m MAYFIELD RANCH
MAYFIELD RANCH
MAYFIELD RANCH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
April 2012
M essage
from the
P resident
Hope everyone is having an amazing Spring. It is looking beautiful outside and we are getting some much needed rain. I would like to thank everyone who volunteered in the greenbelt cleanups. Although a few people were not happy with the cleanup, the majority of the neighborhood was. The community looks better because of hard work from the volunteers. Please thank them when you see them. With all the rain around that time we scheduled rain out days, but those got delayed also. The board was discussing possibly making this an annual cleanup, not only for the greenbelts but for trees in community member’s yards. We can have a few pick up places in the neighborhood to bring debris. Look for more details in the newsletter or electronic bulletins. Round Rock will be hosting an Arbor Day event, it is also volunteered based. This year is April 28th at Rock Hollow Park. You can go and help plant some trees (don’t worry, the holes are dug!) and they supply seedlings that you can plant for yourself. Smaller trees acclimate faster than larger ones. They only need about 3-5 years of supplemental water then they should be established enough to live on what they receive from Mother Nature. Below is the Texas Forrest Service website. It has an interactive tree planting guide, tips for planting and firewise information. Remember, fires can happen anywhere, it only takes a thrown out cigarette to start a blaze. http:// texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/default.aspx. Thanks again for the volunteers that helped with the greenbelt clean up. Happy planting! Wendy Csaki, President
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY Safely dispose of residential paint and chemicals at Round Rock’s Deepwood Recycling Center’s monthly Household Hazardous Waste Collection from 4 to 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. Bring driver’s license and your City of Round Rock water bill as proof of residency. Residential quantities only: 25 gallons of materials combined; No 30- or 55-gallon drums Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.
Volume 3, Issue 4
A uto T alk – A sk
a
M edic
Recently my mechanic said my catalytic converter is defective and has to be replaced. What is a catalytic converter & how does it become defective? A catalytic converter is a device that converts three harmful compounds (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides) in car exhaust into harmless compounds. Carbon monoxide is a poison for any air-breathing animal. Nitrogen oxides lead to smog and acid rain, and hydrocarbons produce smog. A catalytic converter becomes defective when too much raw fuel enters the exhaust system—causing the metals inside to start imploding. When this happens, severe black exhaust fumes (smells like raw fuel) and/or “bogging down” can happen and causes back pressure on the engine. Your check engine light will illuminate on your vehicle’s dashboard when this occurs. What can I do to prevent catalytic converter failure? Two simple things: • Make sure your vehicle is tuned up on time; every time. Why? Once the spark plugs become worn, they will not burn fuel optimally—this causes raw fuel to enter and/or collect in the vehicle’s exhaust system. • Service your cooling system every two years or 30,000 miles (contrary to the manufacturer’s suggestion of five years or 100,000 miles. With wear and tear, your vehicle’s cooling system thermostat may be sticking “open,” causing continuous flow of coolant—never allowing the engine to reach its full operating temperature the majority of the time. The driver will never see this issue on the gauge. It’s a minute problem that will cause severe issues to the catalytic converter later down the road. If the vehicle continuously stays cool, the computer wants to dump more fuel in the engine than what is really needed. This again allows raw fuel to enter the exhaust thereby causing catalytic converter failure. Tommy Bludworth is an ASE certified technician with more than 15 years experience. Advice and recommendations given are for your convenience. You should see a qualified, professional when having any automotive repairs made on your vehicle. The Mayfield Ranch Homeowner's Association Newsletter - April 2012
1