Car D.I.Y.

[DRM]

I saw a wet belt change video on a transit van with 65k miles. What a terrible design fault. The company had the process well and truly sorted, around 4 hours to do the job. They replaced everything you would expect plus things like sump pan, it deforms when removing, no messing trying to use excessive sealant when a new pan is quick and more guaranteed to seal properly. The owner was lucky belt was coming apart but hadn't yet fully clogged the oil pickup tube. £1k plus vat full job

I can't believe that anyone thought that a rubber belt, all be it one supposedly designed to sit in an oil bath was a fantastic idea, having seen the effect that oil has on rubber floor mats used on fork lifts at work in places like engineering works, oil recycling plants etc that gets transferred from peoples work boots, it just seems like a recipe for disaster, coupled with the badly designed Transit engine which has led to perfectly good vans being scrapped at around 85,000 miles, a joke, but one that's not funny

 

[raleighnut]

I can't believe that anyone thought that a rubber belt, all be it one supposedly designed to sit in an oil bath was a fantastic idea, having seen the effect that oil has on rubber floor mats used on fork lifts at work in places like engineering works, oil recycling plants etc that gets transferred from peoples work boots, it just seems like a recipe for disaster, coupled with the badly designed Transit engine which has led to perfectly good vans being scrapped at around 85,000 miles, a joke, but one that's not funny

They're not Rubber as such

 

[DRM]

They're not Rubber as such

but Cam belts are bad enough, dipping it in oil seems stupid, then refusing warranties as the wrong oil may have been used is just a fine way to lose customers

 

[fossyant]

Shame my cam chain car is crap at 22 years old - I think not. Nissan's petrol engines have been bomb proof.

It does worry me as I plan switching to a newer vehicle soon. Fortunately it will be a Pug/Citroen diesel 2.0 HDI which has an accessible cam belt, but I'm looking at vans that will need it doing within a couple of years (spec says 5 years or xx miles). Doesn't look too spendy, but my worry is the ad-blue on modern diesel vehicles - it's a bit shoot.

 

[Adam4868]

Shame my cam chain car is crap at 22 years old - I think not. Nissan's petrol engines have been bomb proof.

Nissan diesel wasn't too bad either...the 2.7 diesel was bombproof !
Current diesel has a cam belt unfortunately,but changed well before time and I change the oil and filters every 6000 miles ish.
MOT today and flew over...no advisories either 😁

 

[Drago]

The 2.7 was prone to diesel runaway, although aside from that was robust. Just keep a careful eye on the oil,level.

 

[Profpointy]

Whilst cam chain tensioners have been dodgy on the odd vehicle mostly cam chains within the oily bit last for a very very long time, unlike cam belts. Cam belts are arguably fair enough if easily and economically replaceable as a service item, but not otherwise

 

[Adam4868]

The 2.7 was prone to diesel runaway, although aside from that was robust. Just keep a careful eye on the oil,level.

Only thing that ever jinxed those engines was overheating them...had over 800,000 miles out of one and only got rid because the bodywork was rotten.Never used a drop of oil.

 

[Drago]

Only thing that ever jinxed those engines was overheating them...had over 800,000 miles out of one and only got rid because the bodywork was rotten.Never used a drop of oil.

I went out with a lass who was service manager at a Nissan dealership.

It wasn't oil consumption that was the issue. They were very sensitive indeed to oil level. A little bit overfilled, or if ran at high speeds for long periods and oil level rose due to fuel blow-by, the oil would pump through the breathers and back into the intake in sufficient quantity to trigger the runaway. Apparently panicked owners would call Trumpton and the like when it happened.

Keep a very close eye on that and they were tough, if crude. Didn't one of the London taxi manufacturers use that engine for a while? (I might have dreamed it, but it seems plausible.)

 

[Adam4868]

I went out with a lass who was service manager at a Nissan dealership.

It wasn't oil consumption that was the issue. They were very sensitive indeed to oil level. A little bit overfilled, or if ran at high speeds for long periods and oil level rose due to fuel blow-by, the oil would pump through the breathers and back into the intake in sufficient quantity to trigger the runaway. Apparently panicked owners would call Trumpton and the like when it happened.

Keep a very close eye on that and they were tough, if crude. Didn't one of the London taxi manufacturers use that engine for a while? (I might have dreamed it, but it seems plausible.)

LTI used it in the London cabs....like I say was bomb proof,needed very little maintenance and virtually indestructible.My old man used to fix them and say that's why they got rid because they lasted too long !

 

[CXRAndy]

Notice the simple job which has probably contributed to long engine life - oil change at 6k miles.

None of this 10-15k mile service intervals on little capacity sumps

 

[raleighnut]

Notice the simple job which has probably contributed to long engine life - oil change at 6k miles.

None of this 10-15k mile service intervals on little capacity sumps

Back when I worked in a Garage some people would bring cars in for a 'Short Service', change the Oil (but not filter) clean the plugs (grit blast) check the timing, depending on the car maybe check/adjust the tappets and handbrake, have a look at the tyres and check pressure and go round with an oil can at all pivot points doorlocks/hinges etc check coolant level and refill washer bottle.
Really the sort of thing that you could do at home but the owners were either not confident or didn't want to get 'mucked up' doing it so brought it in for a Garage to look it over.
Generally these cars were a pleasure to work on when it came to a service and some went on to stunning mileage without trouble (some SAAB's went on to 200,000 miles or more without major work)
We had one customer (Mr Cuthbert) who was a European sales rep who could easily clock up 2,000 miles a week and sometimes the car would be serviced on the Continent (one garage in Belgium and another in Germany) but the last time I saw the car it had covered over 400,000 miles and was still 'Sweet as a Nut' (LHD SAAB 99 EMS 2 door) with no major work (still on the original clutch)

 

[derrick]

You do realise that depending on the exact variant of motor your good lady has the official book time is 11.5 to 16 hours?

As much as I'm happy to wield my array of hammers I think I'd just want some portraits at a reputable garage for that one.

Is there such a thing as a reputable garage? the stories i here since getting the camper van and going on a few motoring forums, They seem few and far between.

 

[gbb]

Notice the simple job which has probably contributed to long engine life - oil change at 6k miles.

None of this 10-15k mile service intervals on little capacity sumps

I always remember back to the Escorts which had the new extended oil change intervals (much vaunted as though this was a plus? ).
I always thought it was a daft idea..I always aim although dont always achieve, to change oil at 6k. Lots of cars nowadays don't even (as you say) have a lot of capacity anymore, my Mazda is only 4. something litres

 

[CXRAndy]

I know Polo and Citroen C3 have around 3 litre sumps. Smaller than my motorcycle sump which has nearly 5litres. Every 5-6k miles I change the oil/filter