Speaking of too much RTV, one day at a rest stop in Oregon I talked to a nice old couple in a Chinook that had to do a panic 22RE water pump replacement at a Toy dealer during a road trip. Old dude was concerned about amount of RTV, so I took a look.
It was insane. I could have molded a deluxe collection of marital aids from the excess sillycone gushing from the seam. Was sure Rod Serling was about to step out from behind the power steering pump.
I never, ever use RTV on gaskets unless it's solemnly called for. A thin wetting with grease, and on they go. Never had a leak, and snap to disassemble and clean in the future.
Innyhoo, old guy said at least he got a proper OEM pump for his FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY bucks. Nope, it was aftermarket crap!
And, the belt was way too tight. I remedied.
And, the bolts were too tight. I retorqued.
And, it took 26 hours longer than the service guy swore it would, and the old people were in a hurry while having alternate choices nearby ready to do the repair. Dealer said anything to get the job, then did revolting work. Poor people. I hate it when friendly souls get shafted like Lindsey Lohan at Tailhook.
I suggested to the old man that he consider why parts corporations like AutoZone have those discreet unmarked white trucks outside. Shoot, I always thought them big ol' bidnisses like to spread their logo feces around at the highest rate possible. But when delivering parts to a dealer service dept, they suddenly get a case of quiet, shadowy, shy guy. Go figger.
Strangest thing I ever found in an oil pan was a 10" dial caliper. I assume whoever did that was looking everywhere for that doggone thing.
Alternator is a never-installed NAPA retread I got on ebay for 99 cents, and yes, I actually have spare starter contacts on hand at all times. I shudder to think of all the nice OEM starters exchanged for Chinese junk over a repair a monkey going through opiate withdrawal could easily perform.
She gets a complete, right down to the little ones, set of OEM coolant hoses, too. Trying to come as close to a new ride as possible.
The savings, especially across many years, of learning to fix and drive abandoned (but still good) old Toys is STAGGERING compared to the normal "American Way" of buying a Big Three croaker, owned by some sleazy bank, every few years. Over 10 or 12 years, we're talking enough scratch to buy a nice piece of land in the mountains, and, we actually own our vehicles. That rocks.
