A new video: Josh’s Crappy Car: Radiator Breakdown!

My own personal diagnosis? Josh, the owner of the “Crappy Car,” needs to watch one of Jeff Clinard’s (Example: Fuel Time, Episode 012) so-easy-to-do-you-are-an-idiot-if-you-don’t-do-it videos. Jeff makes car maintenance look simple; Jeff takes it lower than gutter level in this video about driving his trashed Civic for the third time while its engine is ACTIVELY emitting – yes, honest to goodness SMOKE! I suppose that if your car is running great, you might get some sick pleasure out of watching Jeff’s Civic smoke and burn, not to mention the entertainment value of his “blast it!” furor (at least he doesn’t cuss) and his use of such technical auto jargon as, “the engine thing” (temperature gauge.) Then, there is his misdiagnosis of an upper radiator hose as a cracked radiator, but it was hard to see clearly through all the smoke so maybe we can forgive him for that slip. As far as the radiator coolant “rain” that he discovered on his driveway, I am sure that Jeff would scan for that sort of thing on a regular basis, but Josh is too caught up in track practice to notice the extreme leakage that runs slimy and green under his neglected car. I’d feel sorry for Josh because he has to drive such a crappy (his word) car, but he doesn’t generate much sympathy from this female viewer because no girl wants to risk having to hitchhike home at the end of a date with the likes of him.

Welcome back, reader. I thought I’d go ahead tell you about the radiator safety video that was recently posted on the site.

In this video, Jeff Clinard gave me a gentle nudge about the simple things in life – you know - those car maintenance no-brainers that I swear I know but sometimes neglect. He has a way of raising the spotlight on these little buggers and reminding me of how little time it takes to do the auto maintenance that can keep me from living on borrowed time. Besides, the thought of having to hitch-hike to a gas station while my car is spewing smoke sounds like something I should avoid.

Jeff reviews the basics and makes them look as easy as they are. I picked out my 5 most important, based on what I know I can do without much effort:

1) Take a look at those belts. (Who knew that the most common auto breakdown is from belt failure?!)

2) Don’t believe some old fool who tells me that my car doesn’t need a thermostat. He’s dead wrong. A worn-out or clogged thermostat can halt the release of coolant and get me into hot water.

3) Ditch that bent or corroded radiator cap. I’ll have it pressure-checked at an auto parts store. Jeff even suggests buying an extra cap while I’m there to toss into the trunk, just in case.

The same goes with 4) checking the condition of all belts under the hood and buying a few extra belts to stow away. Hopefully, I’ll never need them.

Finally, summer peace of mind means (5) looking at my tires. I’m going to get re-acquainted with my spare tire and check in on the four tires that are carrying the load for me as I make my vacation escape. Summer is no time for a slick, worn-out tire. With the good weather right around the corner (negative groundhog report, withstanding) I want to thank Jeff for nagging a bit because it’s really for my own good.

Lately, my boyfriend has been calling me the “Radiator Queen.” It’s not because I harbor some girlhood fantasy about working under a hood with the guys. In fact, until recently I had about as much interest in radiators as my guy had in making duck breast in morel mushroom sauce.

Then, Jeff Wong came along. I met Jeff on a video here at the Radiator.com site following a little lover’s tiff after dinner when I found out how much my man paid to get his radiator flushed at a dealership downtown. Beaucoup bucks, as a matter of fact. It was all in fun but I got carried away and reminded him that he’s a “guy” and should be able to take care of his car by himself. He replied that I probably couldn’t even open the hood on my car. He was right, but I denied it – adamantly! In my ignorance, I threw toilet flushing into the mix. I mean, how difficult could it be to flush a radiator? Isn’t there a little handle somewhere under the hood that you can pull down to get the job done?

I thought about quitting while I was ahead, but I didn’t. He grinned and did a double-dog-dare that I couldn’t open the hood of my car and check the coolant in the radiator all by myself. He promised that if I could do that, he would learn to cook me dinner. ”Duck?” I asked, sweetly. “Whatever,” he snorted back. “With morel mushroom sauce?” I said confidently as I pictured that little flush handle hiding somewhere under the hood and pointing the way to the radiator. He changed the television channel and was off on The Great Race before we got any further.

Fast-forward to the following day at 5:15 p.m. The love of my life pulls into the driveway where I am standing between my car and a champagne bucket. The hood is propped safely open and I am wearing my spiked heels as I alternately sip and work. The look on his face is priceless, expect that this isn’t a charade. It is for real! I have memorized Jeff Wong’s patient, step-by-step directions for checking coolant in his 3 minute Radiator.com video, “Basic Car Care and maintenance.” I hear his voice in my head and I grow confident: “Pay attention to the warning on the radiator cap. Use a towel or wear a glove when you feel the hose because it could be full of hot coolant. We don’t want any of that hot nasty stuff squirting out and causing a serious burn, do we?” I flutter my eyelashes and grin.

My guy is speechless as I push down and turn the cap like an expert, finding that the fluid level is up to the top where it should be. I do the same thing with the reservoir container, which needed a little coolant added to raise the fluid level to midway between minimum and maximum. “I bought a 50-50 mix,” I say as I open the coolant and indicate that he can have a sip of my champagne. I wipe the dot of sweat from my dainty brow. “I prefer the pre-diluted coolant so I don’t need to mix it with water before I pour it in.”

The rest is history. With the $4.69 I spent on coolant, and the beaucoup bucks he spent on his dealership flush, he agrees to make good on the duck. Of course, it will be at Chez Emil next Friday, but he did make the reservation by himself, and I hear that the morel mushroom sauce there is fabulous!

Susie

Since 1925 when the first Ford pickup was introduced, Ford truck radiators have been some of the best performing radiators in the auto industry.  Ford truck radiators are manufactured with the same high quality standards as other Ford parts.  But over time and with normal wear and tear, any auto part will eventually need replacing, including Ford truck radiators.  That’s where radiator.com comes in.  We’re your one stop shop for Ford truck radiators. Or …. do you try and repair the part?

If you have questions or are working on installing a Ford truck radiator yourself, it’s always a good idea to ask an expert.  There’s no substitute for experience, and when it comes to Ford truck radiators, we can help.
Installing Ford truck radiators, whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, isn’t a quick or simple job.  You could try to save on costs by buying one of the used Ford truck radiators on the market, but if the unit is faulty then all your labor will be wasted.  Do any of you have an good links to share with us for installing Ford radiators?

There is always the question of repair radiator vs. purchasing one of the new radiators we sell. If you do buy a new radiator from us, you can rest assured that the part is good and the work won’t have to be redone.  And because we offer our radiators at some of the most competitive prices around, it can be argued that it makes sense to buy a new one because you’ll save both time and money in the long run.

Food for thought.

The Rolls Royce is known for is class and sophistication in the auto industry but that doesn’t stop it from having the occasional radiator issue. Whether it is a upgrade or repair it can be difficult to find reliable radiator parts and service for a Rolls Royce. Trust me, I know. I also know that repairs and maintenance must be up to date and efficient to these vehicles and the radiator is no different.

Essential to your Rolls Royce health, the radiator must be in tip-top condition and maintained at all times. Making repairs with pour in refurbishing fluids and sticky putty’s can only make your problem worse in the long run. Soldering is another technique often used that winds up with a bigger problem in the end and can cause injury in the process.

If you are considering a re-core, think again. They are often more, or as expensive as a new radiator. We have knowledgeable techs ready to help you whenever you need it 24 hours a day. You cannot beat our terms and conditions. We are proud of our extraordinary customer service. Help with your Rolls Royce radiator is a phone call away. Don’t make decisions about your glamorous, hard won automotive beauty without the benefit of our well-informed service techs. Take advantage of our free lifetime warranty and low price guarantee as well!