cap systems have been mixed.
• 4:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Many drivers love the convenience, noting that it's faster and cleaner.
• 5:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Fleet owners appreciate it that there's a few remission-related check engine lights caused by loose caps.
• 5:06
  Jeff Dziekan: However, some drivers dislike the lack of a physical cap, saying it feels less secure.
• 5:10
  Jeff Dziekan: A few complaints in certain older worn pump nozzles don't always see properly.
• 5:15
  Jeff Dziekan: Occasionally lead to the premature shutoffs during fueling.
• 5:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh premature shutoff.
• 5:20
  Jeff Dziekan: There you go.
• 5:24
  Don Armstrong: We worry about premature something.
• 5:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, there's a psychological element to the disappearance of gas caps for generations.
• 5:30
  Jeff Dziekan: The twisting motion was a reassurance that the tank was sealed.
• 5:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Without it, some drivers feel uneasy, even though the engineering behind the caplist systems went more secure.
• 5:40
  Jeff Dziekan: So if you don't if you have a newer vehicle that's got the cap uh caplist, underneath your spare tire, in your spare tire area, there is an extension so that if you have to put gas from a tank or a small container into the vehicle, there's a nozzle that you stick down in there and then you can put it in there.
• 5:58
  Jeff Dziekan: So it's like an adapter.
• 5:59
  Jeff Dziekan: I have one.
• 5:59
  Jeff Dziekan: I check my car out, I've got it.
• 6:01
  Jeff Dziekan: It's still in a little package.
• 6:03
  Don Armstrong: You're such a mover in shape.
• 6:04
  Jeff Dziekan: I've got a Buick and there's nothing like it.
• 6:07
  Don Armstrong: Well, um, thank you very much for that.
• 6:16
  Don Armstrong: Time now for Jeff's motor minute.
• 6:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Alrighty.
• 6:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh you got this mark?
• 6:19
  Jeff Dziekan: You want me to do it?
• 6:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, go ahead.
• 6:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Just go ahead.
• 6:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay, so from rookie contracts to racing wealth.
• 6:28
  Jeff Dziekan: These are the uh homes of some of the NASCAR drivers that we all know and and not necessarily your current.
• 6:36
  Jeff Dziekan: So, what happens when speed fame and big wins turn into real estate, real world?
• 6:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, for NASCAR's biggest star, success doesn't just stay on the track, it shows up in the homes they build.
• 6:46
  Jeff Dziekan: From a quiet lakeside retreat to jaw-dropping mansions.
• 6:49
  Jeff Dziekan: So here we go.
• 6:50
  Jeff Dziekan: The first one on the block is uh Kevin Harvick's$3.5 million European castle.
• 6:55
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a 12,000 square foot Oak Ridge mansion.
• 6:58
  Jeff Dziekan: It looks more like a your European fortress rather than a race car driver's pad.
• 7:02
  Jeff Dziekan: 2014 uh NASCAR champion.
• 7:04
  Jeff Dziekan: He listed the five-bedroom home featuring a garden for$3.5 million.
• 7:09
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a fitting residence for a man with$121 national series wins, ranking him third all-time in NASCAR history.
• 7:16
  Jeff Dziekan: I like it, but I don't like the big hill there.
• 7:18
  Jeff Dziekan: I would probably trip and roll down it.
• 7:20
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one we have is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s$3.7 million Pirate Paradise.
• 7:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Earnhardt, his love for history in the Key West, built his pirate home.
• 7:31
  Jeff Dziekan: 3,300 square foot nautical escape features rope-wrapped columns, shipwheels, and even a secret hatch.
• 7:38
  Jeff Dziekan: Don't know where it goes.
• 7:40
  Jeff Dziekan: 26 time cup winner listed a five-bedroom home for again for$3.7 million, showcasing a renovation hobby he once shared on the do on on the DIY network.
• 7:50
  Jeff Dziekan: So he was actually doing remodels to it and uh put it on TV.
• 7:54
  Jeff Dziekan: The next person we have this is a retired driver's Kurt Bush's uh trophy room uh palace, located in Mooresville, uh which is North Carolina.
• 8:03
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Kurt Bush's former 9,500 square foot estate was built to house a legacy.
• 8:09
  Jeff Dziekan: The inaugural the inaugural Chase for the Cup champion designed the office specifically for 34 trophies, uh boasting five and a half bathrooms, uh garage large enough for a custom 1964 Volkswagen Beetle.
• 8:23
  Jeff Dziekan: Home recently hit the market for nearly four million bucks.
• 8:27
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go.
• 8:28
  Jeff Dziekan: If you got an extra four million, you can buy it.
• 8:30
  Jeff Dziekan: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., equestrian estate.
• 8:33
  Jeff Dziekan: This home is a massive 9,986 square foot property previously owned by NASCAR legend Ernie Irvin and Joe Niemacek.
• 8:41
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't think they owned it together separately.
• 8:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Valued at$16 billion.
• 8:45
  Jeff Dziekan: The estate features an 18-stall horse barn, three-acre pond, and a putting green.
• 8:49
  Jeff Dziekan: The Daytona 500 residence often uh offers a spa and a cabana for the ultimate post-race relaxation.
• 8:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Jeff Gordon, who knows him?
• 8:59
  Jeff Dziekan: This is the Manhattan condo guy.
• 9:00
  Don Armstrong: And your tiny little Speedo.
• 9:02
  Jeff Dziekan: There you go.
• 9:03
  Jeff Dziekan: Four-time champion uh Jeff Gordon trademarked for the track for Central Park views with his$30 million residence.
• 9:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Now bear in mind that's an apartment or condo, I should say.
• 9:13
  Jeff Dziekan: Featuring Brazilian cherry floors and an Italian ceramic kitchen.
• 9:17
  Don Armstrong: Brazilian.
• 9:18
  Don Armstrong: I knew we would get that word in there sooner or later.
• 9:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Thirty four hundred and fifty thirty-four hundred and fifty-four square feet uh home tripled in value since Gordon's 2007 purchase.
• 9:28
  Jeff Dziekan: NASCAR Hall of Famer sold the lecture unit just two months before finishing it.
• 9:34
  Jeff Dziekan: He provided uh speed translates to real estate, is what he's talking about.
• 9:38
  Jeff Dziekan: So he real estate.
• 9:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Real estate.
• 9:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Not real estate.
• 9:44
  Jeff Dziekan: An estate for the real.
• 9:45
  Jeff Dziekan: Tony Stewart's$30 million Indiana Lounge or Lodge.
• 9:48
  Jeff Dziekan: This is pretty cool, uh, known as Smoke, that's his moniker.
• 9:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh owns this most expensive residence, a$30 million rustic large spanning nineteen over 19,000 square feet, 415 acres.
• 10:00
  Jeff Dziekan: The home features an 8,700 gallon freshwater aquarium and an indoor trout stream.
• 10:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh boy, get out of bed and drop a line.
• 10:08
  Don Armstrong: Uh drop something.
• 10:10
  Don Armstrong: Drop I was gonna say trowel, but I guess that'd be kind of trowel.
• 10:13
  Jeff Dziekan: You can go trolling the night before.
• 10:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Built in the Northern Rockies low uh Lodge Pole Pine.
• 10:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Extreme luxury.
• 10:20
  Jeff Dziekan: The last one we have, this guy is known as the kid, Mark Martin.
• 10:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh this is the million-dollar Chef Haven, known as the Kid.
• 10:32
  Jeff Dziekan: I will too, but if you're 700 square foot sanctuary on Lake Norman, the 40-time NASCAR champ winner.
• 10:38
  Jeff Dziekan: I enjoy Professional Chef's Kitchen, a private pavement, a pavement dock for Lake Access.
• 10:42
  Jeff Dziekan: 2.55 million.
• 10:44
  Jeff Dziekan: It remains a testament to his storied Roush racing career.
• 10:47
  Jeff Dziekan: And of course, he made a lot of money with uh when Viagra was his sponsor.
• 10:52
  Jeff Dziekan: He got that spot because he was Are you serious?
• 10:55
  Jeff Dziekan: He was winning races by inches.
• 10:56
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh my god.
• 10:57
  Jeff Dziekan: And uh and I got it.
• 10:58
  Don Armstrong: There was a joke in there.
• 10:59
  Don Armstrong: I'm just now getting it.
• 11:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Sorry.
• 11:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Anyways, but there you go.
• 11:02
  Jeff Dziekan: So if you got a lot of money in your race car driver, and I know there's a lot of folks out there that are trying to be a uh uh that level, keep trying.
• 11:09
  Jeff Dziekan: I mean, you gotta start somewhere, and and there's a lot of folks out there that know what they're doing.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, we want to get to Jeff's car culture.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_03: The five longest tunnels in the United States of America.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 11:32
  Jeff Dziekan: When you're outside the longest tunnel in the US, you can't help but wonder how did they build it?
• 11:36
  Jeff Dziekan: You know, what did it cost?
• 11:37
  Jeff Dziekan: How many people is it really uh an engineering marble?
• 11:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, yes, to all of that.
• 11:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh some of the stuff you have to use because engineers figure all that stuff out.
• 11:46
  Jeff Dziekan: So Lincoln Tunnel is another tunnel under the first connects to New Jersey.
• 11:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Forget about it.
• 11:55
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a massive one for five miles in life.
• 11:57
  Jeff Dziekan: It's the third largest traffic tunnel in the area.
• 12:00
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh is created off of the route 1495.
• 12:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, this is one of New York's most iconic traffic destinations.
• 12:07
  Jeff Dziekan: So what makes the second tunnel unique is the three separate tunnels that are involved.
• 12:12
  Jeff Dziekan: One was built in 1937, one was built in 1945, and the last one was built in 1957.
• 12:18
  Jeff Dziekan: The thick and tunnel averages over 100,000 vehicles daily, and it's one of the most important tunnels in the US.
• 12:24
  Jeff Dziekan: So the next one we have is the 10 Windows tunnel, and it's now tunnel located in the same Boston.
• 12:31
  Jeff Dziekan: City of Boston.
• 12:34
  Jeff Dziekan: It's one of the longest tunnels in the United States, established in 1995.
• 12:38
  Jeff Dziekan: So you know all that stuff, you gotta take the tunnel.
• 12:43
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh established in 1995, this is uh extension of I-90, which is the longest interstate highway in the country.
• 12:51
  Jeff Dziekan: The tunnel is often by the castle of Massachusetts, it consists of six lanes.
• 12:56
  Jeff Dziekan: The tunnel has a speed limit of 40 miles an hour, and it's the total tunnel, and you can pay anywhere from prices to two dollars depending on where you live.
• 13:06
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, I guess these different accesses to different neighborhoods have to pay certain things to get on the boat and get on the tunnel.
• 13:12
  Jeff Dziekan: So that's what it's that's what it's all about.
• 13:14
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one mic is uh situation that has a different is called the Holland tunnel.
• 13:18
  Jeff Dziekan: This is the second longest tunnel in New York City and it connects New York to New Jersey.
• 13:23
  Jeff Dziekan: Again, if we miss it, forget about it.
• 13:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh the tunnel is a four-made tunnel that carries traffic from both I-78 to I-39, and it's about 1.62 miles away.
• 13:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Clearly, it's the longest tunnel in the US, and the Holland tunnel was first opened in 1927, making it the oldest road tunnel in the history of the country.
• 13:43
  Jeff Dziekan: And this was pretty unique.
• 13:44
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh this one are you probably highest.
• 13:47
  Jeff Dziekan: In the couple of walkings, it's the Eisenhower tunnel.
• 13:51
  Jeff Dziekan: It's 60 miles east of Denver on Interstate 70, and that's where the tunnel's at.
• 13:57
  Jeff Dziekan: And the highest tunnel in the world with an average of 11,112 feet.
• 14:01
  Jeff Dziekan: So it's up there, it's up high in the mountains.
• 14:03
  Jeff Dziekan: It was the terrain, and the average uh angle snowfall from that terrain from November to April is 26 feet.
• 14:10
  Jeff Dziekan: So you've got a lot of small times, a lot of mountains.
• 14:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Two tunnels measured just a hair under 10,500 feet each direction, and it was finished in 1973.
• 14:20
  Jeff Dziekan: It spans two watersheds and the continental divide.
• 14:23
  Jeff Dziekan: The federal government purchased it uh a long time ago when they paid 90% of the cost, and the city or the state uh picked up to 10%.
• 14:33
  Jeff Dziekan: And it's about 30,000 to 50,000 vehicles, so it's a lot.
• 14:36
  Jeff Dziekan: It's pretty high up there, so because you know things that do with altitudes or tunnels, uh, we can do it.
• 14:43
  Jeff Dziekan: Baltimore Harbor, Michael, this one is uh part of the Baltimore, part of the Baltimore harbor is being built in place for just the longest tunnels in the US.
• 14:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Baltimore's new streets were the only direct roads between the city, uh city, the south side of that of Baltimore and Philadelphia.
• 14:59
  Jeff Dziekan: So this was built in 1940, and uh it was because of the terrible roads and everything else.
• 15:04
  Jeff Dziekan: It's just pretty crazy right there.
• 15:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Construction of the tunnel began in 1955, and by the time uh it was it was pretty well built in all the business.
• 15:11
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh it's 2122 sections, as long as a football field.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_03: So if you can do taking those tunnels, uh good luck.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_03: That's all I gotta say.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_03: We've got one here called the washburn tunnel, which underneath the used in chip chat, but that's just like that, but uh you know I'm I'm comfortable with that.
• 15:39
  unknown: Okay.
• 15:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 15:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh well science uh has designed these things to uh regenerate your tire tread.
• 15:59
  Jeff Dziekan: Regenerative tires signifies a major leap forward in automotive industry.
• 16:04
  Jeff Dziekan: This groundbreaking technology is underpinned by the concept of self-replenishing tread.
• 16:09
  Jeff Dziekan: That can only be significant implications for driving safety, cost effectiveness, and the environment.
• 16:14
  Jeff Dziekan: You say, what's behind the science, Michael?
• 16:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, regenerative tires are essentially self-renewing with the capacity to continually regenerate their tread.
• 16:22
  Jeff Dziekan: This is made possible by smart materials that have the ability to change their properties in response to external stimuli, sort of like you, Don.
• 16:31
  Jeff Dziekan: The fact that research extends just beyond tires with the potential applications of wide range in this industry.
• 16:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Several patents have been granted in relation to the tire generation technologies, reflecting the significant strides being made in this area.
• 16:48
  Jeff Dziekan: These patents cover a variety of technology and materials.
• 16:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Who are the pioneers?
• 16:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, several companies are leading the way developing the regenerative tires.
• 16:57
  Jeff Dziekan: For instance, Goodyears has a recharge concept.
• 17:00
  Jeff Dziekan: It represents a bold vision for the future of tire technology.
• 17:04
  Jeff Dziekan: There's a report out in Popular Mechanics that these tires are designed to replenish their treads using a special compound that is released over time.
• 17:11
  Jeff Dziekan: So Michelin has been making strides in this field also of regenerative tires.
• 17:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh there's a news article in Rubber News.
• 17:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Michelin researchers have won a patent.
• 17:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Wait a minute.
• 17:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Rubber news?
• 17:22
  Don Armstrong: There's a publication called Rubber News.
• 17:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Rubber News, yeah, yeah.
• 17:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh not the synthetic ones, but the ones that you get at the Shamrock station.
• 17:31
  Jeff Dziekan: No, no, no.
• 17:31
  Jeff Dziekan: Those are extra large.
• 17:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Michelin researchers have won a patent awarded in this innovative technology and uses special tread blocks that expand the tire wear down by the maintaining the optional tread depth.
• 17:45
  Jeff Dziekan: So that's pretty important because what you're going to do is as it gets lower, it's going to regenerate more.
• 17:49
  Jeff Dziekan: The potential impact of this is main benefits of regenerating tire potential to enhance road safety by maintaining optional tire tread depth.
• 17:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh these tires could improve grip and performance in a variety of driving conditions.
• 18:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Environmental applications or implications, I should say, in addition to their potential benefits, drivers' regenerative tires could also save significant environmental benefits.
• 18:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Actually, it'd be part of the significant environmental benefits.
• 18:15
  Don Armstrong: So, in other in other words, what you're saying is that we could go from a 16-inch tire to a 22.
• 18:21
  Jeff Dziekan: No.
• 18:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Good thinking, but no.
• 18:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 18:25
  Jeff Dziekan: There are challenges though.
• 18:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh while the concept of regenerative tires is certainly exciting.
• 18:29
  Jeff Dziekan: There are several technological challenges that need to overcome uh before they can actually become a reality.
• 18:35
  Jeff Dziekan: So uh they're out there, they're doing all kinds of technology and and engineering, and it's all good stuff.
• 18:42
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't see it in my lifetime, but go for it.
• 18:45
  Don Armstrong: Well, I think that they're trying to do away with wheels as we have known them.
• 18:49
  Don Armstrong: And the wheel is actually the tire.
• 18:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, and you know, if we had flying cars, we wouldn't have tire problems.
• 18:54
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: Very true.
• 19:03
  Don Armstrong: All right, time now for Jeff's car culture.
• 19:06
  Don Armstrong: Today is it culture or six, whatever.
• 19:09
  Don Armstrong: Top six car bri battery rankings.
• 19:11
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay, I gotta find it.
• 19:12
  Jeff Dziekan: I was uh out of sync here.
• 19:14
  Jeff Dziekan: You were?
• 19:15
  Jeff Dziekan: I was on the wrong page.
• 19:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Here we go.
• 19:18
  Don Armstrong: All right, we've been on the wrong page since we got here then.
• 19:20
  Jeff Dziekan: It's kind of kind of a given.
• 19:21
  Jeff Dziekan: So car battery shopping has been one of the least exciting parts of owning a car.
• 19:25
  Jeff Dziekan: We all know that.
• 19:26
  Jeff Dziekan: And I'm doing this story because there's parts of the country that are really cold, parts that are really warm.
• 19:31
  Jeff Dziekan: So this goes out to our cold friends up there in the Northeast.
• 19:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh a few things to remember before you head inside to locate a battery group for your vehicle is to know the battery group, the CTA, which is the coal cranking amps.
• 19:43
  Jeff Dziekan: So the number one we have on here, now these are listed.
• 19:46
  Jeff Dziekan: The TTA?
• 19:48
  Jeff Dziekan: I think so.
• 19:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Um to do with CARP or something.
• 19:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh could be a good thing.
• 19:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, CTA.
• 19:53
  Jeff Dziekan: TCA, whatever.
• 19:55
  Jeff Dziekan: And then there's uh AAA and then there's AA.
• 19:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh number six on my list is the Odyssey batteries.
• 20:00
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh have a number of features that have pushed them high in the rankings.
• 20:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Their commitment to over-engineering is given the batteries a reputation of reliability.
• 20:10
  Jeff Dziekan: The claim of a longer service life and cycle life and the shelf life are the comparisons for any competitor in the battery field.
• 20:16
  Jeff Dziekan: It's called Odyssey.
• 20:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Odyssey.
• 20:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Odyssey Extreme batteries can start a vehicle in temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero.
• 20:23
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 20:24
  Jeff Dziekan: All the way up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 20:26
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go, there's the Odyssey.
• 20:28
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one, and it's kind of surprised me, is a Duracell.
• 20:30
  Jeff Dziekan: It's all about the big name and it gets the battery world, and drivers may be pleased to learn that a well-known brand of manufacturers also does car batteries.
• 20:39
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, in terms of custom reviews, Durecell batteries can, in some respects, be the best out there.
• 20:45
  Jeff Dziekan: They're pretty highly rated, and the majority of the outlets like Sam's Club and AutoZone have these batteries.
• 20:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Durecell has a few options available, like the basic level, there's a company standard series, all that good stuff.
• 20:57
  Jeff Dziekan: No frills option for the for the company, claims to meet basic needs of the vehicle.
• 21:02
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one we have, Michael, is a Superstart.
• 21:05
  Jeff Dziekan: The Superstart, which is mainly sold through O'Reilly Auto Parts, offers a good range of batteries spanning from its economy to its premium units.
• 21:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Their economy batteries come with a one-year warranty.
• 21:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, premium, those are premium units.
• 21:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Premium units.
• 21:18
  Jeff Dziekan: And while the premium unit receives two years worth of backing, both the platinum and the extreme batteries get three years of coverage bundle.
• 21:25
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go.
• 21:26
  Jeff Dziekan: That's for that one.
• 21:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Die Hard.
• 21:28
  Jeff Dziekan: Now it's not the movie, it's the battery.
• 21:30
  Jeff Dziekan: This is the battery.
• 21:31
  Jeff Dziekan: It's going to be the Sears brand.
• 21:32
  Jeff Dziekan: It it did.
• 21:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh this is the battery your dad told you about and put in your first car.
• 21:36
  Jeff Dziekan: That's the one he bought.
• 21:37
  Jeff Dziekan: Die Hard remains a great uh aftermarket option for it was for Sears until they sold the brand to Advanced Auto Parts back in 2019.
• 21:45
  Jeff Dziekan: They relaunched in 2020 pairing the Die Hard battery with the Die Hard Film Hero, just mentioned that, John McLean.
• 21:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Popular advertising campaign, reintroduced the battery brand and the availability.
• 22:00
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one, Michael, is an Optima battery.
• 22:02
  Jeff Dziekan: They use several unique design choices that move them to the number one spot in some cases, but not here.
• 22:09
  Jeff Dziekan: The six-pack design, the spiral wound cells are used both in the lead and the AGM versions of the batteries.
• 22:16
  Jeff Dziekan: The lead versions?
• 22:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, uh the they're the old school, the old style.
• 22:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Now they're very expensive in some respects.
• 22:22
  Jeff Dziekan: The most affordable option for a 1996 Ford Ranger is a$250 battery.
• 22:29
  unknown: Sure.
• 22:29
  Jeff Dziekan: But they're reliable, trusted, and have a good warranty backing for the product.
• 22:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Next one, Mike, is a Dakota.
• 22:35
  Jeff Dziekan: One of the main sources people tend to shell out more than a car battery is the ability to crank an engine when things get chilly.
• 22:42
  Jeff Dziekan: In this respect, Dakota has good good ratings on that part.
• 22:46
  Jeff Dziekan: The company claims that the batteries offer 200% of the power traditional car batteries offer.
• 22:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Five times the charging speed, uh lasts eight times longer, and are half the weight of what you would normally have as a battery.
• 22:58
  Jeff Dziekan: So check them out.
• 23:00
  Jeff Dziekan: There's all kinds out there.
• 23:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Just be careful, uh, get what you need, check the coal cranking amps, and you should have a good solid battery.
• 23:08
  Don Armstrong: Then there are those uh batteries that you go.
• 23:11
  Don Armstrong: I've never heard of this, but okay, the salesman said buy this, it's good.
• 23:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 23:16
  unknown: Yep.
• 23:17
  Don Armstrong: Have you ever done that?
• 23:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh no.
• 23:19
  Jeff Dziekan: No.
• 23:19
  Jeff Dziekan: Because I'm I I do my due diligence and research.
• 23:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Did you did you mention Interstate?
• 23:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Interstate was probably seventh or eighth on the list.
• 23:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Interstate is in the grouping of twelve, but these are the top six.
• 23:30
  Jeff Dziekan: I got you.
• 23:31
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 23:31
  Don Armstrong: I just thought I'd throw that out.
• 23:32
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, sure.
• 23:33
  Don Armstrong: Mars, you bought a battery in a while?
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_01: Uh no.
• 23:37
  Don Armstrong: Good for you.
• 23:38
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 23:49
  Don Armstrong: Time now for Jeff's car culture.
• 23:50
  Don Armstrong: White letter tires, brother.
• 23:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, well, you know, the trend of white letter tires gained significant momentum in the 60s and 70s, especially here in the U.S.
• 23:57
  Jeff Dziekan: of A.
• 23:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Muscle cars and street racing were becoming increasingly popular.
• 24:01
  Jeff Dziekan: White letter tires became synonymous with performance and style and coolness that we all had associated with high performance vehicles as well.
• 24:09
  Jeff Dziekan: White lettering on tires comes in two primary types, raised and painted.
• 24:13
  Jeff Dziekan: Each type has a distinct characteristics in manufacturing process.
• 24:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Raised white lettering is created during the manufacturing process itself.
• 24:21
  Jeff Dziekan: The letters are raised above the tire surface and are part of an integral portion of that sidewall.
• 24:26
  Jeff Dziekan: White lettering is typically made from white rubber.
• 24:29
  Jeff Dziekan: Rubber is actually kind of a cream color to begin with.
• 24:31
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a compound that is molded into the tire.
• 24:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Raised letters are known for their durability since it's part of the tire itself.
• 24:37
  Jeff Dziekan: Painted white lettering improves or involves applying white paint to the tire after it has been manufactured.
• 24:43
  Jeff Dziekan: The paint is applied to a desired area of the sidewall.
• 24:46
  Jeff Dziekan: We used to do that with your chalk, your crayon, uh fingernail polish.
• 24:49
  Jeff Dziekan: We used to do all kinds of stuff like that.
• 24:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Yes.
• 24:51
  Jeff Dziekan: We did.
• 24:52
  Jeff Dziekan: It requires more maintenance though.
• 24:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Both types have their advantages and are chosen based on specific needs and preferences of the vehicle and their owner.
• 24:59
  Jeff Dziekan: Raised white lettering, uh being more durable, is often preferred as a regular use, and painted white letters allows you more customization, is popular among the car enthusiasts who frequently change the aesthetics of their vehicle.
• 25:11
  Jeff Dziekan: The manufacturing process of white letter tires includes ORWL, which is outlined raised white letters, is intricate and requires precise techniques to ensure durability and the clarity of the lettering.
• 25:23
  Jeff Dziekan: No font uh distortion there.
• 25:25
  Jeff Dziekan: The process varies depending on what letter is being raised.
• 25:29
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh raised white lettering is typically created using a specialized molding process.
• 25:35
  Jeff Dziekan: The white rubber compound is inserted into the mold along with black rubber and is used for the rest of the tire.
• 25:40
  Jeff Dziekan: So that they're just injecting a little bit of portions at a time.
• 25:43
  Jeff Dziekan: During the vulcanization process, and but Spock does knows that.
• 25:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh whereas the tire is heated and cured, curing the rubber, the white and black compounds fuse together.
• 25:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Painted white lettering is fully formed and cured in the area, the white lettering, and is applied thoroughly and cleaned and prepared.
• 26:03
  Jeff Dziekan: Specialized durable paint is then carefully applied to the designated areas.
• 26:07
  Jeff Dziekan: This process might be done by hand or with the help of automated machinery for consistency and precision.
• 26:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Both methods require careful quality control and ensure the lettering is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also to withstand the rigors of road use without fading or peeling.
• 26:21
  Jeff Dziekan: And regular cleaning is essential to get the dirt and all the build-up and keep it from yellowing.
• 26:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Using cleaners specifically designed for it is advisable because you can really tarnish it and mess it up.
• 26:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals and solvents, deteriorating the rubber.
• 26:36
  Jeff Dziekan: We used to use brake fluid to get our tires black.
• 26:38
  Don Armstrong: Oh my god.
• 26:39
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, yeah, that was back in the day.
• 26:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh for those seeking non-permanent solutions, temporary decals can be applied to the sidewall.
• 26:45
  Jeff Dziekan: There are actually companies out there, professional companies, that will design lettering and apply them to your tire.
• 26:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh while comparing all of these raised white letters, outline white letters, consider this.
• 26:56
  Jeff Dziekan: They are a little bit higher priced, even if when you buy it, you know, from the from the uh tire store, and then the raised white letters can be a little bit more money as well.
• 27:05
  Jeff Dziekan: The resurgence of vintage and retro styles and automotive design has been renewed interest in the white letter tiring.
• 27:11
  Jeff Dziekan: The ability to customize and personalize tires, white lettering, appears to be pretty advantageous for the consumer, and it's kind of unique and it makes a unique style statement for them.
• 27:21
  Jeff Dziekan: White lettering on tires is often associated with specific brands, influencing customer loyalty and preference.
• 27:27
  Jeff Dziekan: The trends indicate that while practical considerations are important, the aesthetics and brand-related aspects of the tire design significantly influence the customer's choice.
• 27:36
  Jeff Dziekan: And there you've got all kinds of things.
• 27:38
  Jeff Dziekan: You could create your own design, you can uh get on their website, and they'll send you the stickers themselves, and you can you can put Don Armstrong on the side of your tire.
• 27:46
  Jeff Dziekan: No, I don't want Don Armstrong.
• 27:47
  Jeff Dziekan: You can do that.
• 27:48
  Jeff Dziekan: We're good.
• 27:49
  Jeff Dziekan: All right.
• 27:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Thank you, Jeff.
• 27:59
  Don Armstrong: Your destination for Texas's best beef fajitas and frozen margaritas.
• 28:03
  Don Armstrong: Since 1983, Loopy Tortilla has served authentic and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients.
• 28:10
  Don Armstrong: Atmosphere is part of the award-winning experience at Loopy Tortilla, all developed in the little house near Highway 6 and I-10 in West Houston.
• 28:18
  Don Armstrong: Visit any of the Loopy Tortillas and you'll see the same attention to detail in each and every location.
• 28:24
  Don Armstrong: Start your loopy experience with queso flammiato and guacamole, along with a classic frozen margarita.
• 28:30
  Don Armstrong: Dine up famous loopy beef and chicken fajitas, or pepper shrimp crochet, or a fish or vegetarian entree, and finish with a scrumptious flan for dessert.
• 28:38
  Don Armstrong: Find loopy tortilla in Houston, College Station, Beaumont, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas Fort Worth.
• 28:44
  Don Armstrong: There's a Texas location near you.
• 28:46
  Don Armstrong: The recipes are authentic and time-tested.
• 28:48
  Don Armstrong: The ingredients always fresh.
• 28:50
  Don Armstrong: Loopy Tortilla, the speedy goose.
• 28:55
  Don Armstrong: Apple or Android InWheel Time podcasts can be found everywhere, on the stream and through downloads.
• 29:00
  Don Armstrong: Whether you're on the road or at home in Joneson for a different kind of car talk show, give InWheel Time a try.
• 29:06
  Don Armstrong: Honest new car reviews, fun, informative interviews with real car people, weekly automotive news, features like Jeff's car culture and Mike's driving destinations, all on In Wheel Time.
• 29:16
  Don Armstrong: Check us out on Sirius XM Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or while you're shopping on Amazon through Amazon Music.
• 29:22
  Don Armstrong: Mm-hmm.
• 29:22
  Don Armstrong: InWheelTime.com has a list, and we know you love lists.