Herman and Operation 30MPG

Post by **abscate** » 08 Apr 2019, 10:53

Take a picture of those thermostat bolts. Hit them with PB blaster every week - just a touch on the edge of the bolt to let it work into the threads. Give about 100 very light raps on each bolt after the PB. No metal deformation, just tap tap tap to help jar the corrosion.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 08 Apr 2019, 11:13

I'm prepping for the same job. Purchased a new thermostat with bolts. I'm more afraid of damaging the fuel line to get to the driver side bolt.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 11 Apr 2019, 07:41

abscate wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 10:53 Take a picture of those thermostat bolts. Hit them with PB blaster every week - just a touch on the edge of the bolt to let it work into the threads. Give about 100 very light raps on each bolt after the PB. No metal deformation, just tap tap tap to help jar the corrosion.

Here you go

Post by **abscate** » 11 Apr 2019, 11:24

Those should come out ok. They are a little deformed but Torx have a really good strength - don't re use them though, get new ones from Volvo.

They should be wet with PB by now!

Adding to this a bit...

A hex bolt under stress gets the point of the hex hardened off by the hard flat of the socket - easy to do as all the force is concentrate on the point, and often due to corrosion only one or two points carry the load.

To round off a Torx, the tool bit has to compress and machine off the triangle of metal in the fastener six times - which is really hard to do.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 11 Apr 2019, 19:39

abscate wrote: ↑11 Apr 2019, 11:24 Those should come out ok. They are a little deformed but Torx have a really good strength - don't re use them though, get new ones from Volvo.

They should be wet with PB by now!

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Post by **abscate** » 12 Apr 2019, 08:47

Don't forget lots of little raps to shock them and work the PB down into the threads

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 10 May 2019, 06:45

Quick update today. Herman had a booboo today and ended up getting another new pair of shoes!

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 24 May 2019, 13:54

Quick update.
Went north to visit my in-laws. Herman returned 26mpg on this trip, which is strange. Temp was about 70 F. I've switched from high mileage dino to high mileage synthetic as the price was only $2 more per 5 quarts.

With it being memorial day weekend I might take a crack at that thermostat. The car should be down for the whole weekend bc there's no business in town to do delivery for.

So we will see

Post by **abscate** » 24 May 2019, 16:41

Dont forget those hundred raps tonight..

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 24 Jun 2019, 11:05

Quick update today
The old shifter bushings let go about 3 weeks ago during some spirited driving. So Herman got an upgrade:

Snabb short throw shifter kit with stainless steel bearings.

: New kit

Kit looks really nice I really like the plate design.

: Look at that plate. Looks nice!

New bearings shift right with no jiggle

: Stainless steel shifter bearings

Old bearings were dry rotted and torn in the usual places.

In addition to this I made a pretty big order from FCP Euro: new quick struts, front brake pads, front brake lines, and new upper thermostat bolts.

That should all be going in on Sunday.

I'll begin the 100 raps on the thermostat housing bolts every night starting tonight (Monday).

Picked up a new job doing grocery delivery for Instacart and the money is, for the time, really great. Herman will be getting some much needed TLC with some of these extra funds. We're at about 225,000 miles now.

Herman and Operation 30MPG

Re: Herman and Operation 30MPG