TUNING UP THE TRUCK

A couple of weeks ago, we took the truck to a local muffler shop to get them to check the exhaust system.  We have had a vibration noise that increases in volume when the truck warms up and our mechanic back at home was never able to solve the problem.  The guy there wasn’t really sure what it was and asked a diesel mechanic from the shop next door to have a look and listen as well.  He recommended that one of the hangers holding up the exhaust pipe be changed to a more flexible hanger so the muffler guy did that and it seemed to help.  While he was there, the diesel guy told Stuart that the engine valves needed to be adjusted so we made an appointment to get that done the following week.

We had to leave the truck there overnight so that the engine would be cooled down for the work that needed to be done.  One of our new friends that lives at the end of our street gave Stuart rides to drop off, and pick up, the truck.  The mechanic did a good job at a reasonable price and the truck definitely runs smoother now.

We have a K&N reusable air filter in the truck and Stuart was never happy with the filter as it wasn’t easy to clean and it seemed to get dirty very quickly.  He researched the options and ordered a better filter online but the company sent the wrong one.  He had to return the incorrect one first and then they were going to send out the correct on.  Stuart did more research, talked to a diesel technical support person and decided to order a completely new air intake system and filter.  We had installed a similar one on our Tundra truck many years ago and it worked very well.

The new AFE air flow intake system arrived in a couple of days and Stuart installed it himself last Saturday.  We had a rainy day—first rainfall in 70 days which set a new record for the area. 

 

 

HOW MANY TOOLS DOES IT TAKE? - ALL OF THEM!!

 

 

 

Anyway, the job took a couple of hours and he only needed my help at the end to attach a couple of bolts to hold the filter box in place.  He had to be under the truck holding the nuts while I operated the ratchet on the bolts from the top.

 

 BEFORE

 

 

 

AFTER

 

 

 

PART WAY THROUGH

 

 

 

 

BEFORE

AFTER

 

The new system is supposed to increase the power by 15 to 20 horsepower and we should get improved fuel efficiency.  We’ve noticed an improvement in the shorter drives around here but the real test will be when we head home in April.  Speaking of home, we only have 4 weeks left here and are starting to prepare a few things to take with us.  A couple of our friends from California are leaving today which is early for them but they have things to attend to at home.  We will miss them and all the new friends that we have made this season.