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• What makes an engine accelerate? 14 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  OK, I know how an internal combustion engine works - just made an airfix-type working model with my six year old son- but what makes it accelerate? How does squirting more fuel into the cylinder actually increase the firing rate - why doesn't it just make a bigger explosion? Er - does that make sense? ps http://www.howstuffworks.com - addictive site!
• Misfiring Audi A6 (old shape) 2.0 10 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  The main dealer has done a negative diagnostic test, and a good independant guy didn't find much either. I've tried fuel additive, at their suggestion, but to no effect.
• Air-con 26 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  Advice please on the best way to use the air-con system on modern cars. Honest John suggest use at all times? My friends are not convinced, claiming high fuel bills and loss of power. Any setting of the heating system to the screen on modern cars automatically turns the A/C on, so is the manufacturer and honest John correct or should A/C be used more sparingly (cold/weekly/or unless you need it)?
• Calling Mr Woollard et el WRC comments please! 21 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  Would the Citroen fans like to comment on the failure of *two* of the Xsaras in the Monte Carlo Rally before a valve had been opened in anger and on the cheating swines changing tyres during a fuel-only service? Was it me or did Skoda get *zero* coverage bar the unfortunate Italian-job-esque parking on an alpine hairpin?
• Oil filter change 29 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  I have always in the past, (with older cars) after changing the oil filter, immobilised the ignition and spun the engine over for a few seconds in order to get the oil pressure up, before starting the engine properly. Is this good practice with a Cat, or am I in danger of flooding it with fuel? I don't like the idea of starting the engine with an empty oil pump-is there an alternative method I could use?
• Cheap Diesel????? 8 Nov 2001 (Forum)
  Wasting time I came upon a site on the Net which alleges that if your purchase their formula then you can make diesel fuel at about half the cost of that current at the pumps. Surely this cannot be right both in economics or legality. www.ukmd.co.uk/mecatech/index.htm David.W - have you heard of it? I suspect a scam somewhere and those into Trading laws does trades description acts apply to the internet?
• Carisma 1.6 29 Apr 2001 (Forum)
  Currently, all five tyres are 175/65/14 the handbook recommends 175/70/14, does it make any difference. Are they legal and which would be the most economic from a fuel saving aspect. Thanks.
• Peugeot 307 - Peugeot 307 (2001 - 2007) - 03 110, Anti Pollution 4 Jul 2019 (Forum)
   - I got my brother in law to use a reader (Carista) and got the following codes (not a garage I know) :- OBD2 - confirmed: P1447 P1351 P2408 - Fuel Cap Sensor/Switch Circuit OBD2 - pending: P1162 P0490 - Exhaust Gas Recirculation "A" Control Circuit High P0299 - Turbocharger/Supercharger "A" Underboost Condition P1351 P2408 - Fuel Cap Sensor/Switch Circuit  - Took it to the mechanic who advised about the fluid/additive needed replacing, so we did that, but no change.
• Daihatsu Skywing (like Mk2 Charade) - Car stumbles and looses power 26 May 2019 (Forum)
  Improves after about a klick but still hesitates a couple of times during the 20k or so trip and is definately running rough and down on power (which it didn't have a lot of before) going over hump-backed bridges. So I'm thinking 1. Back-flush or change the fuel filter.  (There's an abandoned diesel pump with a replacable-element filter holder on nearby farmland which I might salvage but its been flooded many times so may not come off) (The fuel tank has a drain plug but it doesn't seem possible to do it without getting the fuel dirty, so that'd be a last resort) 2.
• Corsa 2008 Diesel 1.2 - EGR Valve, Fuel Injectors the list goes on.... 30 Nov 2018 (Forum)
  Ahead of long journey (2 months later) I took it into local garage thinking it may need a new exhaust who diagnosed that turbo needed replacing and fuel injectors faulty ?? After much back and forth between myself and trader, I took the car into a dealership for 'impartial' diagnosis. Dealership informed me they had to try 4 different diagnostic machines and call in the master technician to finally get the machine to talk to it.
• Ford Fiesta - Diesel vs Petrol 29 Apr 2015 (Forum)
  Assuming roughly 50MPG for the Petrol 60MPG for the Diesel I am looking at breaking even on fuel costs, again very roughly, in 7 years based on current average proces (£1.13 Petrol / £1.19). If I drop MPG of the Petrol to 45MPG and up the Diesel to 65MPG this reduces to break even around 3 year mark, assuming current fuel prices.
• Smart Roadster - Bioethanol E5 and octane rating question / concern 20 May 2010 (Forum)
  I do not yet wish to sell my roadster and as such the only two options I have been offered are additives (expensive and a pain to carry around and add them at fill ups) or a new fuel called Bioethanol E5. Apparently this is equivalent to 99RON octane fuel and can be safely used in normal cars. I have also been told that this, however, will not suit my particular car. I also hear it would wear any rubber parts it comes into contact with very quickly.
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 96 1.9 slow to start-glowplugs replaced-what next? 19 Mar 2010 (Forum)
  Parked outside in very cold weather all day, car would not start to go home . Garage came over to start car and tried several things including hand pumping the little fuel reservoir under the bonnet, mechanic said something about "fuel backdrain" . After 5 repeats of this procedure the car eventually started. Took it back to garage overnight , in the morning they discovered a loose jubilee clip on the fuel pipe , which has now been tightened .
• Kawasaki ZZR600 94 misfiring after lay-up 22 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  It also seems to idle OK, but the misfire can be detected revving the engine when stationary if too much throttle is applied. I have since brimmed the tank with fresh fuel and done another 10 miles or so, but it's not getting any better. At high revs / WOT it feels fantastic, but something's definitely wrong. No smoke, no smell of fuel, nothing else untoward. Any suggestions?
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 99 1998 major fuel leak Dangerous 12 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Looking over the car im starting to find the small things that are wrong... to be honest the when the garage have done the servicing they have done the bare minimum and charged through the earth! on saturday i could smell petrol so i had a good look round all the fuel pipes with no sign of a leak. a couple of days went past with no smell of petrol until yesterday there was a particulaly stong smell petrol i parked the car to have have a look and from under tank petrol was runnitn out like a tap had been left switched on. had to park making sure the filler side was higher than the rest of the car to stop the leak. turned out to be a small split in rubber bend that joins the filler neck to the tank.
• Volvo S80 Front Brakes 11 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  And also yesterday on a 20mile stretch on road that i use all the time, i used almost 30quid worth of fuel which normally takes me longer distances. Actually my fuel ran out and I had to be rescued. the wheel was very hot and there was also a very strong smell of rubber. Help, does anyone know what happening!
• Car Service Due at 70k. help/tips/advice 23 May 2005 (Forum)
  (will allow me to see state of engine too) 2. Oil Change (maybe flush - depending on what people say) 3. Forte/VAG Fuel system cleaner (what one is better??) 4. Fuel Filter. 5. Air Filter. I think thats enough for the car. I know ive gone on a bit, but lets see what you experts think!!
• Anyone Know How To Drain An Astra? 28 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  Is draining from beneath possible, or is there likely to be a valve in the tank that requires a vacuum applied by the engine before fuel can flow? And if siphoning is possible, what kind of tube is needed for my car - i.e. what diameter, what length, and is it necessary to put a weight somewhere on it? Has someone out there ever managed to drain an Astra?
• Effects of Stop-Start Systems on Engine Wear and B 20 Mar 2025 (Forum)
  Hi everyone,   Many modern cars come with stop-start technology to improve fuel efficiency, but I’m curious about its long-term effects. Does frequent engine restarting increase wear on critical components like the starter motor and crankshaft? Also, how does it impact battery lifespan, and are there specific maintenance tips to prolong system durability?
• ANY - Calling dealerships for service or buying 28 Jan 2025 (Forum)
  I have noticed in the past few days when phoning for information that my call to a dealership is routed through a call centre where i have to explain what i want, then get put through to a dealer, then get put through to sales, each time explaining.. A while back when my neighbour had his fuel pump go and had the same palaver to get through to the service dept.