What I did today thread...

[js7799]

Had to have the AA out to "home start" the car after I left the parking lights on overnight. Found out my alternator is getting weak and the battery that's installed isn't the right size for the car. Add to that, she's still stalling out in slow traffic or sometimes at idle. It never ends!

[petey]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Wow..... £135 just for the parts.
For that money, do you know that main dealers do a £199 service for 10+ year old cars? This includes any outstanding software updates plus 12 months European Assistance.

I did not know that they did such an offer but when I’d previously looked into oil alone it was outrageous so £135 didn’t seem that bad to me all in these days (and I’m happy to be up 70 notes, to knownots done correctly and not have the buggeration of getting to the dealer when the OE parts arrive at my door).

Sometimes, pending on the rock ape that’s been about before me, it can definitely seem like drilling a hole is a simpler way of removing sump plugs, but yes, I was not being utterly sensible.


No takers for the Wynn’s flush then?

[Georgeandkira]

There are two camps on engine flushes aka solvents.

One says to avoid 'em. If there's adequate oil being pumped, just use a good synthetic on a slightly accelerated basis. The fear of large chunks of sludge breaking off and clogging oil passages as well as the pick-up screen is huge.

The other says just read the directions and do it.

The '07 non-turbo I bought had 70K on the clock and it all appeared to be local driving. The filler neck grill and cap's underside had chunks of crud.
The service history documented oil changes at an average interval of ~6,300 mi. Doubtless conventional oil was used given the excessive premium charged by dealers.

Because my engine ran so smoothly and start up never produced a single second of clattering, I concluded the lubrication system was delivering oil. Add to that the complete absence of any chunks of any size in the filter.
I decided to eschew any added chemical flushing and let the lauded cleaning power of Mobil1 0W-40 European Formula do its thing.

edit: Where did the red "thumbs down" icon above my post come from?

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by petey

I did not know that they did such an offer but when I’d previously looked into oil alone it was outrageous so £135 didn’t seem that bad to me all in these days (and I’m happy to be up 70 notes, to knownots done correctly and not have the buggeration of getting to the dealer when the OE parts arrive at my door).

Sometimes, pending on the rock ape that’s been about before me, it can definitely seem like drilling a hole is a simpler way of removing sump plugs, but yes, I was not being utterly sensible.


No takers for the Wynn’s flush then?

and for everything else there's a pair of Stilsons...aka a pipe wrench with attitude....never ever drill a pilot unless all other options have failed - you risk damaging the sump's thread and then you're looking at buying a new sump with all the hassle of dropping, coating the garage floor with "carp" sic.

Apply a little bit of heat and the applied force of a bar breaker and most stubborn nuts will free up...............avoid drilling the plug holding back 5+ litres of oil if at all possible.

[petey]

I’ve welded a spanner on once but never been beaten....

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Where did the red "thumbs down" icon above my post come from?

When you post, it is the second icon from the left in the box marked "Post Icons" directly below the dialogue box that you are typing in.......IMHO 'tis the equivalent of a slip of the pen when using a mouse......just before you right click "Submit Reply"

[mrfixer]

Fitted two orange indicator bulbs to my father in laws V70 today ,what a pain in the you know what, offside holder disintegrated had to remove headlight to get the old bulb out that had fell inside.I don't know why did they not use same as S80

[ThomasG]

14 hours before start of first (1300) leg of roughly 4000miles "hop around"..

Snapped the rod on rear suspension damper.

Now try to get something like that at 5pm on Friday!

[Georgeandkira]

OUCH!....break the other rear damper and "bounce around".

[Dancake]

Replaced the starter motor with one that I'd overhauled a while back, and changed the last of the vacuum hoses for silicone.