We are made of water. Arthur Guyton ‘s Textbook of Medical Physiology states that “the total amount of water in a man of average weight (70 kilograms) is approximately 40 litres, averaging 60 percent of his total body weight. In a newborn infant, this may be as high as 75 percent of the body weight, but it progressively decreases from birth to old age, most of the decrease occurring during the first 10 years of life. Also, obesity decreases the percentage of water in the body, sometimes to as low as 45 percent”. (Guyton, Arthur C. (1991). Textbook of Medical Physiology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. p. 274. ISBN 0-7216-3994-1. quote is verbatim, including brackets).

We drink it, espescially here at altitude and more so when we head to the mountains. We bathe in it. We shovel it (think snow). We recreate in it and on it. We apply it to our gardens and lawns. We wash our cars and clothes with it. We add it to foods, and cement and any number of things to make something. It is in, on and with almost every thing.

The Mayor of Fort Collins has designated 2012 as “The Year of Water” for good reason since our very survival depends upon it. And yet we often forget how valuable this resource it and waste it. It is time for us all to wake up and begin to offer water new respect.

We live in an area that was a virtual desert before large scale irrigation projects began to bring large amounts of water to Larimer County and Fort Collins in particular.

This first article will deal with water and your cars and trucks. Water mixed in a 50/50 mixture with antifreeze in your radiator and cooling system allows us to run engines which can reach internal temperatures of hundreds of degrees. Water from our windshield washer systems is used to allow us to see when driving in slushy weather here on on those trips into the mountains. Water is used to clean our vehicles and remove salt and other rust forming elements from rusting out our vehicles.

In the same vein, water combines with iron to form rust and destroy our vehicles. Water in the form of snow and rain can cause us to have accidents from hydroplaning (sliding) out of control. Lack of it can cause our vehicles to over heat. Too much water in the form of snow or rain can obscure our vision causing us to have collisions. In the form of hail, water can dent our vehicles and even break the windows.  In the form of floods, water can inundate our vehicle’s electronic systems and cause short circuiting and rust.

So what is it with you and your vehicle’s relationship to this amazing thing we call water? Is it good, bad or ugly. Send me an email at robc@theperformancetune.com and let me know if you have some unique perspective on how water has affected your car or truck and we can expand this conversation.