"Alltrac's expertise with this type of vehicle literally doubled the life on the previous fleet the company had owned. ... the submerged vehicle had to be completely stripped to every nut, bolt, wire and cog. It ended up outlasting all of the other vehicles." - Peter Mac Donald, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
This is February 2008 copy of our email newsletter
This is your printed copy of our email Newsletter. Please help the environment if. If you would like to receive your Newsletter by email contact us by phone 82346877, email details to sales@alltrac4wd.com.au or post to 305 South Rd Mile End SA 5031
Alltrac 4WD 305 South Rd Mile End SA 5031
Hi and welcome to Alltrac 4WD’s February 2009 email newsletter. I hope you all had a very merry, happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.
Over the break we spent a few pleasant days camping and boating at Katarapko National Park near Berri and then 4 absolutely windswept days helping an old friend [ Don Ransom ] with campground hosting duties in the Coorong National Park.
If your ever looking for a camp spot not too far away Katarapko is worth a visit. The Katarapko creek is an anna-branch of the Murray that takes off just south of the lock below Berri and returns to the river a little bit south of Loxton forming Katarapko Island. There are about 30 designated camp spots along this fairly large creek with plenty of shade and in most cases easy access to the creek.
Regards Peter Young
Prevention is Cheaper than the Consequences.
Over 70% of major engine blow-ups are caused by coolant loss going un-detected. In fact the normal temperature gauge will drop in cases of sudden coolant loss as the sensor in the cylinder head needs coolant around it to work properly.
When a heater or radiator hose splits or blows the coolant is suddenly lost in a matter of seconds the temperature gauge reading drops, the engine overheats and expensive damage is done. When a stone or rock damages the radiator core coolant is lost.
If you are lucky the temperature gauge will rise and you may notice it in time. If you miss it or the coolant is lost rapidly, preventing the gauge from working, goodbye engine.
That's not all. Coolant loss very rarely happens in a convenient place. Take it from one who knows. It happens at the traffic lights in the city, out in the bush in 4 wheel drives, when Mum is picking the kids up from school. Towing the caravan or trailer on a trip. On the beach at Fraser Island. On the Highway many miles from help or the RAA rescue tilt truck. None of these situations are much fun. And when you do eventually get the vehicle to a repairer it will probably be at least couple of weeks before you get it back. Not to mention the cost of a new engine.
We distribute Engine Saver® low coolant alarms to help prevent this nightmare happening to you Please don't become yet another person who is buying an Engine Saver® because they have already cooked an engine in their vehicle. Buy one before you cook the engine, it's a lot cheaper. An Engine Saver® can be fitted to any engine by a mechanic, auto electrician or home handyman
in less than an hour without drilling holes in radiators or tanks and using normal hand tools.
Engine Saver to suit most vehicles is $199.00 plus installation if required. Special price to Alltrac 4WD newsletter recipients $165.00 if ordered before the end of March 2009.
Keeping your 4WD longer - Keep it reliable longer.
As the world wide economic slow down kicks in [ I haven’t seen it yet but it must affect us all in some way] and the purchase of new vehicles is put off for a while we need to consider keeping the old one’s reliable for a bit longer.
An interesting chain of events last year. We had my mate Don’s Patrol on the hoist giving a pre-trip check because Don does most of his own maintenance and I have look over it before any major trips. The 4.5L Patrol was getting up around the 200,000km mark and he said “ What things should I be looking at to reduce the chance of break downs”. The Patrol has all the service type items such wheel bearings, tappets, coolant etc done regularly but what is going to start wearing out in the near future. I said that in with my own vehicle once they get a bit beyond 150,000km that I normally overhaul or replace the starter and alternator, as these if they fail are not easy to fix on the side of the road. So armed with my sound advice Don went home with something to think about. Two weeks later, the starter motor crashed and would not work at all. Not good particularly with an Auto Trans as it cant’ even be push started. A day and half later after we had sourced a unit in Adelaide and shipped it down to him he was mobile again. Luckily it happened in the middle of the Robe Caravan Park not in the Strzelecki Desert. Shortly after his return the Alternator decided not to charge the battery so it got the flick as well.
There is obviously a moral to this story there are lots of things on vehicles that wear out and deteriorate just like tyres [ Not as quickly though ]. Below is a list of some items that can let you down and many are simply not easily repairable on the side of the road.
You will probably have to do these items at some stage but it is likely to be a lot cheaper replacing them 20,000 to 40,000 early rather than be stuck on the road some where. Or even worse it could be off the road some where.
The Alternator and Starter are good examples.
Radiator hoses last a lot longer than they used to, due to better quality coolants that are now used, but after 150,000km if they are still original replacement should be considered.
If you get to 150,000km on the original clutch it’s probably due for replacement as well.
Then there are shock absorbers and suspension bushes.
Diesel fuel injectors.
Non serviceable front and rear wheel bearings on vehicle such as Prado’s and Hilux’s.
Next time you are at Alltrac 4WD ask us what we think may apply to your vehicle.
