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BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 06:43 PM Aug 2014

I came across one of those guys who MacGyvers their vehicles to emit extra exhaust

I was behind him driving down the street for a good couple of miles. Every time he took off from a stoplight, his exhaust pipe emitted a big cloud of black smoke. He was in front of me, so I got a big puff in my face after every stoplight. I moved over to the next lane so as to avoid getting hit again. He deliberately moved into that lane, which was a turning lane, so as to dose me with the exhaust one last time before moving back into the center lane to proceed straight ahead. There was no other reason to go into that lane since it took him out of his direct route. The only thing I can figure is that he saw the Vote No to Voter ID sticker leftover on my car from 2012, and it pissed him off. Mind you, this is in perhaps the bluest city in all of America.

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I came across one of those guys who MacGyvers their vehicles to emit extra exhaust (Original Post) BainsBane Aug 2014 OP
Yipes shenmue Aug 2014 #1
It can't be legal. Evergreen Emerald Aug 2014 #2
Probably diddly squat. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2014 #4
Same problem here liberal N proud Aug 2014 #27
Hopefully they are getting tickets. nt BainsBane Aug 2014 #5
They Probably Have Guns Too otohara Aug 2014 #44
Link: It Is Illegal. IADEMO2004 Aug 2014 #56
Change your title ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #3
MacGyver is now a word in the English language BainsBane Aug 2014 #6
Then feel free to misuse the American language as you peas ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #7
Oh my Gosh BainsBane Aug 2014 #11
In actuality, and kind of implied by the dictionary, implies doing it for a positivite outcome. HERVEPA Aug 2014 #37
LOL BainsBane Aug 2014 #57
Almost as sad taking issue with, then digging your feet into the use of the word LanternWaste Aug 2014 #40
Where else have we seen this ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2014 #53
Common misconception 4b5f940728b232b034e4 Aug 2014 #9
Then where should I look? BainsBane Aug 2014 #12
You need to look the word dictionary up in a dictionary rock Aug 2014 #13
Also he's thinking of abridged dictionaries BainsBane Aug 2014 #14
I think he's a repiggie rock Aug 2014 #15
Now I had to look up repiggie BainsBane Aug 2014 #16
You have to use the right dictionary rock Aug 2014 #17
Yep, that's what came up on Google BainsBane Aug 2014 #18
hardly. ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #22
I apologize for thinking so then rock Aug 2014 #23
I was swirling about Richard, the MacGyver character. ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #25
How do you know so much about someone with 13 posts? BainsBane Aug 2014 #26
I was writing about the MacGyver actor. ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #41
Oh, I see BainsBane Aug 2014 #42
yeah, my bad. I wish I had been clearer. ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2014 #45
I think the word you were looking for in your OP was "modified", instead of "MacGyvered". Electric Monk Aug 2014 #48
After this BainsBane Aug 2014 #58
Not always ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2014 #54
If they were just teenagers, sadoldgirl Aug 2014 #8
The federal government can use the money too jmowreader Aug 2014 #20
There are A-holes everywhere FreakinDJ Aug 2014 #10
Hopefully the fad will die out BainsBane Aug 2014 #19
I've had a Turbo Diesel for years FreakinDJ Aug 2014 #21
so you mercuryblues Aug 2014 #52
Did the smoke obscure your view of the road? jmondine Aug 2014 #24
How could he see your bumper sticker if he was in front of you the whole way, as you said? Dreamer Tatum Aug 2014 #28
Wow, you read minds BainsBane Aug 2014 #33
That wasn't part of your story. Dreamer Tatum Aug 2014 #34
It is illegal, but the fines are usually small Lee-Lee Aug 2014 #29
What city was it? minivan2 Aug 2014 #30
St. Paul BainsBane Aug 2014 #32
He was probably from a rural county. minivan2 Aug 2014 #36
An exurb, perhaps BainsBane Aug 2014 #39
assholes are everywhere. spanone Aug 2014 #31
Did you take down his tag number? Warpy Aug 2014 #35
You'd think the OP would have memorized the tag, having driven behind it for a while Dreamer Tatum Aug 2014 #38
No BainsBane Aug 2014 #51
I would hate to be so weak-minded and in the pocket of our corporate overlords ... dawg Aug 2014 #43
As an FYI, most poorly maintained diesel engines smoke under hard acceleration. Xithras Aug 2014 #46
This was a late-model truck though BainsBane Aug 2014 #47
Even relatively new diesels do. Xithras Aug 2014 #61
Sounds like you know what you're talking about. BainsBane Aug 2014 #62
I've owned a few over the years. No longer. Xithras Aug 2014 #63
I ran into a jack-hole doing this in Portland OR yesterday. Maedhros Aug 2014 #49
Not too long ago we had a post on DU BainsBane Aug 2014 #50
Yup mercuryblues Aug 2014 #55
Lets see these people MacGyver their catalytic converter when it tanks!!!!! benld74 Aug 2014 #59
Now you've done it BainsBane Aug 2014 #60
"Coal Rollers" are brave revolutionaries fighting against tyranny by environmentalists IronLionZion Aug 2014 #64
In a way, this is a good thing maxrandb Aug 2014 #65

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
4. Probably diddly squat.
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 06:53 PM
Aug 2014

Around here, they 'mcgyver' up the amount of noise their cars, trucks, or motorcycles make, and the cops never pull them over for making jet engine noises in residential neighbourhoods.

liberal N proud

(60,302 posts)
27. Same problem here
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:15 PM
Aug 2014

The Coal Roller, the loud bikes and cars, there is no end to it and there is nothing the cops will do either.

 

otohara

(24,135 posts)
44. They Probably Have Guns Too
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:31 PM
Aug 2014

I wouldn't be calling anyone.

The weapons effect gives these assholes the extra boost they need to be super assholes.

IADEMO2004

(5,538 posts)
56. Link: It Is Illegal.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 04:05 PM
Aug 2014
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/epa-coal-rolling-short-answer-illegal

Purchia pointed to two paragraphs on the air enforcement page of the EPA's website. One paragraph said:


It is a violation of the [Clean Air Act] to manufacture, sell, or install a part for a motor vehicle that bypasses, defeats, or renders inoperative any emission control device. For example, computer software that alters diesel fuel injection timing is a defeat device. Defeat devices, which are often sold to enhance engine performance, work by disabling a vehicle's emission controls, causing air pollution. As a result of EPA enforcement, some of the largest manufacturers of defeat devices have agreed to pay penalties and stop the sale of defeat devices.


The other paragraph said:


The CAA prohibits anyone from tampering with an emission control device on a motor vehicle by removing it or making it inoperable prior to or after the sale or delivery to the buyer. A vehicle's emission control system is designed to limit emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles or engines. EPA works with manufacturers to ensure that they design their components with tamper-proofing, addresses trade groups to educate mechanics about the importance of maintaining the emission control systems, and prosecutes cases where significant or imminent harm is occurring.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
3. Change your title
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 06:52 PM
Aug 2014

Mcgyver was a lover of nature, of respect, and of finding solutions to hard problems with as little adverse impact as possible

These assholes don't mcgyver so much as they crap on the world.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
6. MacGyver is now a word in the English language
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:01 PM
Aug 2014

whose meaning is not limited to the television show.

MacGyver
(verb) : To make use of surrounding materials to build a contraption or to get out of life's crazy things.
I was MacGyvering when I was stranded on the island.
Submitted by: MikeUMD from Maryland on Feb. 16, 2006 16:43
(verb) : To improvise an ingenious solution to seemingly insurmountable problems by using ordinary items, faith and luck.
Jim was able to MacGyver my car by replacing the broken radiator belt with my pantyhose.

http://nws.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/newword_display_alpha.php?letter=M&last=10

Merriam Webster makes no reference to love of nature.

I myself never saw the TV show, but I have heard the word used repeatedly.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
7. Then feel free to misuse the American language as you peas
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:03 PM
Aug 2014

You are wrong, you grab an idea, misuse it, then defend it without any facts.

Sad. Really sad.

 

HERVEPA

(6,107 posts)
37. In actuality, and kind of implied by the dictionary, implies doing it for a positivite outcome.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:26 PM
Aug 2014

Understanding subtlety is a good trait, though doesn't seem to be a strong suit. A poster tried to explain to you, and you gave him shit. Not a good way to learn, or behave.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
40. Almost as sad taking issue with, then digging your feet into the use of the word
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:28 PM
Aug 2014

"Sad. Really sad..."

Almost as sad taking issue with, then digging your feet into the use of the word 'MacGyver'.

And though your derail of the OP is rather unique for becoming dogmatic on the use of a throw-away word, even the most unique derail is yet still a derail.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
53. Where else have we seen this ...
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:55 PM
Aug 2014

anti-evolution of words sentiment? And for the same, derailment purpose. Hmmm?

 
9. Common misconception
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:11 PM
Aug 2014

You shouldn't use a dictionary to look-up the correct meaning of a word. Dictionaries document the most commonly used meanings.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
14. Also he's thinking of abridged dictionaries
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:24 PM
Aug 2014

Unabridged dictionaries contain all definitions of the word.

I guess I stumbled into a hornet's nest. I had no idea that particular television character was so revered.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
22. hardly.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 12:50 PM
Aug 2014

he volunteers major time for kids organizations, he heads up a couple of clean water initiatives, and he hates the oil sands stuff that is happening east of his home. He is a big environmentalist. I dunno where this repiggie idea came up, but is is wrong.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
25. I was swirling about Richard, the MacGyver character.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:11 PM
Aug 2014

Not the author above. Sorry, if I was confusing.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
41. I was writing about the MacGyver actor.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:28 PM
Aug 2014

He is actually a strong environmentalist, works hard with kids, especially those in need or with medical issues, and he pushes for stronger water pollution laws.

I am sorry about the confusion.

 

Electric Monk

(13,869 posts)
48. I think the word you were looking for in your OP was "modified", instead of "MacGyvered".
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:40 PM
Aug 2014

That would have avoided all the subsequent confusion about Richard Dean Anderson, who actually seems to be a pretty cool guy.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
58. After this
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 04:09 PM
Aug 2014

I'm going to have to find a way to use MacGyver in every single OP I write.

Now that the word has entered the Dictionary, it will be used long after memory of the TV show or the actor has faced. You use all kinds of words of similar origin--from a brand, an ad, a novel, etc--and have no idea of how they came into use. That is the nature of language.

sadoldgirl

(3,431 posts)
8. If they were just teenagers,
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:04 PM
Aug 2014

I would consider it a silly prank.
But they are not. I hope that they annoy enough people to enforce ticketing.(Which city, county, state could not use the money!)

jmowreader

(50,453 posts)
20. The federal government can use the money too
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 09:48 PM
Aug 2014

And this is a federal case - you have to seriously fuck with the smog control gear on your truck to get it to do that.

 

FreakinDJ

(17,644 posts)
10. There are A-holes everywhere
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 07:14 PM
Aug 2014

Including those who feel compelled to tell everyone what to think and how to behave.

However misdirected his angst may be he is still questioning authority and revolting against the machine.

Beside - those trucks don't last too long once they start altering them like that - a short term problem at best

 

FreakinDJ

(17,644 posts)
21. I've had a Turbo Diesel for years
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 09:49 PM
Aug 2014

Use it as a recreation vehicle mostly.

In all honesty it burns far less fuel - like 20 mpg empty compared to 12-14 mpg for the same size and weight vehicle burning gas. And yes I have after-market parts installed which the manufacture proved to California Air Resources Board will actually allow it to burn cleaner or have a null effect for emissions.

It also has the Safe-Guards built in to prevent a person from burning up their engine - some thing the ones that have a "Smoke Mode" do not include

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)
28. How could he see your bumper sticker if he was in front of you the whole way, as you said?
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:15 PM
Aug 2014

Nice try.

If you don't like the morons who do that to a truck, I'm with you. No need to make up a reason why
they did it or why you got smoked out.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
33. Wow, you read minds
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:22 PM
Aug 2014

and know I'm a complete liar. How amazing.

I don't suppose it could have occurred to someone with your psychic abilities that he might have been behind me at one point and then pulled ahead?

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)
34. That wasn't part of your story.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:23 PM
Aug 2014

I'm not disputing that you saw one. I've seen them. I just don't go around assuming I'm their target. I just assume they're assholes.
It's not all about me.


* Although "pics or it didn't happen" would be a nice informal rule sometimes.

 

Lee-Lee

(6,324 posts)
29. It is illegal, but the fines are usually small
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:18 PM
Aug 2014

And carry no points, so they view them almost like trophies.

minivan2

(214 posts)
36. He was probably from a rural county.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:25 PM
Aug 2014

Here in CA there are a lot of them, but they only have 200 people per county while counties with big cities are in the millions to hundred thousands.

Warpy

(110,912 posts)
35. Did you take down his tag number?
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:25 PM
Aug 2014

If you didn't and you see the plug-ugly again, do so and drop a dime on him to the state MVD and the cops and the state pollution control people. Make his life miserable and take his smogger away from him.

Those things are a road hazard, so the cops should be very interested in getting him off the road until he gives up on the idea of making the rest of us suffer for his massive ego and anger at the world he lives in.

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)
38. You'd think the OP would have memorized the tag, having driven behind it for a while
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:27 PM
Aug 2014

so I'm guessing they already reported the offending driver to the state.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
51. No
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:49 PM
Aug 2014

I am one of the least mindful people around, so it takes a lot for me to even notice a vehicle in front of me. It took a few puffs of smoke before I started to pay attention, and I didn't think to get the tag number.

dawg

(10,610 posts)
43. I would hate to be so weak-minded and in the pocket of our corporate overlords ...
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:30 PM
Aug 2014

that I would be willing to spend some of my own limited funds just to modify my vehicle so as to enable it to burn *more* fuel, in the deluded hope that it might piss off some of the people who have the audacity to fight for a better, cleaner, fairer world.

The truck balls are less pathetic.

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
46. As an FYI, most poorly maintained diesel engines smoke under hard acceleration.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:34 PM
Aug 2014

Diesels run a much richer mixtures than petrol cars, and are far more susceptible to smoking under acceleration. There are a number of things that cause it (partially burned soot buildup in the exhaust being vaporized during hard acceleration is a common one, and dirty injectors are another frequent cause), but most can be traced back to poor maintenance. No Macguyvering required. My dad has an old Dodge trail truck that he uses in the backwoods in Oregon. Under load, the thing belches black smoke like it's burning coal or something. It's not modified to do that...it's just an old fashioned piece of crap.

The guys who modify their trucks to smoke generally do it when they're cruising or idling. The fact that he was only doing it as he accelerated suggests that he just had a shitty truck, and was being an ass about it.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
47. This was a late-model truck though
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:39 PM
Aug 2014

In shiny new condition. I know nothing about automotive mechanics, but it looked too new to have those sorts of problems. I don't recall seeing black smoke like that on other vehicles, and we have lots of old, barely held together trucks tooling around the cities.

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
61. Even relatively new diesels do.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 04:23 PM
Aug 2014

This is one of the reasons why so many of those hyper-mileage European diesels that get 70+MPG can't legally be sold in the U.S. Brand new diesel engines should never smoke, but it only takes 2-3 years of cheap fuel and poor maintenance for a diesel injector to get dirty enough to start smoking on acceleration. Diesel engines are DIRTY, and their "smog test" is much simpler than those used by gas burning cars. Unlike gas burners, diesels don't actually get their tailpipe emissions measured...it's simply a test to verify that the original smog equipment is still there and that there isn't any smoke. A bottle of injector cleaner a week before the inspection will usually clean a newer one up enough to pass, but the fix doesn't last long.

I'm not saying that the guy didn't modify it, but the smoke on acceleration sounds more like poor maintenance. We've got a bunch of these "Coal Rollers" jagoffs around where I live, and they generally just smoke constantly when the driver flips a switch. Big billowing clouds of black smoke as they cruise down the road or idle at stoplights. Smoke on acceleration usually just means crappy maintenance.

You don't see it on most diesel pickups because NORMAL (non-a**hole) diesel owners see black smoke on acceleration and think "Hey, I need to go get a tuneup", and not "Great, I get to go annoy a liberal". Like so many other things in America, the Teapublicans have figured out a way to take a bad thing and make it even worse.

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
63. I've owned a few over the years. No longer.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 04:52 PM
Aug 2014

FWIW, I personally believe that diesel engines shouldn't be available to noncommercial drivers, and that existing diesel engines should have retroactive emissions caps applies. They are far too dirty to be on our roads.

 

Maedhros

(10,007 posts)
49. I ran into a jack-hole doing this in Portland OR yesterday.
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:44 PM
Aug 2014

The truck was too new, and the exhaust pipe to obviously shiny, chrome and custom, for this to be anything but intentional.

I was driving down I-84 and the emissions from this guy's exhaust was like a smoke-screen.

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
50. Not too long ago we had a post on DU
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 03:48 PM
Aug 2014

about how this was a thing RWers were deliberately doing. It sure seemed that way to me, and like you described the truck was shiny new in perfect condition.

mercuryblues

(14,491 posts)
55. Yup
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 04:02 PM
Aug 2014

I saw one in Alabama last week. If I hadn't seen the DU op, I would not have known what it was. They are disgusting little maggots. too bad their kids will suffer the consequences of their false bravado

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017201108

IronLionZion

(45,261 posts)
64. "Coal Rollers" are brave revolutionaries fighting against tyranny by environmentalists
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 05:47 PM
Aug 2014
http://www.businessinsider.com/conservatives-purposely-making-cars-spew-black-smoke-2014-7

It's not the first idiotic act of defiance, and it won't be the last. Some assholes derive a perverted pleasure from deliberately making life unpleasant for others.

Who do they think they are punishing?

maxrandb

(15,192 posts)
65. In a way, this is a good thing
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 06:25 PM
Aug 2014

You used to have to wonder if someone was an asshat or not. This removes all doubt.

I love to get in front of them with my hybrid and cruise 2MPH below the speed limit.

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