Lubricated ants?

Pete · 03-11-2007, 05:06 PM

Took my car in for an oil change today. Same old, same old. The usual jokes to keep them alert - "How can I help you?" I'm thinking, since this is an oil change shop, what do you think I want? But instead I said, "Double burger with cheese." Then I asked if they could replace the air in my tires, since that was getting old.

Well, they did the usual check the fluids, change the oil and filter. Then they guy under the hood says, "Hey, did you know you have a colony of ants in here?" Well, I have seen a few ants in the car, on and off, over the last year. But a colony? Yep, they were living in the vent intake, where wet leaves and stuff accumulate. So they got a lubrication with WD-40! And there was no charge for that!

FisherJack · 03-11-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

. . ." Then I asked if they could replace the air in my tires, since that was getting old. . . .

elklaker · 03-11-2007, 05:54 PM

So what kind of car are ants attracted to??? SUV's, Luxury models?Or is economy the big attractor.

Chrome Bumper · 03-11-2007, 06:19 PM

All the sand shrimp that fell down the defroster vent probably attracted them.

anglingaddict · 03-11-2007, 07:18 PM

Hhhhhmmmmm.... I was thinking that they might blow the ants out with the stale, old air in the tires before they put the "new" air in!

That's just crazy though, those ants living in there for who knows how long, as you travel down the highway at 55-60mph!! Talk about life in the fast lane!

Hog's nurse · 03-11-2007, 08:29 PM

I had some mice once that carried the bird feed I had in the garage into my air filter chamber.

The guys at Jiffy Lube had a hoot over that. They vacuumed it out after they showed me the stash.

OR Coast Range · 03-12-2007, 10:40 AM

We used to get mice that would nest in the air vents. They would store dry cat food in there, so whenever we turned on the air at full blast we'd get a face full of cat food.

And yes, our cat was a lazy animal that was only good at sleeping the days away. You would think that it would take something like this as a personal insult, but this went on until the mouse showed up one day on the floor mat under my mom's feet. I thought that we were going to die that day! After this near death event our car was so loaded with mouse traps and poison that no mouse would even think about setting up shop in there.

Salty Walty · 03-12-2007, 12:05 PM

Of course there are, they are called lubric-ants.

JustCallMeDave · 03-12-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elklaker

So what kind of car are ants attracted to??? SUV's, Luxury models?Or is economy the big attractor.

A Reli-ant?

fishncliff · 03-12-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog's nurse

I had some mice once that carried the bird feed I had in the garage into my air filter chamber.

The guys at Jiffy Lube had a hoot over that. They vacuumed it out after they showed me the stash.

2 elk seasons ago I had to use the wife's Blazer to elk hunt. The mice around camp used the moss from around our camp and a discarded lamp mantle to build a nest on top of the air filter. I kept getting "lean mixture" codes in the computer, until I did a tune-up and found the nest.

Got my elk too.

Shortbus Flashers · 03-12-2007, 08:35 PM

How often should you replace the air in the tires? I change my oil every 3000 miles, but never had the air replaced. Is there a recomended? I have a full sized Chevy truck if that makes a difference on the recomendation

Hogmaster · 03-12-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchnrelease

How often should you replace the air in the tires? I change my oil every 3000 miles, but never had the air replaced. Is there a recomended? I have a full sized Chevy truck if that makes a difference on the recomendation

I think for Chev trucks they recommend every 10,000 miles the air should be replaced. If you go with the new synthetic air, though, you can go for 30,000...

Flatfish · 03-12-2007, 09:55 PM

Make sure if you go with the synthetic air that your valve stems are compatable with it.

STP and Chevron/Texaco are working on additives that will allow synthetic air with the old fashioned valve stems. Dunno if they have released it yet.

MATD

Trick · 03-13-2007, 05:27 AM

Your days of picking up synthetic air for your tires is about done. On the Gore documentary I'm sure they made mention of it's effect on global warming.

Unless those big air companies come up with a better stem I'm just going to stick with replacing with the old fashion air every 10,000 miles.

Do any of you guys ever rotate the air for even wear?

Hogmaster · 03-13-2007, 06:12 AM

Oh boy,

They have yet to establish a correlation between synthetic air and global warming!

My friend's brother-in-law's cousin knows a guy who is working on something really intruiging I heard. It is called Gentetically Modified Air (GMA) and it is proving to be highly stable. It apparently has no appreciable valve stem viscosity, and is stable and can be used in tires for the life of the tires. They do recommend periodic rotation though and fortunately there are going to be strict controls on releasing it other than in approved tire stores.

lucky2 · 03-13-2007, 06:37 AM

Oh No!:blush:
I've left my air in my tires for over 60,000 miles ?!?!? I hope I didn't damage the stems.

Should you change the air filter when you change the air?

Shortbus Flashers · 03-13-2007, 06:48 AM

Where can you find if the tire stores are approved or not?

Hogmaster · 03-13-2007, 07:57 AM

As far as I know, only Wal Mart and Costco are going to be providing GMA.

Synthetic is available in many stores, you just have to check. Don't fall for the old automatic "You have to replace your stems" trick though. Many are already compatible.

And going 60K without an air change? Man, I would be concerned about loose rims!

byebyeducky · 03-13-2007, 09:02 AM

You guys have got too much time on your hands

All the requirements, and environmental impact, simply for synthetic air. I think I may look into those new airless tires that have rubber support fins in them. No air changing for me! I am a low maintainence guy.

Flatfish · 03-13-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogmaster

Oh boy,

They have yet to establish a correlation between synthetic air and global warming!

Actually,according to the Montreal Protocal, GMA's are proven to deplete the ozone layer. And in several studies in mice(In California....Berkley I think) it is causing cancer of the toenail glands.

The effects of this of course is the mice end up with very long toenails that grow at a rapid rate. Petco has already picked up some rodent toenail polish in some stores.

Fortunalely, a rodents toenail glands are do not process GMA's like a human toenail gland does. So further research is needed to prove or disprove this theory.
---------

On an interesting side note, the same coumponds that are the cause for concern with the ozone are naturally produced when rainforests are left standing for too long.

MATD

negoc8 · 03-13-2007, 11:20 AM

FF I hope that will be a government funded study! Not sure anyone else could manage such an undertaking!

Toenail polish for mice? that's a bit hard to believe?

anglingaddict · 03-13-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogmaster

They do recommend periodic rotation though and fortunately there are going to be strict controls on releasing it other than in approved tire stores.

WOW! What happens if you get a blowout??!

Hope the fine for releasing that air in an unapproved area wont be too high!!

Hogmaster · 03-13-2007, 10:18 PM

Apparently they are working on a credit system that can be traded between areas. For example, since Hollywood has so much synthetics already there, they could trade credits for releases of GMA. In Oregon's case, I heard they were trying to negotiate trades of "green" air for GMA and synthetic spills.

Can you imagine if GMA got into the atmosphere in large quantities?

Synthetics worry me less, since we know most breakfast cereals have been using the base components of synthetic air ever since Coco Puffs were placed into production.

alanmikkelsen · 03-14-2007, 10:53 AM

I read this entire thread! I have way too much time on my hands!

Jaws · 03-14-2007, 12:52 PM

Getting back to lubricated ants, I know there is a place in Palm Springs where they go to dry out. At least that's were my Uncle took my Ant.

cptdarel · 03-14-2007, 02:18 PM

I think it's against the law to kill ant with WD-40, it's inhumane, better hope PETA don't read this thread.

seabass · 03-14-2007, 06:13 PM

I went in to have my muffler bearing lubricated and they found ants in there, had to have them replaced. Never ant-icipated that.

Grantspastor · 03-15-2007, 09:47 AM

I used to scoff at the danger of Global Warming. After reading this thread I am suddenly concerned at the massive release of "hot air"