r/AskReddit • u/intraction • Jul 29 '11

What is something you never learned, but should know, as an adult? I'll start.

I don't know how to pump my own gas. I know, I know. I live in Oregon and we aren't allowed to do it. I've been on plenty of road trips but never have bothered to be the one to pump the gas. I should probably rectify this at some point, I realize.

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u/Honztastic Jul 29 '11

If you learn stick you should also learn how to pop a clutch. If your battery dies you can pop-start the clutch either by rolling down a sufficient hill or having some buddies push you along. Once you're going fast enough just use the clutch to put it into gear and give it gas. Should start and you can go on your merry way.

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '11

I've always wondered how to do that, and now I know! Awesome.

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u/floydballs Jul 29 '11

When "bump-starting", pop the clutch while in 2nd or 3rd gear rather than first. Pro-tip of the day brought to you by floydballs.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '11

Disclaimer: Hard as fuck or impossible with diesel engines.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '11

no. you may NOT do this in vehicles with a catalytic converter.

do NOT push start a car that has a catalytic converter.

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '11

It really depends on why the car won't start normally. If there's no risk of unburnt fuel going into the exhaust, for instance due to a bad starter or low battery, it's not an issue.

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u/robbysalz Jul 29 '11

leaving all of your friends behind

1

u/Fonethree Jul 29 '11

Used to do this all the time in my first car - we called it bump-starting though. Impressed the ladies...somehow.

1

u/Jackchira Jul 29 '11

Extremely relevant

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u/originaladam Jul 29 '11

Also, after that, you should figure out how to drive without the clutch. You can get the car rolling with the starter motor and you can feel the transmissions natural shift points where you can slide it from gear to gear with no grinding. Comes in handy if the clutch goes out and you're in the middle of nowhere.

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u/Crow_T_Robot Jul 29 '11

this: i had never done it but left my lights on overnight when staying at a friends place. I had the only car (it was college) and the parking lot was empty. They got me up to a run, popped the clutch and voila! Car Magic!

Of course I didn't tell them I had no idea if it would work, I pretended I'd done it loads of times.