We are snowed in. Lane drifted shut. Falling temps. Currently zero—with a breeze. Red scheduled for fuel part something next week. $1000 parts and labor. Good thing I still have my white scoot. It’s the fastest color in the snow 👍👍

 

We just went out for ground coffee and a jug of maple syrup, butter tarts , filled up the fuel tank and checked the tire pressure. The thermometer is dropped like a stone here, high winds making it seem even colder.
yesterday, after noticing the steering wheel wasn’t returning to centre so smoothly, I greased the ball joints (they have grease zerks) and today the steering is back to normal.

 

Mine is sleeping peacefully in the garage hooked to the battery minder, next to the Lincoln... Very Cold out here in Deep South.

 

Woke up to snow and just 12 degrees F . So we’re gonna shovel around the BlackSwan and take a snow day! Bbrrrrr!

 

Finally got some snow, about 2 inches. wrestled the snowblower into the house to thaw and drain the fuel tank and water, it wouldn't start.. got it cleaned up and drained, blew snow for a few hours and cleaned the snow off the HHR. Today we drove to Menards and picked up some space heaters to thaw pipes that froze over night. only `15 out with a high today of 0. Should warm up in a week or so, then they are predicting upper 30's and rain...

 

We are expecting to get a bit of snow overnight.......... Hope not, But that's life.

 

This morning, just 9 F out there! Brrr! The BlackSwan started right up and defrosted the windshield quickly.
and I moved it so I could shovel the snow out from under it. I’m back in the house with a nice hot cup of coffee!

 

Hearing a little valve tick when the 2011 2.2 is cold. Distictly louder under even light load. Lasts about 5 minutes. Trying to decide what to try before removing the valve cover to have a look, which probably won't happen until spring.

Did notice the goofball oil change guys overfilled it at least a quart. I use Dexos 5-30 full synthetic, probably Castrol Edge last time. Due for a change now. May ask them to dump a quart or two so I can try some Seafoam before the change.

 

Ticking could be full extended tensioner, front guide damaged , timing chain slapping the top guide. Seafoam ain’t gonna help that.


It’s nice and sunny out now, so we are off for drive.

 

Nothing like chain noise. For a number of reasons I strongly suspect this particular noise is in the valve train.