Holy Overheat!

It was almost a disaster.  I was way up in Markham/Stouffville area (48 & 7) to visit my cousin.  When I noticed that my engine temp was at the H.  My Subaru never runs in that area.  It's always in the middle.  I was never quite sure if that temperature gauge worked or not because it was always in the same position (except when I turn the car off, in which case the needle goes back down to below the C).  It was strange because Jen's father-in-law asked if my car was burning oil.  I dismissed it because it was recently rust proofed and so that oil smell could be from that.  It was normal.

But this engine temp was not normal. Today I discovered that it did in fact work.  I had to pull over somewhere, fast.  I couldn't continue driving with this problem.  I was trying to recall if I saw a Canadian Tire along the way to my cousin Jen's place.  And I couldn't recall.  I did remember there was a Future Shop on 7.  But that wouldn't do me any good in this situation.  The needle was climbing fast.

I called the first person I knew that could help me trouble shoot this.  I called my brother Mel.  He said I needed to get the car to a Canadian Tire where I could easily get parts if I needed.  But I had to pull over quick.  The needle was quickly moving past the H.  He said I couldn't continue without damaging the engine.

I gave him a quick summary of what was around me, and I quickly pulled into a strip mall with a Dollarama and a Shell gas bar and a Jiffy Lube.  I figured this was as good as it was going to get.  So I pulled in, and I started assessing the situation.   I waited a while until the engine cooled down a bit so I could open the rad cap.  My reservoir was nearly empty.  When I cautiously opened my rad cap it was not full.

I ran to the Shell to get some coolant.  I started pouring it in and noticed it was flowing out the bottom of the rad.  Oh NO! I thought there was a hole in the hose.  My brother said I needed to patch it somehow and headed into Dollarama to get some duct tape and electrical tape so I could get home and repair it.  As I paid at the till, one lady asked if I had CAA.  I said I didn't.  We've never needed it.  I usually check the car before we go on a long trip and I'd been driving the car the last few days with no indication of a problem.  And you pay for CAA every month regardless if you use it or not.  If you want to pay for piece of mind every month, go ahead.  Throw away your money.  Or put your mind to it and get your hands dirty and learn to maintain your car.  That's a better idea.

I usually pack gloves and a rag in the trunk.  But I cleared it out when I got the rustproofing down recently.  I had nothing.  Good thing I pack a wad of Tim Horton's napkins.

I got down and slid under the car to check it out closer.  The hose was fine.  See that hose there that's in the center and goes to the left of the pic.  Well it's supposed to be attached to the bottom of the radiator.  I was was trying to see where the coolant was pouring out.  I then yanked on it and it came right out!   It was like someone or some vengeful squirrel sabotaged my car.   And coolant was going all over the parking lot.  At least it wasn't my driveway.   Gotta find the silver lining to every cloud, no matter how black.  I shouldn't be able to do that.

When I looked at even closer. This was the problem.  This clamp keeps the rad hose connected to the rad.  It's corroded right off.

I called my brother again to let him know what I found.  He said duct tape wasn't going to keep that hose attached.  I needed a hose clamp pronto.  I also needed a screwdriver to turn the worm screw.
The girls at the Dollarama were super helpful.

 Who needs CAA when you got Dollarama?I needed a hose clamp.  They told me there was a hardware store across the street.  And that's where I headed.  I am so glad teens today are so dependent on computers to calculate.

I got a $1.68 hose clamp and paid $5.08 for it and the guy kept looking at the computer screen because he punched in the wrong amount of money I gave him. Poor guy kept looking at his till and I was going to tell him that he owed me $3.40, but I thought I'd see what he was going to do.  I think he was stressed because there were two other customers behind me waiting, he then said 'this is right' and gave me back $4.32.

The teacher that passed him in math, should get his credentials checked.

In any case I had more pressing matters.  I went back to Dollarama to get a screwdriver.  I found this instead.  Pretty handy.  And I can keep it in the car for emergencies like this.  I told the girls that I found the problem and I was good to go.  $20.00 for coolant, $2 for the tools, and $0.76 for a $1.68 hose clamp courtesy of Dalton McGuinty's revamped educational system.  I was good to go. No leaks.
Who needs CAA?  Not me, when I've got my brother Mel on speed dial and the stuff at Dollarama, and a kid who can't do basic math.

The temp was staying level.
It seemed like I was looking at the world through rose coloured glasses.  But then the needle headed through the roof again.
My brother said it was either A) my thermostat was damaged or B) there was air in my coolant.  I wasn't going to make it home by highway.  Remember that Future Shop?  Well I stopped there to let the car cool down.  I shopped around a bit, looking for my new TV for the basement.  They did have the 54" VT25, and the asian sales guy (everyone at the Warden and 7 Future Shop is asian) and he was going to let it go for a good deal.  But I knew what Tresa had approved.  And that wasn't it, although I'd be happy with it.  In any case, if the deal was better, I would have.  But I was killing time before I opened the rad cap again.

I opened it up and it wasn't full.  So I poured more coolant in.  And it filled up again and then slowly disappeared.  I checked my car manual.  This engine uses 6.0 L of coolant.  I'm sure it was pretty low.  So I kept pouring and letting it go down.  I did this for some time.  The jug I had was only 3.78L and I had bought a smaller one as well, but much of that one ended up in the parking lot.  I prayed that that would be good enough to get me home.  And with my heart beating through my shirt, I watched the needle go up as I drove slowly along Hwy 7.  And like some miracle, the needle headed back down to the C.  I was going HOME by highway, woo hoo!

I was so happy I was in the mood to buy a sectional.
So I called Tresa and she met me at ELTE.
We didn't buy one today.
But we have swatches.
So we are close.

And I made it home ok. I was lucky I had access to things I needed, and not in the middle of the highway that was dangerous as well.