CASH for CLUNKERS- Engine Seize In a Jug

[kitcarbp]

Man, I dont know about you, but when I heard this being applied to an engine on live radio, I felt sick to my stomach. No joke, look at the product name on the jug in the pic carefully !
I guess its the motor oil in my veins that makes me queazy to watch such barbarity

[jams]

I never knew there was such a product, is it for real?

[fsstnotch]

Probably costing the gov't $150 per jug or more....

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

Probably costing the gov't $150 per jug or more....

Isn't $150. what that guy is supposed to pay you?????

sorry JK

[conan]

Oh it's real, but it's not called engine seize. I work at a GM dealer and we have launched 4 "clunker" engines so far. E&W block seal is the product that we are using. Silicone silicate, liquid glass. Dump the oil, put in 2 quarts of this stuff and run the motor till it quits. Tears up cyl walls and most everything it touches, then hardens to consistancy of steel.

[Wayne Maybury]

Originally Posted by conan

we have launched 4 "clunker" engines so far. .

Why do you have to destroy the engines on these vehicles? Are the parts not worth more in good condition?

Wayne

[kitcarbp]

The story I heard on the news is that its "illegal" to sell the drivetrain from a "cash for clunker", trade-in, yet you are allowed to canibilize the other parts including alts/starter etc.

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by Wayne Maybury

Why do you have to destroy the engines on these vehicles? Are the parts not worth more in good condition?

Wayne

Destroying the power train is part of the C4C requirements. The logic of politicians????????

[conan]

Wayne,

It's part of the program. The government mandates that the engines have to be rendered useless, then a scrap yard takes the vehicle and removes the engine and crushes it. The rest of the car can be parted out. In the governments eyes these "gas guzzling" engines cannot make it back on to the street.

[conan]

Yes it is illegal to sell the engine from one of these program cars.
You would not believe the paperwork that is involved, about half the size of a phonebook for every deal.

[fsstnotch]

Seizing the engine makes no sense.... it would make more sense to black list the VIN# and make the car unregisterable. Then sell the cars to junk yards or whatever. This stupid program is destroying the scrap market! I know people who live on scrap.

Some of these cars I have seen, IMO shouldn't even qualify. But some of these cars i think should be held. If a buyer brings an OLD suburban or somehting trying to make a trade but can't afford a new car, get the burban off the road and let them choose from some of these better condition cars. Get the worst cars off the road! Not just whatever qualifies is destroyed.

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by kitcarbp

Man, I dont know about you, but when I heard this being applied to an engine on live radio, I felt sick to my stomach. No joke, look at the product name on the jug in the pic carefully !
I guess its the motor oil in my veins that makes me queazy to watch such barbarity

I felt the same way you did the first time I heard what they were doing to these motors. I thought of my trusty old 83 Dodge ram that I use on my property, and there is no way I could do that to it. It's almost a part of the family.

[4RE KLR]

I am wondering if the car has to be running to qualify for the program.

For example what if the engine was already blown up and out of the car?

[fsstnotch]

Steve, I wondered the same. I have an old 89 s10 blazer just sitting in my back yard. It runs but would take ALOT of work to be road worthy. So I emailed VW to see if they would take it on trade for another new TDI Jetta. This is the response i got:

We are a participating dealer in the Cash for Clunkers Program, but as of right now we are waiting to see if the new bill passes to continue the program. Major qualifications for the program include; 18 MPG or less, No lien on vehicle, must own vehicle for at least ONE year with insurance and registration. The vehicle must be in running condition and cannot be older than 1984. The new vehicle chosen must get at least 4 MPG better than the vehicle you are trading in order to get $3,500. Must get at least 10 MPG better for the $4,500. If you let me know what your vehicle is I would be happy to let you know if it qualifies or not. I need to know the year, make, model, engine size and transmission.

[4RE KLR]

I saw that the car has to be in running condition as well.

I guess that is so the guys at the shop can have fun blowing it up.

[Joe Wicked]

The running part I understand as if it does not run, then it cannot pollute, so no need to worry right? (at least in the politicians minds)

[Wayne Maybury]

I can understand that the gov't doesn't want these cars or trucks back on the road but destroying perfectly good engines simply makes no sense. Why not just black list the VIN as already suggested? There is absolutely no reason why the parts, including the drive train, shouldn't be sold.

Wayne

[Wes Tausend]

...

I'm glad I bought my Excursion when I did. I heard that 80+% of those traded and doomed are SUVs and trucks. This sort of thing is going to cause the price of used heavy duty vehicles to rise even more, although I have to admit that they are unfairly depressed right now.

Somewhere down the road, there is going to be a big shortage of vehicles large enough to tow car trailers, boats and campers.

The lots are getting empty now with the plants shut down and all. Almost worth the investment of buying HD clunker candidates and putting them on temporary blocks for eventual future sale.

Otherwise US streets will look like backwater countries with no real trucks.



Wes

...

[fsstnotch]

I dunno who is dumber in that pic... the person driving the car or the idiot that loaded it on the roof!!! Of course all that twine would hold the wood from falling off!!!

Should have put it on the hood... afterall it is FWD!!! More downforce!!!

[conan]

All Cobra's qualify for this program.

Any takers