Ask a Shiter

[Tayne]

I tried to post a picture.

 

The actual picture address is 

https://images1.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2014-04/14/8955343-26-6.jpg&width=640&height=480&halign=l0&valign=t0&autosizefit=0

 

Which I shortened to 

https://images1.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2014-04/14/8955343-26-6.jpg

 

And got this message.

 

 

What does that mean?

 

 

[wuvvum]

Multi-valve engines.  The way I understand it, the point of having four valves per cylinder is to help breathing (and therefore power) at high revs, at the expense of low-down torque and flexibility.  So WTF is the point of fitting a 16-valve head to a bloody great 3-litre diesel van engine which makes its maximum power at 3,500 rpm?  Surely that would defeat the point entirely?

[oman5]

Multi-valve engines.  The way I understand it, the point of having four valves per cylinder is to help breathing (and therefore power) at high revs, at the expense of low-down torque and flexibility.  So WTF is the point of fitting a 16-valve head to a bloody great 3-litre diesel van engine which makes its maximum power at 3,500 rpm?  Surely that would defeat the point entirely?

Traditionally yes, extra power. In a modern context, it will probably be to improve combustion and therefore emissions. most big trucks have four valves per cylinder these days, all the torque is produced at less than 1500 rpm. The new Euro 6 emissions standard for diesel commercials is VERY strict.

[andy18s]

My Iveco Daily makes peak power between 1500-2500 rpm,redline at 3500

2.3 16 valve engine (like a Merc cossy!!)

Gives around 30mpg regardless of load,speed ect

16 valves are designed to create more Swirl to the intake charge so it burns better,giving lower emissions

[burraston2006]

Can someone explain to me this lark about using peanut butter instead of back to black? Do   you smear it on or spread thinly and how long do you leave it on for? Also I presume you use smooth or if it's a special car do you use organic? Much appreciated!

[bub2006]

I did that trick once. It does work. Would have had better results but when i asked wife to pick some up she bought crunchy not smooth.

[Bobthebeard]

Can someone explain to me this lark about using peanut butter instead of back to black? Do   you smear it on or spread thinly and how long do you leave it on for? Also I presume you use smooth or if it's a special car do you use organic? Much appreciated!

Have absolutely no idea, but smooth sounds more logical....

On faded plastic bumpers/trim I have seen a heat gun in action. Played gently across the surface it did work! Seemingly it re melts the wax based colouring used in the manufacturing process or summat. Lasts longer than (I suspect) peanut butter applied topically would.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I've read that the first series of Eurovan MPV (Synergie, 806, Ulysse, Zeta) was available with the 2.1 12V XUD engine - but does anyone know if they were ever sold like this in the UK? I've been looking for something cheap in the usual places and have only seen the 1.9s for sale so far.

 

Thanks!

No the only dizzlers were the old 1.9 and then the 2.0 Hdi , I think the 2.1 and later 2.2 Hdi were standard on Lancia versions , and there was also a 2.0 petrol turbo Lancia for the first year or so.

I've had a1.9 and 2.0 diesel Ullysee and when new the Hdi was like a different car,much faster,smoother and more economical, that has to be weighed against the vegetarianism and less electronic bollocks now though.

[Luckythirteen]

Peanut butter contains a lot of palm oil, which is sticky as anything at ambient temp (hence the consistency of Sun-Pat), so it will adhere to dried out (I.e greyed) plastic very well and won't wash off.

[mat_the_cat]

You could just run it off a building site style transformer, pretty cheap and easily available. Or depending on whether it's internally stepping down the voltage to run electronics, you could replace the internal transformer. Only unlikely stumbling block might be if it uses the mains frequency as some kind of clock, as I know some of the meters at work do. Then it would be expecting 60 hertz but only getting 50.

 

EDIT - Sorry, I missed the next page as I'm on my phone. You can probably guess who the reply is aimed at...

[willswitchengage]

16 valves are designed to create more Swirl to the intake charge so it burns better,giving lower emissions

 

No, GM's Twinport closes one valve at low engine speeds to create more swirl. At high engine speeds this is unnecessary as the air is enering much faster, therefore increasing turbulence and therefore mix.

 

 

16 valves will increase engine efficiency as the engine can suck air in more easily - be it naturally aspirated or turbocharged. This increases both volumetric efficiency and reduces pumping losses. Put your finger up one nostril then remove it again, in which scenario was it easier to inhale/exhale?

[Ratdat]

Also, closing of one intake runner at low RPM increases port velocity allowing for the use of cam profiles with more overlap. The old KA24DE ( an American 240SX engine) I fitted to my Datsun 510 had this and possessed loads of low end grunt. I think on that engine the second runners opened at about 4000rpm. 

[MrDuke]

Very stupid question, but I'm thoroughly brain-dead today:  Do the threads on hub nuts differ depending on which side they're on?

[Ratdat]

Very stupid question, but I'm thoroughly brain-dead today:  Do the threads on hub nuts differ depending on which side they're on?

 

That probably depends on what vehicle I'd think. Most cars I have worked on had normal RH threads but that's not to say all will be. I have a vague recollection if having the odd one that was a LH thread but can't think what cars.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Mini has a LH threaded rear hub nut. I was building one up today. Nothing much modern does as far as I know.

[MrDuke]

OK, thanks. After swinging off of a breaker bar to no avail, I did wonder if I was going the wrong way, but as it's fairly modern, I guess I'll just have to swing a bit harder.

[garbaldy]

Probably a stoopid question but a mate of mine has just told me he has 3 life insurance policys, recons he's worth 4 mil dead by claiming on all 3.

I know you can't have more than one on a car or house or should I say you can't claim of more than one but he recons you can have as many as you want. Who's right?

[Des]

Don't know about your mates multiple policies, but I'll wager his missus is busy mixing draincleaner into his horlicks.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Probably a stoopid question but a mate of mine has just told me he has 3 life insurance policys, recons he's worth 4 mil dead by claiming on all 3.

I know you can't have more than one on a car or house or should I say you can't claim of more than one but he recons you can have as many as you want. Who's right?

You can have as many as you want,in fact I think I've got 3. There's no point in all the extra paperwork though, why not just have one for £4,000,000 the premium would be the same presumably, I've only got more than one because I took them out at different times with mortgages or something and then kept paying afterwards.

Unless your mates a millionaire,I'd be very surprised if he actually has that much cover the premiums would be astronomical .

[garbaldy]

Turns out he pays for two and one came with his bank account. So that's two then, he said he pays £120 odd a month which includes critical ilness as well. I'm still taking the piss out of him.

[garbaldy]

Reason I'm asking this is I've got a policy but it only pays what we owe on the morgage. In effect if I die in say 12 years time it will pay of the outstanding which will be about 2k pounds.

[willswitchengage]

Yes, Pinzgauer. Newer British redesign with the 5cyl VW engine I think

[Leyland Lawrence]

If you have a device like a laptop that says it needs 12v DC 3A but your transformer is broken. Could you use a higher rated transformer that fits? i.e. Does the appliance draw only what it needs so it wouldn't be a problem with a 15v transformer?

 

I have found some flexibility with the transformers on my various early 90s synthesisers.

 

H

[dave21478]

I personally wouldnt piss about with laptops chargers - too much to go wrong IMO.

 

Replacements can be had very cheaply off ebay or amazon - order one quick before your battery runs out!

[Asimo]

If you have a device like a laptop that says it needs 12v DC 3A but your transformer is broken. Could you use a higher rated transformer that fits? i.e. Does the appliance draw only what it needs so it wouldn't be a problem with a 15v transformer?

 

I have found some flexibility with the transformers on my various early 90s synthesisers.

 

H

Power supply bricks for laptops are more than just transformers. They supply a regulated DC voltage , ie the voltage is controlled and won't vary as the load varies.

 

The current rating, ie 3Amps, is the maximum that can be supplied. Using a psu brick with a higher current rating is fine, the laptop will take what it needs.

 

Because the voltage from the psu brick is regulated, the electronics in the laptop can be designed around that regulated voltage and problems are likely if you use a power supply with a higher output voltage. I might risk a 15v psu on a 12v laptop if it was mine but certainly no higher voltage than that but I strongly suggest you do not try it. Not worth it, PSU bricks are cheap, laptops are not.

 

Audio kit from twenty years ago often just used a transformer /rectifier, all of the regulation was done in the audio unit. Not the same thing at all.

 

Laptops have really complex DC to DC converters inside them that chop the12v or whatever from the brick and turn it into many other supplies for this that and the other. 

 

Also, there is no common polarity for the plugs used: some are +ve to the centre pin, some aren't.

[mat_the_cat]

Also, Dell PSUs at least have a third wire to the laptop with a signal which identifies the power rating of the charger, and that it's a genuine Dell. Without this some will plain refuse to boot at all!

[catsinthewelder]

I've had the 'you know about cars,  tell me about.....' today off the boss.  Someone else at work is selling an 06 plate Pug 207 1.4 and the gaffer is wondering about buying it for his daughter.

 

I know all modern cars are shit and I know that 307's are pretty crap but is the 207 any better?  I don't think they do a 1.4D so it must be pez which can only be a good thing with modern stuff.

 

Any clever things to tell him?

[mat_the_cat]

Car Mechanics magazine is doing a diagnostics article on them this month; that's all I know...

[willswitchengage]

I know all modern cars are shit and I know that 307's are pretty crap but is the 207 any better?  I don't think they do a 1.4D so it must be pez which can only be a good thing with modern stuff.

 

Any clever things to tell him?

 

My Grandad has one with only 20K miles. It's already had an engine fault that Peugeot couldn't fix so they charged him £100 to switch off the light, all the electric windows are broken, the gear stick boot is torn off and the 1.4 16V pinks under any engine load. It's also impossible to engage first, third or fifth gear without pressing the button that locks the doors.

[Station]

Just a query - my driveshaft clicks on full lock. Is this an MOT fail. Gaiters are otherwise intact (the clip at one end came off and all the grease came out over time).