I'm OFF!

No, I haven't lost it yet (although my exwife will argue that) I mean
I'm leaving. The Miata and I are off to California tomorrow AM to see
my sister. Her birthday is March 17th and she's going to be 18 (again,
she's been 18 several times before!).

The Miata is loaded with

1. Her new (I just built it from all used parts!) computer to replace
the one she seems to have fried along with all the necessary software,
etc.,

2. A bunch of CDs because the twisties on CA-74 from Palm Desert to
Aguanga require that Wagner's Die Walküre be blasting from the speakers
and Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company for the straight stretches,

3. A bottle of SPF 8,000,000 sunblock because I plan on having the top
down,

Oh, yeah, I'm planning on maybe tossing in a change of underwear and
socks also...

Wish me luck, I hope I don't need it but it's 726 miles round trip in a
car with 134,000 miles on it.

I should be back this weekend if all goes well, however, in view of
other threads here I might be back before I leave as the Miata is
WHITE*! BTW, will a black tonneau cover slow it down? ;-)



*Leon said: "(White) is the preferred color everywhere. It looks
better, is easier to maintain, and goes faster because of less photon
drag and improved aerodynamics."

"....because of less photon
drag and improved aerodynamics."

LMAO!! Mine's white. Yipee! Good luck on the trip -- sounds like
fun.

~Anthony

All the best mate, you'll have a blast.



"Anthony" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> "....because of less photon
> drag and improved aerodynamics."
>
> LMAO!! Mine's white. Yipee! Good luck on the trip -- sounds like
> fun.
>
> ~Anthony
>

XS11E > wrote:

>I should be back this weekend if all goes well, however, in view of
>other threads here I might be back before I leave as the Miata is
>WHITE*! BTW, will a black tonneau cover slow it down? ;-)

Not really. It mainly provides additional down force on the rear
wheels. Just like a wing, but without looking like a Mitsubishi.

>*Leon said: "(White) is the preferred color everywhere. It looks
>better, is easier to maintain, and goes faster because of less photon
>drag and improved aerodynamics."

I am glad to see that you are paying careful attention to what
I say. That is important.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

XS11E wrote:
> Wish me luck, I hope I don't need it but it's 726 miles round trip in a
> car with 134,000 miles on it.


You won't need it, my 90b with 255,000 got 36mpg on my 700 mile (one
way) trip from MS to NC last week... Of course, that was mostly on
boring interstates.
-alex-

Let us know how things went.

I'm back, none the worse for wear.

I'd like to write a really exciting report on my trip but I can't
because it was pretty much uneventful and I'm happy it was!

I started late Tuesday, March 15th, because of traffic reports for I-10
West so I didn't set out until around 9am and traffic was clear by
then.

The weather was fine, a bit overcast and fairly cool. I had the top
down, by Indio I was ready to shed my jacket but didn't as I knew it
would get cooler as I climbed up 374 and dropped down the other side of
the pass. The Miata handled the turns as they do.

Thursday, my sister and I visited the San Diego zoo and were able to
park for several hours on I-15 south, later we were able to park for
several more hours on I-15 north. By careful planning we were
fortunate enough to join the morning go to work traffic jam and the
evening go home from work traffic jam. I can't imagine people actually
living in that mess but obviously thousands do and they were all on the
freeway!

Coming home the top was up due to weather worries. It didn't rain but
it threatened all the way. I hit multiple traffic jams on I-10 and had
stop and go traffic for maybe 50 miles or so. Maybe Phoenix isn't any
better now than southern California?

Bad news, I paid as high as $2.44 for gas (in Indio).

More bad news, I have an oil leak, not too bad but it seems to drip on
the exhaust so the car smokes when stopping after high speed running.
I can't see where it is so I'll have to get it looked at Monday. I'm
sure whatever the problem is it will be something very simple and easy
to fix, costing no more than the annual profits of Walmart and
Microsoft combined.... <sigh>

Comfort item, I used instructions from the "cheap tricks" section of
miata.net http://www.miata.net/garage/trix.html to make a lumbar
support, I made it very thin and adjusted it several times as I drove.
I finally removed it and found the seat was more comfortable w/o it.

XS11E > wrote:

>More bad news, I have an oil leak, not too bad but it seems to drip on
>the exhaust so the car smokes when stopping after high speed running.

My 1996 leaks oil at the cam angle sensor between engine and
firewall.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

In article >,
(Leon van Dommelen) wrote:

> My 1996 leaks oil at the cam angle sensor between engine and
> firewall.

Leon, get that fixed soon. If the drip finds the heater hoses, your
problems grow exponentially.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

(Leon van Dommelen) wrote in
:

> XS11E > wrote:
>
>>More bad news, I have an oil leak, not too bad but it seems to
>>drip on the exhaust so the car smokes when stopping after high
>>speed running.
>
> My 1996 leaks oil at the cam angle sensor between engine and
> firewall.

Thanks, I'll check there but I don't know if that could get to the
exhaust?

I did look a little bit today while removing my bug collection from the
front end and it appears I have a power steering leak or maybe an
engine leak AND a power steering leak.

I'm thinking that oil drips from lots of different areas will
accumulate on the plastic underpan in front of the engine and be blown
back onto the exhaust pipe maybe?

I plan on making an attempt to get under the critter tomorrow and we
shall see what we shall see.

Why am I thinking this is going to be very expensive?