MrMoMo
That's not rust, it's Canadian patina...
So... the new to us '85 BJ70 has been a blast to drive. Seems to have twice the power of my '84BJ60 - but that's a separate story! My wife got the uncontrolable giggles first time she drove it - for those of you who said you wouldn't touch this cruiser with a 10' pole, you're missing out!
Drove it up to the cottage today, did a little snow wheeling. Almost got stuck - the snow was quite a bit deeper than we were expecting - and it was my wifes first drive on an un-plowed, seasonal road! (so I got us a little more stuck - and then un-stuck!) (about 10 to 12" of heavy wet mush snow, dragging the diffs and with stock tires!)
Everything on this little truck seems to be running great - starts perfectly, purrs, leaks a little oil..... But today on the way home from the cottage... (with me driving with a much heavier foot than she on the way up) The temps started acting funny. Big (for Ontario) hills, maybe bogging the lil old 3B slightly? and shortly after the hill the temp would rise... a lot. Had the heater cranked as it was rainy and we were all soaked. Never got to the red, but the fluctuations did get me concerned. It seemed that after driving on the level everything was fine. (temps only went up with large loading on the engine) (non-turbo, no EGT)
The first time it climbed high enough to really concern me (still not to the red) I pulled over and poped the hood. Still lots of coolant in the overflow, rad hose hot, rad hot, fan spinning.... everything seemed normal. By the time I got back in, the temp was down to normal again (maybe 40 seconds?) After getting out of the hilly section, the temp was rock solid all the way home.
First thought; loading the engine up - gear down...
Second thought - air bubble - stop freaking out.
Third thought - thermostat sticking and not quite opening properly
Fourth thought... oh crap. Hot under power, plenty of coolant, no visible leaks.... Head gasket..... Please don't tell me it's the head gasket!!!
When we got home I checked the rad over flow bottle - there does not seem to be any trace of bubbles or oil in there. Also do not notice any indication of coolant in the oil... What do I look for next?
I have a few pics of the truck in the snow - I'll post a few up shortly (my computer has been taken over by a 4yr old, so while I wait I have to use my wifes computer - no camera connection)
Thoughts? (not head gasket please!)
As much as my wife loves the truck, I don't want to have to tell her it needs major work before she can really start to drive it... but if that's what it needs, that's what it needs... We havn't sold her car yet so now is the time to get it done.
Drove it up to the cottage today, did a little snow wheeling. Almost got stuck - the snow was quite a bit deeper than we were expecting - and it was my wifes first drive on an un-plowed, seasonal road! (so I got us a little more stuck - and then un-stuck!) (about 10 to 12" of heavy wet mush snow, dragging the diffs and with stock tires!)
Everything on this little truck seems to be running great - starts perfectly, purrs, leaks a little oil..... But today on the way home from the cottage... (with me driving with a much heavier foot than she on the way up) The temps started acting funny. Big (for Ontario) hills, maybe bogging the lil old 3B slightly? and shortly after the hill the temp would rise... a lot. Had the heater cranked as it was rainy and we were all soaked. Never got to the red, but the fluctuations did get me concerned. It seemed that after driving on the level everything was fine. (temps only went up with large loading on the engine) (non-turbo, no EGT)
The first time it climbed high enough to really concern me (still not to the red) I pulled over and poped the hood. Still lots of coolant in the overflow, rad hose hot, rad hot, fan spinning.... everything seemed normal. By the time I got back in, the temp was down to normal again (maybe 40 seconds?) After getting out of the hilly section, the temp was rock solid all the way home.
First thought; loading the engine up - gear down...
Second thought - air bubble - stop freaking out.
Third thought - thermostat sticking and not quite opening properly
Fourth thought... oh crap. Hot under power, plenty of coolant, no visible leaks.... Head gasket..... Please don't tell me it's the head gasket!!!
When we got home I checked the rad over flow bottle - there does not seem to be any trace of bubbles or oil in there. Also do not notice any indication of coolant in the oil... What do I look for next?
I have a few pics of the truck in the snow - I'll post a few up shortly (my computer has been taken over by a 4yr old, so while I wait I have to use my wifes computer - no camera connection)
Thoughts? (not head gasket please!)
As much as my wife loves the truck, I don't want to have to tell her it needs major work before she can really start to drive it... but if that's what it needs, that's what it needs... We havn't sold her car yet so now is the time to get it done.
