It has been a minute since my last post. Between various tasks, there just was not enough energy left over to write anything. Good news — after months of not paying their bill, a client finally did and put a chunk of cash into my account. I was getting a little concerned that they might stiff us. But they paid. Good.

I am happy to have that one behind me. It is possible that it will reanimate later, but I hope not.

I am looking forward to Field Day this year. I plan to camp with friends at Desert Creek Dry Lake. I think that was our FD site three-years ago.

The truck will not be fully outfitted in time, but that is OK. I am slowly working out what I want to add to my truck and it will take a little time to acquire the equipment and get it installed. The bed liner will be sprayed in Monday. That will be the first step.

I spent a lot of time the last couple of weeks researching maintenance issues with the new truck. The primary item is that US diesel fuel is out of specification for the fuel pump used by Ford. Therefore, supplementation of the diesel fuel is required to ensure sufficient lubrication for the pump. Fortunately (for me), my sales agent at the Ford dealership pointed me in the additive direction.

The other issue that came up is the abandonment of a defined service interval in favor of a sensor and indicator. Vehicles have had service intervals for as long as I can remember. The standard service interval has also been always dependent on the service level of the vehicle in question. Those that see heavy service require a reduced service interval.

A YT content creator, The Motor Oil Geek, has several videos on oil change frequency and the impact on engine wear. He recommends, based on testing, an oil change early in the engine’s life (maybe 500-1,000 miles), then a second after several thousand more miles. These remove residual particles from the build and provide a refreshed filter as well. He also suggests that a regular-period service change also be followed instead of relying on the vehicle’s sensor/algorithm.

I am careful to follow Toyota’s service interval recommendation for my 4Runner. Although I did not use a break-in service for it, the oil was renewed every 10,000 miles. Other maintenance items (coolant, transmission fluid, transfer case, differentials) was also changed. The rig now has 235,000 miles on it and does not use oil or leak. This speak to the quality of Toyota manufacturing. It is a pity they do not offer a diesel pickup in the States.

The Ford pulls the little camper effortlessly. I will no longer be lugging up hills. Moreover, I will replace the little trailer with something just a bit larger this year or next. I want something capable of handling colder weather (the current unit does not) and that provides just a little bit more living space. On my month-long travels, the little camper is a bit cramped and I want more space for when I am working.

The adventure continues. I am liking my truck a lot. It is a lot more vehicle than the 4Runner and requires some adjustment in driving style. I am even more careful choosing a parking spot. I do not mind walking from the rig to the store or whatever.

For the moment, I intend to keep the 4Runner as a daily driver. It seems a bit wasteful to have two vehicles, though. So, we will see.

In any event, I am very grateful. Life is good.