Punctures & Derv

[Phil Nottingham]

As everything seems quiet on here........... ..

I managed two punctures today! One just driving out our garage on the n/s front, the other on the o/s front doing 70mph and the somewhat busy A52 dual carriageway.

As we were going out for the morning I quickly fitted another spare Rostyle that I kept in the garage using my trusty 2 ton Halfords trolley jack as my usual one would not go under due to the flat tyre. I wondered why the steering seem a little heavier than usual but put it down to the cold even though we had been out in it the night before. We had just pulled off the M1 after doing some 80 odd miles of high speed motoring on the M1/M42/A42/A38/A50

With the 2nd puncture the only evidence of something amiss was a vibration, not even bad or loud - the power steering keeping the car straight on course although there was no handy layby to pull in so I just had to pull into the side of the road which had crash barriers so I could not even pull on the verge!

Unfortunately I had to use the car jack and after winding it fully down to get it into the jacking point which was very low down, after winding it up a little I soon heard the crunching of rusty steel as it quickly lowered itself again and the jacking tube bent the bottom of the front wing.

Fortunately we were then only 2 miles from home and I walked home and brought back the trolley jack and another spare Rostyle in the Land Rover so it could be quickly fitted - not a good place to be for long and I am glad I fitted hazards and had a warning triangle

I would strongly recommend you check your jacking points regularly, especially if never used at home, although I did do mine before our hols lst June to Ireland and there was no sign of trouble. The winter weather must have taken its toll.

The tyres with 7mm of tread on them are ruined of course and some serious welding & bodywork is called for now.

These tyres were very old - as I only fitted them at the end of August, 1,600 miles ago on some better wheels(thats why I had two extra spares)

They were off a scrap Coupe I bought in 1997 and they were Goodyear G800's but had no TWI or dates etc. It is said that that old rubber is more prone to punctures

>:(PS Did you realise the spell checker is US --- "Tires" !!!!!

[glennr]

Sorry to hear of your woes Phil. It just goes to show when everything seems OK it isn't. I was wondering how many members use the Jacking points to raise their car,(I know you had to) or do they carry a trolley jack in the boot? I should think that many members use the latter. Will you repair it yourself or take it to a garage?

[stantondavies]

A touch of dejavu here. Some years ago near Welshpool we were winding our way around the bends when suddenly the car seemed a little more noisey than before. Pulling over revealed a flat OS front tyre. Applying the jack to the car resulted in a crunching noise as the car settled back to the ground. Out in the country I had to walk to phone for help - no mobiles then!
I bought four new jacking points from JRW and had the car done solidly. I check the points every so often to ensure all is ok.
This proved to be good practice, for whilst out on the continent (the hot summer I've alluded to elsewhere) the rear o/s tyre blew out - though it was nearside over there. With the hot weather the windows were open and I thought I could hear a different noise. As before, the handling just didn't change, quite remarkable. The jacking point held the heavily laden car, the problem I had was being unable to remove the wheel nuts because they were too tight. This was in a deserted French country lane - we never use autoroutes or Route Nationales, we like to see the real France. I had to flag down a passing motorist and with GREAT difficulty loosened the nuts by standing on the wheel brace.
So I now check wheel nuts as well as jacking points.

I don't use a spellchecker, so all the spelling mistakes are mine - or should I say the keyboard's!

[glennr]

I think the worse one is when you lift the car and nothing happens, until you see the mother in law being crushed against the headlining. It is really difficult though to tell if the jacking point is up to supporting the weight of these cars unless the rust is deep into the metalwork. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Disclaimer: GlennR holds no malice against mother in laws.

[dorsetflyer]

Oh dear Phil not one but two punctures in a day plus a dented wing and a trashed jacking point. I must admit I would never ever trust jacking points on any classic car no matter how solid they looked.
That's why I always carry a smallish trolley jack wherever I go. At least you can find some decent metal somewhere to get the lift you need.

Were there any signs of cracking on the outside walls of the tyres? This is the first sign of them reaching their sell by date. I didn't realise G800's were still in existence, I thought they died many years ago.

If your jacking points were only done last June then no matter what the winter throws at them they should have lasted much much longer. I thought it was only Fiat's who couldn't last an English winter.

Anyway good luck with getting the car back together again.

P.S I haven't found a 'Spellcheck' yet that although it's in English is not taken from the Yank language

[dorsetflyer]

Which brings me nicely on to the woes of a work colleague of mine some years ago. He needed two new front tyres, and, after having them fitted drove out of the workshop, and going less than 1/2 mile down the road had another puncture. Youv'e guessed it, on the front nearside with the brand new tyre.
On returning to the workshop he found they couldn't repair the puncture as a nail had gone in through the sidewall and the tyre was scrap. So he had to have another brand new one fitted. Luckily he didn't suffer the same fate again.

[Phil Nottingham]

Thanks for the commiserations - to put one thing straight I checked the jacking points last summer and they seemed sound - they are (or what remains of them) the originals.

The original points are excellent for jacking normally and I sometimes position the trolley under them

Up till now I have avoided carrying a trolley jack sliding around in the boot as I use one or other car every day I will now have to buy 2

Are those tiny ones in a plastic case any good?

[Phil Nottingham]

BTW - it was not my day today either - the 3 litre expired and failed to proceed smoothly, naturally in the evening rush hour in the dark wet and cold night.

Being in my suit and having no tools (apart from the ones supplied) nad no proper light source - one of the bulbs had gone in the underbonnet lights, I called the breakdown insurance - they confirmed I had spark/pumping fuel and no obvious other electrical faults so I was relayed the 4 miles back home (eventually) I had to wait for another truck as although I told them it was an aouto they always send out the two wheller pick up as the streering can be locked anit towed rear wheeels up - they did not realise that no P5 had steering locks not even the lookalike version on late P5B's

Having got the car back into my garage I will have to see what the problem was but it will run for only a short spell on full choke with loads of smoke - perhaps it was the tank ful of Asda petrol I filled up with jsut before? I have the receipt and its not diesel!

Methinks the tired wheezy old engine has finally thrown the towel in so I will have to do a transplant now

[dorsetflyer]

Sounds like the same problem I have on the 3.5 saloon. I had to move it from one storage unit to another the other Sunday and it wouldn't run inless on full choke even when warmed up. As soon as I lifted the throttle it died. Methinks it could well be the wax like gum buildup in the carbs which you get with modern day petrol. Anyway I've got some carb cleaner so I'll get it running and give it a good cleanout and fingers crossed it might to the trick.
As it was running perfectly before I put in for the winter.

Things usually go in threes so with two punctures and a recovery you should, fingers crossed, be OK now.

It might be worth a try Phil as if it works at least it will put the evil day off for a while anyway. Good luck.

[dorsetflyer]

Phil I haven't seen the small trolley jack in a plastic case, but wonder the what the lifting weight is.
I have a small Halfords one which lifts 2 tonnes. It is quite light and has a carrying handle. I leave it in it's box as bought so it won't roll around in the boot.
It wasn't expensive and I can recommend it if you're interested in having a look when you are next in Halfords. At least it's more stable than a bottle jack.

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes I have one of those too - bought in 1990 for the Mini. It has travelled all over the place and I do drop it the boot when we go to Ireland as I would never go under a car with just the side jack.

I just wondered whether these smaller jacks with a plastic case were any good?

As regards the Coupe I have found the problem and will update you all when (if it ever does) it starts up again. Not good though

[stantondavies]

Trolley jacks are useful items at home - but to carry one around when there is a perfectly serviceable jack for emergencies already in the boot? If there are problems with weak jacking points shouldn't these be addressed? I for one am not happy to drive any car on the road with known structural weaknesses whether or not it will pass an mot.

[Phil Nottingham]

I agree in principle but as I said mine were OK last Spring and I always used them to position the axle stands at the front without problem as recent as October.

I do agree with DF that they should never be trusted and the one time I did need one it failed.

Weak jacking points are not easily addressed either if the job is to be done properly

[stantondavies]

Was talking generally Phil, not specifically about you. The moment I had trouble with a jacking point I replaced all four with JRW items and beefed them up considerably with thick plates to ensure the load was well spread. The 'emergency' jack, and that is all it is, should never be trusted as you say - it is for changing wheels only whilst on the road, or at home in conjunction with axle stands. There again at home I use a trolley jack which is much more convenient - but still with axle stands. I don't want the weight of a P5 on my chest!

[Phil Nottingham]

;)Never thought you were. I actually use a large trolley jack at home and use the jacking points to stand the car on - or did till now.

Anyway the poor old Coupe is running as its usual self after draining 63 litres of 90% Derv/petrol out.

For those interested in statistics you can drain out all but approx 1 gal via the electric pumps. I was toying with idea of leaving the rest in and diluting it with fresh petrol but decided to remove the cover over the back axle and then undo the tank drain plug. No dirt came out!

This was all as easy to undo as it must have been 42 years ago.

I will retain 10 litres for use as degreaser and the rest wil go to my local garage who will use it in their heaters and in exchange for the 25 ltr drums they lent me - I hope they take pity on tyre recyling fees next time

At least I know that the petrol gauge reads empty when at least 2 gals are left in and that the reserve pump draws up the right pick-up

Another statistic 250,000 motorists refueled incorrectly with either Derv or petrol last year

[dorsetflyer]

I bet you feel well embarrassed at filling up with Derv.
Mind you the one thing you can sigh with relief is that you didn't fill up a Diesel car with petrol. That's fine if you don't operate the starter but any more than that is going to be mega expensive.

It's a very common thing to happen as a lot of motorists have both diesel and petrol cars.

Whatever you fill up with incorrectly, you are talking £100-£150 to drain the system totally so it's not cheap.

At least with my Rover it has got all petrol in it, so it points to gummed up carburettors. The last time I put fuel in it was when it got hit way back in July. Since then it hasn't done any mileage at all.

[glennr]

Easily done. Minds else where etc. I drive a PUG 206 turbo diesel and my other car is a petrol Laguna II. I really have to think when I pull onto the forecourt. They did have pump nozzles with different diameters or was it the filler necks were different so you could not put the wrong nozzle in by mistake?

[Phil Nottingham]

It was the first time I used a new pay at pump only filing at station at the local Asda - it took four goes to get the card in the right way - as far I know they are the same size nozzle just coloured black instead of green. It was dark anyway.

I was surprised it ran at all and what was initally being pumped out the petrol lines still smelt like petrol - next morning the garage smelt clealy of Derv though

[dorsetflyer]

I can't remember offhand, but one fuel is heavier than the other. Possibly Petrol is lighter than Diesel.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Phil Nottingham]

I can now confirm that both petrol and Derv as completely miscible. Car back to its normal self now though

[John Stacey]

Phil
You said the reciept clearly showed petrol. Were ASDA really dispensing deisel from a petrol pump?
John Stacey

[Phil Nottingham]

No - I had two same date receipts in my wallet from different places - I have several valid excuses but still cannot sue anyone!


As we have several Rover gas guzzlers I seem always to be filling one or other of them up - I go to empty and then brim fill - it does mean that the choice of car I use some days depends on the fulness or otherwise of the tanks and whether I need or have time to visit a petrol station!

[Deleted]

Dont remind me. I filled up my diesel van twice with petrol. Once on the way to Northampton and a second time in Ilford. It costs a fortune to empty if you are away from home. I blamed the different colours that the pumps were using at the time.