Idle Talk Radio with Ashley and Tom – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we talk about the effects of ethanol in gasoline and what the octane actually means.

Here are some of the bullet points from the show:

• Ashley talks about like being "that dad" cleaning the windshield of her car along the street while waiting on the kid to get done with practice
• The topic of discussion was octane levels and ethanol in fuel. 
• Gasoline's resistance to burn is measured by its octane rating. Higher octane allows for more advanced engine timing and more power. Most vehicles require 87 octane regular gasoline. 
• Octane rating is derived from the average of the Motor Octane Rating and Research Octane Rating. It indicates the pressure at which fuel will spontaneously ignite. 
• Unintended spontaneous combustion causes uneven engine pressure, damage, and knocking. Newer direct-injected vehicles had issues with hot oil igniting injected fuel, damaging engines. 
• Using higher octane gasoline than required provides no benefit. Using lower octane can reduce fuel economy and cause engine knocking. 
• Ethanol was added to fuel to make the U.S. more energy independent, though its viability is debated. 
• Fuel contains a maximum of 10% ethanol currently to accommodate older vehicles, though newer vehicles can handle up to 15% ethanol.  
• "Flex fuel" vehicles can handle up to 85% ethanol. Their engines are specially designed to adjust for ethanol's lower energy density.
• E85 fuel is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Though its octane rating is around 105, it provides less energy so more fuel is needed to travel the same distance.  
• Using fuel with higher ethanol levels than a vehicle was designed for can damage components and trigger the check engine light. 
• Ethanol is added to gasoline in percentages to accommodate older vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles can use higher ethanol blends.
• We discussed weird automotive myths like: cars should be disposed of after 100,000 miles, Old cars were better, and old cars lasted longer

If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website

King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook

King’s Auto Repair on YouTube:  Kings Auto Repair YouTube

King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram

King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok

King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn

King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest

Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast live 10-18-2023

We had a great conversation about Pennsylvania Emissions testing on the radio show. It was so good I decided to cut it out of the show for its own podcast and write a blog post. Pennsylvania Emissions Waivers are difficult to navigate. Your car needs to fail emissions inspection 2 times and you need to have spent $150 towards fixing the emissions failure issue. Listen to the podcast to find out more and check out the blog post over on our website about Waivers.

If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website

King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook

King’s Auto Repair on YouTube:  Kings Auto Repair YouTube

King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram

King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok

King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn

King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest

Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening.

Well since I have been lazy by not putting up our shows in a timely manner. I thought I would do them as Flashback shows.

During this show Ashley and I talk about March snowstorms. They seem to come out of nowhere and dump a lot of snow just as the weather starts to warm up. Then we talk about a rare care that you might see on the road and wonder what it is; the Fisker Karma. It is an electric car with a range extender generator in it. It can go 80 miles on a charge and up to 360 using the range extender. They have since changed their name to just Karma.

We discuss a cool new feature that India is using in their traffic lights, microphones. The idea is the more honking that happens at a red light the longer they are going to make you sit and wait. Then David calls in to ask about electric parking brakes. This unpacks why vehicle manufactures a moving to having electric park brakes on cars.

Brian calls in to talk about his Chevy Trailblazer he just bought with a water leak.

Autonomous driving has been making its way into our life. Tom talks about the different systems and how they work. We also take a guess at how long it will be until full autonomous cars are a mainstay here in America.

We wrap up the show by talking about the top15 cars that will go more than 200,000 miles. News flash, the list lacks any Nissan product on it. One place you will find a Nissan is at an SCCA Rally Cross event which is were we spent our weekend watching off road racing.

Links to our Website and Social Media

If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website

King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook

King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram

King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok

King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn

King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest

Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com

Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast live 03/10/2022

On this week's show we talk about shooting video for social media. We found a company that is doing Lithium battery recycling. A call comes in from Garth about leaking head gaskets on his 2003 Ford F150. Then we move to discussing the mini pickup trucks and how the ones from the 70s were like being in a Sardine can. The new ones are much nicer and get great fuel mileage. As always the electric cars come up as Ashley talks about Consumer reports take on Lucid and Rivian. We also talk about giving your car a name. Tom wraps up the show by talking about an odd lawsuit in Arizona. The lawsuit is against Jeep for not making an optional safety feature standard. The outcome of this lawsuit will have far reaching parameters in the auto repair industry. It may end up requiring autonomous driving features to be standard on vehicles and a yearly certification that those systems are calibrated and working properly.

If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website

King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook

King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram

King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikToc

King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn

King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast live 03/10/2022

On tonight's show we start off talking about engine oil and specifications. We take a phone call about how speed limit information that pops up on instrument clusters. Then we talk about one of the most hated things on cars in Pennsylvania, lightbars. We also answer questions about a transmission and a mechanic that would scrape a sticker off the back window every year at inspection time.

If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: https://kingsautorepairinc.com/blog/  King's Auto Repair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsAutoRepairInc King's Auto Repair on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kings_auto_repair/  King's Auto Repair on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kingsautorepairinc  King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kings-auto-repair-inc  King's Auto Repair on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kingsauto732

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 02/03/2022

On tonight's show Ashley and I talk power steering and how it works.  We also talk about the the new way manufactures are designing power steering systems by making them electric. Ashley and I also joke around about turn signal and license plate fluid. We also unpack our once a week phone call where someone says " I need an alignment because my car shakes at highway speeds"

Check out a video about how a steering rack works here.

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 10/21/2021

On this episode of Idle Talk Radio I have a substitute co-host with me in the studio. Ashley ran off to Montana for the week and let me in charge of everything. So I enlisted the help of our lead Mechanic Dan. Dan is our ASE Master Mechanic. He worked for 10 years at a Honda dealership before he came to work here at the shop. It was his first time on the radio and he was a little nervous. 

We talk about the Magnesium shortage that is effecting aluminum production and the scarcity of replacement auto parts. Pennsylvania is also flirting with changing the emissions program and we unpack it a little. We get a call about shaking issues in a 2006 Honda CRV, recalibrating a compass in a instrument cluster or mirror, and the extreme loads charging systems have on the battery and alternator.

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 10/28/2021

On tonight's Idle Talk we discuss maintenance and spark plugs. Tom talks about spark plug gimmicks and why the don't work. We ask 2 questions: "When you see 2 or more Toyota Prius together, what is the plural of Prius?" and "How do get Subaru Badges for the back of your Subaru?". If anyone has the correct answer we would love to know.

We also talk about Catalytic Converter theft and how to make yours a little less appealing to thieves. I also stumbled over an article about thefts of Hyundai and KIA vehicles. If you have one of these cars it may be wise to install an aftermarket alarm that can disable the car independently of the factory equipment.

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 11/04/2021

On this episode Ashley and Tom discuss the right to repair laws and how the effect your life every day. For years independent car repair shops have fought with manufactures to gain access to information to repair cars. Now the Right to Repair laws that the independent car repair shops fought for are being used to investigate everything from cell phones to McDonald's Ice Cream Machines.

George call up to talk a little about oil, washer fluid, and cleaning your windshield. Tom dispenses some info on making your wiper blades last longer. We also talk about the Pennsylvania 511 system, app, and website.

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 10/14/2021

On tonight’s Idle Talk Radio show Ashley gives us a history lesson on rubber. George calls to talk about hydroplaning and tire care. Sam calls in with a few questions about tires which we never thought of and our radio grandmother Ardel calls in to ask a few questions about a friend that is moving to Pennsylvania. Take a listen and learn and laugh with us.

If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.

This show was originally broadcast 9/23/2021