Day 2
Today was even more productive than yesterday.
The Equinox. General Motors did a fantastic job making this vehicle as confusing as possible. The radiator is completely hidden from view, with the resovior near the firewall on the driver's side. The oil filler cap can easily be confused for the radiator cap, both in location and markings. So it should come as no surprise that Vikki accidentally flooded the engine with water and caused it to vaporlock.
Enter The Ed.
Trying to start the thing was an effort in futility. The starter clunked as it hit the brick wall of vaporlock. The only way to save this was to release the lock by manually cranking the crankshaft. Once I figured out how to get to the crankshaft pully, I hooked my breaker bar up and started turning. A few revolutions later and I realize that the bolt started coming loose.
In otherwords, the GM 3.4L V6 turns backwards compared to almost every engine in America. So I start cranking it the other direction and find the vaporlocked cylinder. Two extremely difficult shoves later and I turn the crank enough for the exhaust valve to open and suddenly turning got a lot easier.
Now for the test. I try to start the engine. It actually moved! Hell it even started, but promptly sputtered and died, as it should since the MAF was disconnected. I put the intake box back in, reconnect the MAF and try starting it again.
Ladies and Gentlemen viewing my livejournal, there is no sound sweeter than the steady pur of an engine that couldn't start not 10 minutes prior, and knowing that the you are the sole reason that this event took place. The only thing which made it sweeter was Vikki witnessing the engine starting and idling under its own power. The sweet sound of success, nevermind the cloud of smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe.
With the Equinox back in running condition, the only task left was to change the oil. With fresh 10w-40 the billowing smoke was reduced from total smokescreen to a faint haze. I drove it to the local Chevron and put in a bottle of STP oil leak stopper and the smoke stopped completely.
The Equinox is not completely finished yet. Another oil change in the next few days will help reduce the remaining water to a few parts per million, and with 20w 50, the water will thin the oil to something akin to the 10w 40 it should have in it. Another bottle of STP will ensure that any water damage is repaired and maybe, just maybe, the head gasket survived intact.
In addition to the Equinox I also changed the oil in Vikki's Eclipse. Thankfully this was very routine and despite almost 100k miles I couldn't find anything wrong with the oil, meaning the engine is still good for at least another 100k.
The night has ended with a delicious meal prepped by Rain and I, cooked by Vikki and devoured by all. A little Guitar Hero World Tour and I quickly kicked myself in the ass for forgetting my modified Rock Band controller in Tampa.
Another productive and successful day by yours truly. Tomorrow starts the real test, successfully aquiring a job. Time for a hella-impressive resume to find its way into the hands of prospective employers.
Goodnight, friends.
-Edward "Xaenyth" Green-
The Equinox. General Motors did a fantastic job making this vehicle as confusing as possible. The radiator is completely hidden from view, with the resovior near the firewall on the driver's side. The oil filler cap can easily be confused for the radiator cap, both in location and markings. So it should come as no surprise that Vikki accidentally flooded the engine with water and caused it to vaporlock.
Enter The Ed.
Trying to start the thing was an effort in futility. The starter clunked as it hit the brick wall of vaporlock. The only way to save this was to release the lock by manually cranking the crankshaft. Once I figured out how to get to the crankshaft pully, I hooked my breaker bar up and started turning. A few revolutions later and I realize that the bolt started coming loose.
In otherwords, the GM 3.4L V6 turns backwards compared to almost every engine in America. So I start cranking it the other direction and find the vaporlocked cylinder. Two extremely difficult shoves later and I turn the crank enough for the exhaust valve to open and suddenly turning got a lot easier.
Now for the test. I try to start the engine. It actually moved! Hell it even started, but promptly sputtered and died, as it should since the MAF was disconnected. I put the intake box back in, reconnect the MAF and try starting it again.
Ladies and Gentlemen viewing my livejournal, there is no sound sweeter than the steady pur of an engine that couldn't start not 10 minutes prior, and knowing that the you are the sole reason that this event took place. The only thing which made it sweeter was Vikki witnessing the engine starting and idling under its own power. The sweet sound of success, nevermind the cloud of smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe.
With the Equinox back in running condition, the only task left was to change the oil. With fresh 10w-40 the billowing smoke was reduced from total smokescreen to a faint haze. I drove it to the local Chevron and put in a bottle of STP oil leak stopper and the smoke stopped completely.
The Equinox is not completely finished yet. Another oil change in the next few days will help reduce the remaining water to a few parts per million, and with 20w 50, the water will thin the oil to something akin to the 10w 40 it should have in it. Another bottle of STP will ensure that any water damage is repaired and maybe, just maybe, the head gasket survived intact.
In addition to the Equinox I also changed the oil in Vikki's Eclipse. Thankfully this was very routine and despite almost 100k miles I couldn't find anything wrong with the oil, meaning the engine is still good for at least another 100k.
The night has ended with a delicious meal prepped by Rain and I, cooked by Vikki and devoured by all. A little Guitar Hero World Tour and I quickly kicked myself in the ass for forgetting my modified Rock Band controller in Tampa.
Another productive and successful day by yours truly. Tomorrow starts the real test, successfully aquiring a job. Time for a hella-impressive resume to find its way into the hands of prospective employers.
Goodnight, friends.
-Edward "Xaenyth" Green-