Ask a Shiter

[Datsuncog]

Quick query - does anyone know any UK stockists of Blue Creeper penetrating oil?

Ta!

Many thanks due to HairyMel of this parish, who went above and beyond to visit the only known UK stockists of this magic fluid and post it safely across the Irish Sea...

 

 

A true Shiter. This place...

[warren t claim]

Have any of you attended the banger racing in Stoke? Is it a decent night out?

[cros]

I once sent a cheque for £14- £4 fee and £10 to cover letter costs etc to a private parking co. With a letter saying " Your penalty fee is unreasonable, that's all you're getting, fuck off"

They took the money and never heard anything else. My thinking was that they would struggle to justify any more in court.

I've also just ignored them in the past- not a good idea these days. I've just paid £287 for one that went to court last month,from a ticket in 2015- not even mine! Daughter got it in a car registered to me. A Rover 600 that cost £100., long since scrapped.

I think it's now safe to say that having followed this advice and sent half the asked for 'fine' the bastards have not taken the matter further.

[Mally]

Have any of you attended the banger racing in Stoke? Is it a decent night out?

 

Only when we happen to be there with the F2.

Presume you are looking at the Feb meeting?

Unlimiteds are usually very good, some of the others can be roundy roundy.

It's a run down place, viewing from the Bar is very good, bar itself a bit of a dismal place, but keeps you warm and dry. Track sometimes poor if wet, can be very good in the dry.

We like it, and should be racing there 17th March all being well.

You can pay a bit extra and drive your car in.

View from the car is good if you get there early. 

[Kiltox]

Do you get Webasto style heaters that run on petrol rather than diesel?

[DodgeRover]

Do you get Webasto style heaters that run on petrol rather than diesel?

Occasionally but they are rare.

[Kiltox]

Hmm. Auxiliary small diesel tank a better idea?

[tooSavvy]

I've done it with a flap wheel on steel wheels, it takes ages though.

YouTube likely has a Russian DIY vid up already...

 

Any chunk of ply screwed to any old hub/stub axle [big enough to take rim or rim/tyre] will spin happily with flapwheel or spindle cutter buzzing on the bore, well enough to open up +4 or 6mm

[DodgeRover]

Hmm. Auxiliary small diesel tank a better idea?

Unless buying new then that's the usual way. Are you heating air or water?

[Kiltox]

Unless buying new then that's the usual way. Are you heating air or water?

Not sure yet - just thinking about how to make the shite Citroen C1 I’m buying more comfortable for icy morning station runs.

[Guest Hooli]

Set light to it?

[Kiltox]

Set light to it?

Cheap diesel heater might do that for me

[320touring]

It's a C1 - a well placed fart should have the cabin upto temp in a Jiffy

[primeradoner]

Have any of you attended the banger racing in Stoke? Is it a decent night out?

Its a great night out if you pick the right meeting. Go to the Stan Woods Memorial meeting if you can. There will be forum members both sides of the armco

[Tamworthbay]

Anyone used me of those DAB thungs that plugs into the fag lighter and then transmits to your fm radio? Any recommendations?

[DodgeRover]

Not sure yet - just thinking about how to make the shite Citroen C1 I’m buying more comfortable for icy morning station runs.

Do you have access to power where it's parked? either fit an electric block heater for about £30 or put a blow air heater inside for 5 minutes before going to work.

[Kiltox]

Nope it would probably be a Nissan Leaf if I had access to power

[anonymous user]

Not sure yet - just thinking about how to make the shite Citroen C1 I’m buying more comfortable for icy morning station runs.

Oh for goodness sake, put a hat, coat and gloves on. Or failing that a pair of socks on your hands, pair of pants on your head and wrap the dog's blanket around you.

[Skizzer]

Who are you and what have you done with the real Kiltox that was sat outside the pub in shirtsleeves all evening last month, while I was shivering in a coat, hat, gloves and scarf?

[SiC]

Keep it in a gear lower than normal. Also you've been down south too long and become a softie southerner.

[Kiltox]

Demisting/deicing is the biggest pain with a cold car - I can cope with having to wear a coat but having a windscreen that keeps steaming up again until the heaters blow hot is a pain.

[anonymous user]

I've just remembered, many years ago I knew a lad who used to start his car up early while he had breakfast, so it was nice and warm and defrosted for his journey to work. No it didn't get stolen as his mother had to sit in it to keep it running and put the choke in while it was warming up.

[anonymous user]

With my Morgan, which lacked a heater, the easy way to deal with an icy/misted windscreen was to fold it down out of the way.

 

Although that did have downsides, as I have also just remembered a journey from Andover to Bristol in freezing fog where I had to stop on the way to thaw out and buy some dry clothes to change into

[DodgeRover]

Parafin heater on the passenger side floor?

[Kiltox]

Parafin heater on the passenger side floor?

  

Set light to it?

[cort16]

You can get remote starter for about 100 quid

 

You might have to sellotape the key to steering column to get around the immobiliser mind you.

[catsinthewelder]

Living in the sticks and driving shitters means that I get around this by starting the engine and going back inside to finish my tea.  I suppose a giffer style krooklock or similar could be deployed to keep a running car immobile?  Sounds easier than fitting an Eberspacher.

[somewhatfoolish]

Not sure yet - just thinking about how to make the shite Citroen C1 I’m buying more comfortable for icy morning station runs.

You can get night heaters that plumb into the cooling circuit but they're pretty spendy; a shite alternative would be a hot air night heater, as the chinese have started churning eberspacher copies out for about 15% of the cost of the real thing, but they do take up a lot of space and I'm not sure where you'd mount one on a C1.

[garethj]

If it's only the misting up that's a problem (I have the same with my diesel Volvo because it takes so long to get warm) then use some Autoglym glass polish on the inside of the windscreen to smooth out the surface and stop the water vapour having something to cling to.  You might need to reapply this every few months.

 

When you leave the house, take a small jug of warm water with you and pour it over the outside of the windscreen once you've started the car up.  Use the wipers to clear the water off the screen so it doesn't freeze but it should stay clear for long enough for the heater to kick in

[New POD]

Demisting/deicing is the biggest pain with a cold car - I can cope with having to wear a coat but having a windscreen that keeps steaming up again until the heaters blow hot is a pain.

Scraping ice off the inside pissed me off a bit yesterday.