A couple weeks ago on my way home from work while I was climbing a mile and a half hill, I noticed the heat gauge telling me that the "buggy" was getting a little warm. at about the 3/4 of the way up the hill the gauge was also at 3/4 of the way up too. Well I figured i'd get over the top and let her cool down a bit by coasting down the backside into town. needless to say she was steamed up pretty good. I nursed her to a convience store at the bottom of the hill. After getting some water in her, and when most of the steam subsided, I could see a 4 inch split in the bottom radiator hose. I got some more water in her to help cool it down a bit, all the while realizing its not going to hold spit. I know I should have called a tow truck then and there but I didn't, I figured I'd "nurse" her home. The truck was starting to "clank" pretty good by now,so I stopped about every quarter mile to put water in.

I made it home and towed her to the repair shop for the hose and a new thermostat.

When I got the truck back, she ran like a top, and to this day she doesn't show any signs of oil leakage due to a warped head, and of she doesn't over heat.

Not to bad for a truck with over 175 thou on the odometer, and never been cracked open since I've owned her, some 150 thousand miles ago.

All this I owe to the "religious" use of the heavy duty oil stabilizer from LUCAS every oil change.