Avoided major catastrophe on new engine
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska Farm
Avoided major catastrophe on new engine
I was on my home from work yesterday when I noticed an oil burning smell. A quick look at the gauges and I panicked. The aftermarket oil press gage sat at 0! The dash gauge still showed good pressure. I pulled to the side of the road (quick) and shut it off. Oil was everywhere. The little hose that goes to the gauge had gotten pinched in the steering knuckle and tore apart. I didn't have a pair of vice grips to pinch it off so I dug through my toolbox and found a pair of pliers and a bunch of plastic wire ties. Squeezed the hose as hard as I could and then zipped on a wire tie. It was crude but it allowed me to drive the last 4 miles home. Always make sure that little hose is routed clear of everything! I'm tempted to switch to electric gauges from now on.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
From: Montrose USA
Avoided major catastrophe on new engine
Yep, I'm with 79F350. Those plastic lines belong in the trash can. Go to the harware store and grab a length of copper line. I've had those plastic deals break just from age and getting brittle. Like you I noticed when the gauge hit 0 and shut it off (whew)
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
Avoided major catastrophe on new engine
Dave, you’re lucky you caught it. I had one break but inside the car, under the dash. Talk about a frickin mess! I run electric gauges now and keep the oil inside the engine.
Barry
Barry
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 132
Likes: 8
Avoided major catastrophe on new engine
You can't beat the accuracy and instantaneous readings of a mechanical gauge, but if they go, it's a pain. My dad used to drive and truck a lease some trucks (18 wheelers). He hired his brother as a driver one time. Welp, while pulling a load behind him, he noticed tons of smoke coming out from under the back of the cab and out of the stacks. My dad called up to my uncle on the CB and asked him how his gauges looked. Welp, you guessed it, no oil. That little line broke and who knows how long he was out of oil before the smoke came. The ending to the story: a freshly rebuilt 3406 Caterpillar engine down the drain.
