Ask a Shiter

[Vince70]

Today while out in my WBOD Rover 400 I found that when I pulled up on a steep incline that the car would roll backwards when in Drive if I didn’t use any throttle.

It’s no big deal obviously and the gear change doesn’t seem bad and I’ve had the odd automatic before but never noticed it beforehand so I’m most probably looking for a problem that doesn’t exist.

 

So I was wondering if it was normal with a car with a conventional auto as I never seemed to notice it in the old BMW.

[Bobthebeard]

Most automatic cars do this if the hill is steep enough don't they? Mine all do.

[AlabamaShrimp]

What's the easiest way to change all the water for anti freeze in the system without draining the whole thing and getting an air lock?

 

I'll never hear the last of it if it gets one and the heater doesn't work.

[bunglebus]

Yep normal. Used to get complains about it when I was in the trade but it's TADTS.

[Ghosty]

Probably just that you’ve got a steep drive and it’s overcoming the creep.

[sierraman]

I’d just pull the bottom hose off. Shouldn’t airlock if you fill it slowly and use the bleed valve if it has one.

[tooSavvy]

Hill Start assist (on my old works Pug van) was a novelty [at first!] but actually ffinn brill

 

 

TS

[Bobthebeard]

Hill Start assist (on my old works Pug van) was a novelty [at first!] but actually ffinn grill TS

ffinn grill ?

Errrrrr...

[The Moog]

Today while out in my WBOD Rover 400 I found that when I pulled up on a steep incline that the car would roll backwards when in Drive if I didn’t use any throttle.

It’s no big deal obviously and the gear change doesn’t seem bad and I’ve had the odd automatic before but never noticed it beforehand so I’m most probably looking for a problem that doesn’t exist.

 

So I was wondering if it was normal with a car with a conventional auto as I never seemed to notice it in the old BMW.

I think it is to do with the transmission stall speed. 

 

The old focus used to hold firm pretty much everywhere, but the getz likes to roll back. 

[DSdriver]

What happens if you mix pink and blue antifreeze (apart from getting purple), do they negate each other, turn into a horrible caustic liquid that eats through the engine, your drive and the earth's crust or is it OK on old cars.

It seems I use blue but service garages use pink.

[Rusty_Rocket]

What happens if you mix pink and blue antifreeze (apart from getting purple), do they negate each other, turn into a horrible caustic liquid that eats through the engine, your drive and the earth's crust or is it OK on old cars.

It seems I use blue but service garages use pink.

 

It 'used' to turn a weird brown colour and turn into sludge.  But.. I think depending on the brand nowadays, some mix ok.  Certainly, the stuff you buy in Halfords is supposed to mix with anything, regardless of its colour.

[sierraman]

What happens if you mix pink and blue antifreeze (apart from getting purple), do they negate each other, turn into a horrible caustic liquid that eats through the engine, your drive and the earth's crust or is it OK on old cars.

It seems I use blue but service garages use pink.

Nearly everything in the last 20 years or so runs on OAT antifreeze or the makers specific I.e Nissan. Mixing the 2 is a no no unless you use something like Prestone universal. I’ve no idea why they still sell the blue glycol stuff as it’s totally unsuitable for most stuff now, you still see a few cars that’s been maintained at home by someone who knew all about Marinas and Cortinas with the blue stuff in, would put me off if I saw that tbh.

[steveo3002]

What happens if you mix pink and blue antifreeze (apart from getting purple), do they negate each other, turn into a horrible caustic liquid that eats through the engine, your drive and the earth's crust or is it OK on old cars.

It seems I use blue but service garages use pink.

some of the vw stuff used to turn to sludge ....if in doubt flush it out and use something you trust

[DSdriver]

Nearly everything in the last 20 years or so runs on OAT antifreeze or the makers specific I.e Nissan. Mixing the 2 is a no no unless you use something like Prestone universal. I’ve no idea why they still sell the blue glycol stuff as it’s totally unsuitable for most stuff now, you still see a few cars that’s been maintained at home by someone who knew all about Marinas and Cortinas with the blue stuff in, would put me off if I saw that tbh.

Aha antifreeze made from porridge oats, where do I get that. They still sell the blue stuff because of people like me who only have one post millennium car. I have always run my cars on blue and nobody seems to have a definitive answer as to which colour  my cars should run. 

I have always kept a container of ready diluted blue for topping up and still have a half full 5litres of undiluted. Garages just use what they have got and don't bother to tell you what it is and whether you can mix. 

[DSdriver]

some of the vw stuff used to turn to sludge ....if in doubt flush it out and use something you trust

How do I know what to trust nowadays? Is there a database I can access going back to 1973 cars telling me what to use? Am I supposed to drain and refill the system after every visit to the garage when some mechanic has thought he was doing me a favour by checking the fluid levels? Or take it back to them every time the rad needs a top up. Why don't rad caps have a sticker on saying what should be in there?

[steveo3002]

no database...and top it yourself with what you filled it with , the garage doesnt care

[Stanky]

If a car (in the loosest possible terms) has a broken brake master cylinder, what happens when you press the brake pedal?

 

1. Nothing, and you career into a tree

2. reduced braking effect and you merely nudge the tree

3. the pedal falls off, jams under the acclerator and you redline into the tree

4. other

 

I suspect the answer is #1 because air compresses, whereas liquid does not - or the piston is seized so doesn't move but would welcome answers or mockery.

[BeEP]

They still sell the blue stuff because of people like me who only have one post millennium car.

 

Exactly; my newest car is from 1993.  All my cars use the blue stuff.  I doubt I'm alone in not wanting to switch to something which didn't exist when they were made.

[Talbot]

If a car (in the loosest possible terms) has a broken brake master cylinder, what happens when you press the brake pedal?

 

1. Nothing, and you career into a tree

2. reduced braking effect and you merely nudge the tree

3. the pedal falls off, jams under the acclerator and you redline into the tree

4. other

 

I suspect the answer is #1 because air compresses, whereas liquid does not - or the piston is seized so doesn't move but would welcome answers or mockery.

 

 

Define "broken".  They can break in various different modes.  However, it is most likely that #2 will happen first, eventually becoming #1 if you ignore it for long enough.

 

it can also be #4 where you brake, and even after taking your foot off the pedal, the brakes remain on to some extent or another because the piston is stiff in the bore.

[Anthony]

If a car (in the loosest possible terms) has a broken brake master cylinder, what happens when you press the brake pedal?

Depends how it's failed, but generally, the pedal goes to the floor when you press it with no or limited braking effort.

[95 quid Peugeot]

I'm looking at a ph2 2003 Volvo V70 this week; it's fitted with the 7 seat option (that I wouldn't need and wouldn't mind taking out)

 

If I find a genuine dog guard, can I use it with the boot seats in place does anybody know?

the V70 fleet i seem to have acquired have them in the boot cover/cross shaft.  Ive a spare one  you can have for a beer for me and some  wine or fruit based drink for mrs 95quid

Collect Stowmarket or newark.  be quick sadly it's going to be cubed.

[Dirk Diggler]

the V70 fleet i seem to have acquired have them in the boot cover/cross shaft.  Ive a spare one  you can have for a beer for me and some  wine or fruit based drink for mrs 95quid

Collect Stowmarket or newark.  be quick sadly it's going to be cubed.

Thank you very much; but Irish sea

 

Wouldn't even have a clue how to do it but would happily pay postage plus beer for you and some wine or fruit based drink for mrs 95quid and whatever else for your trouble; I haven't come across one yet anywhere here second hand and didn't want to just buy a universal o e

[sierraman]

Aha antifreeze made from porridge oats, where do I get that. They still sell the blue stuff because of people like me who only have one post millennium car. I have always run my cars on blue and nobody seems to have a definitive answer as to which colour my cars should run.

I have always kept a container of ready diluted blue for topping up and still have a half full 5litres of undiluted. Garages just use what they have got and don't bother to tell you what it is and whether you can mix.

What car is it?

[DSdriver]

Car I checked today is M reg Volvo 940. The coolant appears to be a pinky color, I always used blue in the other 940s I had. The level looked low when the car was parked facing downhill but when I put it on the flat to check the oil level and checked again the coolant level magically had risen to the marker. I only ran the engine long enough to move the car by just over its own length.

We also have a W reg Pug 206 1.4 auto, 02 reg Saab 9.3 lpt and a '73 Citroen DS. Would they all be OK on pink? Only the Pug seems to need regular top ups despite best efforts of mechanics changing head gasket, water pump etc.

[sierraman]

Everything except the DS I’d say OAT. The glycol type stuff won’t lubricate the seals satisfactorily enough. The DS fine with blue stuff.

[Guest Hooli]

Blue n Pink antifreeze mixes fine, it's OAT you can't mix them with. The only real difference between the two is blue is meant to be changed every two years & pink lasts for five.

[Mally]

Nearly everything in the last 20 years or so runs on OAT antifreeze or the makers specific I.e Nissan. Mixing the 2 is a no no unless you use something like Prestone universal. I’ve no idea why they still sell the blue glycol stuff as it’s totally unsuitable for most stuff now, you still see a few cars that’s been maintained at home by someone who knew all about Marinas and Cortinas with the blue stuff in, would put me off if I saw that tbh.

 

The Oat stuff was responsible for leaks on old engines. Something to do with gasket material IIRC.

They denied it for a while, but someone took them go court I think, and proved it legally.

Hence blue is still available. Use blue in Pintos and Red in Zetec is the only rule I need.

[sierraman]

Blue n Pink antifreeze mixes fine, it's OAT you can't mix them with. The only real difference between the two is blue is meant to be changed every two years & pink lasts for five.

Pink/green/purple usually denotes that it’s OAT antifreeze. Most engines from about the K Series onwards use it. If I doubt drain the lot and replace, cost will be no more that £15-20 if you use the concentrated stuff with some soft water.

[richardmorris]

Most automatic cars do this if the hill is steep enough don't they? Mine all do.

 

Mine doesn’t. It’s the only one I’ve owned though. W124 auto.

[twosmoke300]

Don’t mix pink and blue ffs!