From Headlights To Taillights: Hitting the Gas

By Mark Kozemko, Johnson College’s Automotive Technology Program Director. Original published in the January 22, 2021 edition of the Valley Advantage.

https://www.thevalleyadvantage.com/community-columns/from-headlights-to-taillights-hitting-the-gas/article_b0832f51-7dff-5e74-929f-bd5be72d3032.html

Over the past eight months, we’ve covered a lot of topics that deal with vehicle systems.

We talked about how these systems work and what you as an owner can do to keep them working efficiently. We also cautioned you about repairs and services you shouldn’t tackle on your own. Now, let’s talk about the one thing that helps your entire vehicle run smoothly: fuel. Specifically, gasoline.

Is there a difference between summer gasoline and winter gasoline?

First of all, I want everyone to know that I am not a scientist — I am a car doctor. I will attempt to answer questions regarding gasoline in a way that everyone, including myself, can understand.

The simple answer is, yes. There is a difference between summer and winter gasoline. As vehicle owners, we have no control over the gasoline we pump except for the grade, or octane content, we choose at the pump.

The octane rating does not change from summer to winter; what does change are the additives in the gasoline blend. These additives change the fuel’s volatility, or its liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse. Volatility is also the tendency of a substance to evaporate at normal temperatures. All of this means that gasoline evaporation or vaporization is a bad thing.

The vapors created by vaporization cause and contribute to ground-level ozone, which contributes to smog and a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems. The volatility of gasoline is greater at higher temperatures, so summer months are more of an issue than winter months. To tame the volatility of gas in the hottest months, additives are introduced to the fuel to lower the volatility. These additives are on the costly side, so you may notice an increase in price per gallon during the summer months.

When does summer gas become winter gas and vice versa?

Per federal deadlines, winter blend fuels are to be dispensed by Sept. 15 of each year. During the colder months, the volatility of the gas may drop and cause a no-start condition in your vehicle. Depending on location, the blend is adjusted throughout the winter. Most locations switch back to summer blended gasoline around April 1. Just remember, the colder the location, the longer the winter blend will be available.

Will I notice a difference in the performance when the blends are changed?

You shouldn’t, because as we’ve said in previous columns, your vehicle is smart. It knows how to adjust to the different blends. For quite some time, vehicles have been equipped with evaporative emission control systems. This type of system stores and reuses the fuel vapors created by the evaporation process of the fuel.

By doing this, the fuel system problems of the past are virtually eliminated. Through this technology built by manufacturers, oil companies, and their refineries, the transition from summer to winter gas and winter to summer gas are ultimately unnoticeable.

I’ve seen E85 and E88 octanes at some filling stations. Are either of those blends better for my vehicle than the regular E87 octane fuel?

The E88 octane contains 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline.

If your vehicle owner’s manual doesn’t state that your vehicle can handle 15% ethanol, do NOT use it. Using this blend can cause severe damage to your vehicle’s engine. The E88 octane is approved for use in 2001 and newer vehicles. Remember, even if your vehicle is 2001 or newer, if the manufacturer does not approve E88 octane fuel, DO NOT use it.

The E85 octane has a large amount of ethanol. Anywhere from 51% to 83%. Vehicles approved to use this blend are referred to as Flex-Fuel vehicles. Normally, you will find E85 significantly cheaper at the pump. The pump price will lead you to believe that you will save money using this fuel. Nothing can be further from the truth. Using E85 in your flex-fuel vehicle will undoubtedly increase torque and horsepower, but these increases create lower miles per gallon. This means that in the long run, it is more expensive to run E85 fuel instead of regular E87.

If it were back in the day when gas was less than $.50/gal, I would run E85 in my Flex-Fuel Avalanche because I liked high horsepower and torque — two characteristics of a good hot rod. With current day prices, however, I’ll be sticking to regular E87 octane gasoline.

Now, before you head to the gas station to pump your gas, check your owner’s manual to make sure you’re buying the right type of fuel. You want your vehicle to run as efficiently as possible.

Johnson College and Mount Aloysius College Sign Articulation Agreement for Health Science Programs

Johnson College and Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania signed an articulation agreement on Monday, January 4, 2021. This agreement is the first of its kind between the two institutions. It will provide students in the Health Science programs with the opportunity to complete a two-year degree at Johnson College and then transfer to Mount Aloysius to complete a bachelor’s degree or transfer credits and continue their education through an articulation. The agreements allow for the following admission opportunities: Graduates of Johnson College’s Associate of Science – Physical Therapist Assistant can transfer into Mount Aloysius College’s Bachelor of Science -Leadership in Healthcare.

Graduates of Johnson College’s Associate of Science – Physical Therapist Assistant can transfer into Mount Aloysius College’s Bachelor of Science -Leadership in Healthcare.

Graduates of Johnson College’s Associate of Science – Radiologic Technology can transfer into Mount Aloysius College’s Bachelor of Science -Leadership in Healthcare or Bachelor of Science – Medical Imaging.

Students transferring into Mount Aloysius College’s programs must meet minimum cumulative grade-point average requirements and satisfy all other transfer requirements. All agreements become effective in Fall 2021. Johnson College is currently enrolling for all associate degree programs related to the agreements.

“Creating a pathway for our students to a bachelor’s degree ensures that they have the opportunity to stack their credentials as a way to advance in their career. Establishing this first-ever articulation agreement with Mount Aloysius College is another way that Johnson College does that,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College.

John McKeegan, President of Mount Aloysius College, added, “Students at Johnson College are building a strong, hands-on foundation with their Associate Degree and are now able to take this seamless next step to Mount Aloysius College to continue their academic journey. We are thrilled to partner with them on these two great programs.”

To learn more about Mount Aloysius College visit https://www.mtaloy.edu/.

Johnson College Receives a $25,000 Grant from the Robert Y. Moffat Family Charitable Trust

Johnson College was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Robert Y. Moffat Family Charitable Trust to support the College’s efforts to perform a comprehensive, campus-wide audit to ensure its campus is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Johnson College’s staff want to make sure that the campus is welcoming to all who visit. It is paramount to the College’s institutional goal of promoting equity and inclusion as part of its Strategic Plan. Identifying and resolving accessibility issues throughout campus will achieve this important goal and affirm the College is in compliance with current ADA requirements.

“While our buildings were either designed or retrofitted to be ADA-compliant, we’re always working to improve our campus,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College President & CEO. “We are grateful to the Robert Y. Moffat Family Charitable Trust for this grant that will ensure our campus is accessible to everyone who is enrolled, works and visits Johnson College.”

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a caring environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912, and is the region’s premier technical college, offering associate degrees in 15 programs and 3 academic certificates. An emphasis on hands-on instruction is supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional business and industry to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

Now Enrolling Students in Forklift Operator Training Course

Johnson College’s Continuing Education program is offering a Forklift Operator Training Course on Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.in the Diesel Technology Center on the College’s campus in Scranton. The cost of the course is $200, but if you are a current Johnson College student or alumni the cost is only $100. Space is limited! Contact the Continuing Education team at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu to learn more and enroll.

The forklift operator training is designed to familiarize students with OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Requirements (29CFR Standard 1910.178 and ASME B56.1), provide current training requirements under the newly adopted standards and to assist participants in becoming an authorized operator of forklifts through theory and tactile testing. 12 hours of instruction including pre-operational inspection, picking up, traveling and placing loads, parking procedures, refueling, and practical operation.

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program distinguishes itself from the College’s 2-year degree programs and certificate courses by providing its adult students the opportunity to improve their skills to stay ahead of the competition, learn new technologies, and advance in their current career. The Continuing Education courses, many taught by industry professionals, are utilized and recognized by industry partners because they’re developed in partnership with industry. The program also includes pre-employment skills testing and exclusive online courses offering certification classes for essential industries. Johnson College also assists individual students and industry partners in obtaining funding or grants so their continuing education courses are cost effective. Johnson College trains the workforce of northeastern Pennsylvania by immersing continuing education, degree and certificate earning students into industry from day one. We Work, so our students succeed. For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

Johnson College to Offer Pre-Employment Transition Program

Johnson College, in conjunction with The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and KANE Logistics will be offering a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) Program to qualifying students attending local member school districts, starting August 2021. OVR is a state & federally funded agency that assists people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, maintain or advance in employment.  OVR offers several Pre-ETS programs, including paid work experience transition opportunities for youth with disabilities, who have a post-secondary goal of employment. This gives students the opportunity to prepare for competitive employment. This program will prepare students to become entry-level warehouse associates, with a fundamental understanding of the supply chain. For more information about this program contact Dr. Kellyn Williams, Johnson College’s Chief Academic Officer at 570-702-8940 or knolan@johnson.edu.

Due to the pandemic, classes for this 6-month certificate program will be held online. If federal and state guidelines are updated, classes will be held on the Johnson College campus on Main Avenue in Scranton, PA and at KANE Logistics located in the Stauffer Industrial Park in Scranton, PA.

Students will gain an understanding of the physical and technological process, along with the safety considerations of warehouse/distribution operations. Additionally, students will learn about facility configuration, storage and handling techniques, picking and shipping processes, customer service expectations, and the overall role distribution operations plays in the supply chain. Students will earn college credit, an OSHA certification and a forklift certification. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to be potentially hired by KANE Logistics.

More information about The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) can be found at https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Pages/default.aspx.

More information about KANE Logistics can be found at https://www.kanelogistics.com/.

Now Enrolling Students in OBDII Emissions Training Class

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program is currently enrolling students into its OBDII Emissions Training class. The class will be held in Weaver Hall on the Johnson College campus on Monday, Feb. 22 and Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and conclude with testing on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. Space is very limited to allow for social distancing. Face masks must be worn at all times while on campus. To learn more or enroll call 570-702-8979 or email continuinged@johnson.edu.

The OBDII computer monitors a vehicle’s emission control systems in real-time and is capable of informing a motorist or technician of a systemic issue the moment it occurs. The system operates through a series of indicator lights, drive cycles, trouble codes and readiness monitors. During an inspection, an emission analyzer scan tool plugs into the diagnostic connector that is attached to the OBDII computer and communicates with the vehicle. The OBDII computer relays to the scan tool whether it has discovered errors in the emission control systems. The emission analyzer then determines whether the vehicle is being operated in compliance with emission standards. For more information visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-education/odbii-emissions-licensing/.

The class fee of $180 is paid to Johnson College and a study material and testing fee of $39.99 is paid directly to the PA Training Portal.

Johnson College Receives $30,000 Through “It’s On Us PA” Grant

Johnson College was one of 42 Pennsylvania institutions of higher education awarded a grant through Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s “It’s On Us PA” initiative. The $30,000 grant will help Johnson College improve campus awareness regarding sexual violence among students, faculty and staff.

The funds will help create an updated curriculum module for all students on the College’s Desire2Learn learning management system. The College will review current institutional policies, processes and resources available for reporting sexual violence and serving the needs of potential victims with a Pennsylvania Title IX consultant who will make recommendations for improved compliance and reporting. The grant will also support updated training for the College’s Title IX coordinator and staff to be sure that Johnson College is following best practice operations for continued campus safety within a climate of proactive leadership

The College’s mission is to be proactive in making students, faculty and staff fully aware of the issue of sexual violence, how to report and what resources are available to assist those in need. Additional grant activities will include a campus-wide It’s On Us program event in the spring where students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to take the It’s On Us pledge against campus violence.

“Our goal is to maintain the excellent record of low to no incidents of sexual violence on our campus,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College president & CEO. “Should the need arise, we want to be proactively prepared to comply with Pennsylvania law. The It’s On Us grant will help us accomplish these goals.”

The It’s On Us PA grant program was created to provide colleges and universities with support and resources necessary to shift campus culture and promote healthy relationships. The grant provides funding from January 2021 through May 2022 to implement strategies on campuses to address goals of the Governor’s It’s On Us PA campaign, which include:

  1. Improve awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges, and universities to better serve all students.
  2. Remove/reduce barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting and/or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors of gender-based violence.
  3. Demonstrate significant, proactive, and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders – including college and university presidents, as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families, and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climate around sexual assault.

Since 2016, the Wolf Administration has awarded 150 It’s On Us PA grants totaling nearly $4 million to more than 70 post-secondary institutions, including public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

From Headlights to Taillights: Skidding in a Winter Wonderland

By Mark Kozemko, Johnson College’s Automotive Technology Program Director

Original published in the December 25, 2020 edition of the Valley Advantage.

https://www.thevalleyadvantage.com/community-columns/from-headlights-to-taillights-skidding-in-a-winter-wonderland/article_cc41b629-9416-5d1a-8818-4bdcbe3ec407.html

So far we’ve been lucky in terms of snow fall and accumulation this year, but as we know, that can change in a heartbeat here in NEPA. The topics of snow and cold caused some to reach out about questions regarding their vehicle’s anti-lock brake and Traction Control systems.

What are anti-lock brakes?

The anti-lock brakes system — or ABS, as it’s referred to in the automotive industry — is a system that keeps your brakes on each wheel from locking up and causing a skidding condition. When wheels lock up and skid on the road surface, you have no control and cannot steer the vehicle away from possible obstacles.

How do anti-lock brakes work?

In our previous columns we mentioned how smart our vehicles are becoming. ABS makes them even smarter. Sensors in each wheel send a signal to an ABS control unit. These sensors tell the controller when a wheel is locking. The control unit then sends a signal to a solenoid that controls the hydraulic pressure to that wheel. The pressure is decreased and the wheel is allowed to keep spinning. This keeps traction on the road surface so you can safely steer the vehicle.

If your vehicle is equipped with ABS and you are driving in the snow, you don’t need to pump the brakes, but you will feel the brake pedal vibrate and you may hear some unfamiliar noises. Don’t let these vibrations or noises make you take your foot off the brake pedal. The vibrations and noises are letting you know the system is operating properly and doing its best to keep you in control of your vehicle. Taking your foot off the pedal will just deactivate the ABS system and decrease your ability to safely steer your vehicle.

What is traction control?

If your vehicle is equipped with ABS, chances are it’s also equipped with traction control. Traction control works just the opposite of ABS — it stops wheels from spinning and slipping. For instance, traction control senses that a wheel is spinning and the control unit increases hydraulic pressure to that specific wheel to stop it from spinning.

How does traction control work?

I’m sure you’ve seen videos of vehicles stuck in the snow and wheels spinning out of control and the vehicle not going anywhere. With traction control, the spinning wheel has a sensor that tells a control unit, “I’m spinning and can’t seem to stop!” The control unit sends a signal to that same solenoid I mentioned above, but this time, instead of reducing the hydraulic pressure, it increases the pressure to slow down the wheel. When this happens, the other wheels gain more traction and in most cases, will pull the vehicle out of a stuck situation.

Traction control also helps vehicles take corners better and make it around bends in the roadway without crossing the center line or having the rear of the vehicle trying to slide around the bend before the rest of the vehicle. In other words, it helps correct under-steer and over-steer.

What is correct under-steer and over-steer?

Let’s say, you’re traveling a bit too fast around a bend, and you go to turn the steering wheel but the vehicle continues to go straight. This is called under-steer. What’s happening is the front end does not follow your intended course. Sensors in the vehicle identify this problem and attempt to make corrections by braking certain wheels that will change the direction and help the vehicle make the bend. This specific under-steer situation usually occurs on front wheel drive vehicles.

If the rear of the vehicle slides across the center line, it’s called over-steer. Again, sensors in the vehicle will sense this situation and attempt to correct by braking the wheels necessary to get the vehicle around the bend safely.

Remember, ABS and traction control work together to help keep your vehicle and occupants safe. These options are standard equipment on just about all new and late model vehicles. Make sure you let them do their job and don’t let noises and vibrations make you let up on the brakes, especially now that the cold is here and snow is soon to follow.

PA State Vehicle Safety Inspection Course – March 1

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program will be holding a Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course on campus March 1, 3, 8 & 10, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Space is limited. The total cost of the course is $200 for cars and light trucks. There is additional $75 fee for other vehicle categories. To learn more or to enroll, visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact the Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

The Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course requirements include 12 classroom hours, a written test and a two-hour tactile test scheduled independently with the instructor. All must be completed before receiving certification from PennDOT. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of payment. Class size is limited to 12 students so participants are encouraged to register early. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid operator’s license for each class of vehicle they intend to inspect. Classes will be held in the Automotive Center of the Weaver Building on the Johnson College campus.

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program distinguishes itself from the College’s 2-year degree programs and certificate courses by providing its adult students the opportunity to improve their skills to stay ahead of the competition, learn new technologies, and advance in their current career. The Continuing Education courses, many taught by industry professionals, are utilized and recognized by industry partners because they’re developed in partnership with industry. The program also includes pre-employment skills testing and exclusive online courses offering certification classes for essential industries. Johnson College also assists individual students and industry partners in obtaining funding or grants so their continuing education courses are cost effective. Johnson College trains the workforce of northeastern Pennsylvania by immersing continuing education, degree and certificate earning students into industry from day one. We Work, so our students succeed. For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.