When after flushing the radiator of the brown fluid, a major coolant leak develops, I come to find out that previously there has been problems with the integrity of the engine gaskets, particularly those around the heads and intake manifold. This is determined on Day 608 TB, after having the water pump replaced thinking this was the cause of the coolant leak problem.

When changing the water pump does not fix the leak, I next purchase a bottle of head gasket sealer for about forty-five dollars, one with enough for three applications and a guaranteed to work or Double Your Money Back. Amazingly, this works.

About three months latter, I need to add the second treatment. Afterwards, the engine runs fine but the thought of having a patch job on the engine concerns me.

About a year later, on Day 16 TG, after leaving Craters of the Moon National Monument, the engine begins to have a vacuum surge problem which persists even after replacing the part indicated by the check engine light test to be the problem. This vacuum problem continues to cause the engine to surge at highway speeds and in the process has been decreasing the overall performance and gas mileage.

As my direction turned south to winter in Texas, I choose to continue to drive with the vacuum problem. I even have one incident when the engine would turn over but not start, much like it was out of gasoline. I had to have it towed to a garage and they were able to get it running. I watched them spray starter fluid into the intake to start the engine. They got it started but that did not correct the vacuum problem.

However, I did buy a can of starter fluid and keep in under the hood, which I had to use whenever the temperature dropped into the forties, which because winter was fast approaching turned out to be often.