May 13 - 11 to 6

That's a short day on the road folks !

Everything takes time.  It seems to take longer to get out of Florida than to get out of the cottage, not counting the tire / alternator / etc issues at Christmas, of course.

Other than the wing-nut hurricane shutters that had already been closed, the others take but a few minutes.  That doesn't count the garage, that takes, oh, 10 minutes to put up the door barriers (for want of a better moniker).  Last minute packing, loading, putting out the garbage (it's great to leave on Monday), saying hello to Harris, turning off the water, gas and hot water heater ... computer ... somehow the time goes by.

I was back from my session with John shortly after 8am but we didn't get away until 11.  That worked out well, however, as we're now in Rock Hill SC about 25 miles south of Charlotte.

Tomorrow ... who knows ... somewhere short of Oakville.

Ah the car.  I'm getting the occasional code still -- post cat O2 sensor, throttle body (I've got to check those hose clamps for tightness).  Otherwise, easy rolling ... knock on wood !!  The O2 sensors are typically replaced around 100,000 miles and I've got 262,000 ... what do you think ?  The post-cat are more difficult to replace as they're under the car.  I'll investigate that and if I can do it and the car is still running (!), I'll tackle that during the summer.

With the change of thermostat and water pump, I've been watching the temperature just out of interest.  The analogue display doesn't show much other than mid-range.  The digital display, on the "secret menu", however, is interesting in that the temperature varies from about 80C to 97C.  97C is the steady-state temp, but when you suddenly let up on the gas or crest a hill, the engine is generating less heat but the rpm is still the same and the coolant temperature drops.  It then gradually climbs back up.

On the M5, because the same thing is available there, the temperature is about 10C lower -- that's because it needs a thermostat.  Low 70's is about as high as it gets, even on a hot day.  That's not the greatest -- I'll deal with that when we're back in Florida.

Onward ...