The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

[bodhi]

Small bit of shed maintenance this morning, getting it ready for the epic 38 miles voyage to Birmingham Airport tomorrow.



Air in the tyres, full of screen wash and tidied out, just need to sort the oil out. It's got 5W30 in there and could use a top up, but I'm having the devil's own job trying to find Honda spec stuff. Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

[tim jb]

QBee said:

Reading this with interest.

On older diesels (2005 in my case), does this need to clean up the engine still apply?
My X Trail 2.2 CDi has 100,000 miles on it now and does a couple of slightly alarming things:

1. Occasionally, ie when I have a passenger and don't want to be embarrassed, it seems to misfire a few times, well, that's what it would be on a petrol car. Horrible jolting coughs, then it clears itself.

2. If you boot it at all hard, it looks like you are trying to lay dark grey smoke like a WW2 battleship to evade capture.

3. You always get a small cloud of grey smoke on start up.

Would the team advise bunging some Redex in the tank?
Or is there something I should check for/change?
I don't know a lot about diesels, but do have a socket set.

Could be a leaky injector problem; especially at 100k miles. Rebuilt mine with new control valves last year. That stopped the misfiring, limp modes and smoky start ups.

[tim jb]

bodhi said:

Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

Yes

[bodhi]

tim jb said:

bodhi said:

Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

Yes

Awesome, thank you.

[defblade]

tim jb said:

bodhi said:

Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

Yes

With sheds over the years, I've tended to take the approach of "any oil is better than no oil" and not worry toooooo much about the exact spec, somewhere in 0/5/10-30/40 sort of range, especially for top-ups. I'd probably go buy the "right" stuff if planning a full change, but still wouldn't sweat it. Maybe go a little thicker if it's burning some. Doesn't seem to have caused any problems...

[bearman68]

Hi Folks.
There's been a lot happening since I last looked. Love it.

You may like to know we put 5/30 fully synthetic VW 507 in everything except PD engines, and a very few older engines. And we change the oil frequently. The 507 has a superb additive pack, and is better than almost all oils on the market. 200l of oil comes in about £500 plus VAT, so it's circa £12 to change the oil in anything we have (except Volvo Euro 3 D5 engines and Renault M9R engines, which have large capacities, and in the case of the Renault, a very narrow filling tube).
PSA 2.0 engines as fitted to Fords are good engines, but it seems the injectors tend to go belly up. Maybe 160k miles or so, maybe 200k. Not seen any with 300k on original injectors. Injectors are expensive, so you gotta love the car to replace all 4.

My recent purchases.
1.2 Petrol Ka (Don't like it), with no MOT, and a seized gear linkage for £250.
86 bhp Clio diesel on a 60 plate for £500 (no MOT).
Honda Spaceship Civic 2.2 with the clutch gone £250.
Focus Mk2 1.6 tdci on an 11 plate, £1150, 85k miles.
Focus 1.8 TDCI with the worse tyres I have ever seen, and no MOT £200,
Renault Scenic Mk3 1.5 diesel 86k immaculate, with everything working £600.

All found on Marketplace or a couple of people approaching me.

So very cheap cars can be found without undue difficulty.

[A500leroy]

defblade said:

tim jb said:

bodhi said:

Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

Yes

With sheds over the years, I've tended to take the approach of "any oil is better than no oil" and not worry toooooo much about the exact spec, somewhere in 0/5/10-30/40 sort of range, especially for top-ups. I'd probably go buy the "right" stuff if planning a full change, but still wouldn't sweat it. Maybe go a little thicker if it's burning some. Doesn't seem to have caused any problems...

Once had a mate who used to chuck in briggs and stratton lawnmower oil into his clio to top up, worked tho.

[Hoofy]

A500leroy said:

defblade said:

tim jb said:

bodhi said:

Will the BMW LLO4 I have be ok if it's the same grade?

Yes

With sheds over the years, I've tended to take the approach of "any oil is better than no oil" and not worry toooooo much about the exact spec, somewhere in 0/5/10-30/40 sort of range, especially for top-ups. I'd probably go buy the "right" stuff if planning a full change, but still wouldn't sweat it. Maybe go a little thicker if it's burning some. Doesn't seem to have caused any problems...

Once had a mate who used to chuck in briggs and stratton lawnmower oil into his clio to top up, worked tho.

I threw random 20 year old oil that was used for my old TVR and 200SX into my sheds but then the plan was to sell them to a scrappy when I got rid. If I'm planning on selling a car to the public then I would treat it properly. If not, then I wouldn't bother servicing it. My C220 CDI lasted 3 years without servicing before ULEZ meant I had to get rid. I mean, it still ran. The seller was Eastern European and said it would be taken back home as old Merc diesels were highly regarded. I like to think my old C220 CDI is now being used on the Eastern front in Ukraine.

This kind of thing.



Suspect that it's unlikely.

Edited by Hoofy on Sunday 19th May 10:51

[PAUL.S.]

Been driving my Mk1 2003 Focus estate for over 6 years now, it is a nice place to sit in on long journeys etc and I rarely go in other peoples cars, so always found it quite a modern interior, or so I thought.

Gave a group of friends a lift home after a night out last week, and they were all nostalgic about the interior, playing with real buttons, amazed at the analogue clocks, the manual shifter, the old smell etc, it was only then I realised its over 20 years old now, they all drive brand new company cars, took a look inside one of theirs this weekend, its like a bloody spaceship in comparison to my old bus

She still looks modern outside though. Not changing it anytime soon.

[Gordon Hill]

Drove 195 miles to the coast and back yesterday with the grandkids on less than a quarter of a tank, it's a remapped 3 litre diesel FFS, that includes roadworks and Herbert and Mabel doing 30 on a 60 road while travelling in serene comfort.

[r3g]

My moon mileage MOT failure C1 lives to see another day! Wasn't happy with the scrap price on offer so decided to spend a day smartening it up and then brave the cesspits that are FB and gumtree . In amongst the 3000 "is this still available?" and "50 TODAY" time-wasters I had a handful of seemingly genuine parties writing coherent sentences and had clearly read the ad in full. Had it up for 600 to test the water and was surprised by the level of interest. Sold for 560 after allowing a bit of chippage! Basically had 4 years of free motoring!

Edited by r3g on Tuesday 21st May 10:10

[PAUL.S.]

Lad I know has just bought his 5 yr old lease Audi from the company for £17k (which he does not have), so had to borrow the money, therefore his monthlies are still roughly the same at around £400, he has only done about 35k in those 5 years.

I told him that in relation to my chariot, his first two months payment would have bought the car, taxed and insured it for the first year, then every year after that the first months payment would have covered his next 12 months of motoring costs and the next months would cover all maintenance, again year on year. 10 months saving £400 a month therefore 4k cash in his pocket to spend on other things each and every year, if and when the car dies, simply buy another based on the same maths.

Some people get it, some don't, he would rather shell out £400 every month for that car to sit on his drive most of the week, heavily depreciating each year.

Edited by PAUL.S. on Tuesday 21st May 10:52

[greenarrow]

It definitely seems some of the cheaper old sheds are reappearing in the classifieds. Seen a few £375 cars on facebook marketplace. OK, they're probably fairly knackered but for a few years after the COVID outbreak, even MOT failures were never below £500. Perhaps people really are struggling, or its the ULEZ thing. Still find myself hankering after another MK1 Focus and amazed that even now you can still pick them up easily, for under a grand. Maybe for not too many years longer though. The Mk1 Mondeo was like that for years and then the rust claimed most of them and now try finding one for sale which is in the bargain basement territory. Cavaliers too seem to change hand for decent money these days. The 80s and 90s nostalgia thing is very strong!

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

PAUL.S. said:

Lad I know has just bought his 5 yr old lease Audi from the company for £17k (which he does not have), so had to borrow the money, therefore his monthlies are still roughly the same at around £400, he has only done about 35k in those 5 years.

I told him that in relation to my chariot, his first two months payment would have bought the car, taxed and insured it for the first year, then every year after that the first months payment would have covered his next 12 months of motoring costs and the next months would cover all maintenance, again year on year. 10 months saving £400 a month therefore 4k cash in his pocket to spend on other things each and every year, if and when the car dies, simply buy another based on the same maths.

Some people get it, some don't, he would rather shell out £400 every month for that car to sit on his drive most of the week, heavily depreciating each year.

Edited by PAUL.S. on Tuesday 21st May 10:52

I just don't think youngsters can get their head around the idea of driving a shed. I don't know if this is because they are worried it will be unreliable and don't even know how to open the bonnet, or if they are worried what other people might think if they drive an old car.

We used to have company cars at my work but we were taken over and they stopped them. Virtually everyone I work with had only ever driven brand new cars before, so they all went out and leased something.

I found a cheap lease for a Kia Xceed for one of them at £167 a month but because his wife didn't like it (I assume the badge would not look good on the drive) he ended up getting a VW T-ROC which cost him over double.

One of them leased a car and did 10K miles in four years. The car has gone back and he has just bought a £30K Nissan Qashqai (I assume on finance)

I went for the car allowance and drove a shed for four years and I worked out I was around £20K better off once the allowance and BIK tax was taken into account.

They just don't get it, these are the people who also buy lunch every day, eat out every weekend and then moan they have got no money. They are also the people who want to own a new build Barret house, have a brand new car on the drive and fill it with new furniture, all on tick of course.

Edited by ThingsBehindTheSun on Tuesday 21st May 11:17

[Challo]

greenarrow said:

It definitely seems some of the cheaper old sheds are reappearing in the classifieds. Seen a few £375 cars on facebook marketplace. OK, they're probably fairly knackered but for a few years after the COVID outbreak, even MOT failures were never below £500. Perhaps people really are struggling, or its the ULEZ thing. Still find myself hankering after another MK1 Focus and amazed that even now you can still pick them up easily, for under a grand. Maybe for not too many years longer though. The Mk1 Mondeo was like that for years and then the rust claimed most of them and now try finding one for sale which is in the bargain basement territory. Cavaliers too seem to change hand for decent money these days. The 80s and 90s nostalgia thing is very strong!

I keep an eye on FB and lots of people still asking for too much money for sheds, but there is cars out there for buttons if your not fussy.

Perhaps ULEZ, but also new cars are becoming more available, and prices seems to have eased so perhaps people are more likely to change to something newer.

[QBee]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I just don't think youngsters can get their head around the idea of driving a shed. I don't know if this is because they are worried it will be unreliable and don't even know how to open the bonnet, or if they are worried what other people might think if they drive an old car.

We used to have company cars at my work but we were taken over and they stopped them. Virtually everyone I work with had only ever driven brand new cars before, so they all went out and leased something.

I found a cheap lease for a Kia Xceed for one of them at £167 a month but because his wife didn't like it (I assume the badge would not look good on the drive) he ended up getting a VW T-ROC which cost him over double.

One of them leased a car and did 10K miles in four years. The car has gone back and he has just bought a £30K Nissan Qashqai (I assume on finance)

I went for the car allowance and drove a shed for four years and I worked out I was around £20K better off once the allowance and BIK tax was taken into account.

They just don't get it, these are the people who also buy lunch every day, eat out every weekend and then moan they have got no money. They are also the people who want to own a new build Barret house, have a brand new car on the drive and fill it with new furniture, all on tick of course.

Edited by ThingsBehindTheSun on Tuesday 21st May 11:17

The "new housing estate" tells you exactly what the problem is.
All cars are on show to the neighbours, there's no privacy.
So having something new or nearly new is desperately important to their status among the gossipping classes.
You only have to pass our local primary school at 8.30 in the morning to see the same status wars going on.
They jockey for spaces on the double yellows/zig zgas right outside the school gate to drop off little Farrah and Freddie, while showing off their car and minimising the risk to their own footwear.

[eth2190]

Selling my IS250 and not getting a lot of interest. Maybe I've been too honest in the listing, maybe the market for more costly to fuel/ tax stuff is poor at the moment.
Would make a good "premium" shed for someone.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256513528479

[PurplePenguin]

bearman68 said:

Hi Folks.
There's been a lot happening since I last looked. Love it.

You may like to know we put 5/30 fully synthetic VW 507 in everything except PD engines, and a very few older engines. And we change the oil frequently. The 507 has a superb additive pack, and is better than almost all oils on the market. 200l of oil comes in about £500 plus VAT, so it's circa £12 to change the oil in anything we have (except Volvo Euro 3 D5 engines and Renault M9R engines, which have large capacities, and in the case of the Renault, a very narrow filling tube).
PSA 2.0 engines as fitted to Fords are good engines, but it seems the injectors tend to go belly up. Maybe 160k miles or so, maybe 200k. Not seen any with 300k on original injectors. Injectors are expensive, so you gotta love the car to replace all 4.

My recent purchases.
1.2 Petrol Ka (Don't like it), with no MOT, and a seized gear linkage for £250.
86 bhp Clio diesel on a 60 plate for £500 (no MOT).
Honda Spaceship Civic 2.2 with the clutch gone £250.
Focus Mk2 1.6 tdci on an 11 plate, £1150, 85k miles.
Focus 1.8 TDCI with the worse tyres I have ever seen, and no MOT £200,
Renault Scenic Mk3 1.5 diesel 86k immaculate, with everything working £600.

All found on Marketplace or a couple of people approaching me.

So very cheap cars can be found without undue difficulty.

Hi Bearman - I’ve been putting VW 507 in my Skoda PD - what should I be using please?

[GlenMH]

PAUL.S. said:

Lad I know has just bought his 5 yr old lease Audi from the company for £17k (which he does not have), so had to borrow the money, therefore his monthlies are still roughly the same at around £400, he has only done about 35k in those 5 years.

I told him that in relation to my chariot, his first two months payment would have bought the car, taxed and insured it for the first year, then every year after that the first months payment would have covered his next 12 months of motoring costs and the next months would cover all maintenance, again year on year. 10 months saving £400 a month therefore 4k cash in his pocket to spend on other things each and every year, if and when the car dies, simply buy another based on the same maths.

Some people get it, some don't, he would rather shell out £400 every month for that car to sit on his drive most of the week, heavily depreciating each year.

Yup - my utter skip of a W210 E class estate has just thrown a 200 quid bill at me for a crank sensor. That is the first spend I have had make on it for 11 months apart from a wiper blade. This years 5000 miles are going to cost me less than £2000 including diesel, insurance etc etc. If it costs me a grand to get it through an MOT next month, then it is still a cheap runabout that does 50mpg on a run. No aircon though...

[Ryyy]

eth2190 said:

Selling my IS250 and not getting a lot of interest. Maybe I've been too honest in the listing, maybe the market for more costly to fuel/ tax stuff is poor at the moment.
Would make a good "premium" shed for someone.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256513528479

I think the mods may put people off and the faults. Its a bit like the ads that say Sounds like a bag of spanners and has smoke bellowing from the engine bay but probably just a sensor which i have ready to fit.

Do you know if its those faults and why not fix them and bump the price up?