Ian's S4s refurb

[Bibs]

Some wax on the inside of the pod helps keep it nice and clean, makes it less likely to block. 

[Chillidoggy]

Inside of the pod recess?

[Barrykearley]

Yeah - reduces the surface tension and stops water filling the hole over

[Chillidoggy]

Does it do anything to stop shit blocking the drain hole?

[mdw]

I simply opened the drain hole up to a larger size ( its only fibreglass and ply from memory) and re sealed the cut edges.  Less likely to block.

[Barrykearley]

Mine was full of 3" of sycamore seeds and dead mice - so I don't think that would have helped me

[Sparky]

You'd think they'd have been able to use the sycamore seeds to build some kind of ladder system to escape.

[Barrykearley]

They had just whittled some of them into pen shaped implements - no imagination !!

[mdw]

Fair play re the sycamore  seeds etc but a 30mm hole has to give you a better chance than a 10mm one ( from memory ) and the mouse could have got out of that easily.  Only to be trapped between the grill and radiator!!!   

[Chillidoggy]

The way, things are going, mine are more likely to be blocked by a throttled herring gull.

[Chillidoggy]

Further piece of information for anyone changing oil coolers:- After draining the engine sump, fitting a new oil filter, oil coolers, transfer pipe and draining the oil cooler lines, I had to put 8 litres of oil in to bring the level to maximum Mark on the dipstick. Effectively filling a 'dry' system.

The service notes say 6.8 litres with new oil filter, so there's 1.2 litres in the oil cooler system.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I estimated about a litre during previous oil changes, and it didn't feel right leaving that much old crap in there. Did you investigate some kind of drain plug/tap in the system at the front end?

[Chillidoggy]

No, but it's possible to disconnect the bottom hose to each oil cooler to drain the transfer pipe, the lines from the sandwich plate, and the coolers themselves.

Personally, I won't be doing it because of the delicate alloy threads on the coolers and the subsequent wallet-emptying potential if the cooler threads are buggered. Instead, I'll be using Mobil1 10W/60 synthetic, with regular oil and filter changes.

[Chillidoggy]

Having just been to MBW and back, a round trip of some 230 miles and with high ambients,  I am pleased to say that despite not having a shroud around the cooling fans, there was no sign of overheating whatsoever, and the air con works a treat.

[Barrykearley]

You wait till next month - 1 degree warmer and you're knackered !!

[Chillidoggy]

11 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

You wait till next month - 1 degree warmer and you're knackered !!

 

I'll take your bet. How much you wanna lose?

[Barrykearley]

V8 owner - I've got nowt left !!

[Sparky]

At least you still have your self respect.

 

Ah...

[Barrykearley]

Ummm three kids !!

dignity, money, aspiration and hair all long gone

dont mention the esprit

[Chillidoggy]

I'm not taking chickens as payment.

[Sparky]

He's more of a goat man.

[swindon_alan]

3 hours ago, ian29gte said:

Having just been to MBW and back, a round trip of some 230 miles and with high ambients,  I am pleased to say that despite not having a shroud around the cooling fans, there was no sign of overheating whatsoever, and the air con works a treat.

Great to finally meet you Ian! Thank for showing me around your car, it is very interesting to see a LRG S4s which is effectively my car with a four pot (loved the colour by the way )

I had another play with my air con when I got home, it does everything it should apart from cool (!) so I reckon I will try getting it recharged first and ask them to see if there are any leaks.

So pleased that you made it after all of your hard work sir!

Next year I definitely want to meet up with @Barrykearley and @Alex Carter, we should try and get all the V8s lined up together...

[swindon_alan]

On 02/05/2016 at 17:41, ian29gte said:

It comes off anti-clockwise, and goes on clockwise. The right hand side of it needs to be carefully wheedled around between the electrics and the A-pillar trim, on or off. Also, I would be extra careful you don't lever it against the windscreen, or you could find yourself with a large bill for a new one.

Yup, there is definitely a knack with the binnacle. After all of the faffing around I did with upgrading the dash bulbs to LEDs - had the thing off and on about five times before it was right - practice makes perfect. I had mine off and on again in twenty minutes yesterday to replace a failed LED (I thought that they were supposed to last forever, duh). I now consider that the easy bit, hanging upside down in the footwell with zero room to move your arms to get to that bloody bolt is now officially my least favourite Esprit job. Having said that and before Barry kicks off about his wonderful Binnacle Lite, I have found that the contortions required have made me so much more supple and improved my sex life no end...

[Chillidoggy]

13 hours ago, swindon_alan said:

Yup, there is definitely a knack with the binnacle. After all of the faffing around I did with upgrading the dash bulbs to LEDs - had the thing off and on about five times before it was right - practice makes perfect. I had mine off and on again in twenty minutes yesterday to replace a failed LED (I thought that they were supposed to last forever, duh). I now consider that the easy bit, hanging upside down in the footwell with zero room to move your arms to get to that bloody bolt is now officially my least favourite Esprit job. Having said that and before Barry kicks off about his wonderful Binnacle Lite, I have found that the contortions required have made me so much more supple and improved my sex life no end...

 

Yeah well, real men have boost gauges.

[Sparky]

No, REAL men don't feel the need to measure it.