Where's AJ #15

[AJs Human]

We're sitting on the outskirts of a town Harry Chapin referred to in a song titled after a tropical fruit.

We made it down the hill just fine in spite of all the falling snow and slippery roads and didn't take out any one of the fourteen neatly parked cars.

Looks like we might be here a while: our truck isn't feeling very well. It either needs a new head gasket or we will have to replace a cracked head. We won't know until Detroit Diesel has a look at it on Monday.

[thunderbird8588]

Oh dear sounds like you have problems Hope you manage to get the truck fixed on Monday

[nobarkus]

Sorry to hear that Ms AJ's Human. I know where you are but I'll stay out of it. Sending good vibes your way that it's not a serious problem.

[Basenjimamma]

I am sending happy quick fix vibes as well…hope you will be on your way in no time and with a small dent in your wallet..rather then large..

[AJs Human]

Luckily, I have a really good warranty on the truck. As far as money is concerned, I will only have to pay for shop supplies like antifreeze and gasket glue. I'm hoping it's a blown gasket because it's less time and in this business, time is money. If it's a cracked head, as I suspect from my experience with this truck, they will have to order the head and have it shipped. You can't just mail a 500 pound head for a huge diesel engine. Either way the whole top end of the motor will have to be torn down.

The reason I suspect a cracked head is I've always lost water since I had it to a shop in Denver last year. Also, it has always run just a little rough and not quite had the power it is supposed to. When I had it to the shop in Denver, they did something dumb and broke another part that came loose and rattled around inside the head for about 15 minutes. Since there is such a tremendous amount of torque generated by the motor, I believe the part was caught between some other moving parts and the head wall, which caused a microscopic crack. Now that the weather has turned cold, the crack has expanded and I'm adding a gallon of coolant every day.

But back the the original question…Where's AJ? I should have photos tomorrow.

[nobarkus]

@AJs:

Luckily, I have a really good warranty on the truck. As far as money is concerned, I will only have to pay for shop supplies like antifreeze and gasket glue. I'm hoping it's a blown gasket because it's less time and in this business, time is money. If it's a cracked head, as I suspect from my experience with this truck, they will have to order the head and have it shipped. You can't just mail a 500 pound head for a huge diesel engine. Either way the whole top end of the motor will have to be torn down.

The reason I suspect a cracked head is I've always lost water since I had it to a shop in Denver last year. Also, it has always run just a little rough and not quite had the power it is supposed to. When I had it to the shop in Denver, they did something dumb and broke another part that came loose and rattled around inside the head for about 15 minutes. Since there is such a tremendous amount of torque generated by the motor, I believe the part was caught between some other moving parts and the head wall, which caused a microscopic crack. Now that the weather has turned cold, the crack has expanded and I'm adding a gallon of coolant every day.

But back the the original question…Where's AJ? I should have photos tomorrow.

Yep, that's too much coolant loss.

[BART]

Scranton….I don't know jack about trucks but neither of those problems sounds very good. If it was my car I would be heartbroken and walletbroken too. Good luck, and hope its the least serious issue.

[AJs Human]

Yes, Ma'am. We are just outside Scranton, PA. The song referred to is Harry Chapin's "30,000 Pounds of Bananas"

I tried to get photos of AJ in the snow here, but it was about 20F and it was hurting his feet, so here is the only one I caught.

[Rita Jean]

I do so hope it's not real bad but you might get a new motor and with warranty that would be super all but time down. Many moons ago when I had my tractor I got to put a new motor in it and I was in some little off wall town but there was a shop that worked on tractors. Luck me ha ha some days later and $10,000.00 down the drain me and the dogs were back on the road. Love that down time but my gal ran like charm then I put 370 rear ends in it my world rocked. Wish you the best. Never a good time or a right time. I always tryed to shut down week of Christmas put tractor in shop have it gone over while I was at home my Christmas present to me from me every year.

Rita Jean

[AJs Human]

Here's the update: We'll be here a couple more days. Detroit Diesel had to order a head and a head gasket. They are still trying to figure out how I ended up with a cracked head after only 176,000 miles. The parts should be in tomorrow and should be on the truck Saturday. We hope to be back on the road no later than Sunday or Monday.

We'll see how the fuel economy is and whether the power improves.

[thunderbird8588]

Thanks for the update, i wondered how you were getting on

[BART]

After all these 'conversations', I'm looking at trucks a different way. Wondering "Is this AJ's truck?". You may never get to my area but I will always keep in mind, it might be. And even if it's not you, others have their own furfaces with them. I'd like to think that, as a driver, I've always been respectful of the 18-wheeler, but now, even more. Thanks for that:)!

[AJs Human]

Mine is a dark blue Freightliner with a wine pearl metallic overcoat. It looks purple in direct sunlight. It's a newer model, so it doesn't have the long straight nose. It has a rounded appearance with a short nose.

All the trailers I haul are white with a large reefer motor on the front, the word "Prime" written in huge letters on the sides and shiny metal rear doors…which is why refrigerated trailers are called "Shiny Hiney's."

AJ's name is on the passenger side door and my CB handle "Cricket" is on the driver side door.

And I do make it through SW Ohio on occasion.

A further update on repairs: The head for my truck seems to be a rare creature. There was only one in the entire US and it had to be shipped in from Portland, OR. It hasn't yet arrived, but when it does, it will only take 4 or 5 hours to install. The original head was cracked between number 4 and number 5 cylinders. Detroit Diesel thinks it was a manufacturing defect. The new head will not arrive before Monday morning.

[BART]

While I-70 and I-75 seem to be the major cross-roads in my neck of the woods, I rarely get up that way. However, if you ever find yourself on I-675, I could wave to you from the bridge near my house:)

"Shiny Hiney" …LOL..I'll remember that.:)