New owner - silly questions
Discussion
Over a month ago now (yes took me a while to post but the weather has been soooo good!!) I bought a Chim 500, which is absolutely fantastic, and now that I have worked out where the engine is, had a read of Steve's bible, I have a few questions.
How often should you check the oil, and how much should you put in if its really low. Want to use Mobil 1, is there varying types of Mobil 1 or just the one type. Went to halfords could only find the one??
Same questions for coolant, but I am unsure how to test the level. Can I just fill with water to keep topped up or should I get specific stuff.
Just like to say everything everyone says on the forum about how good these cars are is very true, and I would encourage anyone looking to buy to do it!!!
Sorry to ask these really simple questions
, but my mechanical knowledge is very limited and I don't want to make any expensive mistakes.
Have a funny story (now
)about picking up my TVR in a Peugeot 306 GTI6 that broke down a mile away...thought it was supposed to be TVR's that were unreliable....
Thanks for any help.
Dave.
How often should you check the oil, and how much should you put in if its really low. Want to use Mobil 1, is there varying types of Mobil 1 or just the one type. Went to halfords could only find the one??
Same questions for coolant, but I am unsure how to test the level. Can I just fill with water to keep topped up or should I get specific stuff.
Just like to say everything everyone says on the forum about how good these cars are is very true, and I would encourage anyone looking to buy to do it!!!
Sorry to ask these really simple questions
, but my mechanical knowledge is very limited and I don't want to make any expensive mistakes. Have a funny story (now
)about picking up my TVR in a Peugeot 306 GTI6 that broke down a mile away...thought it was supposed to be TVR's that were unreliable.... Thanks for any help.
Dave.
quote:
How often should you check the oil,
Depends on your car. They all use *some* oil. Ours uses very little. I would check the car weekly at the very least. It would be better to just make it part of your routine whenever taking the car out to pop the bonnet and check.
quote:
and how much should you put in if its really low.
Varies. You should pour in a cupful or so and then check with the dipstick to see the change. Keep at it until the oil level is near the top of the marked area on the dipstick.
quote:
Want to use Mobil 1, is there varying types of Mobil 1 or just the one type. Went to halfords could only find the one??
There is Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Motorsport. I stick regular Mobil 1 in our CHimaera and my Porsche. Its fine.
quote:
Same questions for coolant, but I am unsure how to test the level. Can I just fill with water to keep topped up or should I get specific stuff.
You need coolant. NOT water. You can check the level by unscrewing the blue cap on the header tank. Don't do this with a hot engine of course!!! This can be a bugger to get off and on and does need to be tightly on. I doubt you'll need to check this often unless you have a leak.
Good practice is to examine the floor of your garage for signs of leakage of *any* fluid. If its leaking - get it fixed.
quote:
My mechanical knowledge is very limited and I don't want to make any expensive mistakes.
I'm no expert either - but it doesn't take a lot of reading to become competent at looking after fluids, tyres and pressures and so on. This is especially important on a performance car you will be trusting your life to.
quote:
Thanks for any help.
You're welcome.
Thanks for all that Don, very much appreciated.
Like your stable!!!
Must say I agonised for about a year over whether to get a Boxster or a TVR. TVR won no regrets, just wonder what you think between the two and which one you REALLY prefer.
Know they are very different so I do expect you to say I like them both, but you must like bits of each more???
Like your stable!!!
Must say I agonised for about a year over whether to get a Boxster or a TVR. TVR won no regrets, just wonder what you think between the two and which one you REALLY prefer.
Know they are very different so I do expect you to say I like them both, but you must like bits of each more???
Dave
Don has explained thing well I think.
I'll just add:
Summer coolant – needs mixing with water (the ratio will be on the side 1 to 3?)
Also, as for the oil – Mobil One comes in 0-40w and 10-50w (from memory). Either would do I think although the thicker one (latter one) one would be my preference.
Mike
Don has explained thing well I think.
I'll just add:
Summer coolant – needs mixing with water (the ratio will be on the side 1 to 3?)
Also, as for the oil – Mobil One comes in 0-40w and 10-50w (from memory). Either would do I think although the thicker one (latter one) one would be my preference.
Mike
quote:I check mine each time I wash the car
How often should you check the oil
quote:Well it shouldn't get "really" low, but mine uses about half a litre every 1000 miles.
how much should you put in if its really low.
quote:There are more threads on oil than any other subject on Pistonheads, (well not perhaps the Speed 6 engine
Want to use Mobil 1, is there varying types of Mobil 1 or just the one type. Went to halfords could only find the one??
) try using the search facility, look for "oil" in all TVR threads over the last couple of months. For what it's worth I use Mobil 1 French stuff 5w50 costs £20 a gallon at Citi-Europe!quote:the header tank, (alloy can with blue cap) should be half full
Same questions for coolant, but I am unsure how to test the level.
quote:get some coolant (anti-freeze to you and me) from your garage and use as it says on the tin, don't just use water else you will dilute the anti-freeze properties
Can I just fill with water to keep topped up or should I get specific stuff.
Rich... Dave.
Check out this thread for my thoughts. And yes I do say I like both.....
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15577
Check out this thread for my thoughts. And yes I do say I like both.....
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15577
Ok thanks for all that.
Only problem is as I just bought the car, i don't know what oil was already in there.
Am I safe just using Mobil 1 0-40w?
The oil did seem very low on the dipstick, not dropping any oil on the concrete floor, been sitting there for a few days as well. Does it make a difference if it hasn't been used for a week?
Thanks.
Only problem is as I just bought the car, i don't know what oil was already in there.
Am I safe just using Mobil 1 0-40w?
The oil did seem very low on the dipstick, not dropping any oil on the concrete floor, been sitting there for a few days as well. Does it make a difference if it hasn't been used for a week?
Thanks.
quote:Oh come on you know the answer to that - whenever it's dirty! Which depends on how much I've used it which, of course, has an effect on how much oil it needs!
quote:
quote:I check mine each time I wash the car
How often should you check the oil
How often do you wash the car?
Rich...quote:
the header tank, (alloy can with blue cap) should be half full
Mine's never been half full as far as I can tell, there's *some* liquid in there but the level's always nearer the bottom of the expansion tank (serp engine). Hasn't been a problem in over 6k miles now - but should I be worried?
I've been using Mobil 1 Motorsport (15W 50), my Chim 450 seems to use less of that than the thinner 0W 40.
Yes I would be worried if the coolent was going into the oil which is why your car isn't using so much.... Head gasket gone. Do not pass go. Do not get £200. seek help immediately and pray you haven't warped the heads. If there is no mayo in the oil and evrything seems fine then don't worry.
My first Griff has a half tanker the current one is an almost empty tanker...
Steve
My first Griff has a half tanker the current one is an almost empty tanker...
Steve
quote:
Yes I would be worried if the coolent was going into the oil which is why your car isn't using so much.... Head gasket gone. Do not pass go. Do not get £200. seek help immediately and pray you haven't warped the heads. If there is no mayo in the oil and evrything seems fine then don't worry.
My first Griff has a half tanker the current one is an almost empty tanker...
Steve
Ta, Steve...
No sign of mayo so far and I check the oil at least once a week...I used to own an MGF so HGF paranoia is well established!
>> Edited by AlexR on Thursday 19th September 21:04
quote:
I was looking at a GTI6 but the insurance was about £150 dearer than on a same age Chim.
I know what I would choose.
Yeah that surprised me and judging by many of the threads on this forum it will be cheaper to service a nice sleak, 5L Chim ...drool..
It cost me about 400 squids everytime I get the GTI-sick sorted out. Unfortunately the same age chim costs 10k more and I know interest rates are low and you only live once but I ain't got an extra 10k yet and I refuse to get finance.
Plus I just bought a new house and had a baby girl (Well the missus had the baby
). But never fear I will own one one day, soon!
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