Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2000 21:04:02 -0700
Reply-To: A & C Grobey <alien1@jps.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: A & C Grobey <alien1@jps.net>
Subject: Re: Clanging my way through Oregon
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SOL.4.05.10008182136230.21604-100000@margay.noc.ucla.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I've lived in Oregon all my life and I HATE the fact that I cannot pump my
own gas. We usually have to wait longer for the pimple-faced kid to get
around to get to us and overfill the tank. My blood begins to boil when I
sit and wait with the realization I could do it faster, better, and pay less
for it. Two days ago this kid tried to put diesel in my tank. He said,
"why doesn't the nozzle fit in your Eurovan?" It's a Vanagon, not a Eurovan
and it isn't a diesel!
I can't explain why it is this way except that it is one of those stupid
historical things that people don't want to change. We also don't have a
sales tax. This kills me too. I work in International marketing and every
time I have guests from overseas spending thousands on electronics (cause it
is cheaper in the US), I keep thinking that it means more money that I have
to pay that I wouldn't be paying if I lived in Washington.
Hey wait a minute... I haven't said anything about my van in this post. Oh
well, I don't need to cause its running like a dream
Alan
Sherwood, OR
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
MOST,DAVID
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 9:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Clanging my way through Oregon
I don't know why this is the case in Oregon and New Jersey, but I really
dislike getting gas in these states. I ALWAYS have to tell them not to
top it off. Otherwise they'll keep adding gas till the next even dollar
amount before which gas spills down the side of the van. When I tell the
attendant not to top it off, I'm often given a funny look as if I'm
suggesting something strange and causing inconvenience.
David
On Fri, 18 Aug 2000, The Blackhams wrote:
> We left two weeks ago for a week long trip to Oregon to see Neo
Traditional
> developments and scenery in Oregon. We left the SLC area Monday AM and
> slipstreamed a series of semi's through a very windy Idaho and ended up
> monday night at a forrest rest stop east of Prinville. Got up Tuesday Am
> and drove up 26 on our way to Portland. Pretty drive. Stopped in Sandy,
> Oregon for some gas and while I started it up I heard some loud clanging.
> Pulled it over and looked under the lid. I noticed that both fastening
> nuts on the AC compressor are gone. Great!. Where am I going to find
these.
> Pulled my head out of the engine compartment and looked around. Luckily
> right across the street is a Napa Auto parts. So off I go to Napa and
> purchase the two lost bolts. Start it up again and it still is clanging.
> OK back to the engine compartment. In inspecting the rear of the engine
in
> search of the noise I see that one exhaust manifold stud is missing. Off
> to Napa. After burning my hand, I secured the exhaust manifold. Start it
> up and still clanging. Further examination, I note that the Cat converter
> and muffler are also missing bolts. I must have been raining nuts and
> bolts all the way to Oregon. Fixed these, but it is still clanging. I
> stick my ear deep into the engine cavity. The noice is coming from the
CAT.
> I have heard of this before but this is the first time it has happened to
> me. Evidently a piece of the CAT broke loose and is ringing the CAT like
a
> bell. It only does this at Idle, so I am pretty sure it is a broken piece
> of the inside of the cat which is held in place strongly by the exhaust
> during open throttle so it doesn't clang then. Oh. this is fun. At
every
> stop light, everyone looks around to see who's ringing their bell. We'll
we
> just rolled up the windows and turned up the AC and tried to look like we
> didn't notice all the attention for the rest of the trip.
>
> I have one question though of my Oregon compatriots. Your gas station
laws
> seem to me to be rather odd. I love your state and you are very freindly
> people but I have to ask why you put up with this. You can't pump your
own
> gas at a service station in Oregon. They have what looks to me to be self
> service convenience stores, but an attendant (usually a pimply faced
> teenager) has to pump the gas. For this service they extract what appears
> to me to be an exorbadant 20-30 cents per gallon over prices in adjoining
> states and they don't even do the windscreen. In my teen age years I too
> pumped gas for a living (Hamburgers, malts and Beattle records), but that
> was 40 years ago and the world has changed, good or bad. What gives
> Oregonians?
>
> Have fun
>
> Steve Blackham
> Centerville, Utah
> 77 Bus converted to camper (westy top)
> 87 Weekender (the clanger)
>
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