Your fleet running reports

[PaulJ]

I'd love a dipstick for my engine oil tbf!

Me too as it happens.

[Mito Man]

If you don’t have the dipstick, be the dipstick.

[JonMad]

A friend was giving away a couple of full tread 195/50R15 Toyo Proxes T1Rs. Just the size for the Fabia and permitted for autosolos (R888s aren't, for example).

[Coaster1]

A friend was giving away a couple of full tread 195/50R15 Toyo Proxes T1Rs. Just the size for the Fabia and permitted for autosolos (R888s aren't, for example).

Same size as my DC2 (though officially it’s 195/55R15)

[Beany]

A friend was giving away a couple of full tread 195/50R15 Toyo Proxes T1Rs. Just the size for the Fabia and permitted for autosolos (R888s aren't, for example).

Same size as my DC2 (though officially it’s 195/55R15)

+Ford Puma, as I recall.

No, not the new ones.

[V8Granite]

After lots of waiting for parts the Landy is finally going back together.

I’m fitting a 12V oil pan heater as I’m curious at how well they work, an electric fan as it frees up a huge amount of engine bay space and also fitted a small 60cm light bar, as I was weak and the shop sold nice metal casing ones. I expect to blind rabbits at 50 metres.

The fan will run by thermostat only, the light bar will
Come off my switched live circuit and the pan heater off of the auxiliary battery circuit. I may need a bigger alternator though as it only runs a 45amp one as standard.

Billet compressor wheel and new turbo cartridge fitted.


Electric fan, mounts nice and solidly to original mounts. It won’t move as much air as the standard viscous fan but won’t need to unless in the Sahara.


Light bar in as subtle a position as I could find and it still work properly.


Hopefully fire it up Sunday as the fuel system went on today and also the head so the inlet and exhaust, turbo and new oil feed etc on tomorrow. I need to wire the switches to the relays though, they are already wired up to their power supplies, getting the wiring up and then out to the relays will be a tit of a job, I may put that off a bit .

Dave!

[Beany]

What's the sump/oil pan heater used for? I'd have thought that's only for extreme cold climates, or is there a use for those of us in milder climes?

[V8Granite]

I’m just being nice to the engine, it will speed up cranking and warmer oil is always a benefit to starting, I’m less bothered about coolant temp. I’ve always not been quite sure of them though so thought I’d give it a go finally.

If I can get the oil 20 degrees above ambient before starting then I’ll be incredibly happy. It’s a 125 watt heater running on 12v so will be around 11amps which is a fair amount of constant load. Time will tell if it’s worthwhile or not.

Dave!

[DeskJockey]

Seller is sending me a new radio to replace the faulty one. I might end up with three. Worst case scenario I can try to cobble one good unit together out of the three.

[Mito Man]

I’m just being nice to the engine, it will speed up cranking and warmer oil is always a benefit to starting, I’m less bothered about coolant temp. I’ve always not been quite sure of them though so thought I’d give it a go finally.

If I can get the oil 20 degrees above ambient before starting then I’ll be incredibly happy. It’s a 125 watt heater running on 12v so will be around 11amps which is a fair amount of constant load. Time will tell if it’s worthwhile or not.

Dave!

Is that wired into the battery then or do you have some fancy adaptor for plugging into the wall?

The F150 has a 110 volt wall outlet block heater and battery heater as it’s from Canada but it says it’s recommended for -25 or lower and despite the beast from the east a few weeks ago we were a long way off that

[V8Granite]

It’s direct from the battery. It’s a good quality wolverine one but I’m still a bit sceptical. I’ve an 85amp hour auxiliary so will be fine power wise.

Every engine benefits from warm oil on start up whatever the outside temp.

I looked at the block heaters, some are a kettle element (probably what your one is) and mount through a core plug hole. Pretty effective for but it’s engine protection I’m interested in more and they are mainly for cabin heat I think. Most of the tests seem to be done in Canada for obvious reasons.

One surprising thing is how much of a difference the battery heaters make.

Dave!

[Ascender]

If someone could tell me where the hell my torque wrenches are, that would be a big help. I mean, one is about a foot and a half long, but can I find the fucker?

ABS sensor has arrived after an initial cock-up, so am wanting to get that fitted this morning as the actual sun is out and everything.

[DeskJockey]

If someone could tell me where the hell my torque wrenches are, that would be a big help. I mean, one is about a foot and a half long, but can I find the fucker?

ABS sensor has arrived after an initial cock-up, so am wanting to get that fitted this morning as the actual sun is out and everything.

Either behind the sofa or under the pile of washing in the bedroom.

[jamcg]

If someone could tell me where the hell my torque wrenches are, that would be a big help. I mean, one is about a foot and a half long, but can I find the fucker?

ABS sensor has arrived after an initial cock-up, so am wanting to get that fitted this morning as the actual sun is out and everything.

You let Dave round the corner borrow them and you forgot to ask for them back and he’s hoping you won’t so he never has to buy his own

[mik]

I had that recently with my oil filter removal tools.

I used to have 3 - a rubbery grip one, a chain whip and a chain thing that fits on your ratchet. Now I only have the latter.

Which makes zero sense - they would all
Have gone in the same box at my last house move

[Mito Man]

It's the fucking mice round here that take everything. They took my pliers last time

[Carlos]

I had that recently with my oil filter removal tools.

I used to have 3 - a rubbery grip one, a chain whip and a chain thing that fits on your ratchet. Now I only have the latter.

Which makes zero sense - they would all
Have gone in the same box at my last house move

I would ask my wife if she's used them for hitting something or opening something.

[Ascender]

Gave up and had to borrow my neighbour's! Honestly, nothing is safe in this place.

And now I can't clear the error codes as the Delphi software wants reactivated!

I don't suppose anybody knows where to get hold of a, um, working copy of that do they? Would be nice to get out for a drive this weekend and have ABS working.

[Sundayjumper]

I seem to remember it being a bit of a faff, but the instructions should be out there on the ‘net somewhere.

[Ascender]

I seem to remember it being a bit of a faff, but the instructions should be out there on the ‘net somewhere.

Managed to find a copy but the fault codes won't clear! Although I've seen a couple of posts suggesting I need to take it for a drive to let the system see there's data coming from the sensor now so will give that a shot.