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I don’t watch a ton of YouTube car content. It’s not that there aren’t fantastic creators doing great work — because there are and they are — but rather it feels like “work” when I watch them. And when I’m trying to be unplugged from the job, I don’t want to plug back into the job.
But recently, I started watching a new channel. I’m late to this channel, I know, but I came across it because I stumbled onto this creator’s tech channel. From the creator of DankPods, the Adelaide-based team runs a channel called Garbage Time, and it is excellent.
Unlike other “buy a shitbox and fix it up” channels, the target here seems to be letting the intrusive thoughts win after buying the shitbox. The creator’s co-star is very clearly a talented automotive mechanic and engineer, and it has a ton of Aussie flair that I find amusing.
The series on “The Goober,” a Proton that was the cheapest new car in Australia in 2009, is particularly entertaining.
In one video, they replace the coolant with Pepsi to see how well that works. It still works a year and a half later.
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Later on, with the same car, they replaced all of the engine oil in the car with a blend of Neutella and mineral oil. That didn’t work for long, but apparently the chunks of hazelnut saved the car from extensive engine damage.
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They tear the whole engine down and try to get most of the Neutella out. They don’t replace any parts with new ones, but they do manage to get the car up and running. After a top off of Pepsi, it’s good to go again.
Eventually, the Proton ends up on a racetrack where it runs like a champ. With replacement oil after running on Neutella. Still running on Pepsi coolant.
While on the surface it appears like a car-carnage type of channel, there are some important lessons in it about fixing cars, how modern components might not be as good as they used to be, and the value of inexpensive things.
It’s not for everyone, and I don’t agree with every take the creator has. But it’s been supremely entertaining to watch, and if you’re looking for something new over the holidays, give it a shot.
This isn’t a paid thing, or anything like that. I just wanted to share something fun that I’ve been watching lately.