Background: My neighbor's an idiot and when he was working on my pickup back in September, he flushed the radiator (without asking me, to show his kid how to do it) with just water. He could have asked me and I would have told him no, or paid for the coolant, but he's not that smart.
So, when it got down to 12 degrees F, my radiator froze and started leaking on my way to church this morning. (That's not the lesson.)
I posted an ad looking for a mobile mechanic to replace the radiator and add good coolant. I hope the rest is OK. Everyone who replied was black, and had an unrealistic plan about working on a truck in snow with the high being 17 degrees today. The last guy I messaged did not think about when the sun goes down, and it gets colder / harder to see.
Drain that system asap. Mydumbass lost an engine block back in the winter of 1988-89 in Sacramento when it got down to 28 deg two nights in a row. I wasn’t running antifreeze because it wasn’t necessary. That was an $800 lesson.
Not to add insult to injury, and hindsight is 20/20, but, you didn't think to check his work? Worst case take it to an auto supply store ie. AutoZone et. al. and have them check to level of antifreeze vs. water in the radiator? LPT, you can buy a tool that will tell you the mixture of antifreeze to water. https://www.bestnetreview.com/best-antifreeze-tester/
Don't worry, most of the knowledge I've accumulated in my life happened because of stupid things I've done. Lessons learned are lessons earned.
Are you like me, in that you have enough tools to get you in trouble? I can’t stand working on cars anymore and I used to it all. I won’t even change my own oil, but I have a full rollaway and all the air tools, torque wrenches, etc.
[ - ] iSnark 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 20:20:43 ago (+1/-0)
I am exactly that! I would change Oil, Anit-freeze, Brakes, Belts including serpentine. Haven't done any of that myself for a couple of years now. Hell, I even replaced the batteries in my own smoke detectors. LOL
I don't have as many tools as you, I have the basic hand tools, electric power tools. drill press. table saw, planer, router, etc. It is amazing though, how often these tools have saved my ass in home repairs.
I've got to run now, so I can't finish this conversation, but I wanted to at some point ask you about your C&C machine. I'm at a point now where I want to start building small to medium wood projects, ie. Adirondack chairs etc... I've seen videos on them, I wanted to get your take on them. Useful?, Worth it?, what size/model, etc.
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 4 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:00:05 ago (+4/-0)
[ + ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey
[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 2 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:34:38 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 2 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 16:09:06 ago (+2/-0)*
Don't worry, most of the knowledge I've accumulated in my life happened because of stupid things I've done. Lessons learned are lessons earned.
[ + ] FacelessOne
[ - ] FacelessOne 2 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 16:29:38 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 0 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 16:34:03 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] FacelessOne
[ - ] FacelessOne 2 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 16:46:03 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 16:51:40 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] FacelessOne
[ - ] FacelessOne 4 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:29:15 ago (+4/-0)
[ + ] Anus_Expander
[ - ] Anus_Expander 3 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:59:53 ago (+3/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 20:22:39 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey
[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:36:35 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 20:20:43 ago (+1/-0)
I don't have as many tools as you, I have the basic hand tools, electric power tools. drill press. table saw, planer, router, etc. It is amazing though, how often these tools have saved my ass in home repairs.
I've got to run now, so I can't finish this conversation, but I wanted to at some point ask you about your C&C machine. I'm at a point now where I want to start building small to medium wood projects, ie. Adirondack chairs etc... I've seen videos on them, I wanted to get your take on them. Useful?, Worth it?, what size/model, etc.
[ + ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey
[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 0 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 21:11:50 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Anus_Expander
[ - ] Anus_Expander 1 point 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 17:59:25 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Kozel
[ - ] Kozel 0 points 4 monthsJan 15, 2024 19:46:47 ago (+0/-0)