Was driving along having a chat with the wife and beep beep beep! 220 water temp. I pulled over (conveniently into a tractor supply parking lot) and shut the engine off at 230. Somehow the upper radiator hose blew off and coolant was everywhere.

I replaced the stock clamp with a spare screw clamp, refilled and with coolant and was on the way within 10 minutes.

Meanwhile the dash gauge didn’t budge from middle. Crazy.

Anyway. Get an ultra gauge.

 

Yup it saved me

 

I finally just bought one, arrived today. Tired of having to connect my phone every time I turn off truck.

 

Saved me too. The T in the coolant lines failed and my temps starting going up. Replaced it with a metal one I happened to have at home (after my wife dropped by with a roadside Rover care package).

Went to the inline thermostat a little while later.

 

Driving home from soccer last night and noticed on the ultragage temps going up I usually don't see 190+ in the cool evening (running a 180 thermostat) and the temp started climbing higher. Got in the driveway as she hit 215. This morning I found a leak in hose from the engine block to the tank. Will be an easy fix.

Found this great video on bleeding the cooling system:


Now off to buy some hose...

(PS. Temp gage on the dash didn't even budge. Bloody glad I had the ultragage otherwise might have cooked the beast.)