DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[Gibbo2286]

The readings are those given by the cars onboard trip computer. The actual calibration may be off the mark but as a comparison from previous readings it serves a purpose. On that trip my mate was paying for the fuel used so I left with a brimming tank and refilled it on my return at his expense, which took 29.5 litres and I covered 355 miles on the day. I'll let you work that to mpg if you want Gibbo!!

54.706112599 mpg

[mickthemaverick]

That is pretty astounding but at least its in the right direction!!!

[Rp0thejester]

I finally washed the car today with my birthday present. She hadn't been washed in 3 months and was absolutely minging, covered in bird poo.

. This stuff uses no water, so thought I'd give it a go with future threats of hose pipe bans likely.

dirty micro fibres after cleaning. Here's the results.

absolutely amazing product!! Just spray it on over the dirt rub it in, then polish with a different cloth and leaves no scratches and polishes at the same time!! I am not affiliated with the company etc it's just my opinion.

[MattBLancs]

. Any tips on dump runs as the inside of my C8 is suffering...

Top tip for keeping tip runs / mucky stuff out the car:

Matt

P.s. meant the trailer, not the small boy obviously!

[mickthemaverick]

. Any tips on dump runs as the inside of my C8 is suffering...

Top tip for keeping tip runs / mucky stuff out the car:


Matt

P.s. meant the trailer, not the small boy obviously!

A word of warning - Check out the fees at your local recycling centre before you take a trailer. Our site charges for trailers but not as much as vans!!

[MattBLancs]

Ah yes good point, varies massively between local authorities. South Ribble is currently "once per month, booked online" for van or trailer "because of COVID" (but seems to be here for ever)


Obviously, there's only one sensible course of action for such a restriction

A bigger trailer obviously!

Matt

[bobins]

My top tip for keeping mucky stuff out of your car on tip runs is to use someone else's car

[MattBLancs]

Unlikely they'd lend it me more than once if I did this kind of tip run with it (pre trailer days)

Did three tip trips like this in one day!

[Gibbo2286]

I had a customer who ran an old 100E Ford van for his hardware shop deliveries, he never taxed it and ran the tyres until they were worn through and burst then fitted second hand tyres.
He came in one day in a brand new Mini van, said he'd finally given up on the Ford after a not so quiet chat with a traffic cop , two days later I saw him in the new Mini with the rear almost dragging on the ground, he had sixteen concrete paving slabs in the back.
The new van was taxed for the first three months then he reverted to form.

[mickthemaverick]

With the MOT due next week I decided it was time to get to grips with the MX3's ATF leaks. So I put the car up on the ramps, which with my drive gives me a fairly level car that I can get under to work on:

Own work

Once I got to look inside my suspicions were confirmed, the two pipes from the radiator for the gearbox cooling are corroded and weeping at various points:

Own work

I have already been searching for replacement pipes with no luck although I am still awaiting a return call from the main dealer parts man! Given that it is unlikely I can source them economically I think I will look into replacing them with suitable hose which will mean me sourcing the correct size banjo to hose fittings to replace the existing banjo to pipe fittings:

Own work - offside radiator connections

Own work - nearside radiator connection

Own work - gearbox connection

Own work - existing hose link connection

I am going to unbolt the driver's side upper banjo joint this morning to measure it so I can source direct banjo to hose terminations to allow me to correctly fit the replacement hose. I'll fabricate mountings as needed once they are in place but for today I just need the sizes so I can order the new banjo to hose fittings.

Further developments as it happens!!

[MattBLancs]

Might "photograph well" but the existing pipe doesn't look too bad close to the radiator connection, could you cut the pipe and save finding a new banjo connection? If can solder / weld / epoxy / etc a bit of a lump on the pipe exterior, should help stop a rubber tube (and jubilee) from popping off.

[mickthemaverick]

I had thought of that Matt but I wasn't confident of getting a decent ridge for the clip to rest against. I tried flaring an old bit of pipe I had and it wasn't very successful so I opted for doing the job properly. I found a place down in South Woodham Ferrers who specialise in hydraulics and all things related so I have just got home with 6 correct banjo unions, 12 washers and six clips which together with the 50ft of pipe I have already bought have come to a total parts cost of £60 so I'm happy with that and I will replace the entire hoses with single ones for each of the three runs as per this quick sketch:

Own work

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

Incidentally I forgot to mention that my Mazda dealer got back to me today and advised me that the pipes are still available although need to be ordered from Japan and likely to take 6-10 weeks for delivery. Add that to the mere £245.45 + VAT and my hose based solution is a no brainer as the MOT is due by the 22nd!!

[MattBLancs]

Makes my blood boil how they can quote delivery times like that with a straight face. I can buy cheap tat on eBay for 99p free delivery from China and it's generally here in 2 weeks. But there's no spare fat in a £245 trumped up part cost for anything beyond the cheapest slowest possible delivery option.

£60 for a load of new fittings indeed a comparative bargain!

Matt

[mickthemaverick]

The final version of my TU engine oil seal flange puller...



In tne end it was not needed as normally the flange slides off very easily. I was unlucky to have a tight one!

Copied from the general DIY thread.