Peter C

I know, it makes sense to replace these nuts and the gasket.

Believe me, the smell is bad. I still have a headache. The residue from WD40 etc would have burned off by now.

I hear what you’re saying but I’m pretty sure it’s exhaust gases. The smell is definitely coming from the engine bay.

And I have also ordered a set of new gaskets.

Sharing my exploits with you scallywags is half the fun of owning a 37 year old Ford.

I’ve just ordered a full set of new studs, nuts and washers for the exhaust manifold. At £5.95 it’s a no brainer.

I don’t think so. I think it’s exhaust fumes. When I got home I had a look under the bonnet again and found this. At first I thought it was a broken stud but no, it’s just a very loose nut with a missing washer. I will remove all the studs one by one and refit them with new washers. Fingers crossed, that will solve the problem. As far as I can feel with my hand, there is no blow from the manifold to downpipe joint, which is a potential problem that has already been flagged up here before.

Stopped off at Esso, managed to squeeze in 18.2 litres of unleaded. On the basis that I’ve clocked up 157 miles since I brimmed the tank last Sunday, that means the Sierra has averaged 39MPG. Bloody amazing but bear in mind that 99% of the distance was driven in zero traffic conditions and between 30-65MPH. With the tank full, the fuel gauge has made a welcome return.

We have reached the village of Aldbury. Two issues. I’m getting burning oil smells from the dashboard vents but I’ve checked all around and under the engine, there’s no sign of anything amiss. Odd. Second issue, the fuel gauge has now completely given up the ghost. I’ll be heading home soon. I will stop off at my local Esso and brim the tank. I will then work out the MPG and rely upon the trip meter , if I can’t sort out the fuel gauge problem.

Hello Silverstone. Unfortunately, Japfest is on today. It’s all a bit too Banzai for the Sierra. Not sure it fits in with the locals. How about this for inspiration? It’s one way to sort out the Sierra’s paint issues. Maybe not.

Definitely worth looking into, thank you!

Milestone achieved in Dadford.

The lovely Stowe.

My dream has come true, I’ve driven the Sierra up the A413, heading north west. The only issue that I’ve noticed is an erratic fuel gauge. I know the tank is almost full but the needle keeps dropping to zero, then rises and drops again. First destination reached. A Gulf petrol station in Whitchurch, located between Aylesbury and Buckingham. Before I bought my first Sierra from my then girlfriend’s dad, he let me borrow it for a very extended test drive and I remember putting fuel in the tank at this very station, which, remarkably, still exist today. I’m heading further up the A413 towards Buckingham. 31k miles will tick over shortly. More very soon.

Geek! Love it.

I’d say someone is getting ready for a road trip.

So grim. I’d love one.

He would have to sell a lot of photocopiers to get such a promotion. I reckon that he should hope for a pay increase and an injected GLS first.

Oh, and the steering feels a lot lighter too. Win.

Test drive completed. No wobble whatsoever, the Sierra was only giving me good vibrations. Looking good with a squirt of tyre shine.

When I collected the wheels from the tyre shop yesterday morning I was in between work appointments and in a bit of a hurry. I didn’t pay attention to the balance weights, I threw the wheels in the back of the Qashqai and disappeared into the distance. When I got home, I stacked the wheels outside my workshop and noticed that a couple of wheels didn’t have any balance weights. I will take the Sierra for a quick test drive up the M40 this afternoon and see if there’s any steering wheel wobble. If I’m lucky, the wheels didn’t need much balancing, otherwise I’m taking them back to be fixed.

The two Kwik Fit Centaur something or other tyres that were on the Sierra were probably as bad as budget tyres can get whilst the other two Good Years were probably as old as the car itself. I couldn't find the date stamp on them, so they had to be old. At £160 for all four tyres, fitted and balanced, they make perfect sense. One tyre for my wife's Hyundai Tucson costs £190 and she needs two!

A set of lovely new Rockblade tyres are now fitted to the Sierra. I can't imagine that they are any better or worse than any other budget tyre.

I bet that getting to the quadrant on a Mondeo is a lot more fun than on a Sierra.