Things that make you check your gauges

I like to think I am fairly cognizant of the id10t gauges while driving but once in a while you see something that makes you double check.

While commuting home the other day I noticed a very clean black 318i ahead with something very obvious (to me) A waterfall of fluid pouring out of the bottom of the car. The driver totally ignorant of the pending hit to the wallet. Unfortunately traffic did not allow me to get close enough to alert her, not that I had any idea on how to without looking like a creeper.

I did look at my temp gauge just to be sure.

Whenever I smell burning or coolant, I check my temp gauge. If my car feels off, I check my boost gauge. I'm sorta OCD like that sometimes. If I hear a noise, I look at my dash to see if I have a check engine light.... the list goes on.

When ever I hit the main straight... tug the straps, check the gauges, wiggle the fingers.

Burnt oil or coolant smells give me flashbacks to being a teenager. Even if I am driving my wife's late model Honda, I assume the car I am driving is about to self destruct.

A few years ago, I noticed that I had a pegged gauge. "Oh no!" I thought. On second glance, I realized that I was looking at the fuel gauge.

HA^

Ever since owning a Range rover, I swear I have an OCD relating to staring at the temp gauge of any vehicle I drive.

In hot weather and thick traffic, I try to drive in the outside lane, 'case I need to get off the road in a hurry.

I also drive past a brick factory that always smells of burnt oil. That usually has me slightly nervous until I remember where I am.

I suppose I could just drive a "nice" car like regular folks, but where's the fun in that?

When I see the reds and the blues I check the speed gauge..

A co-worker gave me his '66 Impala wagon to drive for a few weeks back in the mid '70s. That car had about 100K miles on it and still drove "whisper quiet". Took it to get some gas about a week or two into my "loan" when the guy at the next pump over told me I was leaking water/coolant like nobody's business. Absolutely no dashboard indications that the water pump or it's gasket was leaking HEAVILY.

A few years ago, I stopped behind a guy with an Escort GT who, as it happened lived in my apartment complex. When the light turned green, his engine made that nasty squeal that a slipping belt makes, only it continued on making it when a "normally" squeaking belt would have stopped. When we got to the apartment complex I was able to ask him if he had had his timing belt changed yet. (The squealing sound sounded like a water pump going bad.) He said no. So I reminded him that with his car having an OHC engine, if that water pump went out and the belt snapped...he'd have a VERY expensive repair bill. I have since found out Escorts may not have an interference design...but this guy had a loud indication he was going to need a mechanic, soon, and just put it off.

BBsGarage wrote: While commuting home the other day I noticed a very clean black 318i ahead with something very obvious (to me) A waterfall of fluid pouring out of the bottom of the car. The driver totally ignorant of the pending hit to the wallet. Unfortunately traffic did not allow me to get close enough to alert her, not that I had any idea on how to without looking like a creeper.

one day during my commute home, a tahoe pulled out of a service garage in front of me, and we both got onto the freeway. When the guy floored it in order to merge in front of a big rig, the thing began to spew dino sludge all over everyone behind him. Its not fun trying to wash motor oil off your car in February in Ohio.

Another incident was with my 95 corolla. The radiator sustained a fatal blow when it was run thru by a piece of gravel ejected by a squid on a "gixer". I didnt realize there was an actual problem until my car began to stall at stop signs even with the car out of gear. No lights, temp stayed where it belonged...no indicators on the dash. I made it to a gas station in limp mode, and popped the hood, to find the now liberated coolant decorating most of my engine bay. The Water pump, running dry, encountered enough friction to stall the motor via the accessory belt. 2 gallons of water from a hose and a tube of alumaseal and I got her back home. No damage to the water pump at all...ran strong for about 4 more years, and as far as I know, is still going strong. But not a single scent, noise, or signal from the gauges.

BBsGarage wrote: I like to think I am fairly cognizant of the id10t gauges while driving but once in a while you see something that makes you double check. While commuting home the other day I noticed a very clean black 318i ahead with something very obvious (to me) A waterfall of fluid pouring out of the bottom of the car. The driver totally ignorant of the pending hit to the wallet. Unfortunately traffic did not allow me to get close enough to alert her, not that I had any idea on how to without looking like a creeper. I did look at my temp gauge just to be sure.

Probably the notorious E36 plastic radiators. Had that happen to me, and didn't pull over until the high temperature warning light came on - but the engine was fine after I got a new radiator in.

i had just bought my miata. sitting in traffic, I smelled coolant and bad. i thought oh E36 M3 i just bought this car and now theres something wrong with it.

turns out it was someone elses car. i learned you smell a lot of things in a convertible.

With fuel prices I'm constantly checking the fuel Gauge.

But seriously I check the oil pressure gauge constantly, I'm paranoid about loosing oil pressure.

And temp gauge. I keep a close eye on that.

Burnt oil and coolant. Is it the piece of E36 M3 in front of me? Or is my piece of E36 M3 now royally berkeleyed, too?

failboat wrote: turns out it was someone elses car. i learned you smell a lot of things in a convertible.

When driving the Miata I can smell burning weed quite often on the Interstate when the nearest car is 1/4 mile ahead.

I check all fluids daily. Always check for leaks before day starts and at the end.

Everyone thinks I'm paranoid...I think so too...I would do the same if I had a new car...I try to on my wife's late model car but she won't let me.

Loud noises.

David S. Wallens wrote: A few years ago, I noticed that I had a pegged gauge. "Oh no!" I thought. On second glance, I realized that I was looking at the fuel gauge.

On my Miata and my wife's Focus, the temp and fuel gauges are opposite. More than once I have have a moment of terror when I just catch a pinned needle out of the corner of my eye.

You are not alone...

funny.. when the waterpump on my 318ti was dying.. I was trying to get to the nearest foreign car place (the only place with one in stock) and it siezed and shredded the belt about a mile away. Thankfully it was a 50mph road and just as I pulled into the lot, the temp guage was beginning to climb.

They do work on BMWs.. just that most people never look

pilotbraden wrote:

failboat wrote: turns out it was someone elses car. i learned you smell a lot of things in a convertible.

When driving the Miata I can smell burning weed quite often on the Interstate when the nearest car is 1/4 mile ahead.

Doesn't matter what I'm driving in North StL. I can tell the quality of what their smoking 1/4 mile ahead.

My OPS failed and was leaking bad. I was sailing down the highway and would occasionally get a whiff of oil but thought nothing of it. I got home and discovered the leak and that I was down to 3 quarts. Two of them are normally in the accusump. Forchanitly I had the accusump valve open. so it was keeping op on the bearings. There was no indication on any of the gadgets that there was an issue.

The back of my car was coated in 20-50. I must have been misting oil down the highway for about 15 miles. I bet there are alot of really PO'ed drivers out there.

MadScientistMatt wrote:

BBsGarage wrote: I like to think I am fairly cognizant of the id10t gauges while driving but once in a while you see something that makes you double check. While commuting home the other day I noticed a very clean black 318i ahead with something very obvious (to me) A waterfall of fluid pouring out of the bottom of the car. The driver totally ignorant of the pending hit to the wallet. Unfortunately traffic did not allow me to get close enough to alert her, not that I had any idea on how to without looking like a creeper. I did look at my temp gauge just to be sure.

Probably the notorious E36 plastic radiators. Had that happen to me, and didn't pull over until the high temperature warning light came on - but the engine was fine after I got a new radiator in.

On a 318? Nah, probably the plastic coolant fittings on the block and cylinder head. My ti had a HG done and a motor put in previous to me purchasing it due to coolant issues.... and only had 108K...LOL.

not that the kia actually has that many gauges, but I can honestly say I check them all constantly.
I wish I had more gauges though. all I have is a speedo, fuel, and tach. no temp gauge no oil pressure gauge, pretty lame..

Strange smells, sounds or vibrations warrant a scan of the gauges.