Twas the annual Wrangle show yesterday so it seemed like a nice opportunity to get Betty out for the day. It's only a short run, about 10 miles each way but I thought it would be a good idea to fill her up with bang bang juice so I could get an idea of how the fuel gauge reads. My plan was to fill it right up so I could work out how many litres were still in it when the gauge was down to about a quarter - I like to know these things because running out causes all sorts of problems. Anyway, I had to go in to Skeg Vegas as there are no stations between here and Wrangle, a great excuse to do an extra 15 miles or so.
I had expected a bill of about 120 of yer finest British Pounds - the tank holds 21 gallons, which is 94 litres in new money. With the price of unleaded at a smidge under £1.50 per litre and the gauge having gone down to just over a quarter tank I thought maybe it was reading high so was ready for the worst. I was quite surprised when the pump cut out at £82.50 or 55 litres. I don't think it's filled properly though because when I got back in the car and started it the gauge was a fair way off full - maybe about 7/8ths. I will have to repeat the experiment to get a better idea, next time I will let the tank settle for a few seconds when the pump first cuts out, I don't know if it was a pump issue or if the gauge is under reading. At least I do know that it's not running dry at 1/4 tank and that the gauge can't be reading too far out. I suspect I will be back at the petrol station soon.
I did enjoy the fact that when I went to pay the guy behind me complimented the car in a most gushing way, that made my day. I'm used to people going all gooey and wide eyed when I'm out with Malc's cars but it's a long time since anybody has stopped to make comment on one of my own.
The speedo was playing up again so I'm glad I purchased the sat nav with speed alerts and real time display - they have just installed 8 average speed cameras in a 5 mile stretch of the A52. They haven't repaired the road, which has been worn out and dangerous for at least 2 or 3 years now, no just bunged in a load of revenue generators. the road is already a 50 limit when it should be 60, it's the main road from the south in to Skegness, the tourist jewel in the crown. They say it's an accident black spot and include a suicide in the figures to justify the action. In truth most of the accidents are caused by people getting frustrated by slow moving tractors and idiots pulling out of side turnings without looking, cameras won't stop that.
Anyway, it was fairly uneventful except that when we arrived at the field we had to go off road and I noticed a knock at the front. I thought I had felt it a couple of times on the road but off road it became a lot more obvious. It passed the MoT just a couple of hundred miles back so either the tester missed something or it's something not very obvious. I need to get it in the air and have a very thorough look. I understand the upper and lower ball joints wear prematurely, also the rubber spring seats get a pounding and the springs can hammer on the seats causing a knock. Drop links on the anti roll bars can go too, as can track rod ends and steering rack inner joints. I suppose it could be a wheel bearing too, I hope not, I have heard they are a bit of a pain on the Arnage. Most of the other things are not mega expensive and are diy jobs. I shall speak to Malc and see if one of his lifts can be made available for an hour or two, I would like to give it a proper inspection anyway. I have looked at all the MoT advisories and have to say that either the tester was seriously harsh or they have already been addressed, it all looks very tidy under there.
Today I have to go to Huttoft to see a man about a key, it will be the last journey for a few days as my limited mileage is taking a battering this week, I only have 3,000 miles on the insurance or an average of just 60 miles per week. It won't do much over the winter but I need to be careful, the jump in cost from 3,000 to 4,000 miles is quite surprising.
Add comment
Comments