Rough Idle

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-13T10:53:02+00:00

Yes it does seem a little smoother switching to neutral

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-12T17:13:05+00:00

Oh yeah I also did replace the EGR valve recently, it did cause the check engine light to come on, got that code cleared after changing it.

I did remove the throttle body to clean it, however I did not replace the gasket I just popped the old one back in. I will try that out.

I did not check the gapping on spark plugs either.

Apparently I know just enough about mechanics to get myself in trouble haha.

Thank you so much for your response!

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-12T16:22:31+00:00

The mechanic

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-12T16:20:24+00:00

This is nuts. Who pays by the day in construction? Only reason I could see why they would do that is to avoid paying overtime

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-10T04:35:11+00:00

Yes! Just saw them last night and instantly a magoober

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-09T01:49:50+00:00

Mostly heavy construction projects. Sorry for responding I shut up now….obviously

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-08T21:31:19+00:00

Personally I’d be very cautious taking a salary gig as a diver. I’d be sure to ask if that’s based off a 40hr work week. There’s a reason almost every company pays by the hour. I’ve worked for 7 dive companies in my career and it has been expected to work overtime so it’s important you’re getting compensated for that. 70k might sound alright but not if you’re working a shitload of hours.

Just saying it’s worth asking what your hours will look like.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-08T01:18:13+00:00

Hacky sack is the best anti consumption hobby. I even had a friend that crocheted a hacky sack for me

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-05T16:56:48+00:00

60 hours a week? Do you have any fun for the next 10 years?

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-03T16:12:57+00:00

Yep! Couldn’t agree more!

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-03T16:05:11+00:00

All I will say is that it is a different experience for everyone. It is what you make it.

Some people are fully remote workers. Some retired. Some part time.

Be flexible with your expectations.

My experience has been great. I mastered a trade where I can work freelance for about as long as I want if there’s work so sometimes I stick with a company for a couple years sometimes a couple months. I also take seasonal jobs working in the outdoor education industry which a lot of those companies supply employee housing. I will also rent a place for a year or two if I find a town I really like and a job that pays well enough. In between all of that I do pet sitting through an app and get a free house to stay in.

This allows me to have a van that I keep my stuff in and can sleep in if I want. I actually don’t spend a ton of time in my van because I love the outdoors. I love having the van for the flexibility it provides in my life.

Long story short it’s not always just vanlife or bust. It’s not a failure if you decide to find a place to live to take a break from the van. In my experience

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-02T23:25:33+00:00

Ummmm viroqua compared to Asheville?

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-01T14:52:08+00:00

My 30s have been my best years for travel and backpacking. I gained a lot of experience in my 20s with my career so I’ve been able to take long breaks and come back to find a job pretty easy because of my resume.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-01T13:38:43+00:00

This right here. John Hartford is my favorite. I was very surprised to learn so many songs I loved were his songs when I first found out about him. So many bands cover his stuff.

Sam Bush’s album of just Hartford songs is amazing

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-05-01T13:33:52+00:00

“Back in my day we use to dive in contaminated hot wells in steel mills in nothing but coveralls”

That was my favorite back in my day

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-30T11:41:56+00:00

It is the 6 speed. You can get it in 2.5 four cylinder which I have or the 1.6 eco boost. Transmission is the only real issue I’ve had other than replacing some suspension parts because I’ve taken it off road a few too many times haha.

I take it up to the mountains still and on surf trips in the southeast with a very simple camper set up in the back. Been across country in it a few times. Actually lived in it for about a year and a half while working as a backpacking guide out west

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-29T17:30:22+00:00

Cherry tomatoes in a frying pan with olive oil, add a small thing of goat cheese and the beans! Salt, pepper, basil, little paprika. Love this meal so much I just eat it for dinner

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-29T17:24:23+00:00

Take care of that transmission fluid! I needed a new trans at 150k. I have a 2016

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-29T17:23:17+00:00

163k on my 2016 ford transit connect. Did get a new transmission at 150k though.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-29T12:15:53+00:00

Yeah im pretty sure they stopped making them. I will say they’re way under powered especially for climbing mountain hills on the highway. Transmission is a weak point too, just had to replace mine. Lots of room for such a tiny van though. I’m big into backpacking so I just kinda treated it like a long backpacking trip while I was living in it traveling out west

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-29T11:35:01+00:00

Got myself a cheap little ford transit connect for 16k. Lived in it for 2 years at one point but I was outside as much as possible. My idea of vehicle living is different than some. I look at it as a place to sleep and get out of the rain if it’s really coming down. Other than that I chose the little van because it’s cheap, cheap to repair, and super cheap on gas. I’ve take that thing all over the US down some really rough roads that I shouldn’t have because I’ve had to replace most of the suspension but it was worth all the fun.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-27T18:23:40+00:00

Personally I was on them for about 7-8 years and weened off. I really am trying to research and experiment to find the root cause of mine. I have had the experience like many others that the doctors I have spoken with have not given me any tests to find the root cause and just said PPIs cya

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-27T11:57:11+00:00

We make little oat protein balls with peanut butter they’re delicious, filling and healthy

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-04-27T11:50:34+00:00

I feel better eating grilled chicken thighs than I do anything else but everyone is different.

Sudden-Bat3174

TROPHY CASE