What made me happy today?

[ps102]

I think the thing had the same coolant in it for 15+ years

I have a strong suspicion my Corsa B had the factory original coolant. My grandfather didn't drive it much and I just can't see why he'd change it on a 25km engine car.

Either way, you can imagine the situation after the likely factory original coolant sat un-circulated in the system for ten plus years. A picture is worth a thousand words.


I poured out countless such buckets. Any clean liquid I poured in would turn into... this... soon after the engine warmed up. It took a couple of months worth of flushes to get it clean-ish. Now the green coolant becomes yellow-ish and not brown, so, win? No temperature problems, so...

By the way, I did use those cleaning solutions. They didn't do anything. A water hose plugged into the system worked so much better. Of course, I flushed it with distilled water after, and then actual coolant. Rinse and repeat for I don't even know how many times. Hose water is not good for your engine, sure, but it's temporary, and certainly a million times better than whatever garbage it forced out.

I do take my cars in to the shop annually for checkup, but it never occurred to them or me to change the coolant

The reason I'm getting into car repairs is because I don't trust mechanics. It's not that they are not skilled; it's that they get a lot of cars at a time and simply cannot afford to pay attention to detail.

Several mechanics ruined my father's car. The reason he has changed several is because each one has screwed up in some major way. His engine has been put through a lot because of mistakes. I don't reckon it has much life left in it. This post is long enough though so I won't get into stupidly long stories about incorrect oil types and molten rocker covers.

I'm not taking the whole engine out and completely disassembling for crud. Likewise I'm not bother with the timing chain cover and oil pan. If it's that messed up, I'm out. Just cleaning gasket surfaces has made me want to run around the Overlook Hotel with an axe.

Hope you succeed! Let me know how it goes.

 

[ps102]

The actual pump won't work because of that (it won't produce enough pressure for my four-point injection system). But the sender and assembly should be compatible. It should be just a case of: swap 1 bar pump with my current 3 bar pump to the Chinese assembly and hopefully I have a fuel gauge again.

Welp, that was a success!!!!! I have an actually working fuel gauge! All the research I did into fitting a supposedly incompatible part was worth it. My theory that I actually could was right!

This is also another good reason for repairing your cars. A mechanic I asked said he could source a working pump with a fuel sender for... 250 euros... and an OEM one for 550 euros.

It cost me just 60 euros because I used my brain to find a workaround. Great! I can go ahead and shut up about this now and stop clogging this thread, haha.

 

[Homer Potvin]

This is also another good reason for repairing your cars

You can't even change a headlight bulb on the modern American cars without removing the front end.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Welp, that was a success!!!!! I have an actually working fuel gauge! All the research I did into fitting a supposedly incompatible part was worth it. My theory that I actually could was right!

Huzzah and congratulations! *clinks champagne glasses*

This is also another good reason for repairing your cars.

I would like to do this, but alas, I don't know how. =( My knowledge of the mechanics of cars doesn't stretch beyond fueling them up, changing the oil, adding coolant and water every now and then, and pumping the tires when necessary.

Beyond that, I don't know what I'm doing, and if I tried, I'd probably break something ... and have to 'fess up to the mechanic, and his/her first question would be "What did you do?" coupled with crossed arms and a tapping foot, I'm sure.

Luckily for me, I have a very good mechanic who doesn't charge the earth for occasional maintenance. I also know a very good panel beater who can do that work, if and when necessary.

 

[Schism]

Writing epic plot holes is even better with guile's theme.

 

[charlottegarbett]

Baby number two is doing well… and it’s a boy! Even I could tell from the ultrasound

 

[Trish]

Baby number two is doing well… and it’s a boy! Even I could tell from the ultrasound

Congrats!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Congratulations, charlottegarbett!

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Baby number two is doing well… and it’s a boy! Even I could tell from the ultrasound

Congratulations! I am at my daughter's house waiting on her #2 baby to arrive. Ours is a girl.

 

[GrahamLewis]

Found an old, mostly silver, quarter in my change. Looked it up online, then went to my local coin dealer, who more or less matched that price. So I got a mug of coffee and a cookie at my favorite coffee shop, with a bit left over.

 

[Iain Aschendale]

Found an old, mostly silver, quarter in my change. Looked it up online, then went to my local coin dealer, who more or less matched that price. So I got a mug of coffee and a cookie at my favorite coffee shop, with a bit left over.

"That and a quarter of the right vintage will get you a cup of coffee and a cookie."

Hmm, seems like it could be streamlined a bit, but there's a quip in there somewhere. To the Workshop!

 

[defaux]

Found an old, mostly silver, quarter in my change. Looked it up online, then went to my local coin dealer, who more or less matched that price. So I got a mug of coffee and a cookie at my favorite coffee shop, with a bit left over.

Not sure how old it was, but this made me wonder what that coin might have bought in its time.

 

[GrahamLewis]

Not sure how old it was, but this made me wonder what that coin might have bought in its time.

1958. Woulda bought a lot. They called them "dime stores" for a reason.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Found an old, mostly silver, quarter in my change. Looked it up online, then went to my local coin dealer, who more or less matched that price. So I got a mug of coffee and a cookie at my favorite coffee shop, with a bit left over.

The silvers make that anti-clink sound. Almost like... wood? Not metallic for sure.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Almost 3 months without a cigarette. @Naomasa298 you still clean?

 

[GrahamLewis]

1958. Woulda bought a lot. They called them "dime stores" for a reason.

I would have bought a plastic model airplane kit, or two glass bottles of soda, including the deposit, and a penny candy. My father would have bought a coffee, donut, and newspaper.

 

[Naomasa298]

Almost 3 months without a cigarette. @Naomasa298 you still clean?

Yes, although still using nicotine pills.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Yes, although still using nicotine pills.

You gotta do what you gotta do. The worst is after you get past the high and accomplishment of "quitting." You hit that creamy middle where it's like, hey, it's okay if I light up. It'll be a novelty thing like other people do. Fucking nope.

 

[Set2Stun]

It's always amazing how your own brain tries to betray you with twisted logic

"See? You can always quit again whenever you want. So...why not enjoy it a little bit more for now?"
"Just have one. It'll be a once in a while kind of thing, like a treat."

 

[Homer Potvin]

It's always amazing how your own brain tries to betray you with twisted logic

"See? You can always quit again whenever you want. So...why not enjoy it a little bit more for now?"
"Just have one. It'll be a once in a while kind of thing, like a treat."

As I near 50, my over-functioning ADHD brain made an executive decision to reserve the once in a while vices for alcohol, drugs, and high sodium snack foods instead of cigarettes. So long as I don't light up, I can periodically indulge in the rest and walk the light path.