In the shit again.

[RustyNuts]

So there is a safrane parked outside that i love to bits but its been a royal pain over the last few years and off the road since 2010.

 

Despite the sorn status, i've made a lot of faults go away but my main trouble is the engine and cooling which led to a HGF. Not a biggy.. I got another engine in the garage that has been hanging around since i removed it from another working safrane i had 3 years ago (I dismantled that car as the fuel pump nipples broke and replacing it would have been more than the cars worth).

 

So.. someone told me that unless it's been stored with coolant inside it, the odds are that there will be HGF again with the replacement engine. Opinion varies all over t'interweb with some folk saying they've been using engines sat in scrapyards for years with no hassle. So I went ahead and put it in. Pain in the arse job with the missus making it as difficult as possible for me to work on it, but i got it in. Over the next few weeks when I dared to escape i've managed to do more bits including create some oil stains on the tarmac of what was a nice clean residential car park shit (and thats despite having a big plastic tray under the car - things like PAS pipes and replacement injector rails apparently hold liquid for an eternity.. even after you've emptied them FFS. Tips appreciated for the oil stains...

 

So.. i got the replacement engine running.. well it was barely running on a couple of cylinders but running but i might of made a booboo.. just to make sure it would crank and fire i ran it with no coolant for about 30 - 40 seconds wth no coolant or water (I only wanted to make sure it would work!). Swapped the injectors over today (i'd left the pipe ends open - insects etc probably got in and with fuel going up blocked the injectors) and ended up with petrol in my eyes and all over my face. Eyes start stinging so i start stumbling towards home to ask the missus for water to rinse me eyes out. Instead of being kind hearted she just went mental as usual when i have medical woes. Several words of profanity were used by her and she made me feel completely shit about myself... but thats not what i'm writing about.

 

After all of that action.. I went to check the oil cap... white mayo is increasing. I spotted a little bit yesterday but hoped it would go away. Today its at least double. It's a volvo 850 engine and they're not known for condensation (especially in this weather) and having had three safranes, none of them have done this with healthy head gaskets though they do all get it at the bottom of the dipstick - a known issue with volvo owners.

 

So the missus then storms off (unaware of the probable HGF) leaving me with the baby monitor in almost pitch black saying she's leaving as she's had enough. She did eventually come back but the only words exchanged was "Wheres the baby monitor?". "Over there".

 

Now it looks like i might need to find another flaming engine.. how the hell am I going to pull this one off lads? I really stupidly and pathetically love this car, i've done a lot to it over the years and solved a lot of glitches (ok some bits i've made worse but in general i've taken care of a lot of stuff). I really don't want to get rid of it now. I got the two engines swapped in less than 4 hours and frankly it was the quickest wiring loom removal / refit i've ever done so i've got the hang of it... i just need a good engine and chance to fit it. I know about k seal but i'm not big on the idea of clogging up the radiator and heater matrix..

 

Help me fellas, how am I going to make this happen?

[fatharris]

Dude, park the car and work on 'er indoors.

[Des]

First get your missus flowers and maybe chocolates, then drag the engine into the kitchen to work on it.

Actually do check the water isn't getting into the oil from somewhere like a manifold gasket, oil cooler/warmer thingy or even a coreplug under a rocker cover.

[Split_Pin]

As I have said to you before, get rid of that woman who frankly sounds like an awful cunt.

 

You are clearly a capable owner of this car so it would be a shame to get rid of it for the sake of a 4 hour job.

 

Also nothing wrong with being attached to the car, I have let some shonky old wrecks get under my skin!

[320touring]

How long was the car running? an engine can take a while to get to temp enought o get rid of the condensation

[RustyNuts]

As I have said to you before, get rid of that woman who frankly sounds like an awful cunt.

 

I wouldn't use those last two words to describe her. Despite being hard to please and difficult these days, there is still a good hearted woman deep inside her... but just no longer towards me. She is a super mum to our little boy though.. even if she did claim to be walking out and never coming back earlier while he was asleep.

[RustyNuts]

How long was the car running? an engine can take a while to get to temp enought o get rid of the condensation

 

Not long - cooling fans are dead so i can't risk overheating. But with that said, as I said earlier, these engines don't have condensation issues.. though i'd be bloody grateful to be wrong on that lol

[320touring]

Not long - cooling fans are dead so i can't risk overheating. But with that said, as I said earlier, these engines don't have condensation issues.. though i'd be bloody grateful to be wrong on that lol

if its been sat for 3 years I'd expect some condensation at first.

 

why don't you run it up to temp and then wipe off the cap, let it sit 20 mins then run up again?

 

do that a couple of times and I imagine you'll get rid of the residual condensation.

 

I wouldn't be too worried!

[Eddie Honda]

safrane

[snip]

its been a royal pain over the last few years and off the road since 2010.

[snip]

my main trouble is the engine and cooling

[snip]

ended up with petrol in my eyes and all over my face

[snip]

having had three safranes

[snip]

Now it looks like i might need to find another flaming engine.

[snip]

i just need a good engine and chance to fit it.

[snip]

how am I going to make this happen?

"i just need a good engine and chance to fit it". This is junkie pish talk: "just one more hit". After all this time you've failed to see that pushing water uphill isn't possible. It's a Renna and a sack of shit. Bin it. Burn it.

[garethj]

I know that if you've invested time and love into something it's difficult to see the best answer, but for the sake of your own sanity you need to get rid of the stuff that's making you this unhappy.

 

And I'd get rid of the car too.

[michael1703]

All of the above, Mayo doesn't mean head gasket.

 

You'd probably need a 30mile trip to see if it improves

 

Mayo can be oil and water mixing but generally its condensation that burns off.

[billyboy406v6]

Talk to your missus, and work out a plan so you get to do stuff that keeps you sane. I am divorced by the way !!

[fatharris]

 

 

As I have said to you before, get rid of that woman who frankly sounds like an awful cunt.

Frankly, this isn't needed and I would be really pissed off if someone called my missus that.

[Bren]

I admire your fortitude- but how much wedge are you going to splash on an old safrane? Part of shite ownership is knowing when to bale out.

 

And that applies to relationships.

[buckbuckbuckie]

Where in the world are you?  I would be happy to come over and offer some time to assist if it helps?

 

I've had issues with the 5 cylinder Volvo engine creating mayo when the PCV system was knackered.  It's a while since I have had my hands near one of those engines but I seem to recall a one way check valve from the inlet manifold, if it is on the wrong way round or stuck/blocked it created big build up of mayo quickly.

 

That said, you need to get the car to the point that you can get it started and running for a while.  I've had all kinds of noises, smoking and weird crap sort themselves by letting the engine run a while after an engine swap.

[nigel bickle]

I run a Safrane, with the Volvo engine. It's nice enough - but not special, frankly.

 

Unless you've a bi- turbo, I'd think about weighing it in, and starting over with an Mot'd runner.

 

The wife will be happier, you will have more time and a bit of money, and more importantly, a car on the road.

 

If this has been sitting years, on a residents car park, you are running out of credits with family, neighbours etc. Diagnose quickly, by running it up ( what have you to lose?) then sort, or moved on.

 

Once it's running you will have a myriad other issues preventing road worthiness & adding further unexpected cost.

 

It's a Renner...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'm wth Michael1703, don't start pulling it to bits until you've had a decent test drive in it where its got hot enough to burn off any condensation in the engine

[Cavcraft]

Despite being hopeless with mechanical things, +3 on letting it run for a good while yet. You might be creating more work where it's not needed, and no point 'wasting' that hard graft by giving up this early on. Hope it pans out for you, anyhow.

[hpi_matrix]

• Run it up to temp, find out the head gaskets ok

Hard wire the fans in with a switch on the dash

Take it for MOT

Find it fails on a shit load of other things

Cry

[spartacus]

Even if you're relationship is going down the pan you want to be on the best terms possible. The car is inanimate and can go on the back burner. Talk to your missus, she'll appreciate that and it may help your cause.

I'm not a professional but speak from the point of view of having done it wrong once already.

[dollywobbler]

Getting the oil up to temperature takes a lot longer than getting the coolant up to temperature. Unless you get it out for a bit of a razz, I'd be more surprised if there wasn't any mayo.

[sierraman]

You've my sympathy there. I get it in the ear when I'm doing something like changing the pads or whatever. Simple answer ive now given is that she's on her own with her car when it wants something doing to it. Don't come to me when there's a grinding noise or the oil lights on. I can recommend a good garage to her.

[Split_Pin]

 

Frankly, this isn't needed and I would be really pissed off if someone called my missus that.

Have you read his posts in Single and Sad???????

[fatharris]

It's irrelevant, it's not your missus to call that. He can call her whatever he wants.

[oldcars]

My Reliant had omghgf. Took a good few weeks and long runs to get the last of the oil out of the water. 

[sporty-shite]

As I have said to you before, get rid of that woman who frankly sounds like an awful cunt.

 

 

 

I wouldn't use those last two words to describe her. Despite being hard to please and difficult these days, there is still a good hearted woman deep inside her... but just no longer towards me. 

 

 

Frankly, this isn't needed and I would be really pissed off if someone called my missus that.

 

 

Have you read his posts in Single and Sad???????

 

 

It's irrelevant, it's not your missus to call that. He can call her whatever he wants.

 

Come on, lads. This isn't going to get rid of the Renner Mayo. I think Rusty's got enough going on, without being at the centre of some sort of forum "disagreement".

[inconsistant]

Yeah, less of the bad language, it's a family forum for fucks sake.

[hpi_matrix]

its only bants init

[RustyNuts]

Hi Guys

 

I'm not really wanting this topic to be a missus slating topic... more of a how can i convince her the car is good type helpful topic. I am in a difficult situation with her but I am trying to make the best of it for the sake of our son. I'm a stay at home dad and we've become very close. I never thought I'd have children due to medical problems so he is a miracle to me.

 

To the doubters: Yes the car has been a pain. I got unlucky but i've put in a lot of work and fixed most of the problems now. The main two problems are the engine and cooling (which I can bodge so technically thats not so much of a problem). I can fix the car but I simply need the time to be able to do it.

 

The engine isn't that much hassle to swap out (this replacement engine was a bit of a risk anyway) but being allowed the time is. I will persevere with this engine and see what happens just in case it is ok.. the safrane also having a weakpoint in the heater matrix... well maybe a bottle of k seal would be beneficial...?

 

To the non doubters: thank you for your support. My way of thinking is that if old classics can be rebuilt from a bare frame (and i've known a guy who used to do this) then a safrane that is mostly complete but has a few niggles is a near road ready car that can be saved and should be. I've put in a lot of effort to this car when health, money and the missus have permitted and for my own sanity I need to actually finish something rather than be a fucking failure yet again. @nigel I've had two other safranes after this one both were old dogs and not well kept hence my reluctance to find another.

[SiC]

It's supposed to be fun/escape relief. If it's not doing that for you, then might not be worth doing atm.

 

Old renners are worth saving imo. Especially as finding a savannah, let alone a nice one is hard now.