Gruesome stories. Makes me feel very, very lucky to have escaped nails in feet and bolts in gut. Haven't lived a bubble life though. Another coolant story. I'm 18 and my Aunt's Cadillac is overheating. I tell her, let's go for a drive and I'll look into how quickly it is overheating. We went 400 yards to the corner gas station and the gauge was pegged. Me, in my youthful confidence and familial bravado, popped the hood, thought it couldn't be that hot that soon, put a towel over the cap, popped it off, and it exploded boiling coolant all over my neck and shoulder. I moved my head away just fast enough to avoid a face full. This from a guy who grew up inside an engine compartment! 2nd and maybe small areas of 3rd degree burns over an area the size of a dinner plate. What the hell was I thinking?????????? There's a reason draft age is 18.
Like everyone else who reported this experience--It hurt like nothing else I've done. Also like most everyone else, I KNEW better, but didn't DO better. Still have scars for sure, luckily not visible with a shirt on.
Otherwise just a huge pile of torn off skin and fingernails and small burns always on my biceps from tugging on wrenches in hot places.
