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12 Bonehead Basics of Car Maintenance
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You know, That Guy who thinks that the best way to keep a car from overheating is to roll down the window. That Guy who hires the neighborhood kid to wash his car 'cause he’s allergic to “going outside and doing things.” There are lots of ways to be That Guy, but only one way not

to be: by regaining your self-sufficiency and learning the basics about car care. Using STP® is a good first step. And while we can’t do the rest for you, we'll give you a few pointers. Check out the tutorials. Take a look at the videos. And get under your hood. Good luck, and Don't Be That Guy.

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  • Jan
    18
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    Gettin’ Down and Dirty

    Posted in: Who's That Guy?, This Guy Wisdom, Car Culture
    Shaq Diesel
    That’s a dirty noodle.

    Hola, chief. Here at STP, we believe in fixing stuff yourself (as opposed to paying a guy down at the Qwik-E-Loob) and getting your hands dirty while you’re doing it. There’s just something about a greasy layer of dirt, sweat, and grime on your skin that makes you feel like a man. So if you’re not working on your car, we’d like to suggest the following ways to get your mitts grubby and your man-stink on.

    Catfish Noodling.
     
    Catfish noodling — also known as catfisting, grabbling, graveling, hogging, dogging, gurgling, tickling and stumping — is fishing for catfish using only your bare hands. Basically, it works like this: In shallow water, you search for catfish nests inside submerged logs, fallen trees, under rocks, or in mud banks. When you find one, simply jam your hand inside the hole. If you’re lucky, the catfish will bite down on your hand, and you can pull the creature out of its lair and drag it to the surface. Like any sport, noodling has certain inherent dangers. Like drowning. And sometimes what you think is a catfish nest could actually be a hiding place for alligators, snakes, or snapping turtles. The world’s best noodlers compete each July at the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. And if you thought noodling was only for men, you’d be wrong. Check out Girls Gone Grabblin’ to see the catfisting ladies in action.
     
    Eating Ribs.
     
    Honestly, is there anything better than good barbecue? It’s messy, it’s greasy, and it’s oh so tasty. Whether you’re chomping on baby backs, spare ribs, or St. Louis cut, whether they’re drenched in sauce or dry with a nice Texas rub, eatin’ ribs is one of the best ways on earth to get your hands dirty. The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest features the very best barbecue from across the country. Memphis. In May. I’m thinking road trip, chief. And then I will put sweet rib meat in my belly.
     
    Digging a hole in your yard.

    There are many reasons to dig a hole in your yard. Maybe you’re dropping a fencepost. Or maybe you’re plantin’ corn, the most masculine of all vegetables. Maybe you’re burying your kid’s pet gerbil — Mr. Giggles — who met an untimely demise in a freak vacuum cleaner accident. Maybe you’re digging up the time capsule that contains your 5th grade yearbook photo and a letter you wrote to Santa asking for an Easy-Bake Oven. Or maybe you’re burying a mayonnaise jar full of nickels because you no longer trust the banks. Whatever your reason, digging a hole in the yard will get you dirty, sweaty, and get a good stink goin’ on ya. And you’ll feel like you’ve done a good day’s work. Now that’s man stuff, chief.
     
    Mud Bogging.
     
    Mud bogging — also known as mud racing, mud running, or simply muddin’ — is an off-road motor sport where the goal is to drive your vehicle through a long pit of mud. Winners are determined by the distance traveled through the pit, or by the amount of time it takes to traverse the entire pit. Most mud pits range from 150 feet to 300 feet in length. And there are different classes of mud bogging vehicles, ranging from Class I stock vehicles (usually a standard 4x4 pickup truck) to Class VI monster trucks complete with paddle tires and engines supercharged with nitrous oxide. Some of the larger muddin’ events include the Vermonster 4x4, South Florida Slingin’, Triple Canopy Ranch, and Truck Night at Yankee Lake. Is there anything more masculine than driving a big honkin’ truck through a muck pit? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
     
    So whether it’s working on your car, digging a hole, or noodling a catfish, get out there and get your grime on.
     
    That’s it for today, chief. Until next time: Travel safe, live smart, and get your hands dirty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go watch the Girl’s Gone Grabblin’ DVD for the 800th time.

    —RC, STP® blogger

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