The Governator and Me

Today, in an attempt to keep the governator of my state happy, I went down to get my car smogged so I can get my registration on my car up to date. It was a day Mulier-fortis could appreciate.

Two nights ago I was driving over to a friend's house and I noted the engine was running just a weensie bit hot - so I got there, and found I was about a quart low. No problem. I had a quart for such occasions and put it in all by myself.

Today I went down to get smogged, and after I drove up I looked at the front of the car, and there was this fine film of oil all over the front of the hood and bumper. Well, damn. Now what? So I roll on in and he opens the hood -- "where's the oil cap, and there's oil all over, it sure isn't going to pass inspection with an open whatevertechojargon...." I was *sure* I had put the cap on, not being that absentminded as a rule of thumb...but, either a poltergeist had stolen it, or....it had been loose and had come off. H'mmm....so I drove the 1/2 mile over to the friend's house and looked in the immediate area where I'd added the quart. No dice. Called over to the autoparts store. Yes, indeed, they had what I required for about 6 bucks. Drove there. Got two quarts and put one in, and did my best to wipe all visible surfaces that had gotten spritzed. Ended up using the better part of a roll of paper towel. I put a quart in figuring I'd lost at least that much, and got an extra but didn't put it in just in case.

I drove back to the service station, and got the car smogged. Passed with flying colors....BUT on closer inspection .... well, golly .... St. Anthony didn't want me to lose the first oil cap completely, he likes to play with my mind. So he'd wedged it BEHIND the oil reserve. I don't know who was more embarrassed, the service guy who'd missed it the first time around or me. But so help me, I heard Tony laughing his butt off. Good thing too, because that cap has the specific oil viscosity to use right on the cap, and I know I'd forget that again, as I don't have to put oil in hardly ever! When the guy checked the oil level, I was about 1/2 quart over. Sheesh. I must have driven about 120 miles from when the cap was loose and I "only" lost a quart of oil. Wow. Thanks, Tony. So now I have TWO oil caps. The bad part is I was also supposed to get to the DMV today, and that ain't happening.