Ask a Shiter

[Skizzer]

If no one has a better idea, you could try running a lawnmower on it (they don't: even a trace amount of diesel will make them run like a pig - t-shirt on order)

 

That's a fine idea, except I don't think my electric Flymo would give us a definitive answer  Closest thing I've got to a petrol lawnmower is the Golf, which already runs like a pig.

[Inspector Morose]

Lob tiny amount in a coke can and chuck a match to it. Petrol goes "woo-mph and diesel just doesn't. Fine. You know whether it's petrol or not. What you don't know is how good it is if it is petrol. Therefore bung it in a nearly full tank of petrol so if it's iffy, it'll dilute with the good stuff. With now empty can, go to fuel station and get some fresh for the Rover!

[steve_earwig]

Ah. In that case tip it over the Golf and set fire to it, if it's hard to get going and smoky then it's diesel, if it goes "womp!" and singes your eyebrows then it's petrol.

 

I got 4 pwoppa 2-stroke Flymos me

[Asimo]

Stick your finger in it.

 

If it is petrol it will evaporate in no time leaving only a smell. If it is Diesel it won't evaporate and your finger will feel oily.

[worldofceri]

bid 1...

 

etc etc

 

All without any one else bidding.....as my bid was after 17.04.05 ......and the bidding didnt go above the £150 starting price until i bid...so it wasnt as if they were bidding against the reserve...

Someone may have been trying to find out the reserve by bidding in increments.  As soon as the reserve is met the current bid jumps up to the reserve amount.

[Skizzer]

Stick your finger in it.

 

If it is petrol it will evaporate in no time leaving only a smell. If it is Diesel it won't evaporate and your finger will feel oily.

Perfect! It's petrol

 

What you don't know is how good it is if it is petrol. Therefore bung it in a nearly full tank of petrol so if it's iffy, it'll dilute with the good stuff. With now empty can, go to fuel station and get some fresh for the Rover!

Agreed - wise words - plan is to chuck it in the Renault (which needs a fill-up anyway) then put fresh petrol in the empty can. One thing I do know is that what's currently in the can is even more stale than the stuff that's (probably) upsetting the Rover.

[RobT]

What with this continuous insurance malarky, how long do you reckon it's safe to leave a newly purchased car without cover before DVLA lob you a letter?  Peter James want an extra £78 to insure the Corsa I collected yesterday, and I don't fancy paying that (normally they just charge an extra 30 quid or so for adding another car to my current policy).  I was going to sell it anyway once the V5 came through so looks like I'll have to SORN it.  Arse.

 

Edit:  I got temporary cover for £20 yesterday to make it legal to bring home, hence the question.  If I wasn't so impulsive I would have phoned them up on Friday to check first....

[Skizzer]

My Jaguar was uncovered for a while after I taxed and collected it on temporary cover then put it into storage.  Took DVLA several weeks to write and remind me of the continuous insurance rules, at which point I extracted my thumb from my bottom and got a classic policy:  no fine or owt, just a reminder.  This was back in 2012 when continuous insurance was about a year old, so I suppose they might be a bit quicker/keener now.

[Luckythirteen]

Is a cambelt more likely to snap when cold, or hot?

It's just a point of interest, after a conversation the other day!

 

Also, I can't get our washing machine to stop smelling faintly mouldy. I've tried running it at 90º with and without bleach, and it doesn't take long to come back.

That's about all I know to do. Any bright ideas or cunning plans?

[rml2345]

Hide a couple of Magic Tree air fresheners in the casing somewhere?

[Noel Tidybeard]

when the belt snapped on my montego (twice) it was when the revs were low and engine was up to temp

[Luckythirteen]

Just wondering, cos I was being told a tale of woe, about how a guy had two cambelts go at different times, when he'd just turned the key.

I'd imagined it was random chance, or high-rev abuse!

[Taff]

Is a cambelt more likely to snap when cold, or hot?

It's just a point of interest, after a conversation the other day!

 

Also, I can't get our washing machine to stop smelling faintly mouldy. I've tried running it at 90º with and without bleach, and it doesn't take long to come back.

That's about all I know to do. Any bright ideas or cunning plans?

 

wash some stinking muddy rugby kit in it, then do a wash without a load to rinse the mud from it.

 

worked for mine

[Sloth in a bowl]

How do I find out what make/model of car KC53HSX is?

The wife spotted it and said it had a really odd two tone paint job.

[kinkersaab]

Anyone got an MG maestro brochire or colour chart, or just know stuff? In 85 when i was 8 my dad bought a new maestro EFI in white, well, it looked white until it was parked next to something that was white, then it loooked cream, it looked lovely, except in snow, where ot looked drab and dirty. I dont remeber noticing it on other white maestros or montegos or anything else, am i imagining it, or were they available in an off white / cream colour?

[skattrd]

How do I find out what make/model of car KC53HSX is?

The wife spotted it and said it had a really odd two tone paint job.

 

http://www.rac.co.uk/web/carbuying/vehicle_data_search/

 

Vehicle Details for registration number KC53HSX

Make

MAZDA

Year of manufacture

2003

Model

RX-8 231 PS

Engine size(CC)

2616

[Sloth in a bowl]

 

http://www.rac.co.uk/web/carbuying/vehicle_data_search/

 

Vehicle Details for registration number KC53HSX

Make

MAZDA

Year of manufacture

2003

Model

RX-8 231 PS

Engine size(CC)

2616

 

 

We buy any car also claim that it is red, not sure it is anymore.

[doobietoo]

Someone may have been trying to find out the reserve by bidding in increments.  As soon as the reserve is met the current bid jumps up to the reserve amount.

 Thank you kind sir... I knew there was something strange in the way the reserve bidding process worked but could not remember what it was.... and his actions now make perfect sense... 

[kinkersaab]

Googling has give answers, images are metros as that is what show difference best

 

.

Arum white

 

 

Brighter white..called something else.

[red5]

Is a cambelt more likely to snap when cold, or hot?

It's just a point of interest, after a conversation the other day!

 

Also, I can't get our washing machine to stop smelling faintly mouldy. I've tried running it at 90º with and without bleach, and it doesn't take long to come back.

That's about all I know to do. Any bright ideas or cunning plans?

 

Take the soap/conditioner tray out and thoroughly clean it. Scrub it to death. Then run a dishwasher cleaning tablet (the ones for cleaning your dishwasher, not dishes...) in it on a hot wash 90c

 

And as for the funny smell....-)

 

Cold. Although probably more related to snatch loadings when started as opposed to just 'cold'

[EssDeeWon]

Has anyone sold a car since 1st October and received a road tax rebate from the DVLA for any remaining tax?

[r.welfare]

Yes, twice, and in both cases the refund came through in 10 days.  Separate envelopes (on the same day) for the acknowledgement I was no longer the registered owner, and the cheque.  We bought a 'new' car around the same time and the V5 came back within 10 days as well.

 

Also, as discussed/expected, you don't get the part-month back that you're currently in, i.e. I sold a car on 9 November that was taxed until 31 August, so I received a refund for 9 months only (1 December-31 August).

[Vantman]

Has anyone sold a car since 1st October and received a road tax rebate from the DVLA for any remaining tax?

 

Yes,sold my car on the 30th October,the refund cheque arrived on the 8th of November.

[EssDeeWon]

Thanks Welfare and Vantman, thats what I hoped happened in such cases, so thanks for confirming

[Luckythirteen]

Cheers Taff and red5, it seems that limescale is the problem, and Calgon (and lots of it) is the answer. Although dishwasher tablets are similar, so might go with that if it's cheaper!

The machine's had two lots of manky sports clothing through it regularly, so I'd thought that might be the problem.

 

So belt snappage is pretty much a random issue then, it would seem. Sounds fair to me - just as well mine is recent then!

[Taff]

how do you calculate mpg?

 

I think I've got it right but I've calculated that the escort is achieving 53mpg...

[spike60]

Divide the miles by gallons used?  e.g. 100 miles divided by5 gallons equals 20mpg. Divide litres used by 4.55 to convert to  gallons IIRC.

[Taff]

Divide the miles by gallons used?  e.g. 100 miles divided by5 gallons equals 20mpg. Divide litres used by 4.55 to convert to  gallons IIRC.

 

that gets me to 52.6, so I wasn't that far away. I know I was driving Miss Daisy but I'm staggered that the escort is so frugal

 

I must be missing something out!  I just can't be that fortunate

[spike60]

that gets me to 52.6, so I wasn't that far away. I know I was driving Miss Daisy but I'm staggered that the escort is so frugal

 

I must be missing something out!  I just can't be that fortunate

I have a 1.4Tdi Polo that only does that locally!

[EssDeeWon]

Online road tax question - Ok so lets assume I am buying a R75 on Sunday which is currently untaxed and not insured.

 

If I insure the car from Saturday will I also be able to tax it from Saturday? or will the DVLA have the car as 'not insured' and therefore not allow me to tax it until there system is updated, by say Monday? Or I could try and tax it Sunday morning before going to collect said 75?

 

Just wondered if anyone has bought an uninsured car lately and had problems with taxing it?