Jay Bazuzi

1,240 reputation

415

bio	website	jbazuzi.blogspot.com
	location	Port Townsend, WA
	age	38
visits	member for	2 years, 2 months
	seen	Apr 30 at 19:23
stats	profile views	9

Former member of C# team at Microsoft. Now a stay-at-home dad and DIY homesteader.

	1,240 reputation	bio	website	jbazuzi.blogspot.com	visits	member for	2 years, 2 months
415 badges		location	Port Townsend, WA		seen	Apr 30 at 19:23

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28 Comments

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Feb 19	comment	Why no alternate (hand-cranked, spring-loaded) starter for a car? My old motorcycle (1978 Honda CB400T2) had kick start, electric start, and could be push-started at walking speed. I kept riding for weeks after my battery died - no big deal.
Jan 1	comment	Stubborn oil drain plug caused by hot oil? Adjustable wrenches put all the torque on 2 points. Socket and box wrenches put it on 6 points. They also fit better, putting the force on the ends of the flats instead of the points. Some 6 sided wrenches even have curved faces, putting the force in the middle of the flats.
Feb 15	comment	What precautions are needed when charging a car battery in an apartment? Why? Is the battery dead and he wants to charge it 1 time? Or does he leave his car idle for months at a time and he wants to keep the battery topped off?
Sep 20	comment	How do I know when to change my spark plug Post a pic of your spark plug and we can help you diagnose the cause.
Sep 16	comment	What are the tradeoffs for positive vs. negative ground? I'm not convinced. Even if you touch 2 vehicles with different grounds, you won't complete a circuit, as the non-ground side of the battery is isolated. Right?
Sep 15	comment	Are there any advantages of idling a vehicle vs. turning it off and back on again? Diesel engines are very efficient at idle.
Apr 21	comment	How to convert a gasoline powered vehicle to all electric. It's normal for 30-50mph to take longer, as there's more wind resistance. Is this surprising?
Apr 21	comment	How to convert a gasoline powered vehicle to all electric. @rajah9: I don't know what units you're using in "0-30" but regardless, there is no universal correlation between battery technology and vehicle speed. There are many other factors involved that make such a statement hopeless.
Apr 14	comment	How to convert a gasoline powered vehicle to all electric. @rajah9: I'm thinking of the Prius, where a replacement battery pack is $2200 - $2600 (goo.gl/bKMij). Deep cycle SLA is great for stationary applications (off-grid house) and are easier to charge and maintain. Lithium and NiMH batteries are a fraction of the size and weight at a multiple of the cost, which makes sense when you they have to carry themselves and the chassis weight is low. LiFePO4 is usually the right choice on a bicycle.
Mar 19	comment	Oil change checklist A service manual (Clymer, Hanes, or perhaps the manufacturer's) will give you instructions for regular maintenance. Also, this question sets the tone for a non-professional site.
Mar 16	comment	The headlights dim to almost off when I turn off the engine. How do I test the battery? The exact thing you want them to tell you is the CCA of the battery. Not just "good/bad".
Mar 15	comment	Pros/cons of higher capacity car battery? @PterisCaune: It's non-trivial. Make a new question <grin>
Mar 13	comment	How to diagnose a starter motor that does not work @JeremyP: Holding a 12.7V charge doesn't tell you anything. It may only be able to provide that at very low loads. Hence, the CCA test.
Mar 12	comment	Reviving a vehicle that has been idle for a long time. @Iszi: Sea Foam in the tank won't do much to help the engine start. If gum is causing it to run roughly, Sea Foam can clear out the gum. If it's too gummed to start, you'll need to do something more drastic - overhaul the carburetor, for example.
Mar 12	comment	How to diagnose a starter motor that does not work @JeremyP: Please charge the battery to full with a smart charger, let it rest for 24 hours, and then have it tested. It's hard to draw conclusions about anything else if your battery is bad.
Mar 12	comment	Things to consider when building a stroker small block Chevrolet I worry that this question is too broad to produce a good answer.
Mar 12	comment	What differences between synthetic and dino oil? We need to be careful not to invite a religious debate here. C# vs. Java? Mac vs. Windows? Etc. This is also far from the type of question an expert might ask.
Mar 12	comment	Starting a car that has been sitting for about a year @Patrick: Yes, but this one is specific and not hypothetical.
Mar 12	comment	Reviving a vehicle that has been idle for a long time. Thinking about the guidance to ask questions for problems you're really facing, please tell us how long the vehicle has been stored, the climate, whether it was under a roof, and what steps were taken to put it away properly.
Mar 12	comment	Starting a car that has been sitting for about a year It's easier to change the oil in a warm engine, because the oil flows more easily. So maybe move #3, and instead just "check that there is enough oil", in case there was a leak.