Seven pot pourri - nonspecific car stuff

[DickyC]

A thread for motoring related posts that have nowhere else to go.

[DickyC]

When I learned to drive, I was taught to change down to prevent an engine labouring. To my ear, my C Class changes up too early when it's cold and I change down a gear. To do this I use the paddle and then, once the car is happy, I have to reset the gearbox to auto. Too much faffing about for most people, I expect. Engine management wasn't a thing when I learned so maybe the engine is fine at low revs.

[DickyC]

There are seven cylinder in-line engines, I was surprised to learn. They run uneven and tend to be used in ships and heavy duty agricultural equipment.

[DickyC]

In a filling station the other day, I saw a bloke struggling with the whole concept of refuelling. He stopped with the front of the car by the pump, got out and read the notices on the pump for clues, then he called out to me if I thought E5 would be okay. There was no E10, his car was a 05 Astra, so I said E5 would be fine. Move your car forward. So he did, then he pulled out the diesel nozzle. Er, no, you want the green hose. Mid thirties he was. Didn't look like he'd come from Mars. Odd.

I regret trying to explain about the amount of Ethanol in the petrol.

[DickyC]

And another thing...

Also, when I was learning to drive, I was taught to pull up the handbrake with my thumb on the button so there was no ratchet sound. An elegant soupçon there from my instructor. My current car has a foot operated parking brake. The ratchet sound, that I have no control over, drives me up the wall.

Up the wall?

Irritates me.

Better. There's too much hyperbole in your posts.

[Bobberoo]

When I was taught to drive it was all fields around here.......

I was taught to always put your handbrake on and take the car out of gear when stationary, Mrs Bobbers insists she was taught to hold the car on the clutch when stationary, who's right?

[sixor8]

I very much doubt any authorised driving instructor would advise holding a car on the clutch. It has no mechanical sympathy. Perhaps a relative gave here all her lessons?

[John D.]

Bobberoo said:

When I was taught to drive it was all fields around here.......

I was taught to always put your handbrake on and take the car out of gear when stationary, Mrs Bobbers insists she was taught to hold the car on the clutch when stationary, who's right?

Book your Mrs some driving lessons.

[DickyC]

Bobberoo said:

When I was taught to drive it was all fields around here.......

I was taught to always put your handbrake on and take the car out of gear when stationary, Mrs Bobbers insists she was taught to hold the car on the clutch when stationary, who's right?

If you had said 'who benefits?' I'd have said the local clutch specialist.

[DickyC]

Bobberoo said:

When I was taught to drive it was all fields around here.......

I was taught to always put your handbrake on and take the car out of gear when stationary, Mrs Bobbers insists she was taught to hold the car on the clutch when stationary, who's right?

My car is automatic with a foot operated parking brake and I still do parking brake and neutral when stopped even though it's a pita. Judging by the brake lights all around, it's usually only me.

[Robertb]

I’ve often wondered why rattles and zizzes in the interior come and go. My 996 is sometimes silent inside like an old S class, yet other times it sounds like a skeleton orgy.

[White Stiletto]

DickyC said:

My car is automatic with a foot operated parking brake and I still do parking brake and neutral when stopped even though it's a pita. Judging by the brake lights all around, it's usually only me.

I've driven automatics for the last 30-odd years and still engage the handbrake and select neutral when stationary.

[DickyC]

White Stiletto said:

DickyC said:

My car is automatic with a foot operated parking brake and I still do parking brake and neutral when stopped even though it's a pita. Judging by the brake lights all around, it's usually only me.

I've driven automatics for the last 30-odd years and still engage the handbrake and select neutral when stationary.

We should start a movement. Minorities like us are vulnerable to persecution.

[John D.]

Robertb said:

I ve often wondered why rattles and zizzes in the interior come and go. My 996 is sometimes silent inside like an old S class, yet other times it sounds like a skeleton orgy.

Temperature related expansion and contraction of materials I imagine.

[White Stiletto]

DickyC said:

We should start a movement. Minorities like us are vulnerable to persecution.

We could try, but it's probably best to remain neutral.

[sixor8]

DickyC said:

My car is automatic with a foot operated parking brake and I still do parking brake and neutral when stopped even though it's a pita. Judging by the brake lights all around, it's usually only me.

A lot of cars have automatic stop brakes these days, especially most EVs, mine does, so the brake lights stay on.

I could put into P I suppose bur since it's all electronic, I just don't. The best thing is that you can't roll backwards, always embarrassing that one, which I have done occasionally in other cars.

[DickyC]

White Stiletto said:

DickyC said:

We should start a movement. Minorities like us are vulnerable to persecution.

We could try, but it's probably best to remain neutral.

I'll park the idea.

[Dermot O'Logical]

During my time looking after a Formula Vee we'd put the car on the trailer, strap it down and make sure the gearbox was in neutral, to prevent the movements/jiggling around while being towed from potentially damaging the gearbox.

Damaging the gearbox was undertaken while actually racing the thing.

[DickyC]

A chap who raced a prewar Aston told me that during the race he didn't use the clutch, just smashed the gear lever into the next gear. That was for both up and down changes. He spent the winter rebuilding gearboxes.

[Neil-nvaua]

White Stiletto said:

DickyC said:

My car is automatic with a foot operated parking brake and I still do parking brake and neutral when stopped even though it's a pita. Judging by the brake lights all around, it's usually only me.

I've driven automatics for the last 30-odd years and still engage the handbrake and select neutral when stationary.

I was on holiday in the US with family and my brother-in-law who'd never driven an auto insisted on putting his rental car in Park and applying the handbrake at every set of traffic lights.

Following him on a long journey, the panic of seeing his reverse lights momentarily flash at me at every set of lights didn't wear off.

Leave it in D (one for another thread - cue 'dazzling/blinded for life' comments)