I used to be in the "just buy a new one" camp too, but honestly fixing stuff like this kinda changed my mind. Four hours is a lot, but there's something satisfying about making something work again that you can't put a price on.

Wait did your friend ever find one that wasn't a hairline but a full split? I remember a buddy of mine found a crack in the engine mount of his rental 172 during a preflight, but it was literally hidden behind the same cowl baffle near #3. He only noticed it because he was being extra thorough after a rough landing the day before. The crack was tiny, maybe a quarter inch long, but it was right where the bolt goes through the rubber mount. He flagged it to maintenance and they said it could've sheared off mid-flight if he hadn't caught it. That's scary stuff, man. Always gotta move those baffles and peek behind every corner, even if it adds five minutes to your walkaround.

The seal might not be the real issue. Carrot ferments need a good brine ratio or they get moldy fast.

Oh man, don't even get me started on crimp connections failing on small gauge wire. I swear those little pins have a personal vendetta against me.

I used to roll my eyes at stuff like that, figured it was just another gadget to waste money on. But after a friend's bathroom ceiling literally caved in from moisture damage, I started rethinking everything. Picked up a humidistat switch for my own place and it's been a game changer, no more foggy mirrors or musty towels. Sometimes the boring fixes are the ones that actually save your hide.