Tune Ups!

As requested, another car lot story.

Diesel powered cars and light pickups were offered by car manufacturers during model years 1984-86 plus or minus a year or so. Ford put them in Escorts, Rangers, Tempos, and Lincoln Marks. These were mainly sold in the Northwest Region. Soon, they were in the used car inventory.

We had a diesel powered Escort. I had a young airman come on the lot looking for cheap, and good economy. He could drive a stick.  Off on a test drive in the Escort, he decided he liked it. Cash changed hands and he was preparing to leave with his “new” car.

“Yeah”, he said. “I’ll stop at NAPA and get a tune up kit so it will idle smoother.”

WTF? On the front fenders was a chrome decal saying “diesel”. On the instrument cluster was printed, “diesel fuel only”.  During the test drive, I had explained the function of the “Wait to Start” light, i.e, glow plugs. Under the fuel cap were the words “Diesel Fuel Only”.

“Partner,”  I thought to myself. “If you are so damn dumb you don’t know you bought a diesel, you deserve what you get.”

I just smiled, thanked him for his business, and watched him drive off, knowing that later he would blame the evil car salesman who took advantage of him.