Discussion
Bit of an odd one, but a good reminder none the less at how careful you need to be in these cars - in all conditions. I drive my Tuscan pretty much as a daily driver, in any weather and have what I feel a decent idea of the amount of grip the car has. I've only unexpectedly lost the back end once over the past few years (in the wet on first day of ownership!) but never been close to having a spin before.
Anyway, to the spin... Bone dry conditions, taking a corner through the town centre which I've taken hundreds of times previously (almost daily), 25 mph in 3rd gear. To be fair I had a bit more throttle on than necessary (for noise reasons), but the revs were so low there was no chance at losing traction. Or so I thought. Before I knew it, the rear wheels spun up and I was facing the wrong way. Luckily I didn't hit anything and there were no other cars around. Even still, I was so astonished at what had happened I had to pull over and check there wasn't something wrong with the car. The S6 engine doesn't produce all that much low down torque (compared to the V8's), which made it all the more surprising.
The scary thing was the speed at which it happened and my total inability at correcting it (I think I had too little forward momentum to do anything about it).
Whilst standing bemused staring at the section of road where it happened, a couple of tramps who had witnessed it wandered over and pointed out a diesel slick. Although, if I'm honest, I couldn't really see anything.
As the days have gone by, I'm slightly worried about this. Can diesel really be that slippery in dry conditions? I keep thinking that if it were on a cliff top, I could've been over the edge!
It was so ridiculous I've started wondering whether there was some sort of mechanical failure and my rear wheels locked up momentarily. Is that possible? Really wish I'd spent more time looking at the road now, but I didn't hang around too long because it happened by a busy cafe. A couple of people even started photographing the car
I've got a 6 hour round trip tomorrow and the thought that the rear wheels could suddenly lock up is playing on my mind a bit!
Anyway, to the spin... Bone dry conditions, taking a corner through the town centre which I've taken hundreds of times previously (almost daily), 25 mph in 3rd gear. To be fair I had a bit more throttle on than necessary (for noise reasons), but the revs were so low there was no chance at losing traction. Or so I thought. Before I knew it, the rear wheels spun up and I was facing the wrong way. Luckily I didn't hit anything and there were no other cars around. Even still, I was so astonished at what had happened I had to pull over and check there wasn't something wrong with the car. The S6 engine doesn't produce all that much low down torque (compared to the V8's), which made it all the more surprising.
The scary thing was the speed at which it happened and my total inability at correcting it (I think I had too little forward momentum to do anything about it).
Whilst standing bemused staring at the section of road where it happened, a couple of tramps who had witnessed it wandered over and pointed out a diesel slick. Although, if I'm honest, I couldn't really see anything.
As the days have gone by, I'm slightly worried about this. Can diesel really be that slippery in dry conditions? I keep thinking that if it were on a cliff top, I could've been over the edge!
It was so ridiculous I've started wondering whether there was some sort of mechanical failure and my rear wheels locked up momentarily. Is that possible? Really wish I'd spent more time looking at the road now, but I didn't hang around too long because it happened by a busy cafe. A couple of people even started photographing the car
I've got a 6 hour round trip tomorrow and the thought that the rear wheels could suddenly lock up is playing on my mind a bit!
OK not wanting to sound harsh.. but sure you didn't blip the throttle going down and enclosed street and let the clutch up a bit too soon.
Anything less than 25 in third and a lot of these engines will start laboring, which you don't want.
If it was diesel go back and have another look it has'nt rained much so will still be there.
Anything less than 25 in third and a lot of these engines will start laboring, which you don't want.
If it was diesel go back and have another look it has'nt rained much so will still be there.
Nope, pretty sure I didn't blip the throttle. I drive that bit of road quite automatically after all these years and I don't remember doing anything different to usual. That whole section of road is easily taken in 3rd without laboring the engine.
Good idea about going back there to take a better look. Thought perhaps it evaporates quite quickly.
Good idea about going back there to take a better look. Thought perhaps it evaporates quite quickly.
Edited by Cockey on Friday 16th May 15:06
Looking at the side of my discovery around the fuel filler after the wife has filled it, it doesn't look like it evaporates quickly 
Incidentally 25mph in 3rd is about 1200 ish rpm.. if you put your foot down from there it will likely labor. Sure your speedo is correct.
Incidentally 25mph in 3rd is about 1200 ish rpm.. if you put your foot down from there it will likely labor. Sure your speedo is correct.
Edited by m4tti on Friday 16th May 15:37
Notoriously slippery, spilt diesel. test it out with your foot by the diesel pump next time you fill up.
Last time at Snetterton I braked hard for a corner I had taken dozens of times and just went straight on, heading for the barriers. Heart in mouth, managed to get it slowed enough too turn in. Nothing visible on track.
Saw the MR2 with the blown turbo half a lap later, sitting on the grass pouring smoke. He had been spraying a fine mist of oil for about the entire lap, according to the Chim following him
PS, I have done the same thing in an automatic lexus on a wet roundabout at 20 mph. Very embarrassing!
Last time at Snetterton I braked hard for a corner I had taken dozens of times and just went straight on, heading for the barriers. Heart in mouth, managed to get it slowed enough too turn in. Nothing visible on track.
Saw the MR2 with the blown turbo half a lap later, sitting on the grass pouring smoke. He had been spraying a fine mist of oil for about the entire lap, according to the Chim following him
PS, I have done the same thing in an automatic lexus on a wet roundabout at 20 mph. Very embarrassing!
t at 15mph and car skipped sidewaysYep diesel is largely invisible & trecherous - in a convoy of three cars heading over to Loton Park for TVRCC Sprint series exiting an island along a dual carriageway near Shrewsbury (a road i know very well) i felt my Chim snap quickly into oversteer which i corrected twice & was lucky I didn't collide with adjacent caravan, never done that before unless provoked, to be followed by S2000 & an Elise both of whom span with the Elise ending up on the embankment with a modified nose, this was after they had witnessed my own slippery exit & taken it steady!!
Diesel spillage taken many casualties that day apparently. Not that the good constabulary seemed interested in resolving as they were busy with a speed trap 500 yards further up the carriageway which of course took priority over such a potentially fatal incident.
Just make sure you get your confidence back - it could have affected anyone & don't blame the car
Diesel spillage taken many casualties that day apparently. Not that the good constabulary seemed interested in resolving as they were busy with a speed trap 500 yards further up the carriageway which of course took priority over such a potentially fatal incident.
Just make sure you get your confidence back - it could have affected anyone & don't blame the car
m4tti said:
Anything less than 25 in third and a lot of these engines will start laboring, which you don't want.
.
Sorry to sound dumb but what do exactly mean by this and why don't you want it?.
I've just got my Tuscan and have been doing a lot of gentle driving about at low revs, is this a problem for the engine??
I pressume you mean loading throttle up when revs are low??
Sorry to be a bit OT
But yes must have been diesel on road the Tuscan can't possibly break traction in that scenario unless surface is dam slippery... Or can it?
chris watton said:
Would a better LSD (Quaife) have helped in situations like these, or not?
No.. Why would you think it would.. there was a foreign substance on the road surface, I dont think anything apart from spiked tyres would help or decent traction control.
http://quaife.co.uk/differentials
m4tti said:
chris watton said:
Would a better LSD (Quaife) have helped in situations like these, or not?
No.. Why would you think it would.. there was a foreign substance on the road surface, I dont think anything apart from spiked tyres would help or decent traction control.
http://quaife.co.uk/differentials
m4tti said:
chris watton said:
Would a better LSD (Quaife) have helped in situations like these, or not?
No.. Why would you think it would.. there was a foreign substance on the road surface, I dont think anything apart from spiked tyres would help or decent traction control.
http://quaife.co.uk/differentials
m4tti said:
chris watton said:
Would a better LSD (Quaife) have helped in situations like these, or not?
No.. Why would you think it would.. there was a foreign substance on the road surface, I dont think anything apart from spiked tyres would help or decent traction control.
http://quaife.co.uk/differentials
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