Say Roy, will that work if I drive my 240D over to your house? :D

Just kidding, I know better lol.

My previous job for 12 years was at a Freightliner truck manufacturing plant building Class 8 semi's. I learned quickly to keep an air compressor, a can of fix-a-flat, and a tire plug kit in whatever vehicle I was driving to and from work. A lot of the workers, particularly those involved in installing cab interiors, would often forget and walk out to the parking lot at the end of shift with upholestry or sheet metal screws still in their pockets - and of course some of them, without any regard for their coworkers, would just throw these screws down on the pavement before getting into their own vehicles. One parking lot in particular was very bad - I had 4 flats in as many months, and learned the hard way to avoid that lot altogether.

My shift ended at 12:30 AM, and oft times I was still in that parking lot at close to 2 AM helping some other poor soul reinflate a tire or change out a spare because they'd had the misfortune to run over one of those screws

One thing that struck me as amazing was how many of them, considering that their job was building trucks - and which hopefully included installing the wheels onto the truck and making sure they were torqued on and properly inflated before rolling it off the line - had absolutely no clue as how to change a tire on their own vehicle - a couple couldn't even figure how to get the hubcab off - and in 95% of these cases the "Y' factor was not involved.

Only one time that I helped someone change a flat tire at that plant, that it didn't involve running over a screw. A young gent who was either remarkably in debt, remarkably cheap, or remarkably stupid had picked up a set of "used" tires a few days before. Calling these tires used would be like calling the Grand Canyon a ditch - both an obvious understatement. Looked more like he'd fished them out of the dumpster behind a garage or pulled them out of a junkyard. All of them bald as Yul Brenner, one even showing cord at the edges. Not surprisingly, one of them had blown out a 4 inch gash in the sidewall just as he pulled into the parking space earlier that day.

After showing him how to rig up and operate the jack (yes, he was one of the 95% I mentioned), he fished the temporary spare out of the trunk. Thankfully it was in like-new condition, as if it had never been used - and once he handed it to me it was also obvious it had never been inflated.

Once we had the spare inflated and installed, all said and done, the young man thanked me for my help. He then commented that it looked like he'd have to break down and buy some good tires after all, and that instead of trying to drive the 30 miles home on the remaining tires, he was going to park the vehicle at a service station just down the road from the plant, where he could obtain new tires in the morning, and call one of his relatives to come give him a ride home. I almost had to bite my tongue to keep from commenting that this was the first sign of intelligence he'd displayed the entire time.

I could well imagine the exchange between this young gent and said relative that ended up getting that 2 AM phone call, once said relative learned the full story behind this zero-dark-thirty rescue mission.

I was walking down Chambers street in NYC, near the west side and I see a middle aged man struggling with a wheel. He had jacked up the car and removed the lugs but couldn't pop the wheel off. It was in the middle of a summer day and hot as hell, and he was sweating and anxious and visibly ticked off. I decided I could give him some tips I had recently learned on how remove stubborn wheels, so as I walked up to him I said something to the effect of "Hi, so do you have a flat?" He barked back to me "WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?!" while barely glancing at me. I quickly decided that he had the wrong attitude and I kept walking.

Was that wrong?

most of us with a few gray hairs have a story or 2. When I was about 28, over 25 years ago. I had a jeep, Great toy! One afternoon I was up a track, very wet, and many deep holes. The local young new police man drove past down a side road & decided to come & investigate. First decent puddle up the track & he was stuck good & proper. I decided to go back & say hi. I opened the window, asked how he was & asked if he wanted a hand. He was so grateful. After I pulled him out, he explained that it was the first time the Sargent had let him go out by himself & if he found out he would be in all sorts of trouble. Even though the Sargent was a member of the same Rotary club as me, I never put the young cop in. I figured that one day he might stop me for something.

I laugh at what I posted 5 years ago.

I'm now 34, happily married and have 2 children.

I still try to keep my eye out for people that need help with their cars, but its tougher if you have 2 little guys in the back seat. I will risk getting beat and robbed by someone pretending to have car trouble, but I will not 'endanger' my children in that way. Maybe this is the closed-minded thinking that created the "screw everyone else' mentality that a lot of people have.

-John

This kind of reminds me of the comedian Jeff Foxworthy when he goes off on the stupidity in the world............"Where's your sign?"

"A guy drives into a gas station and the operator walks up to him and says 'Tire go flat?'

"Nope.........I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the other three blew up on me."

"Where's your sign?"



No offense to you, but at that moment, being the master of the obvious might have not been the best approach...........especially to a New Yorker.

You bet it does; nice work! I try to stop when I can, and when I am fairly certain it's safe to do so. If my wife is with me and there's any question concerning her safety, I'll drive on and call the police to report a "motorist in distress."

I like to try to "pay it forward" for all the times kind folks have lent me a hand when times were tough. What a relief it is to be the recipient of a kind, selfless act. The beautiful part is that it feels even better to be the person providing the kind, selfless act!

Know what you mean concerning the safety aspect under questionable circumstances - in these days of cell phones, sometimes the best option is to drive a ways down the road until you can safely pull over and call the authorities.

And notice I said "pull over and call" - I don't use a cell phone when the vehicle is in motion, even if it has a hands-free setup. The greeting on my voicemail in part says "If I didn't answer, I'm either asleep, at work, eating, or driving - leave a message and I'll get back to you".

Why is it I never seem to find the pretty damsel in distress whever I manage to help someone?

Last time I had to give a jump to somone, it was to a couple of guys in an old diesel Ford. They'd run out of fuel pulling into the filling station and couldn't get it started by jumping from a gasser. Sure looked funny.. a little old 300D trhat didn't even come up to its hood obviously giving the much larger truck a jump. I don't think they thought my little old 300D could do that :)

Time before that it was a small diesel school bus with matronly teacher and a bunch of High school students that got stuck in the light rail parking lot with a dead battery. Jumpped with the gasser SUV.

Guess I'll keep trying, law of averages and all :)

Ha! Don't think that didn't occur to me, I made it quite obvious in my description. But I still think he had the wrong attitude. I wasn't going to just jump in and offer up my advice and services like a sucker or a know it all, I just needed a friendly opener to test the waters. Now if he had said something clever like "the other three blew up on me" it would be a different story.:)

No question he had the wrong attitude and there is only one person to blame for his lack of getting the assistance that he needed.

I'm from NY and I would have walked, as well. Nobody likes an AH.

Good Sam rides again
 

Just got back from Lowe's®.

Stopped at a gas station to get a soda.
As I was walking out a 300TDT W124.193 struggled up to the gasoline pump and died.

The young couple (guessing 19-21 year old) had an 8 month old in the back seat.

(Daddy) Jumps out rushing to the pump.
(Good Sam) I asked if he was planning to put gasoline in his diesel vehicle.
(Daddy) Stressed out NO, looks at the pump, and franticly scanned the others for diesel.
(Good Sam) I explain the nearest diesel station is half mile away.
(Daddy) Crumples against the car moaning they are totally out of fuel.
(Good Sam) I point out the four new gallon jugs of engine oil in the rear of their car.
(Daddy) Stressed out answers that is engine oil.
(Good Sam) I quickly explain alternative emergency fuel options.
(Daddy) Shocked, is about to get it out to dump in the fuel tank.
(Good Sam) I stopped him; pointing to my 300SD. Offered him my NEW fresh filled five gallon diesel can.

(Mommy) Stressed out, climbs out of the car to find out what is going on/taking so long.
(Daddy) Relaxed now, explains quick.
(Mommy) Thanks me, and climbs in the back with baby.

(Good Sam) I got the fuel from my trunk.
(Daddy) Started pouring it in the tank.
(gas station owner) Comes out screaming, obnoxious, threatening.
(Good Sam) I distract him, try to explain the situation and he goes away cursing.
Moments later police arrive.
(Good Sam) I tell (Daddy) stop filling, put the can in his car FREE, and get the heck out of there NOW, while I distract the gas station owner - police.

(Good Sam) Walk into the gas station behind the officer, get a coffee.
(Good Sam) I notice the 300TDT driving away.

(gas station owner) Is ranting at the officer as I step up to pay for the coffee.

(Police Officer) Asks me what is going on???
(Good Sam) I explain my random act of kindness - gift.
(Police Officer) Stunned...
(gas station owner) Stunned...

(Police Officer) Looking at the (gas station owner) there is NO crime in that.
(gas station owner) I am terribly sorry, the coffee is free and have a good day.

Both shook my hand on the way out. :D

I have no idea who the young couple where. :)
I never told them my name. :)
The cost of the fuel + can did not hurt me. :)
It was absolutely worth the priceless joy of giving. :D

The Bonus reaction of gas station owner and Police Officer will give me random chuckles for months. :D

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You stopped for a soda and got coffee instead? That's what you get for not minding your own business :)

Sixto
87 300D

Chuckle
 

I was not clear. :)
I was walking out with a small 6 ounce fountain soda when they pulled in.
Drank it down in four gulps, trashed the cup.
The coffee was only an excuse to go back in - distract them. :D

Their expressions where totally priceless. :D:D ROFLMAO..

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A pat on the back for Roy!

What did the station owner think was going on, that made him go ballistic and call the cops?

Could have been any number of things:
Non-compliant fuel can
Impersonating a AAA rep
Failure to register as a 501(c)3 charity
And who knows how many DOT, EPA and OSHA regulations might have been violated.

Just be thankful that the government was there to keep everyone safe!!!

Ha! I had an Accord for a short while long ago. Its one of those cars I often forget to list when naming off my former cars. It had 235k on it. Manual, my first. Was heading out of town on a winter day and the car started to slow down. Mile by mile on the highway it got a little slower. Then I realized I had my foot full down while going up a slight grade and I was still slowing! I took the first exit with station. On a whim I put some oil in and everything was fine again! I was OUT of oil and the dang thing just kept on going. After that I checked the oil often. No clue where it was going. Coolant looked okay, never dripped and exhaust was clean. But when driving it must have been pouring out somewhere.

whunter, you sure have a lot of MBs in Detroit. That surprises me considering all the American steel there. Across the pond here I rarely see any older model. There is one 560 SEL in white (which I LOVE) and a 420 SEL. And a couple other little 190s running around. I think one diesel. I figured after getting one I would see them all the time. Nope.

My wife still cannot understand why I don't just let my 17 year old son drive 'the old car'. What can it hurt? She can't understand why I would let him drive the new benz but not the old one. :rolleyes:

I went looking for a car for him and found my primo 240D that is absolutely mint. Had to tell him, 'sorry, it's way too nice to let you drive it.' :eek:

So we got him a 96 Camry and the first week in the school parking lot it got keyed. He doesn't wash it for weeks, never vacuums it out, can't see thru the windows, and there is usually trash in it. All I get is the deer-in-the-headlights look.

Hmmm...somehow I think the old man must be onto something. You think???

:D

It's the 17 year old that is onto something.

Expletive, I should arrest you
 

I stopped at one of my local fuel stations (top of exit ramp I75 south and Nine mile rd).

Went in for Orange juice, walked out to horns, siren, and screaming curses.
It was a W123 300D, being (human) pushed up the ramp.
The cars behind (including police) apparently thought horns would speed the pushing. :confused:

I and a couple other fuel station customers ran out to help push.
The helpful officer pulled up behind, as we cleared lanes for through traffic, and followed into the fuel station.

Vehicle owner gets it in park, just in time to be confronted by the officer about obstructing traffic, etc, etc.

I am talking to the Vehicle owners son, getting diagnostic details.
They filled up slightly more than a mile north, suddenly lost power and died on the exit ramp.

Ignoring the LOUD argument / confrontation, I grabbed my tool bag, spare filters, and a gallon of 2-stroke oil.

The vehicle owners son opened the hood, I replaced the filters (filled secondary with 2-stroke oil) and dumped over a quart in the fuel tank.

The vehicle owners son started the car while I worked the throttle under the hood.

The officer abruptly is in my face for (theoretically) interfering with the police ?? :confused:

The engine is smoothing out, so I closed the hood. :)

The officer is obviously ticked off / venting, so I let him run down.

The vehicle owner steps up to ask what he owes for the repair ?

I traded his old filters for my collection, gave him the remainder of the gallon of 2-stroke oil, and gave him my technical lecture about bad quality diesel. :D

The W123 300D drove away :D happy, while I talked with the officer.

The officer asked (with a straight face) are you Santa Claus ? :)

I briefly explained my expertise and extreme love for these vehicles.

The officer freaked when I mentioned the forum and my ID, apparently he has been a lurker for years, using many of my DIY's.

The officer is coming by next week, for OM617 vacuum pump rebuild advice + drop off more nasty used fuel filters for my collection. :D

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Nice one Roy - one step at a time you'll make it a better place.

Great story!

What was the purpose of the two stroke oil?

Maybe you are and helping good strangers is what you do between Christmas's :D

To replace the diesel roy siphoned into several gas cans while they were arguing. :D one way or another, bills gotta be paid

heh... I got a million of these stories... some of them even true...

Answer
 

To boost the cetane of the BAD quality fuel = get the vehicle running again.

The engine shutdown due to critically low cetane, guessing below 13.

As soon as the 2-cycle oil entered the injectors, you could hear the engine smooth out and pick up.

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