January 2008
Is Comma Gear oil high performance semi synthetic SX75W-90 OK for my 105E Hypoid Differential? Comma technical dept unable to confirm, just spent out on new crown wheel and pinion plus all bearings and the oil, Does anyone know?
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Mornin...
As some of you may be aware I have a 306 XSI with suspected head gasket issues but the car drives fine... even with a good thrashing.
I'mreading lots of reports on K-seal, people claiming they've used it and it's sealed head gasket leaks and held for years!
Now... being well aware I can't believe everything I read, does anyone have experience with this stuff? Anyone know if it's true?
Cheers.
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Ah well... Mine's already been driven plenty since it showed signs of HGF and it still runs fine.
I'm not entirely sure the HG has gone myself but a Hydrocarbons test says it has.
I?ve recently had both front bearings replaced on the car, (these were both badly worn.) now the car dosn?t feel very sturdy on the front end, mainly drivers side. The car will pull very badly to the right when the car is in slow moving traffic and the braking on that particular wheel feels and sounds odd. The pulling stops at speed but the front end feels very light and tends to give a fair bit of vibration.
I will be having a look under the car this weekend if the rain finally stops, but any ideas on where I could look to identify the problem would be a great help.
(Both wheels have been balanced as well.)
Thanks in advance.
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I have just had the worst journey into my nearest office. 25 miles in 1hr 57 minutes (against a normal journey time of 25-30 mins) because some lorry driver has driven his truck off the road into the woods, and the police have closed two lanes. On the OPPOSITE carriageway!! The problems my way were solely down to idiots trying to cop an eyeful of the carnage!
I think it is time people slowing to look at accidents were prosecuted, or that the police invested in proper screening for central reservation barriers, or to be erected around the vehicles involved to prevent onlookers from seeing anything.
2 hours of traffic for an obstruction in the road / accident / safety related matter) is annoying but understandable.
2 hours of traffic purely so a handful of idiots can get an eyeful is inexcusable, and to make matters worse, I saw three near misses as people drove along staring intently to their right while the car in front braked! Rig up a CCTV camera and charge anyone seen turning their heads towards the accident scene with driving without due care and attention, and causing an obstruction!
Discuss.
Cheers
DP
(Sorry for ranting! ) :-)
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there must be a market for it - out of curiosity i typed 'crashes' into the youtube search box - it came back with 53,600 clips....
I see that the new Honda Accord Tourer will be unveiled alongside the saloon version at the Geneva Motor Show 2008. I look forward to seeing pictures of the European sallon version. I really hope they won't spoil the looks, as the present one is nice looking. The hired 2.4 one with alloy wheels, charcoal metallic and sports suspension which I had on my holiday at Christmas in Cape Town looked very good ( twin pipes at the back, one each side).
I would never take Honda lightly, they seem to be a company on a high. Read more
Thanks HJ.
I would definitely go for a diesel, as I do quite a bit of mileage. An automatic would be very useful around Dublin's rush hour gridlocks on the M50. In a few years, Dublin will have much better road infastructure and more trams and railways apparently. It is not a cheap place for the motorist right now though.
Hi all,
Wondering if someone can help me out. I am currently considering moving jobs and the new job involves a lot further trip to work, but comes with a company car. If I don't take the new job, i'll need a new car soon anyway so trying to work out the monetary differences:
If I buy a car by myself at aprox £8k over 5 years:
Yearly loan repayments: £1860
Personal petrol costs for year: £1033
Maintenance (tax, insurance): £360
Total yearly cost: £3253 = £271 a month
Company car:
Loan repayments on purchase: £0
Tax paid on BIK: £483 (from 5th April, will be more before)
Personal petrol: £2652
Maintainance: £0
Total yearly cost: £3153 = £262 a month
Can anyone advise if the above is correct or have I missed something?
Obviously there are the benefits that can't be costed such as company car is likely to be a much better car C4 Coupe HDI VTR+ or Focus TDCI rather than a fiesta if I buy myself although obviously Fiesta would be fine for shorter journey to current work and Focus / C4 would be required for longer journeys to new job. Read more
Thanks for all the replies...
In answer to questions:
1. Yes I agree that I have underestimated costs @ £360 - that would just cover my insurance and tax but I would need to add extra for servicing and non warranty repairs, no MOT needed for three years though, after 3 years see below...
2. RE: residual value, I didn't include that as after 3 years I would plan to sell the car on with the sale value hopefully covering the remeining amount on the loan. I could then start over again...
3. Personal miles are much more with company car because my commute would be 100 miles return journey in new job, but if I stay where I am, commute = 40 miles return. The figures therefore assume fuel card funded diesel with me paying back 10p per mile to the company. It is also worst case scenario i.e. having to go into the office every day - in reality there will be days when i'm out and about over two counties, plus visits to Milton Keynes and Manchester head offices.... plus possibility to work from home could all reduce my personal miles (and increase business miles which company pay for so not included in calculations).
My daughter bought a new battery for her Micra, and conveniently (for her) left the old one in my garage. I know I can take it down the local tip, but I'm sure I've read here quite recently that they're worth a few bob (Bell Boy I think - What's happened to him?)
I've tried the local scrap metal dealers, who aren't interested.
Any ideas? Read more
I recently bought a battery from Halfords and they gave me a £2 gift voucher in exchange for the old one.
Doesn?t help you, I know?
Clk Sec
I?ve had my Passat B5.5 PD130 sport (6-speed manual) for 5 years and 62,000 miles, and it?s making way for a new Mondeo.
For what it?s worth, here?s my impressions and experience of ownership.
First, I didn?t really run it in, I just drove it. Even keeping below 3K rpm, you?re still moving quite nicely.
It?s been serviced at 10K intervals, using 505.01 oil (not long life). Uses about half a pint of oil between changes.
Pros: grunty engine, the trademark PD instant torque, and perfect ratios in the top 4 gears mean overtaking and cruising is always quick, punchy and stress free.
Excellent m/way cruising at 2700rpm in 6th (about 85mph). This gives an average of 50 ? 55mpg on a run. This car really is more economical cruising at this speed than at 70mph, where you?re constantly swapping lanes and unable to maintain steady throttle due to trucks, etc.
Long-distance comfort is good, and the cabin is a nice place to be for 500-mile days. Sport suspension controls body roll well.
Big boot swallows all the gear needed for a 2-week family holiday.
Interior and exterior finish has held up very well, even the alloys still come up nice despite being washed only once every 3 months.
Cons: handling is, er, safe. Very little feedback or involvement, but understeer does not become terminal. Ride can be a bit jarring and crashy over bumps.
Refinement could be better, the engine is quiet & smooth at cruising speed but in town and when cold, it thrums and throbs prominently (although a bit less now it?s properly loosened up).
The front suspension knuckle joint, the B5.5 Achilles Heel, got me at the second MOT. £400 for one side only at a good independent. VAG dealer price £550.
Average fuel consumption: 46.5mpg over the period of ownership (real mpg, not on the trip computer). This is brilliant for a fairly hard-driven, 1.4 tonne family barge.
Apart from the knuckle joint, I?ve had one hose clip on the intercooler break (my fault for fiddling), and one brake light bulb blow. That?s it. Still on original clutch, brake pads & discs.
One tip ? Conti SportContacts are the best tyre for longevity. The factory-fit set lasted 33K on the front, and 50K rear.
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@ 659BFE -- mine's got the AVF motor, I think these were standard on the Sport spec Passat PDs. I don't know how the brake pads have lasted so long, I think I'm quite gentle on the brakes but some of my passengers may quibble with that :)
@ Cheddar, the replacement will be a Mondeo IV estate. I just didn't like the new Passat, and the Mondeo impressed me on the test drive.
Over in the technical forum, there is a discussion going on about Pug HDi's. these engines require elosys additive to, very simply, 'clean up' the exhaust gases. My question is this, do all new diesel engines have this 'additive' or is it just Pug derived engines. Apologies if this should have been posted in Technical, Mods, please feel free to move. Read more
I however think on some of the very
exotic diesels Audi and VW are bringing out soon they will be using a Urea
(yes you did read right) based fluid to cut down exhaust emmisions.
Yes; like the trucks are now, you'll soon be hauling around a 5-gallon tank of pig wee - don't be following the car that starts regenerating with a pipe leak.....
Why are diesel drivers whinging about DPF servicing costs? Greenoidism costs [wastes] money - think how much it costs petrol drivers in the same 50K period to drag a cat around.
Depending on consumption; you'll need around £5000-£25,000s worth of petrol. as having a cat costs at least 15% of that, thats £750-£3,750 in emission-reduction costs - makes £6-900 for a FAP-and-fill look cheap.
Can anyone give a knowledgable opinion regarding the value of a 'Y' plate 3.0 SE. Silver, 35k 2 owners, fsh, the owner would probably px it for a late(ish) Disco'
Best regards......MD Read more
Thanks Barchetta. Only difference is it is an Auto'
Best regards.......MD
Browse
Surely it was designed to use straight EP90..
Read oilman's post about gear oil, it says more about the subject I can muster.
The magic word is hypoid.