[alfa] Re: Quarts, pints, litres etc

[TJCallahan@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 9/10/03 12:09:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time, John writes:

<snip>
> Seems to me when using units you should use the smallest one.  Nobody says "
> half a hundred" they call it "fifty".  Maybe it is an American thing?  What 
is the 
> correct unit for a half gallon?  Two quarts or 4 pints? 
<snip>

Loved this post! Had me chuckling at my desk.

Ummm, we call it a "half-gallon." Not terribly inventive, are we?

But then, most of the common use liquids that come in gallon containers 
around here also come in 'half-gallon' containers, quart containers, pint 
containers, and half-pint containers. Conventions are strange sometimes - when I was an 
engineer, I learned to start technical discussions by defining the terms to 
be used. It saved an enormous amount of time.

My theory on why people say to pour a 'half-quart' in the upper engine is 
that typically the oil comes in quart containers and people really want about 
'half a container' of oil. I can't imagine the exact quantity in the upper part 
is all *that* critical, you really need only enough to lube the cams & 
followers until the engine fills it to the proper level.

On another topic, I've always wondered why the Brits refer to perfectly good 
vacuum cleaners as "Hoovers" when the generic term works well and gives a good 
understanding of the machine's function in its name? :-)

As Mr. Hertzman says ... enjoy yours.

Tom (who uses a lot of idiosyncratic shorthand in his signature block)
Seattle (or close enough)
6310123 (1963 Giulia Spider)
7711615 (1977 Alfetta GT/GTV/Sprint Veloce - the identity crisis machine)
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