The run up from London in some sleet, ice and rain in the dark in a extra-heavily laden car was very comfortable, but unbelievably the new drivebelt, fitted with new tensioner spring and roller snapped when I got to Liverpool, less than 1/4 a mile from my destination. The car was very heavy to steer!
How come? obviously my fault, I am a stupid idiot, non?
Yes but, though my natural reaction was to hate myself, I was a little perplexed because tightening a belt is no particular brain tease for me, and I took great care.All I could think at first, was it was a dud belt. Speaking to the garage I bought the new one from, I asked have they ever had a new belt go..and the reply was well, it can happen to 1 in over a thousand. What I am to think? I refitted a new one exactly the same way, same tension. The new belt seems fine after 200 miles, and is a couple of millimetres shorter (supposedly), yet it was slightly easier to fit on. Perhaps the wrong belt was in the wrong packet. I cant remember whether I checked the markings on the belt, I would have thought I did. It had been found amongst a pile of old stock, and in a packet with belt size on it.
God help me. Well snapping round the corner, I can be glad of my blessings. It's going to be a lucky year.
I searched for Cash & Carries in Liverpool, then rang around trying to find rapeseed oil. Of course, this being the gourmet UK, saying rapeseed causes consternation, "no, we only have vegetable oil". I tell them, each one, all cooking oils are vegetable oil...what a world.
KTC soya oil, the cheapest vegetable oil, is sold as 'Vegetable oil', with soya oil written in small letters, somewhere. I find one selling Pride rapeseed for £15.99, 20 L, then go online to get travel directions. The search took me about 2 hours with a phone.
I was ready to set off, descended to ground level, but first, on foot, popped into the Chinese Wholesale Supermarket to get some stuff - mint, yeast, soy sauce etc especially, to set up my kitchen store, Lo! I find they have Pride rapeseed oil at £15.99 round the back. Its 500 yards away, nearer than any garage. So I go to my car park, and drive in to their drive in, and load up. Its now in the tank, and she purrs and darts nicely, at about 65:35 SVO:diesel, or slightly higher. Starts fine in freezing (0 degrees C) weather. Its the smell of chips allright. I am going to try adding some essential oil next, may be peppermint or patchouli. The cost could be offset by ditching the Feu Orange dangling from my mirror.
Never heard of essential Oil as an additive, but I see no harm in it.
Need to devise a decent funnel for the operation, which clips on to stay still, but I found it easy enough to fill from the 20 L can.
Wow! I feel 10 years younger with that rapeseed in the tank!
Best wishes for a New Year to all.
