Miscellaneous desk
< July 30	<< Jun \| July \| Aug >>	August 1 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

July 31

What sort of coolant do I need to put in my 2001 BMW 740i?

The light started flashing but they didn't know which one at O'Reilly and they asked me what color the spot to pour it in is but I have no idea which bell or whistle the coolant goes in and my car was sold to me without a manual and I can't find one I can access online. Any ideas? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.212.70.237 (talk) 01:23, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I was able to download a manual here. It shows the coolant expansion tank just to the left of the fan and below the dipstick. This is not the correct engine but the coolant cap is just to the left of the peeling yellow sticker. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 02:44, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I can't read it from here, but that manual should specify what type of coolant to use as well. I would go by that instead of inferring from the cap color or the color of the existing fluid. The wrong fluid can corrode surfaces in your radiator or engine. I would also suggest flushing the whole coolant system and refilling it with new coolant that you know is correct. I've seen a used car with a vague history that had been filled with the wrong coolant in the past. The transmission cooler partition in the radiator failed, draining all the transmission fluid into the coolant and damaging the transmission. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 17:32, 1 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I don't have the manual. The dealer wouldn't provide me with one. So what coolant do I use? What does flush out mean and how do I do that? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.212.70.237 (talk) 01:50, 2 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The online manual says "never use anything other than factory-approved, nitrite and amino-free extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion protectant". I suspect that you can ignore the "factory approved" part (they say that to get more money for their overpriced dealership service departments) - just go to your local parts store and tell them you want "nitrite and amino-free extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion protectant"...they'll probably ignore what you just said and just ask you what kind of car you have and give you the right thing anyway.

"Flushing the radiator" means:

Make sure that the engine is absolutely cold.
Open the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator and let all of the fluid run out into a suitable container (SEE CAUTION BELOW!!!).
Run some plain water through it for a while to wash out any remaining coolant.
Close the drain plug and fill it up with the right mixture of coolant and water until it's up to the level indicated on the header tank.
In some vehicles, the coolant level drops a little after the engine has been running for a minute or so. You should probably check the level after the engine has run and then cooled down again and top it up if necessary.

CAUTION: The major problem with flushing the coolant is that engine coolant contains ethylene glycol - which is an extremely nasty poison that is very attractive to animals and small children because it tastes very sweet. In most places it's illegal to just dump it down the drain or spill it onto the ground (and it places where it's not illegal it damned well ought to be!) Hence: Although flushing the radiator is a very simple job - you need to get it done professionally, someplace where they can deal with the polluted waste water.

SteveBaker (talk) 06:00, 3 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

book about whys of sex to kids

Is there a book that explains the whys of sex to children? There are lots that either explain just the mechanics or at best, "when two people love each other and want to make a baby..." But sexual attraction, promiscuity, sexual jealousy, etc come up unexpectedly frequently in books, paintings, sculptures, operas, mythology, history, even cartoons, and I've found it pretty hard to talk about. Is there a book that explains why people do these kinds of things to children who have yet to have these kinds of drives? Knyazhna (talk) 03:31, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

What kind of explanation are you looking for ? Just "sex feels good for most adults" ? StuRat (talk) 03:37, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

but it's not just "sex feels good", I mean, "ice cream feels good for most adults", too, but why can't I then just share "ice cream" with anyone? Or why do people expect me to only eat ice cream with one person? But some people get desire to eat ice cream with lots of other people? Why would anyone get jealous of me eating ice cream with another person? Why would people frown on me eating ice cream with 7 people at a time? Why can't I talk about eating ice cream with other people? Etc :) Knyazhna (talk) 03:45, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The main thing that makes a "book for kids" is simplicity. "A man and woman love each other very much" or "good like ice cream" is about as complex as you can put in a book, without it ceasing to be simple enough to be marketed to kids. You may want to instead learn as much as you can (or think your kids should know) about sexology, then break it down into simpler concepts for them yourself. Or, depending on their reading level, give them an "adult" book/article. There has been plenty written about many aspects of sex in non-pornographic, simple language and without "inappropriate" pictures. InedibleHulk (talk) 04:04, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I was hoping to avoid having to write such a book myself. I think there's simple, and there's simple. Good like ice cream is for 4 year olds. My oldest is 8 and is quite capable of much more complex understanding (but, at the same time, is not ready for adult books on such topic). Do you have any links for things that you mention?Knyazhna (talk) 06:29, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Parents' strategies towards children who "have yet to have these kinds of drives" can be either A) the view that moral principles embedded in a preferred belief system can and should be indoctrinated before puberty to serve as lifelong guidance, or B) an intention to wait until the child asks "growing up" questions about Intimate relationships and then try to give best possible answers. Strategy A) might be served by "A book" but it becomes contentious to specify which book, or whose interpretation of it, should be THE book. Strategy B) is best served by the parent accessing the widest possible range of reliable sources and the search for them can begin at puberty 101 - this link is to a page of search hits and is not meant to endorse a specific view at any specific site. On socially controversial themes the parent's responsibility is to say nothing or to have a sincere strategy A). DreadRed (talk) 08:12, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I have a vague recollection of such a book, but can't quite recall the details. I thought it was called "Everything you ever wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask your parents", but can't find it under that name. I do recall the cover illustration was a line drawing of a nude long-haired teen crawling away, towards the sun, I think, which they were reaching one arm towards (there's some symbolism in there I think). It wasn't explicit, all you saw was the nude butt. It was presumably a girl, but could also have been a long-haired boy. This book was mostly about the social implications of sex, not the mechanics. It would have been published in 1980 or before. Hopefully this is enough to trigger somebody else's memory. StuRat (talk) 08:53, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know if this book is what you're after, I've seen some extremely good reviews of it. --TammyMoet (talk) 11:01, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I also don't if it's what you're thinking, but it reminded me of two books I had as a kid. After a bit of Googling that probably put me on a police watchlist, I found they're by Peter Mayle, called "What's Happening to Me?" and "Where Did I Come From?". There's some nudity, but nothing hard, and it's cartoon nudity. They may be a bit much for a four-year-old and too little for a twelve-year-old, but should work for eight-year-olds. InedibleHulk (talk) 03:45, 1 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

They apparently came out with an African-American edition in 1999, if that makes a difference. I haven't read it myself, so not sure if they did anything other than colour the cartoons differently. InedibleHulk (talk) 04:01, 1 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

This issue is much broader than sex. It's about learning to control one's urges and desires for immediate and short term seeking of pleasurable experiences, and balancing this with as much understanding as possible of the needs and wants of others. It applies to all areas of interpersonal relationships, whether sexual or not. This should be taught to children from the moment they can learn anything. HiLo48 (talk) 11:15, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Delayed gratification? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 13:01, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah. That. But combined with a respect for what others want and need. HiLo48 (talk) 03:20, 1 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Great article, I only wish I had been the one to start it. :-) StuRat (talk) 05:59, 1 August 2013 (UTC) [reply]

Acknowledging the good works of others is something I do a lot because it always makes me feel warm and generous and connected. But in this case I'm taking my cue from the article itself and delaying my gratification indefinitely. So, congrats on having a positive influence on me .... wait ... :) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:14, 4 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I once saw this second-hand book titled The Birds and the Bees at an old bookstore. While the cover was well-illustrated, I did not take a peek at the contents, wondered if the story was connotative or just (un)intentionally literal. ☯ Bonkers The Clown \(^_^)/ Nonsensical Babble ☯ 13:11, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I had a book called Piensas ya en el amor?, something like this Do you already think about love?, it was a great book for teens. But I don't know if it has an English edition. Miss Bono^[zootalk] 13:19, 31 July 2013 (UTC) [reply]

How to import and register a vehicle in Iceland?

I need to know about how to import and register a vehicle in Iceland. I'm not an Icelandic citizen. --Kiel457 (talk) 16:14, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Just like the answers to your other similar questions - government websites are the best source for this kind of information. In this case, a minute or two led me to this page about import duty and a longer search led to the website of the ITA and from there to the Icelandic Road Traffic Directorate. Like I indicated in my other answers, only limited information is available in English. Astronaut (talk) 17:32, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Claiming housing benefit and unemployment benefit in the usa.

Dear Sir or Madam, I am from south wales in the uk and I need to know about claiming housing benefit and unemployment in the usa. If I was to go over to the usa how easy would it be for me to claim these benefits. Would I — Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.219.142.118 (talk) 16:24, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The relevant article is Social programs in the United States and the various articles linked to it. I also found http://www.welcometousa.gov/Government_benefits/default.htm which list various welfare benefits. However, this page from the Republican side of the US Senate says "It is an explicit and unambiguous tenet in federal law that those granted entry into the U.S. must be able to support themselves financially."

My opinion is that US welfare benefits are unlikely to be as generous as or as easy to apply for as in the UK. The US almost certainly faces the same issues as the UK when it comes to public opinions about immigrants receiving welfare. Astronaut (talk) 17:57, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Citizens are not eligible for unemployment benefits unless they have (typically) worked full-time for the six prior months and been terminated (not quit) without prejudice (laid off, not fired for theft, unexcused absence) which varies by state law. Aliens on work visas may not be eligible, and may loose their visas; consult with a lawyer. μηδείς (talk) 15:18, 1 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

An error?

Anyone can tell why Bono named the song "Bullet the Blue Sky". Isn't Bullet a noun instead of a verb? Is it intended for somethin specific? Miss Bono^[zootalk] 17:16, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

See wiktionary:bullet#Verb. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:28, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I cannot access wikictionary. What does it say? Miss Bono^[zootalk] 17:50, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

None of the wiktionary entries gives their exact meaning, which is to shoot into speedily as a bullet. It's poetic license, rather than a standard idiomatic phrase. μηδείς (talk) 17:56, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

So, μηδείς, it's like Shoot the Blue Sky? :? Miss Bono^[zootalk] 18:01, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but with an extra syllable and some nice alliteration. μηδείς (talk) 18:05, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Wao μηδείς... that's good to know. Now I can make my own alliterations... Bono is prety good even though didn't attend to college. Miss Bono^[zootalk] 18:14, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

How to install a car alarm and remote start to a 1989 Ford F-350?

wikipedia is WP:NOTHOWTO

The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

I need to know about how to install a car alarm and remote start to a 1989 Ford F-350, for information purposes only.

Vehicle to install a car alarm and remote start: 1989 Ford F-350 with the 7.3 L (450 cu in) IDI V8.

Please answer my question quickly. --Kiel457 (talk) 19:07, 31 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]