FAQ

[zeke]

First kudo's to the site. I am more or less a lurker not a poster, and not an experienced FAQ man by any stretch of the imagination. I have gotten much info from this site. IE: info to purchase my hitch from Hitch-Web (I told them I came from Ford-Diesel.com), link to DIS was used to purchase fuel filters and test strips (again mentioned Ford-Diesel.com). Thank you very much! Plus the wealth of knowledge you can get just from reading. I hang out in the PS 99-up forum.

I may be wrong here, but my impression of a FAQ area is: How to's, faq's (with the answers posted), etc.... I also think it should be an administrator only area. I have seen site users able to post in this area (I believe the post starts in FAQ) and then replies in the same area. Almost like FAQ is another open forum area. I believe the admins should hand pick the cherries from the other forums, dress up the answers with their own and other users knowledge and post them in a read only environment. Maybe there should be an area to post items pending FAQ forum submission, along with users suggesting changes if a FAQ answer is wrong.

As I write this I see the FAQ topic "noise" is gone, and does "Diesel 10 commandments" belong in FAQ?

In a nutshell, I believe FAQ should not be an open area where users can post or reply, but rather a read only administrator/moderator controlled area.

Again, kudo's on this site!!!!!

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99.5 F250 PSD CC Lariat 4x4 SWB

[George N]

I agree that the FAQ could have been useful, but it would probably require a great moderator and only should have allowed postings after approval by the moderator. There are so many long winded discussions in each forum that are amusing but beat the same topic to death.
Would a chip void the warrantee ?
Should I use low silicate antifreeze ?
What's the acceptable range of mileage ?
What's cavitation ?

I posted there once because of a fuel problem and there had been a thread going on the same problem for a while.

But I agree that I should have had to submit my tidbit to someone else before it was put online.

[Carpentractor]

I am quite certain that that is exactly what Shawn is doing in his new FAQ page. I also believe he is attempting to verify information that he places in the FAQ and not taking the Members on their word only. He is doing a spectacular job with it and I only wonder where in the he double toothpicks he gets the time to do all of this stuff.

You can always self police your Starting posts by doing a quick search before you post. I believe the search engine is working better now. But if you dont find the information you are looking for after you do the search then feel free to make the post. I try to do this for every topic I post.

[This message has been edited by Carpentractor (edited 07-30-1999).]

[George N]

Carpentractor -
First of all - I relish the knowledge you have shared with us on the other forums.
I agree with you - Shawn's info is great and so is that from the lord of the site, Jason. However, they are incomplete and don't touch some of the quirks of us old flatulences. Heck I did not realize that the newer van's did not have a radiator cap.
This is an award winning site - loads fast, sufficient graphics without overload, search engine that works, etc. I first hit here in 98, the lurked for a long time. I like the information that is posted by you and others, however each newbie, whether he has a beater old 6.9, or is thinking of ordering a 2001 PSD could easily benefit from knowing about coolant and many other basic things.
Dieselman (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/G...9084/home.html) also has a partial FAQ. However NO FAQ is complete. I first started benefiting from (and contibuting to) online FAQ's in '87 or '88 and have gotten promotions and many awards because of the knowledge I mined online.
A FAQ is a good thing - maybe if Shawn asks for a_s_sistance (I did that 'cause of my problems with pet_c_o_ck ) he will get some. I'd be glad to help with Solaris, Linux, or parking nose down, but I have not mined deep enough in the diesel field to be an expert.
ps: how come the second message icon changed to blue ?

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88 E350 7.3, tall conversion, 86K, ~15MPG, sleeps 4 while I drive.

[Carpentractor]

I do understand what you are saying. The Faq is a tremendous amount of work and to be very comprehensive needs to be updated constantly.
Here is something that my Grandfather would say and I believe it applies here: He told me that good men will offer assistance and rarely ask for it. It is the fool who will not take assistance when he needs it. I am sure if you wanted to volunteer your assistance that both Shawn and Jason would be happy to have it. My motto is that two heads are better than one as long as they are not on the same body.

So if you want to get in the pool just jump in. The email contacts are linked all over the place. Here are two more
webmaster@ford-diesel.com

shawn@ford-diesel.com .

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Keith
1994,F-250,5 Speed, SuperCab, LB, 4x4, 4.10's, Stock


[This message has been edited by Carpentractor (edited 07-31-1999).]

[zeke]

Well, I'm glad to see this thread get some traffic. I thought when I posted this back on 6/25 that I touched a nerve (without meaning to) because it went unanswered for so long. I have seen the new FAQ area and think it's great!!!!

I think Shawn, et al are doing a great job putting it all together.

I agree: FAQ's need to be constantly upgraded. I think no FAQ is EVER complete unfortunately. I have sent one email to Shawn about an addition to oil changing.

I believe this is the method to helping the moderator and hopefully getting a better FAQ on a particular subject.

If you notice, some of the FAQ's are there in place holder only, waiting for someone with that particular knowledge to email Shawn with some content.

I mentioned in my original post that perhaps a forum for corrections to FAQ's is needed. This can also be used to submit new FAQ information for the moderator to submit to the read only area. These threads would evoke conversation in and of themselves and hopefully knowledgable people would partake and a FAQ could be ironed out in this area and then be transferred to the read only area.

But, FAQ's can also be hand picked from the forums that we have right now. I have seen many times where someone will make a comment to Jason or Shawn that this is fodder for a FAQ. This does require alot of time from someone though, and I applaud Shawn for the work he's done.

Again, great site....!!!!! Lots of info that has helped me tremendously.

Thanks,

Zeke

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99.5 F250 PSD CC Lariat 4x4 SWB

[Shawn]

I could use all the help I can get!

(My Home network decided to die friday and I finally got a computer up and running tonight. It still isn't working right)

I have been focusing lately on the new model info and ignoring the main FAQ. I have a todo list a mile long and it seems to only get longer. I plan to start whacking away at it in a week or so. I leave NASA to start back at TxA&M in the Fall.

Back to getting the home network up again *sigh*

SP



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Shawn Pryde
Ford-Diesel.Com Moderator
shawn@ford-diesel.com
Have you seen the 1999 Faq?
1999.5 F250 PSD CC 4x2 LWB Black over Tan, 3/23/99

[SmokeyWren]

Shawn said: "I leave NASA to start back at TxA&M in the Fall."

Hey, Aggie! Gimme 50.

Smokey Wren
'61
Squadron 4



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Smokey Wren in Midland County, Texas, with Sierra Blanca - the white mountain of a '99.5 F250 diesel-powered CrewCab
(And right now coming to you from Denver CO).


[This message has been edited by SmokeyWren (edited 08-06-1999).]