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Fuel Tank Rust, Cause and Prevention.

Have you ever looked inside your steel fuel tanks?   You probably don’t want to.

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Many models of pickup trucks have steel fuel tanks that are not internally lined with anti corrosion material.  This means nothing if the truck is constantly being driven, but if it gets parked for any more than a month moisture will condense on the inside of the tanks and corrode.  The rust becomes loose and falls to the bottom when filling with fuel.  The best way to prevent this from occurring is to fill your fuel tanks to the brim before parking the truck for extended periods of time.  A full tank of fuel will ensure there wont be any air gap from the fuel level line to the top of the tank. This little piece of advice will save your tanks, injectors, pumps, fuel filters and wallet.

This happens so often we always advise removing and inspecting fuel tanks when debris is found in the fuel filters or a high or low pressure fuel pump goes down.  There cant be anything worse than repairing a problem and immediately contaminating new expensive fuel system components.

Have you experienced this concern before?

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Google in Your Tool Box

Most modern technicians will use many different tools and techniques to diagnose and repair various symptoms on a daily basis.  Since most repair facilities take in more than one type of vehicle, it is important to be flexible.  One tool stands out to be the most flexible, the internet.

Using the internet for advice can at times be fickle.  Not all of the information you find is applicable!  Forums and threads can be misleading.

Certain things can be quick and easy to find like DTCs, fluid capacities, cylinder identification, component location, part numbers, prices, diagrams, and fuse locations.

SAM_2550

How useful is the internet to your daily routine?

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300,000 Miles and Beyond

How did you achieve your 300,000+ mile merit badge?  You may have driven conservatively and maintained your truck regularly, or maybe you didn’t.  We see many 300k + mile vehicles and they have either been taken care of, or completely neglected.   What kind of high mileage truck do you own?

We would like YOUR input on this topic if you love your mature vehicle.

SAM_2537

 

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2010 Dodge 6 Speed Explosion, Southbend Dual Disc Clutch Failure?

Its hard to believe that a Southbend Dual Disc Clutch would fail and damage a G56 transmission.  These transmissions have been known to fracture the case while pulling a sled or lots of weight. There is even a steel brace available to strengthen this known weak spot.  However, there is no product available to keep this from occurring.

While investigating a grinding noise on a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 a customer was concerned with, the technician found a couple of very interesting things that prompted us to dig further and remove the transmission assembly.  What we found was nothing short of apocalyptic. The understanding we have accepted for the failure, was that the center section of the dual disc assembly seperated the locating lobes and the pieces from that damaged the transmission case and engine-to-transmission adapter. What do you think?  We will try to have this case repaired by an aluminum welder, but there are no guarantees in life.

Don Harbaugh – STL Diesel

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Practicle Jokes, 10 Safe Ways To Stir Things Up + 10 Unsafe Ways.

Every job has its difficulties, and auto/diesel repair is riddled with them.  One way to offset this dark element of employment is to commence practical joking.  Many technicians prefer not to disturb their cohorts while working, but there are moments of the day that aren’t filled with diagnostic or repairs.  This time can be used constructively, or not.  Here are ten things I have seen in a shop environment that would be considered the most common and relatively SAFE ways to stir things up.

  1. Grease under tool box or car door handles.
  2. Reorganization of tools in others tool boxes.
  3. Throw a charged capacitor to an unsuspecting operator.
  4. Actuating a car horn at inopportune moments.
  5. Blowing up a coolant or oil jug under someones tool box using shop air.
  6. Closing a hood on some one in a compromising position.
  7. Pulling strategic fuses in a vehicle to exhibit acute symptoms.
  8. Covertly drop a tailgate on a truck backing up.
  9. Long zip ties attached to driveshaft.
  10. Use a rack to lift a large tool box high off the ground.

These next ones should NOT be performed by anyone, but have been documented as “Impractical Jokes”

  1. Brake clean torch
  2. Air bag discharge
  3. Acetylene contained in a bag or balloon. (cant say how it works, or how to do it)
  4. Use silicone to adhere tires to the ground.
  5. Baby oil in washer solvent tank.
  6. Detaching an automatic transmission’s linkage.
  7. Open cans of tuna under a cars seat.
  8. Disconnect inner door handle linkage on vehicle.
  9. Remove schrader valves from tires or fuel system.
  10. Baby powder in air vents.

It should be assumed that retaliation would be acceptable if you perform any of these against your peers.  Be warned that payback is a Bi#ch.

Do you have any practical jokes, if so please comment.

SAM_2511
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Shop Music, Line in The Sand? Will Streaming Music Make Things Easier?

If you have ever visited an independent shop or dealer’s garage and heard faint sounds of a familiar local FM station playing, bet your self someone in that building HATES it.  The choice in music is personal and can be the most important detail to the days productivity.  I have found no other single object that exists in a shop that is more sensitive to altercation than the radio.

Most shops now have a wide spectrum of technicians ranging from late teens to late 60’s.  Settling on a station that satisfies the whole rowdy group IS an impossibility.  I am from St Louis Missouri and bias to the variety we have here.  The rural areas of this beautiful country may have fewer options to contend with.

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OLDIES – Rock and Classics – 1960-1990 (MOST COMMON)

Oldies rock seems to be the least intrusive on listeners with easy instrumentals and words everyone knows.  However an oldies rock station is very repetitive, because there cannot be any new old hits.  After about a four week period of this redundant commercial ridden rock opera, the technicians may need a change of pace.  A brave soul will comb the FM band for something new, eventually landing on an alternative rock station.

ALTERNATIVE ROCK – Metal, Emo, Grunge, Punk, Party Hits – 1991-Current

Alternative Rock in a shop environment has a faster pace and is easily adopted after the oldies have played out.    The rhythm of alternative rock generally keeps things moving in the shop.  A station like this will play for as long as there isn’t TOO much heavy metal in succession, this will get the station changed to country music faster than the speed of sound.

Country – 1960 – Current

The twangy sounds of country music can be uplifting and widely accepted into most skilled trade environments.  Soft melodies and a slower tempo allows for clarity of thought and attention to detail.  This type of music is relatively inert and the least capable of causing an argument with fellow technicians, but will be changed none the less.

When the trend of “radio station retaliation” appears in a shop, you can bet its going to end on a Rap or Pop station before the radio magically breaks and works no longer.

The point is music is very personal to the listener, and can expose emotions of distaste towards others choice in melody.  The internet now offers a wide variety of streaming music providers with an infinite combination of songs.  Using abilities like “disliking” a song will ban it from playing indefinitely, and “liking” a song will ensure you will hear it more often.  From this platform a group of individuals, who ever they are can come up with a playlist that will hopefully narrow the gap between background music fans.  Or ignite a structure fire.

Is your work radio bickered over?  What is the “Line in the Sand” for you?

Don Harbaugh

STL Diesel

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Truck and Tractor Pulls and Dyno Events. The History.

Every wonder why we get so excited about Dyno events and Truck and Tractor Pulls?  We did a little research and found that it has been a staple Pride and Power competition for over a hundred years.  Even the sled we pull down the dusty track has its roots in the late 1800’s.

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Thanks to the Spanish and early settlers, we had an abundance of animals that were bred in order for this sport to evolve.  The native horses of the North American continent were long extinct before modern civilization took up residence.

After European horses were bred larger and larger, farmers would compare horses pulling heavy loads over a set distance.  They would use things such as loaded hay carts, wagons, flat boards or skids would have a horse hitched to it. Today, fixed weights on sleds are dragged for a set distance and weight is added in successive rounds.

It wasn’t until 1929 that motorized vehicles were put to use in the first events at Vaughansville, MO.  Although the sport was then recognized, it did not become popular until the ’50s and ’60s.

The growing popularity of the sport caused the creation of the new 4×4 division in 1976, which captured a larger fan base.  Today the 4-wheel drive division is one of the most popular with the success of passenger and light duty trucks.  Now more and more counties and groups are organizing these events, growing the sport further into history.

The Truck and Tractor Pulls are on Saturday.  Hope this article adds to your enthusiasm.

http://jeffersoncountyfair.net/

http://stldiesel.com/

Don Harbaugh

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cited wikipedia