Alberto likes to take care of maintenance on the Galloper. He usually comes up with the smallest most tedious jobs to do for which we yet do not have tools for or the expertise. As he worries about that we'll grab three beers and prep the BBQ.
Here's how we subdivide our maintenance:
Here's how we subdivide our maintenance:
R E G U L A R / p r e v e n t a t i v e
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e x t r a / s p e c i f i c
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Overall our goal and intent is to systematically check and keep up with the maintenance of our beloved old gal. As you probably know better than us, She is our lifeline when on expedition. Negligent behaviour translates into big problems where not spending a few bucks or minutes before hand results in possibly being totally screwed.
Squeaking and groaning drives us mad, Utterly mad. Moreover it simply means the old lady needs some lubing up. To grease up joints such as tie rods, ball joints, steering system etcetera you're going to need a few tools.
The process is fairly straight forward. Depending on your preference techniques may vary but here is how we do it.
Jack your vehicle and secure it on Jack stands. this allows you access the underbelly of your vehicle with more easy and comfort.
- SAFETY
- GREASE GUN [WITH GREASING NEEDLE IS A PLUS] + GREASE
- JACK
- JACK STANDS X2
- CLOTH OR PAPER
- GLOVES
- BEER
- YOUR VEHICLE [W/ ZERK FITTINGS AKA SERVICEABLE)
The process is fairly straight forward. Depending on your preference techniques may vary but here is how we do it.
Jack your vehicle and secure it on Jack stands. this allows you access the underbelly of your vehicle with more easy and comfort.
You may want to remove the wheel on the sire you're working on for easier access to the serviceable components.
Attach your Grease Gun fitting to the Zerk Fitting and pump the grease in. Note that you should not add too much grease as it may cause the joints to burst or leak where they shouldn't. A good measure is to pump two or three times until you notice the joint is swollen then move on to the next.
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AIR. You need it to breathe (if you don't believe us try reading an encyclopedia underwater with out a snorkel...Pietro tried. Didn't go well) and your truck or car needs it to run. We are more conscious and preoccupied that our engine will receive air as clean and cool as possible. Thats why we're looking into acquiring a Safari Snorkel.
Before we veer off into the realm of wishful thinking here is that simple process that can help you give your engine what it wants. And yes, we know, you know about this. However some other newbies probably don't. We're doing this for them.
..........First off........
AIR FILTER?? What the hell is that?!
I hope I never have to hear such a question ever, but if I do I'l know who I'm dealing with. If you feel guilty right now do not fret! Keep on reading and then run to your car and do it yourself!
"Why should I regularly check and clean your vehicles Air Filter?"
The air filter is a crucial component of your engines intake system. Its job is to receive air from the outside world and rid it of all unwanted fine particles. Dust being the most frequent culprit of a badly running or damaged engine, Air Filters FILTER out these particles and allow CLEAN AIR to continue its voyage to the chambers of power and freedom.
Here is what you should look for and do to check and clean or replace your Air Filter.
Firstly open up the hood (thats bonnet for you brits) and look for an Air Box. In The Galloper it looks like this:
Before we veer off into the realm of wishful thinking here is that simple process that can help you give your engine what it wants. And yes, we know, you know about this. However some other newbies probably don't. We're doing this for them.
..........First off........
AIR FILTER?? What the hell is that?!
I hope I never have to hear such a question ever, but if I do I'l know who I'm dealing with. If you feel guilty right now do not fret! Keep on reading and then run to your car and do it yourself!
"Why should I regularly check and clean your vehicles Air Filter?"
The air filter is a crucial component of your engines intake system. Its job is to receive air from the outside world and rid it of all unwanted fine particles. Dust being the most frequent culprit of a badly running or damaged engine, Air Filters FILTER out these particles and allow CLEAN AIR to continue its voyage to the chambers of power and freedom.
Here is what you should look for and do to check and clean or replace your Air Filter.
Firstly open up the hood (thats bonnet for you brits) and look for an Air Box. In The Galloper it looks like this:
The Air Box is fastened to the engine bay and has two air hoses connected to it. One carries air IN from the atmosphere. The other carries the FILTERED AIR OUT towards your engine, or in our case, through the turbo and intercooler. The Air Filter is inside the Air Box. To access the Air Filter inside the Air Box you will have to unfasten, unbolt or simply open the Air Box.
Once you've done that you will be able to remove the Air Filter and inspect it. Air filters come in different sizes and shapes so yours might and probably will look different . Consider two actions:
You will want to clean your Air Filter very often when you're travelling through dusty back roads or desert or sandboxes. During the hours of driving you will log a few kilometers and will collect a fair amount of dust. Especially if you're travelling in convoy or simply are traversing an area where other vehicles or wind kick up the dust into clouds.
Depending on what Air Filter is mounted on your vehicle you're going to clean it in different ways. In our case we gently beat and shake the dust out of the filter. Check out the video we made that shows this entire process step by step!
- Cleaning the Air Filter
- Replacing the Air Filter
You will want to clean your Air Filter very often when you're travelling through dusty back roads or desert or sandboxes. During the hours of driving you will log a few kilometers and will collect a fair amount of dust. Especially if you're travelling in convoy or simply are traversing an area where other vehicles or wind kick up the dust into clouds.
Depending on what Air Filter is mounted on your vehicle you're going to clean it in different ways. In our case we gently beat and shake the dust out of the filter. Check out the video we made that shows this entire process step by step!
We do recommend consulting your vehicles owners manual to figure out what the suggested life span before replacement is for your Air Filter.
"We here at Lone Galloper are heavily considering on purchasing a Safari Snorkel with a pre-filter to aid and cater to the needs of our engine. Of course, as you definitely know, it is a question of budget.... fingers crossed we'll be able to get one soon!! "
"We here at Lone Galloper are heavily considering on purchasing a Safari Snorkel with a pre-filter to aid and cater to the needs of our engine. Of course, as you definitely know, it is a question of budget.... fingers crossed we'll be able to get one soon!! "
b r e a k f l u i d
" When you've got a lot of GOOO you need a lot of WOOOW "
Breaks. You're gonna need them, Hopefully not that often. We are on the life long quest of driving without ever even stroking the break pedal. But if we do have to use it we need 'em to work. And work well.
To be honest we don't have a lot of GOOO... to be realistic the acceleration of the Galloper is closer to a "C'MOOON" than "whoooo!!". However she is a heavy mother and once loaded we definitely need the "WOOOW".
"So what can I do to get some WOOOW?"
Well dear reader if you've got a couple G's (not buddies) lying about you can overhaul your breaking system with new discs and break calipers. In our case we can't pull together 20 bucks for a set of "SHIT HAPPENS" stickers so we go with replacing the Break Pads when necessary with the most performing ones available... usually Brembo Pads. But first off make sure your Break System is fully functioning, bled and replenished!
Break systems rely on non compressible fluids to create pressure. The specification of fluid may vary with the materials the break tubes are made of. Mostly, and in the Gallopers case the break system uses a spec. DOT 4 [or DOT 3] break fluid.
Breaks. You're gonna need them, Hopefully not that often. We are on the life long quest of driving without ever even stroking the break pedal. But if we do have to use it we need 'em to work. And work well.
To be honest we don't have a lot of GOOO... to be realistic the acceleration of the Galloper is closer to a "C'MOOON" than "whoooo!!". However she is a heavy mother and once loaded we definitely need the "WOOOW".
"So what can I do to get some WOOOW?"
Well dear reader if you've got a couple G's (not buddies) lying about you can overhaul your breaking system with new discs and break calipers. In our case we can't pull together 20 bucks for a set of "SHIT HAPPENS" stickers so we go with replacing the Break Pads when necessary with the most performing ones available... usually Brembo Pads. But first off make sure your Break System is fully functioning, bled and replenished!
Break systems rely on non compressible fluids to create pressure. The specification of fluid may vary with the materials the break tubes are made of. Mostly, and in the Gallopers case the break system uses a spec. DOT 4 [or DOT 3] break fluid.
FUN FACT! From Alberto's understanding DOT 4 and DOT 3 are interchangeable. The varying properties are:
- Boiling temperatures of the fluid
- DOT 4 has a higher boiling temperature of DOT 3 oil.
More over you might want to know this: There are two boiling temperatures for brake fluid, Dry and Wet.
When you've just replaced your brake fluid and the system has been properly bled, you are working at the Dry boiling temperature. Over time, water works its way into the system through age, heat cycling, through the hoses, etc. You are then working at your Wet boiling point for the fluid.
