can-vaseline-really-stop-your-tires-from-losing-air-pressure?
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Can Vaseline Really Stop Your Tires From Losing Air Pressure?

ByBob Lacivita

With almost 60 years of experience in the automobile repair world, including 46 as an ASE Master Technician and 25 years in vocational education, and a vehicle owner since before I had an official driver’s license, I have seen a lot of so-called car “hacks.” While some actually work, many are not worth the time or effort. Time-tested hacks that work include polishing your dashboard with olive oil or a maintaining the proper amount of air pressure keeps tires at optimum operating temperatures. What Is the Vaseline Tire Hack? The Vaseline tire hack involves taking a fingertip full of Vaseline, filling the tire valve core cavity, and coating the valve stem threads with it before reinstalling the valve cap. The idea behind the hack is that Vaseline will create a seal between the valve stem and valve cap threads, keeping air from leaking out through the valve core. Does Vaseline on Tires Really Keep Tires From Losing Air Pressure? In theory, yes, Vaseline can work to limit air pressure loss. Anything that can form a seal or bond between two parts (a gasket, O-ring, or chemical sealant) can keep something from leaking out from between the parts. Also, in this case, keeping water, mud, road slats and debris from entering and corroding the valve stem and valve core is just as critical. However, this hack may only work for a while. Vaseline is a semi-solid petroleum-based product that begins to melt and become watery when it becomes warm or hot. Tires and wheels, even in winter, do warm up. This will cause the Vaseline to become more fluid and eventually drip out from between the valve stem and valve cap threads, undoing any seal that may have been formed. Are There Any Drawbacks to the Vaseline Tire Hack? There are possible drawbacks. The centrifugal force of a spinning wheel can coat your wheels with the Vaseline once it becomes fluid. Since Vaseline doesn’t contain any dye, it won’t stain or discolor painted surfaces. However, Vaseline is a dirt magnet. Chemicals and microplastics found in road dirt and debris, when trapped in Vaseline, can damage or stain finished or painted surfaces if not removed. Is the Vaseline Tire Hack Safe for You and Your Car? The safety of this hack depends. Over time, Vaseline can cause rubber (tire valve stems, valve cap O-rings and even the valve core seal can be made from rubber) to swell and degrade, causing a tire to lose air pressure. Even though you’re supposed to use less than a fingertip full of Vaseline to coat the valve core, once the Vaseline becomes watery, it could make its way to the brake rotors. Any petroleum-based products that make their way onto the brakes’ rotors will reduce braking effectiveness. Although the chances of that are small, why tempt fate? Alternatives to the Vaseline Tire Hack If your valve stems are dry rotted, leaking or corroded, replace them. Ensure replacement valve stems do not come out past the edge of the wheel. It may be easier to add air to your tires with longer valve stems, but it makes it easier to rip them off if you brush up against a curb. If you are determined to try this Vaseline tire hack, use silicone gel or dielectric grease instead. Silicon will not cause the rubber to decay and helps prevent the rubber from drying out. Replacing valve cores is an easy DIY project. Just make sure you have access to an air compressor to refill the tires. Be aware, I found it is very easy to ruin a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) valve stem by overtightening the valve core. Dorman Products makes an inexpensive valve stem torque wrench that prevents damaging a TPMS valve stem. Replace valve caps with ones with O-rings. Check your owner’s manual to verify whether the valve cap should be made of metal or plastic. To prevent corrosion, place a light coat of dielectric grease on the threads of metal valve caps before installing them, and don’t use metal caps on aluminum valve stems. Of course, during the cold winter months, it’s wise to check tire pressure often. Resources Consumer Reports, “Why Tires Go Flat in Cold Temperature” (Nov 18, 2023) The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, “Tire Dry Rot” (Nov 15, 2024) Dave Hogg, Service Manager, O’Neil Buick GMC, Warminster, PA (Nov 11, 2024)

heres-what-those-tall-green-fins-on-the-highway-are-actually-for
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Here is What Those Tall Green Fins On the Highway Are Actually For

ByAlex Shoemaker

Heng Cai / 500px/Getty Images Heng Cai / 500px/Getty Images Published on Nov. 18, 2024 Discover how headlight shields reduce glare from oncoming traffic, what they look like, and how they improve night driving safety along with other helpful traffic control devices. Now Trending Have you ever driven along a highway or interstate and seen those weird green objects sticking up on top between lanes of traffic? Well, they’re not just cool roadway decor. These fins play an important role in creating a safer nighttime driving experience by reducing glare and improving lane awareness to prevent accidents. What Are Headlight Shields? Headlight shields, also known as oncoming headlight blockers, are devices installed between lanes of traffic to reduce the glare of headlights from oncoming vehicles. Especially useful in divided highways or multi-lane roads, these shields enhance nighttime driving safety by blocking intense beams of light from the opposing lane, preventing temporary “night blindness.” This momentary loss of vision can be dangerous, particularly for drivers with increased light sensitivity, and headlight shields help mitigate this issue by creating a visual barrier between lanes. What Do Headlight Shields Look Like? Headlight shields are usually vertical panels that extend above the roadway divider, with a slight curve or angle designed to intercept the beam of oncoming headlights. They often resemble a row of slim, upright paddles or slats mounted along the center line or on a highway barrier. While green and gray are the most common colors for headlight shields, they can also be seen in shades of blue or white, with colors chosen to blend with the surrounding environment or meet local visibility standards. Some shields are reflective, allowing them to be seen easily by both oncoming and same-direction drivers, helping improve overall road awareness and visibility. Are There Other Traffic Devices Like Oncoming Headlight Blockers? In addition to headlight shields, a variety of traffic control devices exist to help manage visibility and safety between lanes. Median barriers, like concrete Jersey barriers, are frequently installed to physically separate lanes of opposing traffic and can serve as a buffer against headlight glare. However, their primary purpose is crash prevention. Another common sight on highways is the installation of rumble strips along the edges of lanes. While not designed to block headlights, rumble strips alert drivers when they are veering off course, helping keep vehicles safely within their lanes. In some regions, more advanced dynamic lighting systems are being implemented. These systems use technology such as adaptive headlights, which automatically dim high beams when oncoming traffic is detected. Additionally, road studs or “cat’s eyes” are reflective markers embedded in the road surface, helping to outline lane divisions in low-visibility conditions without needing to physically block oncoming lights.

do-you-know-why-cars-have-a-glow-in-the-dark-handle-inside-the-trunk?
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Do You Know Why Cars Have a Glow in the Dark Handle Inside the Trunk?

ByHarrison Kral

Family Handyman Family Handyman Published on Nov. 15, 2024 Your car has plenty of safety features you may not even realize are there… but this one is sure to catch your eye. Now Trending Ever go to grab something out of the back of your car and get distracted by something glimmering in the dark? You might not even realize it, but many modern vehicles have a glow-in-the-dark handle built into the trunk. Here’s what it’s for and why this safety feature is now commonplace. Glow in the Dark Trunk Handles The reason for these illuminating handles is grim but practical: they’re an emergency release designed to open the trunk if someone is stuck or trapped inside.  Typically, these handles are made out of a glow-in-the-dark material so they can be easily spotted when the trunk is closed. The idea for a technology like this can be traced back to the 1980s when a man named William Proehl requested the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) make emergency trunk handles required by law. Proehl’s idea did not gain much momentum at the time due to a lack of safety data around the topic. But as time went on, more and more cases of kidnappings, trapped children and heat stroke stacked up. By 2002, a law was passed requiring auto manufacturers to include emergency trunk releases in all vehicles. Proehl was named as the petitioner in the NHTSA’s official ruling, which read: “The petitioner stated that persons such as alarm and stereo installers, mechanics, playful children, pranksters, and crime victims may be trapped in the trunk. The petitioner also believed that an elderly person might fall into the trunk and thereby become entrapped. Mr. Proehl asked NHTSA to require an inside trunk release in all new cars to facilitate the release of these victims.” How Do You Use An Emergency Trunk Release? Emergency trunk releases are designed to be as simple to use as possible. Just find the glowing handle and pull; the trunk latch will release, freeing whoever is stuck inside. Next time you open your trunk, take a second to locate your emergency trunk release. You never know when you’ll need it. Source Federal Register, “Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Interior Trunk Release“, 2000

bc-to-connect-ev-drivers-through-province-spanning-electric-highway
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BC to connect EV drivers through province-spanning Electric Highway

ByClaire Fenton

The BC government is set to hit a historic milestone in its clean energy infrastructure efforts. It promises that by the end of the month, electric vehicle drivers will be able to travel throughout BC along the “Electric Highway.” This means that fast-charging stations for public electric vehicles will be in place along major routes, making travel from Alaska to Washington possible for BC drivers, something which was impossible before due to the risk of EVs losing power mid-trip, also known as “range anxiety.” “The completion of BC’s Electric Highway by summer 2024 fulfils a key commitment of CleanBC, the Province’s climate action plan. In addition, the Province is working toward an overall target of building 10,000 public charging stations by 2030. As of August 2024, there are more than 5,300 public charging stations in the province, an increase of nearly 350% since 2018,” the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation said Friday in a release. BC Government The hope is that more drivers will be encouraged to switch to electric vehicles in the years ahead due to the advancement in reliable travel options to lower greenhouse gas emissions and meet energy targets. “In 2023, approximately 23% of light-duty vehicle sales were EVs, an increase from 18% of sales in 2022, and well ahead of the Province’s targets under the Zero-Emissions Vehicle Act,” the government said. “British Columbians are embracing electric vehicles faster than any other jurisdiction in Canada, and that’s why we are continuing to make investments for growth within our current system and building out our fast-charging network across BC,” Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro, added. Completing BC’s Electric Highway was a collaborative effort involving utilities, local governments, Indigenous communities, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the private sector. The Province has contributed more than $13 million directly to this initiative through the GoElectric Public Charger Program and additional funding through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

bc-ferries-to-add-5-new-vessels-by-2031
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BC Ferries to add 5 new vessels by 2031

ByCharles Brockman

Posted September 16, 2024 3:46 pm. BC Ferries says it’s going ahead with the next steps in procuring five new major vessels needed on its busiest routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. The company says the new vessels will help it to address projected population growth, replace aging vessels, and meet customer expectations. CEO Nicolas Jimenez tells 1130 NewsRadio that the Ferry Commissioner still has to approve the designs, but they’re hoping to get the first of the five new vessels in the water by 2029 — with all of them operating by 2031. “What we would see is essentially a ship deployed about every six months. It takes a bit of time to bring a new ship into service. So it’s not like five show up day 1, and day 2 you take out five or four old ships. You need time to absorb that into your system,” Jimenez explained. For now, the company says, it’s going to work on maintenance to extend the operational life of two current vessels — the Queen of Surrey and the Queen of Oak Bay. The C-class vessels serve routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland, and BC Ferries has said its current fleet is aging. Last week, BC Ferries had to pull its ship, the Queen of New Westminster, out of service for six months after a propeller fell off the vessel into the sea. The company says the new fleet will help meet the record-breaking demand it saw this summer, with over 8,040,000 passengers and over 3,150,000 vehicles transported between June 1 and Aug. 31. “[We’re] one of the few transportation services, I think, in North America that have surpassed our pre-COVID high. So definitely we’re feeling the pressures and we’re going to continue to be there,” said Jimenez. Ed Hooper, the company’s executive director of shipbuilding says the five new ferries will be more environmentally friendly than its older ships. “These new vessels will be quieter and cleaner than the vessels they replace, allowing us to achieve a significant reduction in our corporate greenhouse gas emissions,” said Hooper. BC Ferries says it needs seven new vessels in total, but will look at adding in the remaining two ships later on.

whats-happening-with-the-massey-tunnel-replacement?-this-delta-councillor-wants-to-know
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Whats happening with the Massey Tunnel replacement? This Delta councillor wants to know

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 19, 2024 7:55 am. Commuters heading to the Massey Tunnel can expect another day of gridlock with no word on how the replacement project is going. Delta Coun. Dylan Kruger isn’t happy, as the B.C. government hasn’t provided much of an update on the replacement project. Kruger’s wondering what’s going on. “We should have had a new crossing completed over two years ago … to relieve what is the biggest bottleneck in Metro Vancouver — over 100,000 commuters going through that crossing every day, stuck in traffic,” he told 1130 NewsRadio. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! Instead, Kruger says they’ve been given no information at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention, currently underway in downtown Vancouver. “There’s been no update to timelines or budget since pre covid. We are seeing almost every major multibillion-dollar infrastructure project go over time and over budget right now,” he explained. “I’m very concerned about the ability to deliver this project at the quote of $4.1 billion from a number of years ago, and I’m also increasingly concerned about meeting that 2030 deadline when we still don’t have an improved environmental assessment.” He points to what’s happened with other major projects like the North Shore Waste Water Treatment plant and the new Pattullo Bridge. Both have seen their price explode by billions of dollars, and delays in when the work is supposed to be done. “Building a tunnel is complex. You have to build it in segments on dry land and then plunk massive concrete tubes into the middle of the Fraser River estuary, so we still have an improved environmental assessment on the project and I’m also concerned about short and long-term impacts of one of our best regional parks in Metro Vancouver.” He says if the NDP had stuck with the project the then-BC Liberal government was building, people would already be using the new bridge. Kruger is crossing his fingers that Eby will give civic politicians an update at Thursday’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention.

calls-for-traffic-calming-measures-on-east-vancouver-streets
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Calls for traffic calming measures on East Vancouver streets

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 12, 2024 6:42 am. Last Updated September 12, 2024 6:53 am. Worried for the safety of his toddler, a Vancouver man is voicing his concerns about speeders in his neighbourhood. Wilson Tran lives at Adanac and Skeena streets in the Hastings-Sunrise area of East Vancouver. It’s a 30km/h zone and there’s a park nearby frequented by the Tran’s and their neighbours. “Adanac is not officially a major thoroughfare road, but a lot of rush hour traffic uses it to avoid congestion on Hastings Street and Boundary. So, during the peak rush hour periods, there’s a heavy amount of traffic that goes through,” he explained. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! The intersection has a three-way stop with one pedestrian crossing. “We have to hold ourselves there because a car charges through the stop sign without slowing down or recognizing that we’re there. And just the traffic, in general, is pretty terrible and dangerous, frankly,” Tran said. “At times, I can just look out my front window and I’ll watch as, say, a senior pedestrian will be crossing, and he has to stop because a car literally charges through in front of him.” From his vantage point, Tran says drivers almost never go the posted limit, instead opting to go around 50km/h. “There’s actually a couple of speed bumps as well, but a lot of times I would say 50km/h, minimum 40km/h, definitely not 30 km/h,” he explained. Wilson Tran lives at Adanac and Skeena streets in the Hastings-Sunrise area of East Vancouver. It’s a 30km/h zone and there’s a park nearby frequented by the Tran’s and their neighbours. (CityNews Image / Sonia Aslam) Tran wants increased police enforcement in the area a couple of times a week to help curb the number of speeding drivers. “[I’m] scared for my kid’s life. He’s been such a great change in our lives to have him. He’s our first child and just knowing that drivers are going through and many times not paying attention, either they’re focused on getting to work or home on time or in a rush and they don’t watch,” Tran told 1130 NewsRadio. “He’s my first kid. I, obviously, care a lot for his well-being and obviously our own. It’s a terrible thought that he could get seriously hurt.” He says the number of near-misses in the area are concerning. “I’ve been in so many near-misses that it really is a matter of time until someone gets hurt or worse.” Tran suggests the city put up warning signs in the area to slow down. “The 30km/h sign clearly doesn’t have any effect to something that has flashing lights or something that gets attention would help.” The City of Vancouver tells 1130 NewsRadio it has a plan to improve the area . It says the entire neighbourhood will become a 30km/h vehicle travel zone by no later than next year. “Speed humps on Skeena St. between Turner and E. Pender St. [will be] installed 2024/2025. Raised crossings on Adanac Street integrated into future design between Rupert Street and Boundary Road [will be] installed sometime 2026 onwards,” it shared in an email . The city adds the overall goal is to improve safety for all road users and reduce vehicle speeds. Tran believes having some of the changes not kick in until 2026 is too late. “Of course, their intent is for improvement in the long-term but there’s a long two-year wait before something happens and in two years a lot of bad can happen if they don’t do something about it right now,” he said.

one-of-bc-ferries-busiest-vessels-taken-out-of-service-for-6-months
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One of BC Ferries busiest vessels taken out of service for 6 months

ByEmma Crawford

Posted September 7, 2024 1:24 pm. Last Updated September 7, 2024 1:30 pm. The Queen of New Westminster, one of BC Ferries’ busiest vessels, will be out of service for approximately six months, the company says. The vessel services the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay sailing — BC Ferries’ busiest route. Earlier this week, the company announced the 60-year-old vessel was being pulled due to mechanical vessels after one of its propellers was sheared off, leading to the cancellation of all the ship’s sailings for the rest of the month. “A preliminary visual inspection seems to indicate the fracture of the propeller shaft could be related to structural fatigue,” BC Ferries said. “The required repairs are anticipated to be significant and include work on both the port and starboard propeller systems before the vessel can be returned to service.” The affected parts need to replaced by specially manufactured systems. Return to service will be reliant on “global parts availability and manufacturing timelines.” “This situation highlights the clear need for resiliency in our fleet to meet customer expectations, and it’s why we will be seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to build and add a net new vessel to our major routes,” said BC Ferries president and CEO Nicolas Jimenez. “If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service. It underscores the importance of our fleet renewal strategy to ensure we have the capacity and resilience to manage unexpected issues and vessel repairs.” Recovery of the 10,000-pound propeller, which was found half-submerged in the seabed, took two days. BC Ferries says it is still assessing the impact this will have on its sailing schedule. It says it is looking to see if it can add sailings by using other vessels and adjusting its refitting schedule. With files from Cole Schisler.

how-often-are-buses-and-trains-cleaned-in-vancouver?
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How often are buses and trains cleaned in Vancouver?

ByBeth Rochester

Summer in Vancouver has brought sunshine, lively events, and fireworks to our lovely city. However, the warm weather also brought a sweaty stench to our crowded buses and SkyTrains. The public transit in Vancouver turns into a sauna with the mass of bodies boarding the vehicles, and you can feel pretty gross once you finally arrive at your stop. That got us wondering: how often are buses and trains cleaned in Vancouver? In an email to Daily Hive, TransLink shared that Coast Mountain Bus Company maintenance crews clean each of its buses daily. The daily cleaning schedule includes “sweeping, dusting, mopping, and sanitizing touch points, windows, seating areas, stanchions, and straps.” If you’re worried that this daily cleaning may be just a surface-level cleanse, there’s good news: TransLink also deep cleans each of its buses bimonthly. “Additionally, buses are deep-cleaned approximately every two months; this involves a four to five-hour (depending on the size of the bus) deep cleaning of every bus interior surface,” TransLink said. In addition to the strict cleaning schedules followed by the maintenance crews, TransLink is constantly trying to improve the commuter experience. Most recently, TransLink operators have released new PSAs on SkyTrains to encourage polite transit etiquette. One such PSA urges commuters to take off their backpacks, especially during peak travel hours. In an earlier conversation with Daily Hive, TransLink shared that it launched a new etiquette campaign to improve people’s journeys on its transport system. “This September, TransLink launched our newest etiquette campaign to spread awareness on our system. This year, we are focusing on educating customers about priority seating etiquette and reminding customers with backpacks to remove them while in vehicles. Customers can expect to hear the PSA on the system; there will also be posters and signage on the system, as well as posts on our social channels.”

icbc-taken-to-court-by-driver-who-says-he-was-wrongly-blamed
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ICBC taken to court by driver who says he was wrongly blamed

ByBeth Rochester

Determining who is at fault when a traffic accident happens is part of the usual investigation process for ICBC insurance claims. One incident took things a step further when a driver claimed ICBC had incorrectly found him at fault and decided to escalate the situation in court. Kuldeep Gill filed a claim with the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal against ICBC for a review of ICBC’s liability finding and a refund of $3,190.93 in premiums he paid after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in October 2021. In Gill’s version of events, he was driving westbound on Lougheed Highway when a vehicle hit the side of his truck as he was stopped in heavy traffic. Fortunately, neither his truck nor his empty trailer was damaged. When ICBC conducted its usual investigation protocol for the accident, it found a different account of events. The other driver involved in the accident told the insurance company that Gill had instead merged into the other vehicle’s lane and hit the vehicle. They said that due to the construction, Gill’s lane eventually needed to merge into theirs, but not at the point where the accident happened. ICBC also interviewed an independent party that had witnessed the accident. They said they “were driving behind Mr. Gill in the right lane when Mr. Gill tried to merge into the left lane and hit the other car.” They also told the insurance company that “there was nothing the other vehicle could have done to avoid being hit.” In addition to these statements, ICBC found that the damage was consistent with the account that Gill had turned into the other vehicle. Gill tried to argue his account of events by claiming that the other driver’s side mirror being flipped was evidence that they must have hit him. This argument did not hold up in court. The tribunal decided that Gill failed to prove that ICBC acted “unreasonably or improperly in investigating the accident and assigning fault.” It was also found that the $3,190.03 Gill claimed he paid in insurance premiums was the amount ICBC paid to repair the other vehicle in the accident. As such, the court dismissed Gill’s claims, and ICBC was not ordered to reimburse him.