Confession of poor wife's car maintenance.

[Zundfolge]

So this morning I flushed the radiator on the wife's car ... last time I did it the twin towers were still standing (actually I think Clinton was still in the Whitehouse) ... oops. [facepalm]

Had to drain it, fill it with the clean & flush + water ... ran it for over an hour ... drained it filled it with water ... ran it for a bit ... drained it and filled it with water again ... drained it and filled it with water AGAIN and drained (pouring water into the radiator until I got clean water coming out). Had to pull the overflow reservoir off and clean it in the kitchen sink. Its amazing how dirty a coolant system can get with two decades of neglect.

I never think of the wife's car since she puts so few miles on her car (I do oil changes once a year even though she doesn't put 3k/yr on it). Thankfully its a 1990 Nissan 240sx (probably the best car Nissan ever made) and the coolant system is way over built for the car. Hell it took 45 minutes of sitting there idling in the driveway to get the heat gauge to move off of C.

[Jamnanc]

Hmm. I used some stuff that was supposed to help a head gasket leak on the daughters car. Plugs were like this after a few months. I don't think I'll be recommending the product.

[zteknik]

Z you should have hit me up, I have some coolant flush stuff at home from work that would have made it a bit easier.

Hmm. I used some stuff that was supposed to help a head gasket leak on the daughters car. Plugs were like this after a few months. I don't think I'll be recommending the product.
That stuff is only a temp fix. If the gasket is going your plugs were probably fouled before you put the stuff in. It's recommended to put the stuff in run it and change or clean the plugs.
I never like using that stuff cause it gums up just about everything.

[argonstrom]

One of my most funny experiences ever:

My friend called me to help him get his car running after he replaced his head gasket.

I saw the blue RTV between the head & block when I first pulled up...

[Jamnanc]

Zteknik, want to do a head job on a 2000 ranger 4.0?

[Jim B]

One of my most funny experiences ever:

My friend called me to help him get his car running after he replaced his head gasket.

I saw the blue RTV between the head & block when I first pulled up...

Any gasket in there, along with the RTV? [facepalm]

[zteknik]

Zteknik, want to do a head job on a 2000 ranger 4.0?
I would, but unfortunately (sort of) I'm booked solid for quite a while and have no room at the house.
If I do get a something opened up I'll be happy to let you know.

[NoahSki]

So this morning I flushed the radiator on the wife's car ... last time I did it the twin towers were still standing (actually I think Clinton was still in the Whitehouse) ... oops. [facepalm]

Had to drain it, fill it with the clean & flush + water ... ran it for over an hour ... drained it filled it with water ... ran it for a bit ... drained it and filled it with water again ... drained it and filled it with water AGAIN and drained (pouring water into the radiator until I got clean water coming out). Had to pull the overflow reservoir off and clean it in the kitchen sink. Its amazing how dirty a coolant system can get with two decades of neglect.

I never think of the wife's car since she puts so few miles on her car (I do oil changes once a year even though she doesn't put 3k/yr on it). Thankfully its a 1990 Nissan 240sx (probably the best car Nissan ever made) and the coolant system is way over built for the car. Hell it took 45 minutes of sitting there idling in the driveway to get the heat gauge to move off of C.
90 240sx you say? Is it a coupe or the fastback? Interested in selling it?

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[Zundfolge]

90 240sx you say? Is it a coupe or the fastback? Interested in selling it?

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Its an SE Coupe that the wife drove off the showroom floor in 1990. It's been garaged and pretty well taken care of all its life (my flub on the coolant notwithstanding) and has about 90k miles on it. She's not selling and plans on being buried in it :p

I'm trying to talk her into putting an LS motor in it but she's having none of that.

[NoahSki]

Wow. 90k miles in 25 years is unheard of. That's awesome, I don't blame her for not wanting to sell it.

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[argonstrom]

Any gasket in there, along with the RTV? [facepalm]

7/8ths of the tube and a gasket. It was awesome!

He also had a '64 Impala with a 327 and Powerglide. One day he drove over saying that it was shifting funny, and I asked him if he did anything to it - he said no. So I we got underneath it and starting poking around (I was thinking vacuum, linkage, etc...). Then I asked him from where he drained the oil. He pointed to the drain plug on the trans pan.

Sure enough, I checked the oil - sure enough it was more than halfway up the dipstick.

Great guy, but never had much luck fixing cars. I could go on for hours.

[jmg8550]

Zteknik, want to do a head job on a 2000 ranger 4.0?

Is it the gaskets, or the heads cracked? I have the same year Ranger and the heads cracked. Very common apparently. New ones cost $700/pair at AMS in Ft. Collins. Depending on mileage, you'll also want to replace the pushrods and the shaft rocker arms. Replacing the heads isn't too difficult, just take your time.

[encorehunter]

One of my most funny experiences ever:

My friend called me to help him get his car running after he replaced his head gasket.

I saw the blue RTV between the head & block when I first pulled up...

I picked up a non running 67 mustang with a 289 in it. The owner told me he rebuilt the carb and it ran for a bit and died. It wouldn't start after that. I got home and pulled it apart, find he had replaced all the gaskets with window silicone. I ordered the rebuild kit for about $12 and it ran after a 20 minutes installation.

[argonstrom]

I picked up a non running 67 mustang with a 289 in it. The owner told me he rebuilt the carb and it ran for a bit and died. It wouldn't start after that. I got home and pulled it apart, find he had replaced all the gaskets with window silicone. I ordered the rebuild kit for about $12 and it ran after a 20 minutes installation.

[ROFL1] I love it!