SQOD Squad - Stupid Question Of the Day (11 Viewers)

[linuxgod]

Sorry to hear about your water pump problem. Where is Ice T when you need him? “You shoulda had Car Shield…” Seriously, what exactly broke on the water pump? I remember a few years back when my mechanic had to replace my broken plastic BMW water pump, he showed it to me and by comparison, he picked up a used LC metal water pump and said “these last twice as long”. So at least you should never have to replace a water pump again. Maybe start saving up for a new head gasket?

Not sure except when they called they said it was “seized”. The sepentine belt was spinning and it was still moving coolant when I drove it over there (watching my OBD Fusion gauge closely… it sat around 185-187 basically the whole time). So I suspect the pump bearings go out and the pulley wobbles and allows coolant to seep out, or something

I’m not too worried about a head gasket failure. It might happen, and if it does I’ll sort it out at that point, but I’ve no concerns about any overheating, and given I’ve had the radiator done at 76k, the coolant flushed at 110k and the valley plate done at 145k and now the water pump at 161k I feel confident I’m getting plenty of coolant flushing happening in my truck

 

[Zill]

Not sure except when they called they said it was “seized”. The sepentine belt was spinning and it was still moving coolant when I drove it over there (watching my OBD Fusion gauge closely… it sat around 185-187 basically the whole time). So I suspect the pump bearings go out and the pulley wobbles and allows coolant to seep out, or something

I’m not too worried about a head gasket failure. It might happen, and if it does I’ll sort it out at that point, but I’ve no concerns about any overheating, and given I’ve had the radiator done at 76k, the coolant flushed at 110k and the valley plate done at 145k and now the water pump at 161k I feel confident I’m getting plenty of coolant flushing happening in my truck

Agreed, these water pumps are designed to weep coolant before they completely go out and not sufficiently flow coolant (giving you a warning).

You should be in the clear

 

[hbar]

Regarding towing, how do you make it so the transmission never shifts beyond 6th (I have the 8 speed trans). Obviously I can manually shift it and control it that way, but it seems like there might be a way "hide" 7th & 8th?

 

[Zill]

Regarding towing, how do you make it so the transmission never shifts beyond 6th (I have the 8 speed trans). Obviously I can manually shift it and control it that way, but it seems like there might be a way "hide" 7th & 8th?

Just put the gear selector in the manual shift mode, then increase the gears to 6th gear. It will act normally until it hits 6th then won’t shift into 7th.

 

[linuxgod]

Not sure except when they called they said it was “seized”. The sepentine belt was spinning and it was still moving coolant when I drove it over there (watching my OBD Fusion gauge closely… it sat around 185-187 basically the whole time). So I suspect the pump bearings go out and the pulley wobbles and allows coolant to seep out, or something

I’m not too worried about a head gasket failure. It might happen, and if it does I’ll sort it out at that point, but I’ve no concerns about any overheating, and given I’ve had the radiator done at 76k, the coolant flushed at 110k and the valley plate done at 145k and now the water pump at 161k I feel confident I’m getting plenty of coolant flushing happening in my truck

Replying to myself for posterity. Total repair ended up being $1050 incl tax. When I picked up the truck there were three "Good Will Parts/Labor Discount" lines on my receipt totaling ~$149 in savings. So props to the dealer for making the thermostat labor right.

Officially parts were $196 for the water pump and $64 for the thermostat and then 5 gallons of coolant. Labor was billed 3.7 hours and ~0.5 hours. They also added some rubber washers between my aluminum skids and the frame to quiet some noise I occasionally get... no labor charge for that, and no charge for the service loaner for 2 days. So in the end I feel like the amount was very fair for the work involved.

 

[KLF]

Replying to myself for posterity. Total repair ended up being $1050 incl tax. When I picked up the truck there were three "Good Will Parts/Labor Discount" lines on my receipt totaling ~$149 in savings. So props to the dealer for making the thermostat labor right.

Officially parts were $196 for the water pump and $64 for the thermostat and then 5 gallons of coolant. Labor was billed 3.7 hours and ~0.5 hours. They also added some rubber washers between my aluminum skids and the frame to quiet some noise I occasionally get... no labor charge for that, and no charge for the service loaner for 2 days. So in the end I feel like the amount was very fair for the work involved.

I'd like to know how they got 5 gallons of coolant out. Entire truck holds around 4. When I did my radiator & WP, I let mine drain overnight, including from the block drain, and got right around 3 out. I bought 4 gallons and only used a splash of the 4th jug to top off the reservoir.

 

[linuxgod]

I'd like to know how they got 5 gallons of coolant out. Entire truck holds around 4. When I did my radiator & WP, I let mine drain overnight, including from the block drain, and got right around 3 out. I bought 4 gallons and only used a splash of the 4th jug to top off the reservoir.

Yeah 16.2L (which is supposedly the full capacity) is 4.27G. Maybe add an extra half gallon for the overflow reservoir?

Did they manage to get every bit of coolant out and use 4.27G+? Probably not. OTOH if they used only 2 gallons then the $175 discount applied covers the remaining 3 gallons (@ $27/gallon) plus the labor on the thermostat ($85) plus the cost of shop materials (~$25). Either way I feel like the final cost for the work was fair, even if how they got to the bottom line is a bit sketchy.

 

[KLF]

Either way I feel like the final cost for the work was fair, even if how they got to the bottom line is a bit sketchy.

In the end, that's what really matters.

I just wish I could find a place to take my 3 gallons of used coolant now, so at least you don't have to deal with that.

 

[linuxgod]

In the end, that's what really matters.

I just wish I could find a place to take my 3 gallons of used coolant now, so at least you don't have to deal with that.

my garage and the nearby alley and streets probably got at least a few cups of mine

 

[hbar]

my garage and the nearby alley and streets probably got at least a few cups of mine

The Honda dealer near me actually takes the fluids that Autozone won't. And I definitely have friends who have sent spent coolant down the commode. Here's to hoping that our water treatment plants are equipped to deal with that. Or that the PPM is low enough to "not matter."

 

[KLF]

The Honda dealer near me actually takes the fluids that Autozone won't. And I definitely have friends who have sent spent coolant down the commode. Here's to hoping that our water treatment plants are equipped to deal with that. Or that the PPM is low enough to "not matter."

I've asked several shops and a couple of dealers, no takers yet, even if I'm willing to pay a fee.

As we say in the waste water treatment world: "the solution to pollution is dilution"

But I'm on well/septic so not an option.

 

[gasman4u]

I've asked several shops and a couple of dealers, no takers yet, even if I'm willing to pay a fee.

As we say in the waste water treatment world: "the solution to pollution is dilution"

But I'm on well/septic so not an option.

That sucks no one will take your fluids! Doing what’s right isn’t always easy unfortunately! I hate to ask, but are there any county/municipal recycling centers near you? They often have automotive fluid disposal capability is why I’m asking. In any event, keep trying. You’ll find a solution somewhere.

Indy garage? I’d imagine if you’re willing to pay a nominal fee, they’d take the fluid if not for free (assuming it’s not a huge volume). Especially if you’re their customer. Goodwill and all that.

 

[pvchaitanya]

dang, this is making me rethink not replacing waterpump and thermostat when I will be replacing the radiator. (I already did the pulley, tensioner and belt last year). Mine has 170k miles on it.

 

[KLF]

That sucks no one will take your fluids! Doing what’s right isn’t always easy unfortunately! I hate to ask, but are there any county/municipal recycling centers near you? They often have automotive fluid disposal capability is why I’m asking. In any event, keep trying. You’ll find a solution somewhere.

Indy garage? I’d imagine if you’re willing to pay a nominal fee, they’d take the fluid if not for free (assuming it’s not a huge volume). Especially if you’re their customer. Goodwill and all that.

Every town in NH is on their own for waste disposal, each does things differently. My town does not accept waste oil or any other fluids. Even if I found a town/city that accepts coolant, if I can't show that I live there (and pay property taxes there), they won't let me leave it.

I've asked several indy shops and all are struggling with coolant disposal so they don't want to get into the habit of accepting it from walk ins. I did find a local shop that burns waste oil in their shop heaters, so they will take that from me, but they are reluctant because of contamination will make a mess.

We get one day a year for Hazardous Waste disposal at the large landfill (Turnkey in Rochester NH) but they don't accept coolant. It's a huge PITA because there's always a very long wait in a massive line. No wonder people resort to dumping their old paint into the sewer...

 

[pvchaitanya]

Every town in NH is on their own for waste disposal, each does things differently. My town does not accept waste oil or any other fluids. Even if I found a town/city that accepts coolant, if I can't show that I live there (and pay property taxes there), they won't let me leave it.

I've asked several indy shops and all are struggling with coolant disposal so they don't want to get into the habit of accepting it from walk ins. I did find a local shop that burns waste oil in their shop heaters, so they will take that from me, but they are reluctant because of contamination will make a mess.

We get one day a year for Hazardous Waste disposal at the large landfill (Turnkey in Rochester NH) but they don't accept coolant. It's a huge PITA because there's always a very long wait in a massive line. No wonder people resort to dumping their old paint into the sewer...

For those of you in Loudoun County, VA , they do take coolant and other automotive liquids at their waste recycling and disposal facility at evergreen mills rd.

 

[hbar]

We get one day a year for Hazardous Waste disposal at the large landfill (Turnkey in Rochester NH) but they don't accept coolant. It's a huge PITA because there's always a very long wait in a massive line. No wonder people resort to dumping their old paint into the sewer...

What is the point of doing it once a year where everybody shows up, vs just letting the same number of people come throughout the year? All you do is encourage people to solve things through their own means, which generally isn't going to be the most EPA-sanctioned method.

 

[rherrco]

Every town in NH is on their own for waste disposal, each does things differently. My town does not accept waste oil or any other fluids. Even if I found a town/city that accepts coolant, if I can't show that I live there (and pay property taxes there), they won't let me leave it.

I've asked several indy shops and all are struggling with coolant disposal so they don't want to get into the habit of accepting it from walk ins. I did find a local shop that burns waste oil in their shop heaters, so they will take that from me, but they are reluctant because of contamination will make a mess.

We get one day a year for Hazardous Waste disposal at the large landfill (Turnkey in Rochester NH) but they don't accept coolant. It's a huge PITA because there's always a very long wait in a massive line. No wonder people resort to dumping their old paint into the sewer...

Where I live, the local waste disposal company advises for leftover paint, to leave the lid off the container Aussie, and when it evaporates down to a solid, it can be placed in the normal waste stream. Not sure if coolant evaporates.

 

[pvchaitanya]

Where I live, the local waste disposal company advises for leftover paint, to leave the lid off the container Aussie, and when it evaporates down to a solid, it can be placed in the normal waste stream. Not sure if coolant evaporates.

Na, the whole point of coolant is that it doesn't evaporate much or freeze much. its ethylene and propylene glycol which do not harden as much unless they are boiled constantly. Thats the sweet smelly stuff which pets and rodents get attracted to.

 

[KLF]

Where I live, the local waste disposal company advises for leftover paint, to leave the lid off the container Aussie, and when it evaporates down to a solid, it can be placed in the normal waste stream. Not sure if coolant evaporates.

Latex paint, yes depends on how much I'll either dump it out on a piece of cardboard and let it dry in the sun, or I'll toss a few handfuls of cheap kitty litter into the can, stir, and leave it to dry for a few weeks. That doesn't seem to work as well with oil based, stains, etc.

HazMat Day is for stuff like pesticides, cleaning products, or other "unknowns" that we all seem to accumulate over time. It's sponsored by the state, they have a big crew in suits, special trailers, drums, etc. It's always the first Saturday in May for us. I took an old rusty can of Chlordane there once, that really got their attention.

Besides the 3 balloons of coolant, I also have almost a gallon of used brake fluid. Ugh...

 

[rherrco]

Latex paint, yes depends on how much I'll either dump it out on a piece of cardboard and let it dry in the sun, or I'll toss a few handfuls of cheap kitty litter into the can, stir, and leave it to dry for a few weeks. That doesn't seem to work as well with oil based, stains, etc.

HazMat Day is for stuff like pesticides, cleaning products, or other "unknowns" that we all seem to accumulate over time. It's sponsored by the state, they have a big crew in suits, special trailers, drums, etc. It's always the first Saturday in May for us. I took an old rusty can of Chlordane there once, that really got their attention.

Besides the 3 balloons of coolant, I also have almost a gallon of used brake fluid. Ugh...

I guess I shouldn’t have complained about driving 2 MILES! to the local auto parts store to drop off my used ahc fluid. They didn’t even question what it was, just returned my empty containers. Well, at least New Hampshire has Colorado beat when it comes to fall foliage.