King of the Rank!- 51 plate Skoda Octavia 1.9tdi purchased..
Discussion
Looking at The oil you are using you are not increasing the visoicty which is generally why modern engines cannot run SVO, the fuel injections/pump being the weak points, the engine can run on oil.
I would think the summer is helping you but come to winter without any change to visocity, i.e a solvent, i can see you struggling at the concentrations you want to run in winter.
I would think the summer is helping you but come to winter without any change to visocity, i.e a solvent, i can see you struggling at the concentrations you want to run in winter.
Edited by The Spruce goose on Thursday 13th August 04:36
The Spruce goose said:
Looking at The oil you are using you are not increasing the visoicty which is generally why modern engines cannot run SVO, the fuel injections/pump being the weak points, the engine can run on oil.
I would think the summer is helping you but come to winter without any change to visocity, i.e a solvent, i can see you struggling at the concentrations you want to run in winter.
yep you are quite right! winter running will likely be on a blend of WVO/Diesel and possibly Petrol.I would think the summer is helping you but come to winter without any change to visocity, i.e a solvent, i can see you struggling at the concentrations you want to run in winter.
Edited by The Spruce goose on Thursday 13th August 04:36
The petrol will thin the oil a bit, and the diesel has the anti-sludging chemical which could be useful.
Likely start out at a 70% WVO/15% Diesel/15% petrol blend and see.
I may also consider working out how to heat the fuel filter using the coolant to help as well.
Took the Octavia to head to my mother's birthday shindig yesterday.
Approaching a queue of traffic on the m74, the brakes felt odd.
300 yards later on the sliproad and I had no footbrake to speak of.
mildly troublesome.
I ditched it and went about my business with a few swears.
Today I managed to get a look- and it looks like a rear wheel cylinder has failed comprehensively.
luckily a local parts emporium had replacements in stock- so I purchased 2 and some brake fluid.
I'll replace both I think as it was not a pleasant experience
Approaching a queue of traffic on the m74, the brakes felt odd.
300 yards later on the sliproad and I had no footbrake to speak of.
mildly troublesome.
I ditched it and went about my business with a few swears.
Today I managed to get a look- and it looks like a rear wheel cylinder has failed comprehensively.
luckily a local parts emporium had replacements in stock- so I purchased 2 and some brake fluid.
I'll replace both I think as it was not a pleasant experience
Got the calcs completed for the first week of commuting.
Covered 242 miles, averaged 63.04pmg (52.49US), at 35p per litre, its an average of £1.22 per day in fuel.
Even adding on car tax, insurance and servicing, plus parking costs the total commute average was £3.70 per day.
A day return ticket is £12.30 on the train, and a weekly pass is £50.60
So I'm saving £8.60 over a day ticket or £32.10 over a weekly pass
Covered 242 miles, averaged 63.04pmg (52.49US), at 35p per litre, its an average of £1.22 per day in fuel.
Even adding on car tax, insurance and servicing, plus parking costs the total commute average was £3.70 per day.
A day return ticket is £12.30 on the train, and a weekly pass is £50.60
So I'm saving £8.60 over a day ticket or £32.10 over a weekly pass
My Octavia ALH manual has been re-mapped by myself. I saw a 1.2 second reduction in 1/4 mile times, and about 1 sec drop in 0-60mph.
However, my 60ft times didnt really improve.
I reckon it was a combination of the car being mapped for 200ft/lb from 1500rpm, and really crap tyres on the front.
As I read more into the mapping software, it became apparent that you could create a launch control map- essentially limiting the level of fuelling available at a standstill, then phasing in more as the car got underway.
I had a try at doing it tonight, and it makes a helluva difference: launches are consistent with minimal wheelspin.
Feels a bit odd to go foot flat to the floor with the clutch down, and only have it rev to 1600ish
the real trial will be in the rain!
Stock map (I.E. no Launch Control)
Modified map
However, my 60ft times didnt really improve.
I reckon it was a combination of the car being mapped for 200ft/lb from 1500rpm, and really crap tyres on the front.
As I read more into the mapping software, it became apparent that you could create a launch control map- essentially limiting the level of fuelling available at a standstill, then phasing in more as the car got underway.
I had a try at doing it tonight, and it makes a helluva difference: launches are consistent with minimal wheelspin.
Feels a bit odd to go foot flat to the floor with the clutch down, and only have it rev to 1600ish
the real trial will be in the rain!
Stock map (I.E. no Launch Control)
Modified map
Minor update on this today- Got to the bottom of the rattling noise from the boot area, even when empty- a good few shells and other assorted stuff in the spare wheel well. Cheeky shotgun shell too?
Stripped down the other rear drum and got the Wheel Cylinder swapped over- Glad to have some peace of mind, and would have been rude not to as new ones were £8 each
Also got the sock filters for the WVO set up, 10micron on the Right, 5 Micron on the left
The bottle on the right contains the oil as bought, the bottle on the left is after the 10 micron filter- good improvement
Stripped down the other rear drum and got the Wheel Cylinder swapped over- Glad to have some peace of mind, and would have been rude not to as new ones were £8 each
Also got the sock filters for the WVO set up, 10micron on the Right, 5 Micron on the left
The bottle on the right contains the oil as bought, the bottle on the left is after the 10 micron filter- good improvement
Hammered this down to a Classic Car show near Chester a couple of weekends back-
performed without fault, and papped a happy 63.08mpg for the 766 miles covered
To this end, I'd decided that I should actually see what she is needing to see her MOT in Dec.
All the brakes have been done, so my focus was more on the suspension and exhaust.
All 4 tyres could do with replacing soon-can get them for circa £35 a corner (Uniroyal rain experts) in super comfy 195/65/15.
Onto the suspension then..
Front arm rear bushes
Balljoints
the front bushes seemed fine too- no real deflection when a jemmy was applied- so it looks like both front arms are in servicable condition.
The CV boots were spot on, as werr the track rod ends. That said, the front tyres are feathering on the inside edge so tracking could do with being done - likely pick it up when doing the tyres
The ARB droplinks looked ok, but are so damn cheap they may get done regardless
It seems the big issue with the suspension is that after 190k miles the dampers are pretty much done..
this was the best looking of the 4.
Replacements come in at circa £150 for 4 Bilstein B4-not too bad. Big buggeration will be trying to get the 13 year old bolts to shift from topmonts and the lower mount points.
They seem to be a common failure point- but replacements can be collected from the dealer.
performed without fault, and papped a happy 63.08mpg for the 766 miles covered
To this end, I'd decided that I should actually see what she is needing to see her MOT in Dec.
All the brakes have been done, so my focus was more on the suspension and exhaust.
All 4 tyres could do with replacing soon-can get them for circa £35 a corner (Uniroyal rain experts) in super comfy 195/65/15.
Onto the suspension then..
Front arm rear bushes
Balljoints
the front bushes seemed fine too- no real deflection when a jemmy was applied- so it looks like both front arms are in servicable condition.
The CV boots were spot on, as werr the track rod ends. That said, the front tyres are feathering on the inside edge so tracking could do with being done - likely pick it up when doing the tyres
The ARB droplinks looked ok, but are so damn cheap they may get done regardless
It seems the big issue with the suspension is that after 190k miles the dampers are pretty much done..
this was the best looking of the 4.
Replacements come in at circa £150 for 4 Bilstein B4-not too bad. Big buggeration will be trying to get the 13 year old bolts to shift from topmonts and the lower mount points.
They seem to be a common failure point- but replacements can be collected from the dealer.
Next up was the exhaust -
Been blowing really badly since I got the car- turns out it was due to the fact that the front section of pipe was in no way, shape or form attached to the rest!
it had been previously bodged with jubilee clips and a roll of metal.
Nae stuff in stock to fix it today, so faffed it back together as well as it could be.
A replacement appears to be about £50 - again, swearing at bolts is the likely issue
Been blowing really badly since I got the car- turns out it was due to the fact that the front section of pipe was in no way, shape or form attached to the rest!
it had been previously bodged with jubilee clips and a roll of metal.
Nae stuff in stock to fix it today, so faffed it back together as well as it could be.
A replacement appears to be about £50 - again, swearing at bolts is the likely issue
As part of the general going over I did the usual fluid level checks.
Coolant/brake fluid all spot on, jowever the Oil level was ABOVE maximum..
This is a sign that the WVO is getting past the piston rings- and collecting in the sump.
The car is still running well, no obvious running issues and no MPG drop
Obviously this is not ideal! I took the most sensible path possible, based on the fact that it is a supercheap beater -
I dropped some oil out the sump and topped it up to max with fresh oil.
Over the last 4000miles it appeared to be approx 500ml- will keep an eye on it.
Coolant/brake fluid all spot on, jowever the Oil level was ABOVE maximum..
This is a sign that the WVO is getting past the piston rings- and collecting in the sump.
The car is still running well, no obvious running issues and no MPG drop
Obviously this is not ideal! I took the most sensible path possible, based on the fact that it is a supercheap beater -
I dropped some oil out the sump and topped it up to max with fresh oil.
Over the last 4000miles it appeared to be approx 500ml- will keep an eye on it.
Had this out for more 1/4 mile antics- Ran a best of 17.32 at York a week past on Saturday. It really is great fun for the running costs- the cheap WVO meant that driving down to York Raceway and back (via Barnsley)was less than £30
Also managed to get a race against a stock 140bhp Superb- and was victorious!
Also managed to get a race against a stock 140bhp Superb- and was victorious!
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