THE DAY THAT I THOUGHT MY TRUCK MAY BE DYING
I understand that when some people look at my truck, they may think it's already dead.
While it may not be pretty, it still gets the job done... or at least most of the time. Recently it started leaking anti-freeze, and I thought that I might be losing it. Thanks to a few steemians though, the beast lives!
HELP!
On a recent trip back from Missouri, the heat cut out on our truck. It was a colder night and suddenly the vents stopped blowing hot air and everything started to get colder. Soon I had @bluerthangreen on the phone and he said the most likely cause was low coolant. Sure enough, I was low on coolant, so I filled it back up and the heater began to work once again. But, since there was still a leak, it didn't really solve my issue.
Thankfully, the @mobile-joat was on his way over to our neck of the woods within the next day or so anyway, so we were able to have someone look at it almost immediately. While he hasn't suggested that I replace the truck yet, it seems that may be his goal, because piece by piece we are replacing it!
This time it was the radiator and the water pump. This issue had been around for a while, and the recent increase in leaking only made it worse. The first thing that I learned from this ordeal was that low coolant can lead to a loss of heat inside the vehicle. The second thing was that low coolant may lead to an overheated water pump. This also is not good.
You can see here that the new water pump at least looks better than the old one. I've seen these parts under the hood before, but I didn't really know the names of a lot of them, so at least I am now learning more too.
Here is the old radiator. It didn't take a mechanic to know that it was leaking, but it did take one to replace it! Thanks @mobile-joat!
Just look at that shiny new radiator! Not only will I not have to deal with it leaking, I've got the peace of mind that new parts brings. Plus, @mobile-joat came to me and I didn't have to take it anywhere to get it looked at. As I usually like to these days, I tried to absorb as much of the process that I could by watching everything that he did each step of the way. Who knows when I might have to fend for myself one day?
This was the third thing that I learned. Notice how @mobile-joat has the jug of coolant tipped sideways. By holding the jug this way you reduce the chances of spilling it everywhere. He took one look at me attempting to do it and immediately showed me the correct way. While I still might not be able to replace my own parts, at least I can properly pour a jug of coolant now!
Just in case any of you missed it and wanted to know a little more about @mobile-joat, here is an interview that I did with him last month. He's a great friend and a very capable man, so we enjoy hanging out when we can, even if I've got to pay him to work on my truck just to get him to come over!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-needing-help-with-things-like-this
Until next time…
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Gone are the days where i would suggest to anyone to replace their truck with a new one. The new ones are far less serviceable and often far less of a truck.
Water pumps and radiators are really easy to replace. And often need to be replaced, as they are fragile. (and filled with water) So, i do not consider them to be very much of indicator that there is any problem with the rest of the vehicle.
"Gone are the days where i would suggest to anyone to replace their truck with a new one. The new ones are far less serviceable and often far less of a truck." <--- Yep.
Cool! Thanks for that (as always) - I agree!
Radiator AND water pump, what a day. Atleast you drive a bigger car with a nice lofty engine bay to replace all of those items. How many hours did it take and how many miles on the truck?
Its more green to keep an old car running then it is to buy a new one, so kudos to you!
About 300,000 miles and just a couple hours of work.
thats half ton of miles for sure. drive that thing into the ground!
I'll drive it on the ground until I drive it into the ground!
The joy of owning an old vehicle and it so pay's to have a friend who's a mechanic :)
That it does! We are blessed by knowing @mobile-joat!
new things always bring a sense of happiness..
I'm exceedingly glad for you sir.
And as its well stated : it's not how fast, it's how well.
So if the car is running fine, it's always the best.
Thanks @mobile-joat for helping out @papa-pepper
Hahahahahaha .
Dont be worry you will learn all parts and major issues time by time .
Truck is good . its not looking deadly lolx..
@papa-pepper your photos are good .
And its very helpful to you having that much talented and good friends to help you out .
You are lucky .
Keep enjoying your life . best of luck
That radiator looks great hehe. Good job @mobile-joat :)
Wow, you are lucky to have people to come around to work on you truck. I wish I have friends that can do that for me too
great one post....great photography...carry on
Did you learn anything about mechanics? Thanks for the tips, for me that I'm a woman I used to be a mess with my car, at least I learned to keep the coolant level up to date.
It's like an auto parts store commercial! :D