So, today I was the beneficiary of someone elses commitment to a policy of deferred maintenance. Always a good idea to change out your air filter about every third oil change. An engine is, after all, an explosion-driven air pump, in simplest terms. Factory OEM filter in a 180k mile vehicle...PCV valve glued shut with dead oil - also good to replace every 3 oil changes or so. Two quarts too many in the engine, probably put in because of the noise it was making running so rough. All, ALL vacuum lines brittle and leaking. Had new tires on it. Picked it up for the tires, thinking I would just scrap it...body was in good condition. 20 minutes and a replacement ignition coil (5 bucks at the U-Pull-It) later, and the s.o.b. starts. If people took better care of their vehicles, they will last and last. My silver suburban has 380k on it, the blue one, 240k...the stick Escort 207k. Junked the Astro at 288k (still in good shape, but fuel pump is not something Ill do in a gravel driveway, and wasnt worth 800 bucks for someone else to do it. Both old Caprices went to their graves in the 200k range. Very fortunate to have had good teachers...(never had auto shop, but know some great mechanics...like Merle Hooten (r.i.p.) and Charlie Merla...and, of course, Uncle Russie, who taught me the most important tool isnt in your tool box - its between your ears.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:41:23 +0000
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