I'm baaaack...

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Might the flaw here be getting the aunt to Costa Rica? Had a mini war with mom and she never left town, or is this pertaining to just you?

Hmmm $17,500 is a wee bit more than I get from social security

Costa Rica was just an example of how much cheaper medical care is outside of the USA. My Aunt has no desire to go to Costa Rica or even leave town. She wants to stay in her home and has the funds to do so - for now.

On the other hand I want to see a lot more of the world to see before I pass.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

Costa Rica was just an example of how much cheaper medical care is outside of the USA.

Reminds me the day a Japanese immigrant told me it was a common practice for old Japanese people to get cataract surgeries in São Paulo, as it was much more affordable than in Japan and there are still some Japanese-speaking folks to help them around while they're in Brazil for medical treatment.

[redpoint5]

Brakes are good. Probably need to flush the coolant. Worried heater core might not be in good shape considering slightly sweet smell and slightly low coolant levels. For that matter I probably need to flush the ATF and gear oil, and grease the zerk fittings. She's 500 miles from turning 100k. Not too many for a 2003.

Acura is at my parents now, and this is what I'll drive once a month when both vehicles are needed at the same time.





Plates are 3 years expired, but my neighbor has his patrol vehicle parked on the street. Not going to be an issue until Oregon figures out how to enter information into a computer.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I don't remember having ever felt any weird smell on any car with a leaky heater core, yet in a nearly 20-years old truck it's worth to take a look.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I don't remember having ever felt any weird smell on any car with a leaky heater core, yet in a nearly 20-years old truck it's worth to take a look.

Probably my imagination run wild after seeing rust in the coolant bottle. Also there's an air freshener in the vent, and I upholstery cleaned the interior, and Armoraled the interior surfaces, so lots of various smells in there.

I picked up some knockoff Dexcool today, but I read this is an inferior formulation that can cause gaskets to prematurely fail, so I'm wondering if I should flush and fill with the green stuff instead?

Replaced interior lights with LEDs, so it's a bit brighter and won't kill the battery if left on. I had bought a bag of 100 wedge style LEDs for dirt cheap a while back, so I just replace all interior lights on vehicles when they pass through my garage. I've got LED headlights on order, so we'll see how they do. Since the headlights run run all the time (daytime running lights), they burn out frequently. LEDs should eliminate that annoyance.

Don't want to put too much into it, as I probably only have until April to drive her. The half tank of gas is probably 5 years old, so I want to get through that and put fresh stuff in.

Took my daughter for a country drive today which was enjoyable. We listen to the radio and I tell her the band/artist, and name of the song. She kept thinking we could just play anything we wanted, and I had to keep saying that's not how radios work. Eddie Money wasn't playing.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Don't want to put too much into it, as I probably only have until April to drive her.

What are you going to do with the truck after that?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

What are you going to do with the truck after that?

I'm a sentimental fool, so if left to me I'd drive her whenever I could get away with it, until grandmother dies, and then assume ownership. Then I'd add her to my collection of too many vehicles.

I learned recently that I've got a 25% stake in the estate, which I never thought about. Always wanted to make my own way, but honored to be trusted with such a gift.

My wife has memories of grandfather picking us up, and she cramming into the jump seat at 6'1" tall. I'm 6'2" and have plenty of memories on that jump seat. I'm thankful she got to meet him, but only sad my firstborn never met. Grandfather wasn't an especially warm man, and based on the lack of talk from his offspring not an honorable person, but I only know him as generous, intelligent, fair, and expecting excellence.

For some reason things mark important life events for me, and letting go of those things is akin to letting go of those memories.

At any rate, the truck I could barely convince the girl take a ride with me in is now an object she requests. There will be more rides in the old truck, we will discover the classics, and the legacy will go forth into the future.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I picked up some knockoff Dexcool today, but I read this is an inferior formulation that can cause gaskets to prematurely fail, so I'm wondering if I should flush and fill with the green stuff instead?

You should fill it with the coolant specified in the owner's manual or service manual. Color is not an indication of the type of coolant and varies from brand to brand. Yes, the wrong coolant can destroy your cooling / HVAC system.

[Piotrsko]

Yup I got 10 gallon of premix psuedo dexcool that is orange, can't use it in anything, cant even give it away.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Yup I got 10 gallon of premix psuedo dexcool that is orange, can't use it in anything, cant even give it away.

I should have told you I could use a hand removing the yoke from my truck, and while you're at it, bring the orange stuff.

I bought 2 gallons of the full strength stuff, so I'll have to get some distilled water and cut it. I'd be willing to pay a small premium for the premixed stuff, but not nearly twice. I think it was $10 for the 50/50 stuff, and $12 for full strength. Should be more like $7-8 for the mix.