Just realized I used to duct tape everything on my truck for quick fixes

Back in 2019 on my F-150, I'd slap duct tape on a leaking radiator hose and call it good for months. Now I actually carry spare hoses and proper clamps after that hose burst on I-35 near Austin last summer. Cost me $450 in tow and repair fees versus a $12 fix. Anybody else stop the half-assed repairs after a big screw up?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewperry29d agoMost Upvoted

Held my breath reading that. You duct taped a radiator hose and drove on it for months? That's asking for trouble. I've seen what happens when that tape lets go at highway speed, steam everywhere and the engine temps spike so fast you're lucky to pull over without warping the heads. Cost me a full engine swap once on an old Silverado. Never again, man. Now I treat cooling system stuff like a ticking time bomb, fix it right the first time or don't drive it at all.

stellafisher29d ago

That Silverado story is brutal, how long did you have the tape on before it blew? I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out if there's a time limit where it's just guaranteed to fail or if it's more about the pressure and heat cycles. Taped a cracked lower hose on my old Ranger once, lasted like three weeks before it started seeping. Drove me nuts checking it every morning.