O Sapientia

 

Typical Truckery

O Sapientia, O Wisdom, teach us the way. The way being discernment viz a 2018 F150 XL 4x4 V8 5.0 engine. The Waxahachie Ford house "recommended" a new long block, stating that cylinders 5, 6 and 8 were losing compression. Waxahachie stated on the phone that the "block was cracked."

OK, if so, get a new motor or a new truck. But here's the thing. Local mechs have swarmed around and don't see any evidence of a cracked block, of catastrophic engine failure. They do feel there's an oil issue, apparently a thing on 2018-20 F 150 5.0 engines. So Thursday beckons a new diagnosis to find out the root of the problem. 

Kitchen Glocks. Go On, Shoot The Food

Let's see how that goes, it'd be a relief to not have to buy a new, reman, refurb engine; they're pretty pricey. Seriously, new ones come in at around 10k, refurb at 7 and reman at 4. Cheaper than a new new rig, but still. Stand by for further news in this exciting and developing story.

In the meanwhile, here's the O Sapentia antiphon (sing it this evening if you can before and after the Magnificat at Vespers/Evening Prayer):

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other mightily,

and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Ave,

LSP

Truck Update

You may remember, because utterly fascinating, that my rig shuddered and broke on the way to Dallas for Thanksgiving. Long story short, I made it to Dallas and the truck made it to Waxahachie Ford. OK, good thing Texas Farm Bureau Insurance covers a tow.

One expensive diagnosis later, I learned yesterday that cylinders 5, 6,  and 8 were losing compression and the "tech" recommended a new long block. Cost? A mere 16K. Whoa, the truck's not even worth that, so I said "no, I'll get it towed back to the Compound."

Where, let the reader understand, local mechs can drop in a new/refurbished engine at a fraction of the cost of Waxahachie Ford. Let's see how that goes. My instinct? Get the vehicle fixed, courtesy of Hill College Mech School, and then trade the beast in for a RAPTOR.

But perhaps you think a RAPTOR is inappropriate for a priest? Perhaps you have a point, though I urge you to think again. That aside, one reputable GeoStrat consultant offered this, "Buy new or, if you want, keep driving beaters. It's up to you, but if you buy new you're not inheriting someone else's problems. Think about that."

Well yes. Then again, getting a refurbished engine for around 4k and minimal labor, and then trading on makes sense to me, maybe give the rig to a Sergeant. But a new Raptor? They're beautiful, no doubt about it, and at >100k they'd better be. Huh. Instinct says get the thing fixed and buy used, but used well. Know what I mean?

Autozone,

LSP