The company I work for has fleet of I/C powered forklifts. In 1989 & '90, we switched from diesel engines to LPG fueled engines (which are gasoline engines converted to propane). A few years later, the company selected a "test group" of forklifts to run in an extended oil change evaluation. The test was conducted in alliance with an "oil testing laboratory". The lab had to agree to use the same test procedure on "our" oil samples for the duration of the test. We did not know how long we would be testing. Our previous oil change interval was "Every 750 hours" (using the OEM hourmeter). This interval was in place when we ran diesel and gasoline powered I/C 'lifts. We wanted to determine how long we could safely run the oil between changes without harming the engine. The guidelines for the test were pretty simple on our part, the forklifts in the test group would not have their oil changed "Until further notice". Instead, we were only to "top off" the oil level when we drew an oil sample for the lab every 750 hours. Our 'lifts operate 24/7 with an average daily run time of 18 hours per 'lift, so we were pulling an oil sample about every 6 weeks (where this would have been an "oil change" prior to the test). The lab reported the test results of each sample to our corporate headqurters. Corporate only told us whether or not, to continue the testing of each 'lift, based on the report. At about 20 months into the test, we submitted a sample to the lab that had 10,000 (ten thousand) hours on it. Corporate headqurters informed us at that time to remove that 'lift from the test and change the oil based on the lab report that the oil "was degrading" and it's continued use was not recommended. We were instructed place the unit on a "tentative" 3000 hour oil change interval until the testing was ended on all 'lifts. By 24 months since the onset of the test, the oil in all the 'lifts had reached the 10,000 hour mark. The lab reports on a 10,000 hour old sample was very near the same for all 'lifts. The company ordered each 'lift that was part of the test to be placed on the same "tentative" 3000 hour oil change interval until further notice. It took the company almost a year from the end date of the testing to make all the changes to the inspection forms (for our PMs) and put the new standard of 3000 hours between oil and filter changes into effect. Our 'lifts remain in service at the "large distribution centers" for about 6 years (from the "new vehicle in service" date) at which time they will have accumulated from about 30,000 to 36,000 hours. At that time they are transferred out to "small town" locations where they may only get 2 to 4 hours run time per day. On these 'lifts we change the oil annually by the calender instead of going by the hourmeter. When a 'lift reaches 12 years old, it is sold on the public market. We have yet to "wear out" an engine. In fact, the only engine failure our location has had was due to the forklift operator continuing to run the 'lift after the water pump/alternator belt broke. We periodically check compression on our engines (24 month intervals) and I see engines near the 36,000 hour mark with 160 to 170 P.S.I. readings on all cylinders. Each owner of any equipment must decide what kind of oil change interval they want to use for their machines. I think it is safe to say that most of us can change the oil in our L&G equipment annually without worrying "if I'm doing it enough". I prefer to change the oil at the end of the season. I don't want that "contaminated" oil just sitting there in contact with the works of the engine for 6 months. I drop the oil (and filter where applicable), put in the fresh oil and run the engine for about 10 minutes (to make sure I get the oil "hot", gets rid of the moisture from the cold start up) before putting the machine away for the "off season". I feel that the fresh oil clings better to the engine parts than the old oil for the duration of storage. No matter what the "Oil experts" may say, some of us will continue with our own practices. For the people who lament that we are changing the oil "too often", well......there are some people out there who "never change their oil", so don't their habits offset the overall consumption average??

whiteraven, I made Elderberry jelly last year for Dad. I found that I needed to use the jelly bag/pillow case to keep the little seeds out. They get under Dad's false teeth, LOL. I simply put the berries in a pan, covered them with water and let them cook a bit, then mashed them up with a potato masher and poured them into my bag where they drained for several hours. If you squeeze the bag you'll get a thicker, cloudier product. I did find that I needed a little water to keep the berries from sticking, but I just barely covered them. Then I used the Sure Jell recipe for Elderberry Jelly: SURE.JELL® Elderberry Jelly Makes: About 5 (1-cup) jars or 80 servings, 1 Tbsp. each 3 cups prepared juice (buy about 6 qt. or 3 lb. fully ripe elderberries) 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 box SURE.JELL Fruit Pectin 1/2 tsp. butter or margarine 4-1/2 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl BRING boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling. REMOVE and discard large stems from elderberries. Crush fruit thoroughly; place in saucepan. Cook on medium heat until juice starts to flow, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 15 min., stirring occasionally. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 3 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. (If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup water for exact measure.) Stir in lemon juice. STIR pectin into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon. LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.) Annie

Luckily no one was killed, which is amazing after seeing pictures of the destruction and damage. Nighttime tornadoes are especially dangerous because many people are asleep and not aware of watches and warnings. I think NC unfortunately leads the nation in deadliest nighttime tornadoes. I have never experienced a confirmed tornado, but believe I was in a weak one a few years ago - everything was completely vertical, trees down all over the place, and on top of cars, buildings damaged. It is my worst fear for sure...since a young age IÂve had too many nightmares about tornadoes! I feel for people that live in tornado alley. So it is really important to be aware of tornado watches and warnings. Once the warnings were issued last Sunday, I was glued to the local news for three hours straight!

A couple of sanitary cycles with LCB did the trick on the gaskets. Only thing I had to so was on 1 cycle, I took a cloth to wipe the upper part of the gasket, threw some old towels in (to make a higher water load) and the gaskets are perfect. Inner, Outer, Backside of inner, etc. I must have done 6-10 loads of Sanitize, with 2 of them using dishwater powder and the rest LCB. Next is the outer drum. LCB did break up the top layer of whatever was on it. Assuming it's BioFilm, etc, any other suggestions on what will cut it without any mechanical agitation....Just short of me opening up the beast. I did not have citric acid on hand, so I used up 5 packets of descaling powder I use on my coffee machines. In removed very little bit of the biofilm when using this.. I need something that will do it ~ALOT MORE~ . Trying to see if I can get this clean chemically before I attempt to open the panels up..to get access