Plus, it kinda makes you PLAN meals around what fits, which is weirdly satisfying.

Yeah, that line about the coolant turning to sludge really got me. I heard a mechanic say that old coolant loses its chemicals that stop rust and lubricate the water pump. So it turns acidic and eats away at everything inside, creating all that gunk. It makes total sense why a flush would fix your overheating issue. You're right to stick to that two year plan now. What kind of truck do you have, by the way?