speed bump + sump plug = new oil field in Surrey!
Discussion
Definitely one to make a mental note about....
Managed to crawl over a speed bump in a car park in Stratford but in restrospect I recall that the under-clunk was pretty solid-sounding. Didn't think anything of it - even though I know that the sump plug is pretty exposed in its location and with a fore-aft orientation of the hex nut facing the nearside, it can get dislodged. Basically forgot to check after I got home - in Surrey - when I parked the car.
Next day - still unchecked in its garage - I left for a business trip. Two weeks later - this morning - I get back, cold and sunny, ideal for a quick blat to shake off the cobwebs. Top off, jump in the Chim, starts first time and after the usual quick check of the dials, reverse out of the garage and head off. Perfect. Get back drive towards the garage and OMG there's oil all over the floor
Heart misses several beats whilst images of melting big-ends and grinding cams flood the senses. Quick check - plenty of oil pressure, phew!
Then I remembered that I was going to check the sump plug after the speed bump encounter.
Sure enough, it was quarter of a turn loose and clearly the source of the Mobil One on the garage floor. On the dipstick it had fallen from the full-line to the min-line over two weeks and over the floor.
So no damage - a lucky escape. Think about this the next time you bump over a speed bump.
Managed to crawl over a speed bump in a car park in Stratford but in restrospect I recall that the under-clunk was pretty solid-sounding. Didn't think anything of it - even though I know that the sump plug is pretty exposed in its location and with a fore-aft orientation of the hex nut facing the nearside, it can get dislodged. Basically forgot to check after I got home - in Surrey - when I parked the car.
Next day - still unchecked in its garage - I left for a business trip. Two weeks later - this morning - I get back, cold and sunny, ideal for a quick blat to shake off the cobwebs. Top off, jump in the Chim, starts first time and after the usual quick check of the dials, reverse out of the garage and head off. Perfect. Get back drive towards the garage and OMG there's oil all over the floor
Heart misses several beats whilst images of melting big-ends and grinding cams flood the senses. Quick check - plenty of oil pressure, phew! Then I remembered that I was going to check the sump plug after the speed bump encounter.
Sure enough, it was quarter of a turn loose and clearly the source of the Mobil One on the garage floor. On the dipstick it had fallen from the full-line to the min-line over two weeks and over the floor.
So no damage - a lucky escape. Think about this the next time you bump over a speed bump.
Had exactly the same, but the sump plug actually feel out on the driveway depositing every last warm drop of Mobils finest over the drive.
I thanked my lucky stars we didn't buy the house next door all those years ago and the extra 20 yards or whatever could have been the difference between oil on drive and engine in tiny weeny pieces.
I thanked my lucky stars we didn't buy the house next door all those years ago and the extra 20 yards or whatever could have been the difference between oil on drive and engine in tiny weeny pieces.
Glad to hear that all worked out okay. Trust you've cleared all the oil up?
It does raise a pretty serious point about silly-sized speed bumps (and carpark ramps for that matter). All the speed-killing measures and road furniture seems to be getting bigger in order to slow down the big 4x4s at the expense of sports cars.
If I had £1 for every time I've scraped the underside of my car or scuffed the underside of the front overhang, I'd almost have enough to pay for all the bloody damage
Shirely they have to put a sensible limit on these things?
It does raise a pretty serious point about silly-sized speed bumps (and carpark ramps for that matter). All the speed-killing measures and road furniture seems to be getting bigger in order to slow down the big 4x4s at the expense of sports cars.
If I had £1 for every time I've scraped the underside of my car or scuffed the underside of the front overhang, I'd almost have enough to pay for all the bloody damage
Shirely they have to put a sensible limit on these things?
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff