Bushfix for overheating vehicle.
The next imaginary scenario I want to explore is as intimidating and important as electrical power: cooling.
As you drive along, enjoying the fresh Karoo air, you notice the heat gauge creeping alarmingly higher. This could be a simple broken fan belt or something more serious. Therefore, do not ignore this and hope it will go away. Instead, pull over and investigate. Most water pumps run off the fan belt and will stop working if the belt is lost. Others, like Mitsubishi, run off the cambelt. If you lose this one, the engine will die, risking serious damage. Consequently, never take chances with a cambelt. If it needs replacement, do it sooner rather than later. The cost is a fraction of the possible expense of failure.
Watch for leaks or burst pipes
Watch for leaks or burst pipes. If it’s not a major leak, you might see water squirting from the offending part, like a radiator or a water pipe. Replacing a burst radiator hose is easy. Simply undo the clamps and remove the old one; replacing it is just the reverse operation. However, be careful with the cooling system, as the normal operating pressure increases the boiling point of water. If you open it and the pressure drops suddenly, you’ll be met with superheated steam, which is unpleasant. Thus, let the engine cool for a while, with the bonnet open, while you have something to drink.
Furthermore, fixing a burst heater pipe or similar issue is harder since you probably won’t have a spare. This is where bush mechanics come in handy. First, remove the burst pipe. If the damage is close to the end and you have enough slack in the pipe, cut off the damaged end and refit it. If not, that tire repair kit you bought will come in handy. Clean the area with sandpaper to get a good bonding surface and select a patch of suitable size to cover the area. Then, apply some solution and stick the patch over the rupture. Next, reinforce the area by binding it with insulation tape and wrapping it tightly around the pipe.
Repairing a leaky radiator in the bundu is unpleasant but not impossible
Repairing a leaky radiator in the bundu is unpleasant but not impossible. It’s like eating an elephant, one bite at a time. Temporarily fix small leaks by adding chili powder or cayenne pepper to the radiator. Initially, it will leak, but as the small flakes get pushed out the hole, some become trapped, and eventually, the leak stops. Once back in civilization, flush the system and properly repair the radiator. There is a myth about egg white doing the same, but I do not trust it. The temperature needed for the egg to coagulate is higher, and the particles can block the water channels. In a pinch, mielie meal would do the same job, but it too has bigger particles.
Meanwhile, use plumbing solder for the radiator core. This capillary-type solder naturally creeps into any little crack and crevice as long as it is clean. Plumbing flux has a strong acid in it and does a good job of preparing the metal as long as you clean the paint and gunk off the area. You’ll need more heat than a Bic lighter. A mini butane torch is handy as you can control the heat accurately. Otherwise, the good old Cadac stove will work in a pinch. You’ll need to remove the radiator. Be careful, as some newer vehicles have plastic header tanks, which heat can damage, creating more problems. Should the damage be close to the header tank, use epoxy to seal it and run without your radiator cap. Bushfix for overheating vehicle.
If the leak reappears
If the leak reappears when the motor runs under pressure and you cannot get it to stop, remove the pressure cap on the radiator and cautiously make your way back to civilization. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and stop regularly to check water levels. An engine that overheats can pop a cylinder head gasket and create all sorts of unpleasant problems, so keep an eye on that temp gauge. I am a big fan of aftermarket gauges, as the factory-fitted ones do not give accurate readings and tend to respond slower to variations.
If you find no obvious reason for the increase in temperature, it could be that your thermostat is faulty. The simple remedy would be to remove it and drive without one, but this is not ideal. The thermostat is not only there to get the motor to working temperature quickly but also to act as a restrictor in the cooling system, slowing down the flow of water in the radiator. Without this restriction, the water flows too fast through the radiator and does not cool adequately, causing the temperature to rise unnecessarily. Therefore, remove the thermostat and cut the center portion from the rest. Replace the outer half of the housing and refit. This will provide the required restriction and get you back.
If you damage the gasket while removing it
If you damage the gasket while removing it, it is a simple fix. Any kind of cardboard, like the side of a cereal box or the cover of a book, can be used to make a new one. Seal it with a bit of grease or Vaseline or even some of the wife’s thick night creams. Avoid using silicone gasket maker on aluminum and water as it tends to rapidly corrode the aluminum, creating more problems down the line. Additionally, make a new gasket easily by taking the housing in one hand and covering it with cardboard. With the other hand, take a small hammer or the side of a large spanner and gently tap around the edges. The sharp corners of the housing will cut through the cardboard, leaving a perfect copy. Voila, a new gasket. Bushfix for overheating vehicle.
The secret lies in taking it gently;
The secret lies in taking it gently; you don’t want to smash off corners on the housing, so don’t hurry. Making a gasket in the bundu is not as difficult as people think. If your surfaces are nice and smooth and mate well, you don’t need a thick piece of cardboard. Even a nice thick piece of paper will do the trick. Seal makeshift gaskets with a variety of stuff. Good old Vaseline works for most areas, as does Bostic. Avoid using silicone on any area where it can come in contact with petrol, as it turns into a grubby mess.
Furthermore, another setback that can spoil an outing is picking up a crack or leak in a sump or petrol tank after over-enthusiastically negotiating an obstacle. The last thing you need is to lose those precious fluids. Repair a small tear or hole in a sump without dropping the sump. Clean the area with sandpaper and stuff some Pratley putty in the dent and hole. Once this hardens, clean the area around it and put a bandage or patch saturated with epoxy over it. This should get you back to civilization.
However, a petrol leak is not so simple
However, a petrol leak is not so simple, as petrol will seep through cracks that water cannot and will attack most sealants, winning the battle hands down. The solution is simple and old as the hills: normal bath soap. In the old days, green sunlight soap was the best, but now we have to make do with normal bath soap. Rub as much soap into the crack or hole as you can and keep it in place with a bit of epoxy on a patch. The secret is to work as cleanly as possible, as any petrol left behind on the surface will form a capillary bridge, and you’ll have to start again. Any fabric can be used as a patch, as it is only there to reinforce the epoxy. NEVER try to solder the tank with an open flame; it is a bomb and will seriously hurt you.
For a permanent fix, get a professional to do the work. Welding and brazing fuel tanks are highly specialized and not for anyone other than a specialist. Bushfix for overheating vehicle.
The secret to any situation is to remain calm and level-headed
Ultimately, the secret to any situation is to remain calm and level-headed. Let’s face it, you are stuck, and now it is up to you to turn this situation into another adventure. Therefore, work slowly and meticulously, even if it’s just a temporary repair, as this is your ticket back to civilization. Rushing in and doing a slap-happy job will only result in doing it again and maybe even causing more damage.
Bushfix for overheating vehicle. Workshop, Trailer and Caravan Service and Repairs.
