Our Excellent Adventures

Momentum increased Monday for a new economic stimulus package to help cash-strapped Americans as President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke threw their weight behind an idea they earlier opposed. AP thru Yahoo

President Bush will be remembered not for the Iraq War or the War on Terror but for ending capitalism in America. The government created this problem and their meddling will only make it worse in the long run. So, some banks go out of business - depositors loose nothing. So, stocks go down - they will come back up. So, some people lost their homes - pardon me, but perhaps they shouldn’t have had a home in the first  place.

All the economy’s problems are feeding off each other, creating a vicious cycle that Washington policymakers are finding difficult to break.

It is not up to Washington to break the cycle. Many, many economists and lots of Americans disagree with the governent view that if something is broken throw it money. Let the economy alone.

We’ve got enough to worry about . . . you know, no matter who is elected president taxes are going to go up. And they will keep going up if politicians keep giving the money away. If you don’t believe that call me, I’ve got some land on the dark side of the moon for sale.

In the future . . .
Last Person Working in America Dies
Washington - Leaving an unpaid tax bill of $450 gazillion dollars, the last working American died today after a long illness. Early reports say exhaustion may have contributed to the death but the real reason may never be known. With everyone else in America not working and waiting for more economic stimulus from Washington, this passing will put more pressure on the economy.

The Secretary of the Treasury announced the government would print more money to overcome this latest difficulty with the economy and blamed the death on the unwillingness of the deceased to share wealth with fellow Americans. He also commented that while past efforts represented investments that would have eventually made money for the taxpayer this would no longer be a consideration in future bail outs.

After his comments, the DOW rose 10 points to reach a week’s high of 298.

Manteca Bass Pro is opening Wednesday and they will be 37.85 miles from my driveway. That’s what I’m talking about!

This is a serious event. Even though I don’t hunt any more and fish a lot less than I did when I had the bass boat, just the camping part is likely to pull me into the new store. Hopefully I can get over there in the next week and I will give you a report.

The Manteca store is designed as a tribute to Yosemite and California’s Central Valley. With 3,500 area artifacts, and a 20,000 gallon fresh water aquarium, the 120,000 square feet store is like a magnet for me and many others. I think I will see lots of Sportmobiles there.

I need to find out how long I can hang out in the parking lot . . . this sounds like a multi-day trip and a great place for a meet/greet get2gether. You betcha!

Like many of you, we have seen our retirement savings and home value on a course somewhat like that of the Titanic. For most of us there is no rescue or bail-out. In fact, we will be paying for the bail-out of the greedy and criminal and those who were stupid enough to think they could get something for nothing. For those taking our money, I wish you to be walked upon by the feet of a thousand camels. I wish the bird of paradise flies up you nose and lays a large rotten egg. I wish . . . (add your own wish here).

Good, now I feel better and at least this picture gets me all warm and tingly. Something is going our way!

Gasoline  (Cents per Gallon)				Diesel Fuel  (Cents per Gallon)
10/06/08		Change from		10/06/08		Change from
	Price	Week Ago	Year Ago		Price	Week Ago	Year Ago
U.S.	348.4	-14.8	71.4	U.S.	387.5	-8.4	84.0
East Coast	354.4	-12.0	79.8	East Coast	392.8	-9.2	89.7
New England	338.6	-14.4	65.5	New England	403.6	-4.1	91.3
Central Atlantic	343.6	-12.4	69.3	Central Atlantic	397.8	-9.5	84.1
Lower Atlantic	367.2	-10.9	91.9	Lower Atlantic	389.6	-9.6	91.9
Midwest	339.3	-21.6	63.8	Midwest	385.8	-7.8	83.0
Gulf Coast	343.6	-16.4	76.9	Gulf Coast	384.3	-8.6	89.7
Rocky Mountain	349.6	-10.4	69.4	Rocky Mountain	388.6	-5.8	74.7
West Coast	356.8	-7.4	63.4	West Coast	384.7	-9.4	68.0
California	360.1	-6.9	60.5	California	386.9	-9.4	67.2

This information comes from a link on this site. Love those green arrows!

For the 2007-2009 Sprinter, if you purchased the option (yes, it is an option) for DRLs it is fairly easy to turn them off. Just visit your dealer, sit back and have a cup of coffee and faster than you can spell Sprinter backwards, the lights go out.

When I first got the Sprinter I searched online, under the hood, in the fuse boxes for days looking for the “normal” way to turn them off (on the Sprinter DRLs means all your lights are on, headlights are just on low). There are a couple of easy ways for VW vans and many cars you can just pull a fuse or find the DRL control module and disable it but not so the Sprinter.

If you want this mod, the only way that I can assure you will work is to visit your dealer or someone with the Mercedes Star computer system and program the DRLs off. $65 for the option to turn them on, $75 to turn them off a year later - hey, that’s better than the stock market is doing!

If you aren’t confused about which oil to use you are lucky! Just Mobil 1 ESP is confusing enough without even writing about other brands.

Day 1 when I got our Sprinter, I went to Walmart to pick up a couple of quarts of oil for just in case. I did not take my owner’s manual (here under Sprinter reference material), choosing instead to rely on my (failing) memory. I came home with 2 quarts of Mobil 1 Delvac ESP 5w-40. In reading the label, it was for low ash diesel engines, mentioned EGR valves, sounded like the right oil. Wrong!

Shopping for Mobil 1 ESP labeled oil is like buying snow on top of Mt. McKinley. It is everywhere, all kinds, for SUVs, diesel trucks, low-ash engines, turbo diesel truck, extra mileage, Formula M, BUT and it is a big but, you cannot go by what marketing (surprise) says using words. You can only go by the specifications often only in abbreviated form on the container itself.

For the Sprinter 2007-2009, oil must meet MB (that is Mercedes Benz) approval 228.51/229.31/229.51 and you should try to use the 229.51 because it is the most recent specification. Oil with specification MB 228.5/229.3 or 229.5 can be used in emergencies and then use no more than 1 quart.

And new (not in the owners manual) Mobil 1 ESP oils are also coming out that are formulated to meet those specifications. For example Mobi1 ESP Formula 5w-30 available at your Dodge Sprinter dealer as part number 68001334AA, meets the 229.51 (here under Sprinter reference material.) Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 is available at your Mercedes dealer - I paid $7.43 a quart, part number 0168-Q-1-09-0142.

What’s a guy or girl to do? Trust no one. The truth is out there . . . use the data sheets from the manufacturer to verify what you are told. Above all, use the correct oil. If you have the incorrect oil you risk damaging the DPF filter and that will cost you much more than replacing the incorrect oil with the correct one.