From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a Deltic
on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably
only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Is this true? An engine smoking (black smoke) on partial throttle is a
design consideration? It seems a bit unlikely to me, but I am naive
to... anything, really.

Thanks in advance.
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a Deltic
on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably
only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,
involving sustained high RPMs and load to burn off carbon deposits,
clear fuel injectors, and force Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
regeneration. It works by increasing engine temperature, airflow, and
exhaust velocity to remove soot and gunk that can accumulate from
frequent short trips and city driving. To perform one, warm up the
engine, find a safe area, and drive for a sustained period (e.g., 15
minutes) at high, but not necessarily redline, RPMs to clean the engine
and help prevent clogging.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sun, 5 Oct 2025 23:08:19 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a Deltic
on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably
only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,
involving sustained high RPMs and load to burn off carbon deposits,
clear fuel injectors, and force Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) >regeneration. It works by increasing engine temperature, airflow, and >exhaust velocity to remove soot and gunk that can accumulate from
frequent short trips and city driving. To perform one, warm up the
engine, find a safe area, and drive for a sustained period (e.g., 15 >minutes) at high, but not necessarily redline, RPMs to clean the engine
and help prevent clogging.

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 11:58, Scott wrote:

On Sun, 5 Oct 2025 23:08:19 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a Deltic >>> on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably
only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,
involving sustained high RPMs and load to burn off carbon deposits,
clear fuel injectors, and force Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
regeneration. It works by increasing engine temperature, airflow, and
exhaust velocity to remove soot and gunk that can accumulate from
frequent short trips and city driving. To perform one, warm up the
engine, find a safe area, and drive for a sustained period (e.g., 15
minutes) at high, but not necessarily redline, RPMs to clean the engine
and help prevent clogging.

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?

Possibly just taking the car for a run that gets it up to full
temperature and keeps it there for 15/30 minutes is all that is
required, especially in winter.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 13:08, alan_m wrote:

On 06/10/2025 11:58, Scott wrote:

On Sun, 5 Oct 2025 23:08:19 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a
Deltic
on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably >>>> only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,
involving sustained high RPMs and load to burn off carbon deposits,
clear fuel injectors, and force Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
regeneration. It works by increasing engine temperature, airflow, and
exhaust velocity to remove soot and gunk that can accumulate from
frequent short trips and city driving. To perform one, warm up the
engine, find a safe area, and drive for a sustained period (e.g., 15
minutes) at high, but not necessarily redline, RPMs to clean the engine
and help prevent clogging.

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?

Possibly just taking the car for a run that gets it up to full
temperature and keeps it there for 15/30 minutes is all that is
required, especially in winter.

Indeed! A necessary pre-MOT job for our 2009 diesel Fiesta (shopping
trolley) and VW Passat. A couple of trips involving motorways suffice.>

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

he clag coming out of a Deltic

It is a two-stroke diesel and getting on for 70 years old. It's not
going to be clean in any sense of the word.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 16:45, mm0fmf wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

he clag coming out of a Deltic

It is a two-stroke diesel and getting on for 70 years old. It's not
going to be clean in any sense of the word.

They never were clean. Normally aspirated diesel canonly get more power
by throwing in more fuel.

Although the Deltics were supercharged, the same still applied, juts at
higher power levels
--
Future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early twenty-first centuryrCOs developed world went into hysterical panic over a globally average temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree, and,
on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer
projections combined into implausible chains of inference, proceeded to contemplate a rollback of the industrial age.

Richard Lindzen

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 13:51, Timatmarford wrote:

On 06/10/2025 13:08, alan_m wrote:

On 06/10/2025 11:58, Scott wrote:

On Sun, 5 Oct 2025 23:08:19 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

I read in a youtube comment section that the clag coming out of a
Deltic
on a run was because "it's designed to be driven hard, and is probably >>>>> only runing on partial throttle" or some such wording.

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,
involving sustained high RPMs and load to burn off carbon deposits,
clear fuel injectors, and force Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
regeneration. It works by increasing engine temperature, airflow, and
exhaust velocity to remove soot and gunk that can accumulate from
frequent short trips and city driving. To perform one, warm up the
engine, find a safe area, and drive for a sustained period (e.g., 15
minutes) at high, but not necessarily redline, RPMs to clean the engine >>>> and help prevent clogging.

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?

Possibly just taking the car for a run that gets it up to full
temperature and keeps it there for 15/30 minutes is all that is
required, especially in winter.

Indeed! A necessary pre-MOT job for our 2009 diesel Fiesta (shopping trolley) and VW Passat. A couple of trips involving motorways suffice.>

I notice that they leave the engine running whilst they do all the other
MOT checks before they check the emissions. Somewhat defeats the purpose
of my 10 mile, round the block, journey to get the engine warm when the
garage is only 2 miles away.
--
Regards
wasbit
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 10:32, wasbit wrote:

I notice that they leave the engine running whilst they do all the other
MOT checks before they check the emissions. Somewhat defeats the purpose
of my 10 mile, round the block, journey to get the engine warm when the garage is only 2 miles away.

My local MOT warns

"Owners of diesel vehicles should be aware that the exhaust emissions
test can put severe strain on the timing/cam belt (if your vehicle has
one). Should this belt snap during the emissions test, catastrophic
engine damage will most likely occur. If you are unsure about the
integrity of you timing/cam belt, please talk to us when presenting your
car for it's MOT test!"
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 12:25, alan_m wrote:

On 07/10/2025 10:32, wasbit wrote:

I notice that they leave the engine running whilst they do all the
other MOT checks before they check the emissions. Somewhat defeats the
purpose of my 10 mile, round the block, journey to get the engine warm
when the garage is only 2 miles away.

My local MOT warns

"Owners of diesel vehicles should be aware that the exhaust-a emissions
test can put severe strain on the timing/cam belt (if your vehicle has
one). Should this belt snap during the emissions test, catastrophic
engine damage will most likely occur. If you are unsure about the
integrity of you timing/cam belt, please talk to us when presenting your
car for it's MOT test!"

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an Astra.
In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped and the
belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases the only collateral damage was snapped rockers.
--
I would rather have questions that cannot be answered...
...than to have answers that cannot be questioned

Richard Feynman



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 13:30, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an Astra.
In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped and the
belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases the only collateral damage-a was snapped rockers.

I had a petrol Nova cam belt snap on me on the forecourt of a petrol
station seconds after pulling away from the pump. I was lucky and only
the belt had to be replaced.

The other problems I had with Nova were electrical, usually connectors
and connections to components/switches etc. The plastic they used for
the shell of the connectors was too soft. When mating a spade type
connector instead of mating securely the spade would push the mating
part out of the back of the plastic shell so only a very small bit of
the spade was making a electrical connection. A bit of vibration and
the connection would let go.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 14:01, alan_m wrote:

On 07/10/2025 13:30, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an
Astra. In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped
and the belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases
the only collateral damage-a was snapped rockers.

I had a petrol Nova cam belt snap on me on the forecourt of a petrol
station seconds after pulling away from the pump. I was lucky and only
the belt had to be replaced.

I suppose petrol-engined cars are less affected by a cambelt snapping.
Diesel engines, with the greater compression ratio, often have the
piston going much closer to the valves - so-called "interference
engines" - and the piston and the valves overlap, though never at the
same time, so it's only the cambelt which prevents them colliding.

My old boss had a Rover SD1 and he kept a badly-mangled piston on his
desk. It was a petrol engine, but an interference design. The cambelt
snapped and the piston collided with the valve because without the
cambelt the valves didn't move out of the way so either the inlet or the exhaust valve punched a hole in the piston. That was an expensive repair
- I can't remember whether it needed a new engine or just a new piston,
valve and cambelt.

My car is a Peugeot with a 1.6 HDi engine, and I was warned to get the
cambelt changed well within the stated replacement time. I've had it
done once and at some point it will be due its second replacement since
the car's now done 200,000 miles. That will be a nice "little" repair
job. Last time I was advised to get the water pump changed at the same
time as the cambelt, since the pump is driven by the cambelt, as a
precaution: it's cheaper to replace a water pump even if it's not
needed, than to pay all over again for the labour. I wonder why cars
started using water pumps that are driven off the cambelt, rather than
driving them off the "fan belt" which drives the alternator (and the
fan, in the days of non-electric fans). I remember my grandpa proudly
showing me the running repair that he'd made using my grandma's tights
when the fanbelt on his Hillman Avenger snapped. You can live without an alternator for a short distance to get you home (*), but the engine will overheat without a water pump. Maybe that's why modern cars don't drive
it off the auxiliary belt - maybe that belt is more likely to fail than
a cambelt.

(*) My auxiliary belt failed one night when I was in Lane 3 of the M40.
I heard a strange twang and the ignition light came, which is fairly indicative. And as soon as I tried to change lanes, the steering was
very heavy. As it happens, I was just a mile from the junction where I
was planning to come off anyway, so I turned off as normal - a bit hard
to steer round the roundabout and turn off onto the A34, but I knew
there was a petrol station a mile head where I could wait for the RAC
man. I was toying with the idea of continuing home, but I decided 20
miles was pushing things a bit for the battery with the headlights on.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 15:01, alan_m wrote:

On 07/10/2025 13:30, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an
Astra. In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped
and the belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases
the only collateral damage-a was snapped rockers.

I had a petrol Nova cam belt snap on me on the forecourt of a petrol
station seconds after pulling away from the pump. I was lucky and only
the belt had to be replaced.

The other problems I had with Nova were electrical, usually connectors
and connections to components/switches etc. The plastic they used for
the shell of the connectors was too soft. When mating a spade type
connector instead of mating securely the spade would push the mating
part out of the back of the plastic shell so only a very small bit of
the spade was making a electrical connection.-a A bit of vibration and
the connection would let go.

You can not extrapolate on the effects of cam belt failures. Some cars,
e.g. the MX-5 have non-interference engines, so the valves and pistons
will not collide on a cam belt failure...

Dave
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 15:04, David Wade wrote:

On 07/10/2025 15:01, alan_m wrote:

On 07/10/2025 13:30, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an
Astra. In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped
and the belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases
the only collateral damage-a was snapped rockers.

I had a petrol Nova cam belt snap on me on the forecourt of a petrol
station seconds after pulling away from the pump. I was lucky and only
the belt had to be replaced.

The other problems I had with Nova were electrical, usually connectors
and connections to components/switches etc. The plastic they used for
the shell of the connectors was too soft. When mating a spade type
connector instead of mating securely the spade would push the mating
part out of the back of the plastic shell so only a very small bit of
the spade was making a electrical connection.-a A bit of vibration and
the connection would let go.

You can not extrapolate on the effects of cam belt failures. Some cars,
e.g. the MX-5 have non-interference engines, so the valves and pistons
will not collide on a cam belt failure...

Dave

Indeed no, but my original point was that cam belts just fail for no
apparent reason whatsoever....hard driving not being necessary
--
rCLThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isnrCOt true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.rCY

rCoSoren Kierkegaard

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 2025-10-07 15:04, David Wade wrote:

On 07/10/2025 15:01, alan_m wrote:

On 07/10/2025 13:30, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Ive had tow cam belts snap on me. Both Vauxhalls - a Nova and an
Astra. In both cases the engine was at idle and the car was stopped
and the belt snapped on pulling away at very low revs. In both cases
the only collateral damage-a was snapped rockers.

I had a petrol Nova cam belt snap on me on the forecourt of a petrol
station seconds after pulling away from the pump. I was lucky and only
the belt had to be replaced.

The other problems I had with Nova were electrical, usually connectors
and connections to components/switches etc. The plastic they used for
the shell of the connectors was too soft. When mating a spade type
connector instead of mating securely the spade would push the mating
part out of the back of the plastic shell so only a very small bit of
the spade was making a electrical connection.-a A bit of vibration and
the connection would let go.

You can not extrapolate on the effects of cam belt failures. Some cars,
e.g. the MX-5 have non-interference engines, so the valves and pistons
will not collide on a cam belt failure...

Dave

And sometimes it seems quite difficult to be completely sure whether a
given engine is interference or not (other than waiting for the belt to break!), I've never seen it in a manufacturer's spec, just hearsay.

nib
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 05/10/2025 23:08, alan_m wrote:

Are you confusing this with an Italian tune-up?

Nope!

You can get problems with Diesel engines if you only do short trips.

An "Italian tune-up" is a driving technique for diesel engines,

And petrol engines!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 16:45, mm0fmf wrote:

It is a two-stroke diesel and getting on for 70 years old. It's not
going to be clean in any sense of the word.

Well, of course!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 06/10/2025 11:58, Scott wrote:

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?

Apparently the important bit is to not let the engine lug. Puts undue
stresses on things from what I've been told, especially at cold
temperatures.

The important thing for engine longevity is to get it to operating temp
ASAP (and keep it there).

(This is "just wot I've 'eard, gov." so don't go believing me.)
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

David Paste <pastedavid@gmail.com> wrote:

On 06/10/2025 11:58, Scott wrote:

I was told it is good practice even for a petrol engine to drive at
high speed - or low gear - for 20 minutes each week. Any truth?

Apparently the important bit is to not let the engine lug.

Probably especially true of engines with dual mass flywheels. Great for smoothing out vibrations at low revs but only by absorbing the low
frequency impulses.

Tim
--
Please don't feed the trolls
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 09:19, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 06/10/2025 16:45, mm0fmf wrote:

On 05/10/2025 21:49, David Paste wrote:

he clag coming out of a Deltic

It is a two-stroke diesel and getting on for 70 years old. It's not
going to be clean in any sense of the word.

They never were clean.-a Normally aspirated diesel canonly get more power
by throwing in more fuel.

Although the Deltics were supercharged, the same still applied, juts at higher power levels

It is a scavenge pump rather than a supercharger, the power of a deltic
was more to do with it being a two stroke.

It suffered the same problem of other uniflow engines in that it lost lubricant to the combustion chamber.

The same was true of the high powered piston engines developed for
fighter aircraft toward the end of the war, sleeve valves lost
lubricant to the compustion nchamber.

That's why plain old 4 cylinder engines became the norm, good sealing
with poppet valves and rings/scrapers to keep extraneous oil under the pistons.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 14:21, NY wrote:

(*) My auxiliary belt failed one night when I was in Lane 3 of the M40.
I heard a strange twang and the ignition light came, which is fairly indicative. And as soon as I tried to change lanes, the steering was
very heavy. As it happens, I was just a mile from the junction where I
was planning to come off anyway, so I turned off as normal - a bit hard
to steer round the roundabout and turn off onto the A34, but I knew
there was a petrol station a mile head where I could wait for the RAC
man. I was toying with the idea of continuing home, but I decided 20
miles was pushing things a bit for the battery with the headlights on.

I had my fan belt snap on the M5. With the ignition warning light on and
the temperature rising quickly I went straight to the hard shoulder. I
cut off a length of windscreen washer tubing and made a temporary belt
from it, and when I started the engine it slipped a bit but it did turn
the alternator and water pump provided I kept the revs low - too fast
and it slipped too much to be usable. With my temporary repair I could
drive at 40mph in top, and I limped along to the next service station
where the petrol bit sold me a replacement fan belt. I fitted it and
completed my journey.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 07/10/2025 14:21, NY wrote:

(*) My auxiliary belt failed one night when I was in Lane 3 of the M40.
I heard a strange twang and the ignition light came, which is fairly
indicative. And as soon as I tried to change lanes, the steering was
very heavy. As it happens, I was just a mile from the junction where I
was planning to come off anyway, so I turned off as normal - a bit hard
to steer round the roundabout and turn off onto the A34, but I knew
there was a petrol station a mile head where I could wait for the RAC
man. I was toying with the idea of continuing home, but I decided 20
miles was pushing things a bit for the battery with the headlights on.

I had my fan belt snap on the M5. With the ignition warning light on and
the temperature rising quickly I went straight to the hard shoulder. I
cut off a length of windscreen washer tubing and made a temporary belt
from it, and when I started the engine it slipped a bit but it did turn
the alternator and water pump provided I kept the revs low - too fast
and it slipped too much to be usable. With my temporary repair I could drive at 40mph in top, and I limped along to the next service station
where the petrol bit sold me a replacement fan belt. I fitted it and completed my journey.

Petrol stations selling fan belts? That must have been a few years ago. ;-)

Tim
--
Please don't feed the trolls
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 20:46, Indy Jess John wrote:

On 07/10/2025 14:21, NY wrote:

(*) My auxiliary belt failed one night when I was in Lane 3 of the
M40. I heard a strange twang and the ignition light came, which is
fairly indicative. And as soon as I tried to change lanes, the
steering was very heavy. As it happens, I was just a mile from the
junction where I was planning to come off anyway, so I turned off as
normal - a bit hard to steer round the roundabout and turn off onto
the A34, but I knew there was a petrol station a mile head where I
could wait for the RAC man. I was toying with the idea of continuing
home, but I decided 20 miles was pushing things a bit for the battery
with the headlights on.

I had my fan belt snap on the M5. With the ignition warning light on and
the temperature rising quickly I went straight to the hard shoulder.-a I
cut off a length of windscreen washer tubing and made a temporary belt
from it, and when I started the engine it slipped a bit but it did turn
the alternator and water pump provided I kept the revs low - too fast
and it slipped too much to be usable.-a With my temporary repair I could drive at 40mph in top, and I limped along to the next service station
where the petrol bit sold me a replacement fan belt. I fitted it and completed my journey.

You were lucky: a) to find that they sold the correct belt for your car,
and b) that you could fit it yourself with minimal/no tools.

When mine on my Peugeot 306 failed, it took my local garage two days to
get hold of a new one and then fit it. And they failed to notice that
one of the pulley flanges was bent - which is probably why the belt wore
and then snapped in the first place.

I'd done about 5000 miles when the replacement belt snapped as I was
about to set off back home on a Sunday night after staying the weekend
at my girlfriend's house. So I had to return to her house and then
arrange for the RAC to collect the car and take it to a genuine Peugeot
garage to get it repaired *properly*. The garage replaced the bent
pulley as well and gave me a report implicating it and blaming my
village garage for not noticing. The response of that garage was "tough
- nothing to do with us, mate". So I stopped using them and stopped recommending them to anyone else.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 07/10/2025 22:39, Tim+ wrote:

Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 07/10/2025 14:21, NY wrote:

(*) My auxiliary belt failed one night when I was in Lane 3 of the M40.
I heard a strange twang and the ignition light came, which is fairly
indicative. And as soon as I tried to change lanes, the steering was
very heavy. As it happens, I was just a mile from the junction where I
was planning to come off anyway, so I turned off as normal - a bit hard
to steer round the roundabout and turn off onto the A34, but I knew
there was a petrol station a mile head where I could wait for the RAC
man. I was toying with the idea of continuing home, but I decided 20
miles was pushing things a bit for the battery with the headlights on.

I had my fan belt snap on the M5. With the ignition warning light on and
the temperature rising quickly I went straight to the hard shoulder. I
cut off a length of windscreen washer tubing and made a temporary belt
from it, and when I started the engine it slipped a bit but it did turn
the alternator and water pump provided I kept the revs low - too fast
and it slipped too much to be usable. With my temporary repair I could
drive at 40mph in top, and I limped along to the next service station
where the petrol bit sold me a replacement fan belt. I fitted it and
completed my journey.

Petrol stations selling fan belts? That must have been a few years ago. ;-)

Tim

About 40 years ago. And I was impressed that they had one the right size
for my car which was 14 years old at the time.

It wouldn't happen nowadays.

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 08/10/2025 00:12, NY wrote:

You were lucky: a) to find that they sold the correct belt for your car,
and b) that you could fit it yourself with minimal/no tools.

I had tools. The car was 14 years old at the time. I carried a
cantilever tool box containing all the tools I might possibly need in
the boot at all times, plus a torch and a tyre pump.

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 08/10/2025 20:29, Indy Jess John wrote:

On 08/10/2025 00:12, NY wrote:

You were lucky: a) to find that they sold the correct belt for your
car, and b) that you could fit it yourself with minimal/no tools.

I had tools.-a The car was 14 years old at the time. I carried a
cantilever tool box containing all the tools I might possibly need in
the boot at all times, plus a torch and a tyre pump.

My first car was an old Mk3 Cortina. It was a necessity to carry a full toolbox in the boot :)
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

In article <mkntupF3rjqU1@mid.individual.net>,
alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

On 08/10/2025 20:29, Indy Jess John wrote:

On 08/10/2025 00:12, NY wrote:

You were lucky: a) to find that they sold the correct belt for your
car, and b) that you could fit it yourself with minimal/no tools.

I had tools. The car was 14 years old at the time. I carried a
cantilever tool box containing all the tools I might possibly need in
the boot at all times, plus a torch and a tyre pump.

My first car was an old Mk3 Cortina. It was a necessity to carry a full toolbox in the boot :)

-

didn't need to do that with my Mk IV - and I kept it for 13 years.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England - sent from my RISC OS 4to#
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
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