So, another vacation has come and gone and it is time for an update.
Loaded all of our crap up and headed out for a nice R and R trip. 1st one since the swap, so I'll get to see how Radio Flyer does pulling the mountains.
Note the tool bag that still is in the back of the rig. Turns out, it'll come in handy. I just didn't realize how much so.
With Kayaks on top, we headed out.
Took the interstate this time and had no issue keeping up with the normal traffic until we ended up boxed in by semis and finished the trip to the top at a snails pace.....
Got caught in a gridlock at the 24/75 split (typical) caused by a wreck (also typical). The single fan of the dual summit fan setup that is wired in via switch kept the engine from overheating even though we were melting. Gridlock lasted about 40 minutes. I really need to just stick to state routes and avoid the clusterf*** of the impatient drivers on the dilapidated interstate system we have here.
So much for a good highway fuel economy update.....
Made it to the campground and set up our site. Since I got up early to make trip, I took advantage of a new toy I was gifted.
Went for a walk around the park as the evening cooled down.
Now for some backstory:
Since the LS swap, I've noticed the BJ's replacement radiator weeping just a bit around the top tank. Not a big deal as it was such a small amount. It took nearly 5 months and over 3000 miles to lose 1/2 gallon of coolant. Unfortunately, there are no longer any radiator shops (or armature shops) in my local area anymore, or I would have already addressed the issue and kept rocking the stock radiator. It has no issue keeping the LS more than cool.
So, knowing it would need a replacement in the future, I went ahead and ordered a custom aluminum crossflow made for the LS from BJ's the week before we left. I also knew of the expected time frame of 4-6 weeks, which was of no concern for me.
You can see where this is headed, right?
I topped off the radiator a couple of days before we left.
That first evening (Thursday), I decided to hit up a nearby town's grocery store for "supplies".
As I pulled in I noticed a stronger than normal antifreeze smell.
I got out, popped the hood and checked the top tank. No difference. I initally, thought "no big deal" till I felt a small splash hit my shoe. Looking down I could see a steady trickle near the bottom of the radiator.
"S#!+"
Crawling under, I could tell it was coming from one of the core tubes. My assumption was it had began to leak where that tube meets the tank.
Either way, this WAS an issue. There was no way I was going to attempt the 100+ mile drive home with this leak.
In addition to groceries, the other supplies purchased were a couple of gallons of distilled water and a jug of antifreeze.
I called up the parts stores the next morning (Friday) with the plan of ordering an overpriced, plastic tank model and swapping it out in their parking lot before the drive home. Not the ideal situation, but what do you do?
Their responses over the phone were all the same.
"We
might be able to have you one by Saturday. It really depended if they could source one from a warehouse. Without a bunch of calling around, they couldn't guarantee anything. If they couldn't get one that day, it would be Monday at the earliest, but most likely would be several days before they could get something.
We were leaving Sunday, so the uncertain timing was concerning to me.
Plan B:
Find a diamond in the rough. An old fashioned radiator repair shop.
After searching a bit (smartphones are awesome!), I found one in a city about 20 miles away. He sounded cautiously optimistic over the phone, so with everything to lose, I topped up with distilled water (about 1/2 gallon for the 12ish miles I had driven), noted I could probably make it safely as long as I could haul @$$ and avoid any gridlock on the interstate, and set the GPS for the shop. Wife stayed behind for some quiet time in the early morning.
I got there, pulled the fans and the radiator (tool kit came through in the pinch
) and handed it to the guy at the shop who put it in the tank.
The verdict was a damaged core tube (most likely from a rock getting thrown up by a vehicle ahead of me). It could be easily fixed.
They removed the top tank, cleaned the cores, patched the damaged core, reinstalled the tank, and repainted the radiator.
It looked brand new!
All for $170. Less than half the cost of a cheapie replacement.
3 hours later, I was headed back to the home for the weekend with a smile on my face and no worries over a motor failure due to loss of coolant.
Time to get back to that R and R we came for.
Curious squirrel that would later get inside the Jeep and go into a panic trying to get out. Didn't damage anything thankfully.
Kayak time!
Filled up before we left to the tune of 15.5mpg. Can't really count it as bad due to the extra city driving along with the coolant burp process of the radiator repair and the gridlock coming in. The trip back home was uneventful and relaxing 60 mph Sunday morning cruise on the interstate.
My most recent fill ups was 16.1 mpg.
I have noticed windy conditions seem to affect mileage more than anything.
I still believe that this rig is capable of 18+ on a long drive, but the big factor would be a favorable calm day.
Still, I can't complain since the absolute worst mileage since the swap has been low 15s.
I'll take it!
Oh, and when we got home......
....that custom aluminum radiator was waiting for me.
It was built and shipped in less than 2 weeks.