A Quick Nod to Diesel Power Products in Spokane as We March Into Cyber Monday

People have been shopping after Thanksgiving for years, even though the term "Black Friday" wasn't coined until the early Fifties. With the advent of the Internet it seems only naturally that an online counterpart would pop up. Thus, in 2005 Cyber Monday was born. And just as there are boatloads of deals luring shoppers to retail outlets on Black Friday, so also we find online retailers doing likewise. Very few shoppers will have gone this entire weekend without some form of online interaction.

The term Cyber Monday, coined by the National Retail Federation, was created by retailers to encourage online shopping. The press release announcing this new "holiday" was titled, "Cyber Monday" Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Shopping Days of the Year. And it quickly did.

Some people have called the day Blue Monday, which seems a misnomer for two reasons. First, there already was a Blue Monday, the third Monday in January which some folks evidently believed the most depressing day of the year. (No doubt they lived in a frigid, isolated place in the far North.) Second, when people shop, they seem to get energized, whether purchasing gifts for oneself or loved ones.

According to Shop.org's Bizrate Research eHoliday Mood Study last year, "77 percent of online retailers said that their sales increased substantially on the Monday after Thanksgiving." In light of this year's hunkering down, we suspect that that number will grow even more. I've never seen so many online discounts and promotions as we're seeing this year. Cyber Monday will no doubt be one for the books.

Last year, Cyber Monday online sales grew to a record of $8.59 billion, compared with $2.98 billion in 2015. The term Cyber Monday is now international in scope. 

I mention all this to draw attention to Diesel Power Products, a top-tier diesel performance headquarters located in Washington's Spokane Valley. Their online storefront provides the most comprehensive catalogue and product support in the industry. We like it that they offer Champion Blue Flame ‘Classic” Diesel Engine Oil and Champion Blue Flame API 15w40 Performance Diesel Engine Oil.

The folks at Diesel Power Products pride themselves in being America's Diesel Superstore with over 330,000 Facebook likes and 6,000 followers on Twitter. They have a small store approach—large enough to supply you with anything you need, yet small enough to remember who you are. Their thoroughly trained team of diesel enthusiasts supports their online storefront with expertise and experience. 

What we like is that they are about both performance AND reliability. If you need diesel performance or stock replacement parts, call them and experience the Diesel Power Products difference. www.dieselpowerproducts.com or call:  888-993-4373

DPP lives up to their name as the Northwest’s Premier On-Line Diesel Distributor, carrying an unmatched parts selection from other many companies like Champion Oil.

Remember when the Monday after Thanksgiving meant back to work? Now it means back to work buying stuff on-line. This year you not only don't have to push anyone out of your way, it's nice to get at least some of your shopping done without wearing a mask or trying to figure out if you're six feet from the other people in line.

Need Some Blue Flame Diesel Oil? Visit JD Supply on Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held during the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Small Business Saturday is always the last weekend in November, so falls between November 24 and November 30.

First observed in the United States in 2010, Small Business Saturday is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big-box retail and on-line e-commerce stores respectfully. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and often forgotten.

 

Founded in 2014 by Justin Lulay, JD Supply is small, family-owned business located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Fueled by his love of cars and background in the farming industry, Justin wanted to provide top quality parts and products to other surrounding farms and businesses. Word caught on, the business grew and JD Supply was born. https://www.jdsupplyllc.com/

 

They provide the diesel parts you need for your ride whether it's exterior, interior or performance related. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or needs you may have about their products. Located in Sublimity, Oregon; be sure to email sales@jdsupplyllc.com or call 503-551-5815 before you come.

 

They are offering the Champion Blue Flame “Classic” 15w-40 Performance Diesel Engine Oil 

 

And Champion Blue Flame API 15w-40 Performance Diesel Engine Oil  

Getting Your Diesel Truck Ready for Winter

Photo courtesy Chevrolet

It's Black Friday. It's nice to have a long weekend to get our vehicles ready for winter. What follows are a few areas to focus on, extracted from an article by Whitney Russell that I saw this week at The NewsWheel.

1) The Battery
As you head into winter you may wish to test your battery to see if it is ready for Jack Frost. According to NAPA auto parts, battery strength is reduced by 35% at 32 degrees and 60% at zero. The time to deal with an older battery is before the season, not when you get stuck somewhere and need cranking power.

If you live up north you probably know a little about the tricks diesel owners use in the winter time, but if you've just moved here from another part of the country you may want to think about getting a block heater, if your truck doesn't already come equipped. (Heated seats are nice, too, but they won't help get your truck started.)

2) Anti-Gel Fuel Additives
It depends on where you live, but for those unfamiliar it can really get frigid in winter the further North you go. Sometimes someone in Florida goes to visit family in Maine or Toronto, and is unaware of how cold it can get. You should be prepared with a suitable fuel additive to keep it from gelling before it reaches its cloud point, the point at which wax begin to form and inhibit flow.

3) Switch to Lighter Weight Oil
Unless you're a newbie you know how viscosity makes a difference between seasons. If you need help selecting the right diesel oil for your truck, you can always Ask Jake. (Hit the white Ask Jake button on the right here.) 

4) Fuel Filter
The author suggests that if it's been a while since you replaced the fuel filter, this would be a good time to deal with it. We're also reminded that some trucks have two. Replace both.

* * *

The article is basic, but a good reminder that it's that time of year and winter's coming soon... or has already arrived, depending on where you live.

The article ends with links to more info on block heaters and how to protect the exterior of your vehicle from road salt. Don't know what road salt is? It's not for your grits. 

Here's a link to the article in full. Hope you've recovered from your feast yesterday and had a happy Thanksgiving.

https://thenewswheel.com/how-to-prepare-your-diesel-truck-for-winter/

How to Get More Power from Your Diesel

Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi made a powerful impression on the men he coached. I once read a book about his influence on the Packers who played for him. I forget the title, but it was something like Where Are They Now? Story after story we hear of players who became influential leaders in the businesses an communities. 

Lombardi's style focused on fundamentals. He's famous for starting training camp the same way, year after year. "Gentlemen, this is a football."

The great Packer coach came to mind as I read the Taylor Diesel Group's March article about 7 ways to get more power for your diesel. There's a sense in which these seven things are familiar and we can take them for granted. Nevertheless, these kinds of articles are designed more to be a reminder of fundamentals than to teach us something new, aren't they. How many times do we see football teams lose games because a player has neglected basics like how to hold a football when running or how to recover a fumble.

7 Ways to Get More Power

1. Regular tune-ups
A consistent maintenance routine will enable you to detect minor issues before they become major issues. A stitch in time saves nine.

2. Air intake upgrades
If you're serious about power, this is an area you will want to invest in. A cold air intake or air flow kit will give significant boost in engine power. You know how it works. More oxygen-rich air will make it more efficient at burning fuel.

3. Turbocharger
Turbos are designed to push more air into the engine thereby producing a pressurized airstream that improves combustion. 

4. Performance injectors
An upgrade to performance injectors can help you gain more power but can also improve mpg. No harm in that, right?

5. Re-program ECM
Your engine control module (ECM) is the brains in your engine. It gathers the information from your engine's various sensors and uses this info to calculate and tune engine spark and fuel for max power and efficiency. A pro mechanic can make adjustments that bring the best out of your beast.

6. Exhaust upgrade
Most lists of things one can do to improve performance will point to the exhaust upgrade as both essential and worth the bucks. The wider pipes aren't just for looks. They enable exhaust gases to be dispersed more quickly and efficiently. Smoother acceleration, less engine noise and improved mpg are a few of the benefits according to TDG.

7. Fuel additives 
Fuel additives help keep parts clean and help the engine run in an optimal manner. Much more can be said here and maybe we take a deeper dive another time.

If you're a diesel guy you know these basic maneuvers and I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know. These may be basics, but for sure if you aspire to play with the big boys you'll want to make sure your fundamentals are covered. Afterwards you can add your own secret sauce.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
https://taylordiesel.com/7-ways-to-get-more-power-from-your-diesel-engine/

Photo: Taylor Diesel Group

Eight-Wheel Monster Truck Takes a Dip in the Gulf of Mexico

This past week TheDrive.com shared a story by Peter Holderith about an eight-wheeled Chevy Silverado that decided to take a spin in the Gulf of Mexico near Bradenton, Florida. A video of this misadventure garnered 8 million views on TikTok, the Chinese video sharing platform that has been at the center of a lot of controversy this past year. 

The story caught my eye in part because a couple years ago I was at a beach near Bradenton--located between Sarasota and Tampa Bay--watching the activities of a wind-surfing club for a while. An eight-wheel monster truck would have been quite disruptive in the middle of that scene.

The owner/driver of this 8-wheel beast is Tony Detwiler and his handle on various social media platforms is WhistlinDiesel. According to BunkerBranding.com "Whistlin Diesel is basically everything you’ve thought of doing with your truck but you’d never ACTUALLY do."

And that's the heart of this story here. He said he was going to drive out into the sea, and he did. 

I'm curious how much he knew with regard to the terrain below the surface before trying the stunt. Or are beaches there universally uniform with few surprises? 

Holderith wrote that according to an Instagram post, "Floating seemingly thanks to the immense amount of air in its tires, the truck made it into the water before local authorities arrived. No, it doesn't have a propeller—he just drove it into the water before getting pulled back by a boat, surrounded by the Coast Guard, sheriff's office and Department of Natural Resources."

The name Detwiler has given his Duramax dieel-powered Silverado is "Monstermax." The eight wheels are purportedly from a piece of heavy machinery.

* * * 

If you've ever been to a monster truck exhibition, you've probably noticed a few things. First, kids love 'em.  Second, these monsters can certainly produce power. And third, a lot of these guys are probably emblematic of the Peter Pan Syndrome. You know the tune, "I won't grow up!"

The most famous monster truck of all time is probably Grave Digger. One reason might be because there are more Grave Digger monsters than you realize. I was going to say here that there were 28 Grave Diggers, but in fact checking I learned there have been 41 built over the years, and 7 still in circulation. 
 
As for Detwiler's antics on the Florida shore, here's a link to TheDrive where you can see a whole batch of photos and links to more: Here's Why an Eight-Wheeled Silverado Monster Truck Went Sailing into a South Florida Bay.

Fixing the Economy Begins by Fixing Our Workforce

One hundred years ago there was a major debate in regards to education policy. There were some, like David Snedden, who felt that the workforce needed to be trained in practical skills for utilitarian purposes. He believed we needed more vocational training in the schools. There were others, like John Dewey, who thought everyone needed a broad liberal arts education which was less focused on actual careers and more on personal development. 

At the time, Snedden's views won the day and put American education on a more practical trajectory. But in the last half century, the ideas of Dewey seeped in. Classes like auto shop, crafts and cooking disappeared from curriculums. And today, as a result, we have a shortage of people who can do the practical functions so needed in our workforce today. 

I mentioned this in October in my article 10 Reasons to Become a Diesel Mechanic. I was reminded of that article when I saw this article titled "Is Our Workforce Overqualified?" The article begins, "The biggest problem with our economy (and our culture) may be the simple fact that everybody's going to college."

Now I'm not saying that college is bad, but the inability to find trained people who can enter many practical areas of the workforce is a real problem. Instead, kids are told that they have to pony up tens of thousands of dollars in order to get an education so they can make more money, and they graduate with no practical skills and a crushing debt.

The article succinctly describes our workforce situation like this:

Hardly anyone wants to care for the elderly, or repair short-circuited sockets, or slice meat in a supermarket. Most young people are too busy trying to hack their way into some big consulting firm that promises a bright, bold future. And they’re willing to do just about anything to get there, including sacrificing their family life, their leisure, their friendships—selling their own mother at a flea market if necessary.

Well, that may be a little hyperbole about selling mom at the flea market, but you get the picture. We need to re-think what we're teaching our children in school. And we need to recapture the idea that there is dignity in the trades. Have you tried to call an electrician in recent years. We have a shortage, and there's real money that can be made there. As auto technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, we need mechanics who are specialized in maintaining this equipment. 

The law of supply and demand states that whatever we have a glut of becomes less valuable and what we have a shortage of becomes more valuable. To illustrate: during the hula hoop craze in the 1950s the first hula hoops sold for three dollars. They were so popular they sold like hotcakes. By the fall, 28 factories were pumping out hula hoops and the price dropped to less than fifty cents. Even so, stores could hardly give them away. 

Today we have a glut of college educated kids. In most cases, their value is less, not more. Unless they've specialized.

All this to say we have a shortage of diesel mechanics. If you're young, and don't mind getting grease under your fingernails, it might be a career worth considering.  

Related Links
Diesel Mechanic Interview Tips
10 Reasons to Become a Mechanic
Diesel Mechanic vs Automotive: 10 Reasons Diesel Is Better

Motor State Distributing Offers Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil

Motor State Distributing, headquartered in Watervliet, Michigan, offers the complete line of Champion Motor Oils, Chemicals, Additives, and Lubricants including Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oils.

“It is extremely important for Champion to identify a wholesale partner that shares the same goals and has the ability to provide our customers with first class service, support and distribution,” said Karl Dedolph, Director of the Racing and Performance Division for Champion Oil. “Motor State clearly fits the stringent criteria we identified to distribute our motor oil, chemical, additive and lubricant line in key enthusiast demographics, applications, and strategic markets.”

“Celebrating over 55 years in business, Motor State Distributing has set the pace for worldwide distribution of high-performance automotive components for diesel, racing, street, and off-road use; the standard for fast shipping, customer service, and technical expertise”, added

Dedolph.

With a huge selection of performance truck, tractor, Jeep, and off-road parts and accessories, Motor State is a great source for many of the most recognized and sought-after brands in the industry. From convenience accessories to complete suspension systems, they stock a wide range of customization and restoration components for both classic and late model trucks and SUVs.

Motor State offers their industry-leading line of high-quality products to speed shops, auto parts merchants, machine shops, and chassis and engine builders. Their web site has been designed as a resource for dealers. For more information about Champion Blue Flame Products visit http://www.motorstate.com/ or at their corporate office located at 8300 Lane Drive, Watervliet, MI 49098 - 800-772-2678