I'm STILL Here

Haven't had much chance to update here, so I'll bring things up to date.

Sprinter #2 gave us a few more problems after we replaced the turbo. It had a turbo lag that was just too excessive to ignore. A lot of oil got dumped into the exhaust and at first we considered that to be the problem. We pulled the Oxygen sensor expecting it to be oil fouled, but it wasn't. Computer readouts were in the normal range, but she wouldn't go over 13MPG and that wasn't acceptable.

We finally found that the turbo actuator module was failing during acceleration from a standing start. It was too fast for the computer to pick up. Changed it out and she runs like new. For an engine with almost 300,000 miles on it, that's a testament for the value of proper maintenance.

Sprinter #3 is down on the south side of Columbus having it's Idlebuster generator installed and should be completed by this afternoon.

The busy freight season has been slow to start, but is picking up. My shoulder has been an ongoing problem since it has no rhyme or reason to when it decides to flare up. I have tried to get out of here several times only to have it start up. Last week, it was quiet the entire week. I decided to test it last Sunday and went over to the truck and pulled the mattress out of the upper bunk and installed a couple of cabinets I had picked up. Got that done with no problems and came home and waited. Several hours later I had no pain and no swelling. I thought I finally would be able to take off Monday. Didn't happen.

I was loading up the Ram Monday morning when Idlebuster called to confirm the Sprinter installation and informed me that I had to be present when they finished it today to sign the final papers. When the mail showed up, I found out that I had to go to Tri-State to recertify on my TSA credentials. Just what I needed to hear.

Took off to Toledo Tuesday morning and I wasn't halfway there when the shoulder fired up. Bothered me the rest of the day. I told Tri-State to locate a same household team to put in the International since I'm tired of dealing with the shoulder.

When I drove the 20 miles down to the south side yesterday morning, it fired up again. After I dropped my driver off at the motel, I stopped at a CVS on a whim. I found a support brace that is usually used for tennis elbow but since I had gotten relief when I used an elbow brace, I figured I'd give this a try.

I put the brace on in the center of my bicep above the elbow. For some insane reason, it supports the tendon and I'm able to move the arm better. The real test will come this morning when I drive back to the south side.

If I can drive the International until Tri-State locates a team, I'll step out and have the surgery done after I'm comfortable with whomever is driving the truck. I'll probably limit my range to a 300 to 350 mile radius so I can get home if the pain gets too bad. We'll see how things go.

Sprinter #1
WESTERVILLE/ OH DUBLIN/ VA 8/20/2008
DOVER/ NJ WHITEHALL/ MI 8/17/2008
BENSALEM/ PA ALTON/ VA 8/15/2008
CINCINNATI/ OH GRAYSON/ KY 8/14/2008
CINCINNATI/ OH UTICA/ OH 8/14/2008
NEWCOMERSTOWN/ OHNEWARK/ DE 8/14/2008
MONROE/ MI FRANKLIN/ OH 8/13/2008
FAIRFIELD/ OH DAYTON/ OH 8/13/2008
MARYSVILLE/ OH LAKE ORION/ MI 8/11/2008

Sprinter #2
RAYMOND/ OH HEBRON/ OH 8/20/2008
HEBRON/ OH SALEM/ VA 8/20/2008
COLUMBUS/ OH CUSTAR/ OH 8/18/2008
ST MARYS/ OH ATHENS/ OH 8/18/2008
LOUISVILLE/ KY FRANKLIN/ OH 8/15/2008
FAIRBURY/ IL DANVILLE/ KY 8/14/2008
E PEORIA/ IL PEORIA/ IL 8/13/2008
E PEORIA/ IL AURORA/ IL 8/13/2008
COLUMBUS/ OH BARTONVILLE/ IL 8/11/2008

Sprinter #3
E PEORIA/ IL MEDINA/ OH 8/18/2008
QUINCY/ IL WASHINGTON/ MO 8/12/2008

When It Pukes Oil, Houston We Have a Problem

I'm starting to think that I'm not going to get out of Columbus. Monday, no loads were available from here. Tuesday showed promise but had to deal with a breakdown on Sprinter #2.

He was on his way to Cambridge, OH from Roanoke, VA when the engine started to belch black smoke and puke oil out the exhaust. He said that he heard a loud bang, and the truck wouldn't go over 20MPH and the oil light came on. I immediately figured it was the turbo but you never know for sure until you can check it. Since I have a complete engine sitting here just for this purpose, I told the driver to call Tri-State to arrange a tow back to Columbus. T/S totally dropped the ball on this and the driver found a local tow company that would do the job. They did manage to tear the rear bumper facia off when hooking it up though.

Went over to the shop this morning and removed the ducting to the turbo. Sure enough the shaft bearings had let go. Pulled the turbo off the replacement engine, swapped the turbos out, changed the oil and filter, test drove it about 100 miles and Sprinter #2 is going back in service tomorrow after we re-synch the turbo to the engine. I'll take the turbo over and have it rebuilt ready for future use. Shoulder is singing, but the truck is fixed. I was able to reattach the rear facia using bolts and silicone. So, was having the truck towed back here the best move. I'll put the numbers here and you be the judge.

Dealer Cost/Actual Cost

Turbo $1,767.93/$300.00 (Rebuild)
Labor 320.00/160.00
Rear Facia 122.00/0
Labor 40.00/0
Oil Change 200.00/119.00
Tow 564.00

Total $2,449.93/$1,143.00

Savings $1,306.93

Sprinter #1
Montgomery, AL/Fountain Inn, NC
TAH

Sprinter #2
MT VERNON/ OH SPOUT SPRING/ VA
Bonus to Cambridge, OH
Broke down in Ripley, WV

Sprinter #3
PONTOON BEACH/ IL GRAND RAPIDS/ MI