Thread: Preparation for alpine driving

Only two weeks until we head off to the snowies for our big trip. Will be doing about 4,000 Kms in 3 weeks.

Before we go though I have to get through the following:
1) Fit TJM Airtec snorkel
2) Fit Milford cargo barrier (not looking forward to the fiddly part of putting the mounting plates in the body)
3) Flush cooling system (again) and run a dose of chem-i-weld (again) to try to stop the annoying little leak from the heater core
4) Replace old cooling system hoses with my new ones
5) Replace old intercooler hoses with my new silicone ones
6) Refill cooling system with 75% glycol - 25% water mix
7) Do engine oil & filter change
8) Fit new fuel filter
9) Do gearbox oil change
10) Change oil in both diffs
11) Repack bearings on float
12) Have a beer when it's all done

Anything I've missed

Originally Posted by Treads

Only two weeks until we head off to the snowies for our big trip. Will be doing about 4,000 Kms in 3 weeks.

Before we go though I have to get through the following:
1) Fit TJM Airtec snorkel
2) Fit Milford cargo barrier (not looking forward to the fiddly part of putting the mounting plates in the body)
3) Flush cooling system (again) and run a dose of chem-i-weld (again) to try to stop the annoying little leak from the heater core
4) Replace old cooling system hoses with my new ones
5) Replace old intercooler hoses with my new silicone ones
6) Refill cooling system with 75% glycol - 25% water mix
7) Do engine oil & filter change
8) Fit new fuel filter
9) Do gearbox oil change
10) Change oil in both diffs
11) Repack bearings on float
12) Have a beer when it's all done

Anything I've missed

Why that mixture???

Unless I'm mistaken, anything over 50:50 isn't do you any favours

Originally Posted by cewilson

Why that mixture???

Unless I'm mistaken, anything over 50:50 isn't do you any favours

50:50 it is then

Car won't be under shelter at all, was just going to play it safe

As per cewilson, the ideal mix is 50:50.

Are you just using glycol, or the antifreeze/antiboil type mixtures (which, I think, have extra corrosion inhibitors).

I've done the following so far (underlined bold)
1) Fit TJM Airtec snorkel
2) Fit Milford cargo barrier (not looking forward to the fiddly part of putting the mounting plates in the body)
3) Flush cooling system (again) and run a dose of chem-i-weld (again) to try to stop the annoying little leak from the heater core
4) Replace old cooling system hoses with my new ones
5) Replace old intercooler hoses with my new silicone ones
6) Refill cooling system with 50% glycol - 50% water mix
7) Done engine oil & filter change
8) Fitted new fuel filter & drained rear filter
9) Do gearbox oil change
10) Changed oil in both diffs
11) Changed oil in transfer case
12) Changed oil in swivel housings
13) Repack bearings on float
14) Rotated tyres
15) Fit low water alarm (when it arrives)

Couple of questions:
a) Is it always so damn slow when refilling the fluid in the swivel housings? or is there a trick to doing it? They kept overflowing if I filled with any haste.
b) The drain plug on the gearbox is tight as a nuns Anyone know what size bolt it would be? My sockets only go up to 27mm, which is still too small. I tried a large shifter, but couldn't get enough purchase. I got the level plug out fine, plenty of fluid, but not good condition.

I'll flush the cooling system in the morning and run the chem-i-weld, see if I can get rid of that bloody leak

To fill the swivels you turn the steering wheel to get the ball bit out of the way of the hole.

The last leak in my radiator I had fixed cost me $33. I dropped the radiator into them. I'll buy some solder and flux and do it myself next time.

Originally Posted by Utemad

To fill the swivels you turn the steering wheel to get the ball bit out of the way of the hole..

Didn't think of that

Originally Posted by Utemad

The last leak in my radiator I had fixed cost me $33. I dropped the radiator into them. I'll buy some solder and flux and do it myself next time.

My radiator is fine, it's the leak in the heater core that's giving me the whoops. It's a tiny leak, coolant doesn't look like it's dropped at all. Don't have time to do a heater core changeover, so hopefully a flush with chem-i-weld will slow it even more. I'm installing a low coolant alarm just to be safe though

Originally Posted by Treads

My radiator is fine, it's the leak in the heater core that's giving me the whoops. It's a tiny leak, coolant doesn't look like it's dropped at all. Don't have time to do a heater core changeover, so hopefully a flush with chem-i-weld will slow it even more. I'm installing a low coolant alarm just to be safe though

Be careful with that one. Mine went from a small leak (why are my carpets damp, but no sign of a leak) to filling up the passengers footwell in a couple of months.
It didn't slowly get worse, it just dumped one day.