Biffo

Gav, Go back to the Doctor's and tell he/she the pills you've been prescribed are too strong for you, and they're having adverse side effects on your mental well-being!

I do like a pristine clean car myself Gav, and give them the TLC they deserve. The neighbours think I'm a few pills short of a full prescription, but I know which car I prefer looking at on the driveway! I know my recently purchased E36 is 18 years old, and the black paintwork requires attention, but, unless you're up close and personal, it still puts their later models to shame for exterior and interior condition.

Thank you, I told the wife I'm not the only one who does such things!

Yeah, I know what you mean Gav. If I could afford to own such beauty, I'd have it in a glass case and build a house around it. But then surely that would be to experience only half the pleasure, for ones-self and a privileged few, instead of bringing pleasure to who knows many people. It will certainly be one of those moments in life which I'll never forget, that's for sure. (I really like cars, by the way!) :D

On this warm and beautiful evening, as I'm on my way way to Warrington to fit a tracking device to a lorry, when what do I see coming in the opposite direction - a vintage BMW 328 Roadster, in cream with blue wings, and the soft-top down. The grey-haired gentleman driving looking like he was the happiest person on the planet. It's the oldest BMW I've ever seen on the road. What a thrill; it made my night I can tell you. And if the gentleman in question should happen to be reading this post, I'd just like to say thank you for making this Anorak very happy. :D Apologies for the image size, but the thought came to me as I was writing this post (and according to the wife, thoughts don't come naturally to me) that a picture of the car would be nice, and it was the only one I could find at the time. Apologies too if I've broken any copyright on the image, but in my defense I can only say I was still so excited at seeing such a rare and beautiful vehicle: I trust the moderators will do the right and proper thing if they believe I have transgressed. I found the image at... 'ultimatecarpage.com' where, since I've had time to view the site, there is some excellent information on the vehicle.

Yeah, thanks for that Dabsy.

Do you remember that phenomenon from the 80's with hot hatches... the "Black Death", and hence the development of synthetic oils... mmmmmmm!

Yeah, Dabsy, working for a main dealership for a well known Swedish Truck maker, I did the same in my 3.9 V8 Rangie. And why? Because they only specify the highest quality engine oil due to the high loads diesel engines, and in particular, the turbochargers are subjected to. Use a thin oil in diesel engine for a while, especially one with a variance of '30' between the lowest and the highest figures ( more polymers added to acheive the 'W' rating, while still trying to meet its high temperature viscosity) and check the results. Black burnt smelly oil, depositing itself who knows where in your oil-ways. I've only ever used top quality oils (Castrol) because cheap oils are usually recycled oils, with the additives put back in. Where do you suppose all those thousands of gallons of used oil from oil changes goes. A tanker comes in and takes away to the engineering equivalent of a maternity ward! My yardstick is "If you're not sure, don't do it". All the information you could ever want is at your finger tips. Go look. Cheers.

To be honest, I'd be wary of using anything not recommended by the manufacturer. Remember, they perform extensive testing on their products before releasing them to the market, and they make recommendations for good reason. Beside lubrication, one of the main mechanical properties of a oil is its ability to resist shear stress. Another is to remove heat from component parts, i.e. the underside of pistons, etc. If an oil is too thin, its ability to resist shear stress is reduced, it will break down, form a film, burn and accelerate wear. Think of the pressure the big-end and con-rod bearings are under every time the fuel ignites in the cylinders. At 1500 rpm, those bearings are resisting that shear stress at 25 times per second... a lot of work. I haven't got the energy right now to write a full explanation, but try this article, and see what they say about thin oils and diesel engines. Sorry, tried that link and it didn't work, so try Googling: www.jeepfan.com/tech/motoroil - faq.htm My link Good luck.

To be honest, I'd be wary of using anything not recommended by the manufacturer. Remember, they perform extensive testing on their products before releasing them to the market, and they make recommendations for good reason. Beside lubrication, one of the main mechanical properties of a oil is it ability to resist shear stress. Another is to remove heat from component parts, i.e. the underside of pistons. If an oil is too thin,its ability to resist shear stress is reduced, it will break down causing a film, burn and accelerate wear. Think of the pressure the big-end and con-rod bearings are under every time the fuel ignites in the cylinders. I haven't got the energy right now to write a full explanation, but try this article, and see what they say about thin oils and diesel engines. My link Good luck.

Beemer318, go for it, I doubt you'll regret it.

Thanks for the welcome Beemer318. Yes, I think I've made the right choice here; in fact the more I'm around this car, the more I'm convinced it was one of those "Right place, Right time" moments. As for the performance, well, the engine seems to pick up nicely, the gears snick positively from one ratio to the next, and it goes where you point it, with no vagueness in the steering. Hooking up bends, apex to apex, is sheer joy. Yes, I have to say, I'm delighted with it.

Yeah, keep a small tin by the garage door, just in-case I have unexpected visitors!

Cheers Caz, Yeah, shiney, shiney spanners... I've also been advised that what I'm doing with a half in ratchet isn't legal under English Law! It's good to be on-board.

Hi AndyG72, Thanks for posting the link. It appears to be a really useful site and if the example pages are anything to go by, just the thing I'm looking for. Cheers.

Enjoy your day. It's been nice chatting with you.

Checking the serviceability of your turbocharger. (1) Check the condition of all the hoses to the turbo. Have any gone soft, causing them to collapse when under load. Is there any evidence of cracking or splitting, causing leaks. Are all hose clips secure. (2) Check intercooler for damage or blockages to the core. (3) Check plenum chamber is sealed correctly (use soapy water in a atomiser bottle to check for leaks.) (4) Remove the pipes to the turbo and check for excessive free play in the turbine shaft. Rotate the shaft and check for any fouling of the turbine blades. Hold both the impeller and the turbine and try to rotate counter-clockwise to each other to check that the shaft hasn't snapped. (5) Is the turbo boost pressure within that specified for the unit, if not adjust wastegate. If boost pressure within spec, then turbo is working correctly. WARNING: Excessive turbo boost pressure WILL ruin your engine... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Google "How to check turbocharger boost pressure" for the procedure on running this test. If boost pressure is within spec, I'd go on to check the Wastegate Valve and the Bypass. Again, do a Google and see what it comes back with. I hope this is of some help to you. P.S. The usual disclaimers apply, you know; "It was broken when I got here" and "Some Big Boys did it and run away." :unsure:

Yeah, a sweet feeling though Andy, having that pedal under the right foot, the steering wheel caressing the palms of the hands, the breeze blowing in through the open window... Oh, sod it, I'm going for a drive to the top of Parbold Hill! :D

Cheers Gav. I had to go and have another sit in it... no, honestly, I did. The wife said it's too dark to wash it now, and for once, reluctantly, I have to agree with her! :huh:

Always good to know these things. I'm a HGV Technician myself, or I was until I fell off a lorry and broke my back, and now I'm eight years adrift in my knowledge and skills base. I still polish my spanners once a week and lube the drawers on my tool chest though! Well done on the award winning car. Are there any photo's of it on the club site?

I'm certain that's the gaff; it's the only karting gig I know up this way. The lads from work used to organize similar days there: unfortunately, they were always on a weekend, which was part of my shift. A good day out from all reports. "bring it to me and il make it look better than when it left the showroom :)" What do you do for a living Andy, (if I'm allowed to ask such a question?)

Another "Spanner Licker"? I get the kids to do mine, for a small fee... a fiver off each of them! :rolleyes:

Thanks chaps, Dabsy, could you elaborate on the TIS abbreviation, for a dimwit? I've always found it helpful to have any information you require on a job right there in front of you. Haynes manuals, for example, I cut up and store in those plastic sleeves. Easy to remove from the file when the job requires. They don't get obscured by oily fingers, and they don't get wet when it rains, (as it inevitably does, half an hour after I start a job!)

Andy mcq, where do you go karting, Burscough Industrial Estate?

Thanks fella's. Yeah, eight years... and I see the price of fuel has gone up in that time! Not sure about Dabsy, but I've got a photograph of the last Village Idiot in a balaclava! I'm based in Ormskirk, Lancashire. Handy for Wales and Yorkshire, and maybe once I've sorted the valve train out on my new baby I may join you on a run out; if that's an open invitation? Cheers.