July 2014
Nice post! Thanks for sharing such great details. http://sparksmonroe.com/ Read more
About 18 months ago, the car refused to start. It would fire, but splutter & die before reaching idle speed. After about 20 attempts, it started & ran normally. Several days later it cut out while on the move & refused to restart. Again after a number of attempts, it started & ran normally. At this point we asked our local garage to take a look. No fault codes had been recorded, so they suggested a mechanical cause such as the diesel lift pump.
I removed the pump from the tank & stripped it. Everything was spotlessly clean, with no sign of sediment, water or corrosion etc. On reassembly the car ran perfectly and didn't miss a beat until a month ago, when it cut out on me in the middle of a busy roundabout. Again it took two dozen attempts, with the engine coughing & spluttering below idle speed before it suddenly ran normally. I dismantled the tank pump for a second time, again finding no obvious cause. Afterwards the car was perfect until today......you guessed.....an exact repeat performance!... Read more
Given that for every 10 kWh (units) of electricity made 'available for use' in our homes, the far distant, Midlands based fossil fuel (coal or natural gas) powered power station has to generate 37kWh of 'heat energy' then surely it makes much more economic and ecological sense for us to generate our own electricity as close to home as possible? (This is because 27 units of the 'heat energy' generated at the 'distant' power station is 'lost' in the generation process and in its journey of many, many miles over 'lossy' overhead power lines from the 'furnace/boiler/generator' to the wall socket in your home). Similarly, if nuclear power is used to replace the fossil fuel 'furnace' the remaining stages of generation, transmission and distribution are subject to the same 'heat losses' as are involved in those same process stages in the fossil fuel case.
The nominal efficiency of the process is further diminished in the use of mains electricity in our homes to charge up the 400 volt 5/10/22/24 kWh 'battery' in an electric (EV) or in a petrol-electric hybrid (PEHV) car or motorcycle. Typically between 30 and 50% more electricity than is actually stored as usable energy in the battery, has to be 'drawn from the mains' in the battery charging process. Finally the conversion of stored electrical power in the battery to motive force in the car is no more than 85% efficient. Thus 'doing the maths' we can see that for the EV or PEHV, the 'conversion efficiency' from power station to 'motive power on the road' is between 10/37 x 1/1.5 x 0.85 = 0.153 and 10/37 x 1/1.3 x 0.85 = 0.177 i.e. the conversion efficiency is between 15% and 18% with a typical value of 16.4% for coal fired electricity generation. In contrast the conversion efficiency between petroleum based fuels burnt in an internal combustion engine (ICE) and 'motive power on the road' is typically around 18%.... Read more
Most of the modern developments in electric vehicles have been due to the availability of lithium batteries which have a much better capacity/weight ratio but these are expensive and not without risk but whatever inefeciencies there are in mains electric charging the fact remains that to the consumer they are much cheaper to run than an internal combustion engine, althought these are improving all the time.
The real use of electric cars would be best confined to the 'second' car that never does more than 20-30 miles a day in an urban or suburban area. These could be built with far fewer lead acid batteries thus reducing the weight and cost, with a range of say 50 miles and a top speed of about 40 mph, these would be much cheaper to build and maintain....
Given that for every 10 kWh (units) of electricity made 'available for use' in our homes, the far distant, Midlands based fossil fuel (coal or natural gas) powered power station has to generate 37kWh of 'heat energy' then surely it makes much more economic and ecological sense for us to generate our own electricity as close to home as possible? (This is because 27 units of the 'heat energy' generated at the 'distant' power station is 'lost' in the generation process and in its journey of many, many miles over 'lossy' overhead power lines from the 'furnace/boiler/generator' to the wall socket in your home). Similarly, if nuclear power is used to replace the fossil fuel 'furnace' the remaining stages of generation, transmission and distribution are subject to the same 'heat losses' as are involved in those same process stages in the fossil fuel case.
The nominal efficiency of the process is further diminished in the use of mains electricity in our homes to charge up the 400 volt 5/10/22/24 kWh 'battery' in an electric (EV) or in a petrol-electric hybrid (PEHV) car or motorcycle. Typically between 30 and 50% more electricity than is actually stored as usable energy in the battery, has to be 'drawn from the mains' in the battery charging process. Finally the conversion of stored electrical power in the battery to motive force in the car is no more than 85% efficient. Thus 'doing the maths' we can see that for the EV or PEHV, the 'conversion efficiency' from power station to 'motive power on the road' is between 10/37 x 1/1.5 x 0.85 = 0.153 and 10/37 x 1/1.3 x 0.85 = 0.177 i.e. the conversion efficiency is between 15% and 18% with a typical value of 16.4% for coal fired electricity generation. In contrast the conversion efficiency between petroleum based fuels burnt in an internal combustion engine (ICE) and 'motive power on the road' is typically around 18%.... Read more
With technology coming on in leaps and bounds it will be very interesting to see what happens.
Hi to all
MY Mondeo starts first time in the morning on choke ticks over all ok go 5 miles to shop... Read more
It's also called an "ABV"(air by-pass valve).
I've noticed that the price of petrol has been steadily rising over the past month, yet the cost of diesel hasm if anything, remained static or even dropped a little.
Is there any particular reason for this? Read more
In summer there is Lower demand for diesel for heating systems so prices fall. It is the same every year.
Havng taken the advice of The forum, (thanks to all) and really looked at Volvos, and tried a few, with a very good dealer without obligation, ( I said I wanted up to 1 year old petrol), was allowed a drive in a diesel s40, and an s60. Gave details for the future should they have a rare petrol version available will get in contact. Till then , as car tax due, have paid and will use, as nothing else really ticks the boxes. Read more
Volvo's new modular engine is designed to be built in both diesel and petrol versions - it would be crazy not to allow sale of the petrol versions !!
I have an Hyundai i30 , model is Techno, which I understand has electronic power steering asistance. Car is perfect around town or around corners, no problems. But on a motorway in a straight line the steering seems to "lock" up slightly and requires more than normal effort to move the steerig wheel the slight amount to correct normal changes in direction caused by side winds, camber etc.
This results in overcorrecting and again this has to be corrected in the opposite direction to get back on line. This results in a zig-zag form of driving, uncomfortable to passengers etc. and disconcerting to the driver.... Read more
I have exactly the same sensation with my 2013 model. Its only covered 11,000 miles so surely nothing can be worn out? Is this a characteristic or is it a fault?
Why do we have to see a left hand drive dash layout? This is the UK! Read more
"The next generation Corsa isn’t completely new, but it has been very heavily revised"
The fact tht the latest Corsa was introduced around 2006 is disgraceful.
Just bought it's a turbo and it needs an oil change, what type of oil should I get, 10-40, 5-40, semi or normal/ Read more
>>Its perfectly safe to mix all types of oil
Oh no it's not! Try using mineral oil in an engine that's been using vegetable oil (or vice versa). Castrol R's still available and used....
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Hi JohnDid you ever get this sorted out ( and can you remember what it was if you did )
My experience is like a carbon copy of yours, in every way, including the roundabout.
I know this is an old post, but you may be able to help, ive tried everything also....