Looking at a truck with a coolant filter?

[Diesel]

I am supposed to go look at a truck and in a pic I saw a spin on filter, fleetguard, between heater hoses. Does this mean the engine had headgasket issues or something? I know big rigs can have coolant filters but why does a standard pickup have one?

[Mark Nixon]

Maybe that's a question best asked to the SELLER?
Personally, I feel if you change the coolant every 2-3 years and keep an eye on the color, a filter is pointless, but that's just me.

Mark.

[bmoeller]

A filter isn't a bad thing. And, if it is a Ford diesel for instance, it most likely has a SCA tablet in it, to maintain the levels (prevents cavitation erosion). Cheap insurance, and the PO was being more pro active in taking care of it. If the rest of the truck is in great condition, that that added touch shows the PO actually gave a crap about the vehicle.

Have any service records on it?

[Diesel]

Maybe that's a question best asked to the SELLER?
Personally, I feel if you change the coolant every 2-3 years and keep an eye on the color, a filter is pointless, but that's just me.

Mark.

Mark you might be honest and tell people about defects but I'd rather go into a situation with knowledge...thus I would verify the use of a filter via independent unbiased sources.

[Diesel]

A filter isn't a bad thing. And, if it is a Ford diesel for instance, it most likely has a SCA tablet in it, to maintain the levels (prevents cavitation erosion). Cheap insurance, and the PO was being more pro active in taking care of it. If the rest of the truck is in great condition, that that added touch shows the PO actually gave a crap about the vehicle.

Have any service records on it?

He was pretty good about maintenance but the body was rougher than I felt like dealing with. Maybe I'll sleep on it and feel differently.

[Mark Nixon]

Mark you might be honest and tell people about defects but I'd rather go into a situation with knowledge...thus I would verify the use of a filter via independent unbiased sources.

I hear ya' and quite agree that being informed is the best weapon in dealing on vehicles.

My BS detector works very good and I am somewhat suspicious of people by nature, so I can usually tell if I'm being snookered, but even then it still happens.

A good rule I tend to use that kinda' pisses off the sellers.
If they act like they are in a hurry, take your time OR WALK AWAY, they are rushing you for a reason and it's probably to try to get you to overlook or forget something that they don't want you to find and it's usually a major issue that doesn't present itself just sitting there.
By all means DRIVE IT. No insurance is no excuse for not taking a back road test drive.

Mark.

[PToombs]

I agree with that "in a hurry" bit. I bought a truck on e-bay in New Jersey, and when I was picking up the truck the guy almost closed the hood on my arm as I reached for the trans dipstick. I thought WTF, and concluded it was an accident. It wasn't, the trans was fried. I got 7 or 8 miles away and AFTER I filled it with fuel it slammed into gear when I stepped on the throttle. I hemmed and hawed about it and called the guy and took it back. He refunded my money and gave me a check for the fuel, glad I kept the receipt. I'm more careful buying stuff now.

[bmoeller]

He was pretty good about maintenance but the body was rougher than I felt like dealing with. Maybe I'll sleep on it and feel differently.

My 93 isn't exactly clean (no rockers and can see through the floor in places), but seems to be pretty solid mechanically. Especially with 500k on it. Still had some decent cross-hatch on the cylinder walls when I replaced the improperly installed headgasket. Oldie, but a goodie!

[Diesel]

500K!? Thats awesome!

[bmoeller]

Almost everything works too!