General What did you do with your Panda today?

[murphyv310]

Hi.
First big clean up of the year.
All plastics done, tyres and paintwork with ceramic detailer. Looking good.

 

[gar074]

Shiny!!!

Must do mine. It's got more green mould showing than yellow paint at the moment

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi.
First big clean up of the year.
All plastics done, tyres and paintwork with ceramic detailer. Looking good.

That looks absolutely wonderful Trevor. Like gar074 I'm afraid Becky has some signs of green mold in her nooks and crannies just now and, once I get those rear brakes properly sorted out I'll be giving her a proper "deep clean".

 

[Andy Monty]

Wife collected this today apparently it's called poppy ...

3 years old and 2,600 miles on the clock. :slayer:

 

[The Panda Nut]

IMHO you are not wasting money. I change my oil twice a year irrespective of mileage but I never do over 6000 per annum, I only change the filter once a year. My plugs are Denso Iridium and so far are unworn. I also service my brakes annually and have changed the gearbox oil when I got the car and will again this year, also a timing belt kit this year so just under 4 years since the car was registered.

I used to do exactly as you, but after a stint with company cars decided me that modern oils really are capable of doing the business for longer. One car I took on had its first service at 75,000 miles when I found it had never had a service. There was no discernible difference in the car after the fresh oil. My variable service indicator in the Vectra only came on at 32000, albeit fairly hard miles.

Having done some huge mileages on a big range of vehicles I have now decided to to stick with the recommended intervals to save oil and money. We should compare notes over the next few years.

I will not ever again use the Petronas Syntium oils as the rattling on start up after a couple of days (all 3 cars)suggests its poor. Back to Mobil1 which never presented this issue. The last of the Panda oil is being fed to the drinking VW 1.4! Its in its last few months before recycling centre beckons now so I don't care.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Had mine a few mouths a 06 but only 21,000 up, the washers have
always been a bit sulky so took the jets out, never seen so much crap
looked like blue paper flushed out, looks like some prat as been putting
blue loo tabs in it, o well at least it will understand a good flush.

Washing up liquid does this!

 

[murphyv310]

I used to do exactly as you, but after a stint with company cars decided me that modern oils really are capable of doing the business for longer. One car I took on had its first service at 75,000 miles when I found it had never had a service. There was no discernible difference in the car after the fresh oil. My variable service indicator in the Vectra only came on at 32000, albeit fairly hard miles.

Having done some huge mileages on a big range of vehicles I have now decided to to stick with the recommended intervals to save oil and money. We should compare notes over the next few years.

I will not ever again use the Petronas Syntium oils as the rattling on start up after a couple of days (all 3 cars)suggests its poor. Back to Mobil1 which never presented this issue. The last of the Panda oil is being fed to the drinking VW 1.4! Its in its last few months before recycling centre beckons now so I don't care.

Very interesting post.
I've heard of people going well over the recommended milage with no issues, against my grain though.
And yes I've used Petronas oil on one occasion and wouldn't again, I never mentioned it here before as I thought I'd be shot down in flames.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Now that's interesting, about the Petronas rattling at start up I mean. Becky is the only car in the family fleet (except the Kia which is still under warranty so gets who knows what at the dealer) which is not yet on my favorite Fuchs because I got the oil with the service parts for her from S4p and they do the Petronas. She's very slightly overdue a service right now and I've got Fuchs waiting to go in.

She's always rattled her tappets very slightly at start up and, if left without starting for a few days she rattles considerably more loudly - but only until the oil gets through so a matter of seconds only. When I did her cam belt the cam cover gasket I bought didn't come with the wee rubber "O" rings which seal the oil supply from the cover to the cam journal pedestals so I just left the old ones in place. I was beginning to wonder if maybe there was a small sealing problem with these which might be letting air in and allowing the drain down when the engine is stationary for longer periods to be more pronounced? My friendly wee Fiat garage tells me most of the cam cover gasket kits contain just the gasket and that therefore they wouldn't replace the "O" rings routinely and that they are not aware of it causing any problems. It'll be very interesting to see if the Fuchs makes a difference.

 

[murphyv310]

Hi.
The rattle from the Petronas after three or four days sitting is bottom end it goes after a second and instantly. This engine doesn't give any top end noise either, I use Granville or Technolube (made by Carlube) 5w40 C3 with no issues at all.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi.
The rattle from the Petronas after three or four days sitting is bottom end it goes after a second and instantly. This engine doesn't give any top end noise either, I use Granville or Technolube (made by Carlube) 5w40 C3 with no issues at all.

Definitely top end rattle on mine.

 

[murphyv310]

Definitely top end rattle on mine.

My original Lounge did this on start up and it had been just serviced by Parks before I purchased it. I wasn't happy with the oil and changed it a couple of weeks later and a new filter, the car never did it again.

I actually at the time thought it was top end but got an assistant to start it and used a stethoscope on the initial start and it was definitely low down.

When I used Petronas in the Cross the issue was the same as on the lounge.

When Idling you literally cannot hear this engine inside the car and you need to double check the tacho.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Now that's interesting, about the Petronas rattling at start up I mean. Becky is the only car in the family fleet (except the Kia which is still under warranty so gets who knows what at the dealer) which is not yet on my favorite Fuchs because I got the oil with the service parts for her from S4p and they do the Petronas. She's very slightly overdue a service right now and I've got Fuchs waiting to go in.

She's always rattled her tappets very slightly at start up and, if left without starting for a few days she rattles considerably more loudly - but only until the oil gets through so a matter of seconds only. When I did her cam belt the cam cover gasket I bought didn't come with the wee rubber "O" rings which seal the oil supply from the cover to the cam journal pedestals so I just left the old ones in place. I was beginning to wonder if maybe there was a small sealing problem with these which might be letting air in and allowing the drain down when the engine is stationary for longer periods to be more pronounced? My friendly wee Fiat garage tells me most of the cam cover gasket kits contain just the gasket and that therefore they wouldn't replace the "O" rings routinely and that they are not aware of it causing any problems. It'll be very interesting to see if the Fuchs makes a difference.

So much for quick quote.. Never works for me...

Both cars are low miles and have been serviced more than book requirements. Neither the 1.2s ever made a sound until fitting the Syntium even after being left for a month. I'ts so bad its coming out at 12 months even tho only a 1000 miles or so done on Ruby. While neither car is using any oil I have never had an oil I was so disturbed by. If its actually OK I would be surprised, but these engines are supposed to have it and may be good flow at high revs is payback. If Mrs C actually did more than 2000 revs that could be useful! It seems to lack any ability to leave a residual coating on the engine and after 36 hours its REALLY scary Its over 40 years since I used anything that worried me this much. Rattling is never good. May be it will at least give the engine a good clean, but I suspect it will also cause sludge in the sump. Specific instructions will be given even on the new car, not to use it.

 

[Andy Monty]

Big upgrade arrived in the post today 14" space saver and jack kit...... Those fix and go kits well :shrug:

 

[The Panda Nut]

Car cleaning after that swine Murphy310 posted pics of his sparkling clean Panda Cross making me feel second class!

I have been looking at Noop for weeks and weeks thinking it needed doing but health issues intervened, but today I have at last started and it does look better. I have 3 weeks to get it back to show room condition for its service.

I will still have to tell them to keep their dirty water scratchy sponges and waterless wash and wax away from Noop when he goes in as they seem unable to resist leaving streaks and muck on my clean paint!

So thanks Murphy, you finally got me up and moving again! I suppose thats a good thing really. Is your Panda a girl or a boy? Noops looking for a smart lady Panda friend!!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Becky, in a reversal of usual rolls, had the honour of taking me to the Doc this morning for a bit of an MOT check up! Outcome as yet uncertain but the Doc is making encouragingly hopeful noises. 7.30 appointment which surprised me, didn't know the surgery was open that early - maybe catching up on backlog due to covid? Early start for me though as I took a shower before dressing. Test results due back for Monday so maybe cleaning up Becky will keep me distracted - if only this rain, hail and cold wind would abate, mind you there's always the disaster that is my garage to clean up if the weather stays poor!

Returned home and, after digging Mrs J out of her bed with a cup of tea and a ginger snap biscuit, we made an early assault on Lidl's supermarket to avoid the crowds. It worked well, few people about and we were in and back out quite quickly. Really appreciating Becky's lovely hot heater courtesy of the new thermostat! Low fuel light lit up just as we got home but Mrs J wants to do Morrisons tomorrow and they have petrol pumps so I'll just fill up then. Mrs J doesn't do refueling any more since she managed a spectacular blow back the first time she tried to fill Becky up - strange because she'd never had a problem with any of the many other cars we've owned, but this incident has destroyed her confidence and she now refuses to do it. Anyone know how far a 2010 1.2 Panda will go once the fuel light is lit?

Becky, as the name would suggest, is definitely female, as are most of my vehicles including Twinkle the Ibiza. Our old '92 Panda Parade, Felicity, (the one in my avatar picture) was indisputably female but the 1.9TDI Cordoba, the yellow car keeping her company in the picture, was a bit of a rough bruiser with heavy steering and engine noise and some vibration, so he was Tony and definitely male. He was good to drive though because you felt very "connected" both to the car and to the road surface. Pretty much all the family vehicles now have very light and "unconnected" steering with engines you can barely hear - quite nice around town but takes a lot of the pleasure away when hustling along twisty country roads down in the Border Country.

I wish the weather would improve as I'm beginning to really look forward to tackling Becky's rear brake rebuild.

 

[callisr]

I took a shower before dressing.

I'm sorry but I just cant resist.......I always shower before getting dressed so my clothes don't get wet!

There. It's out of my system now!

Hope the test results are favourable! And sorry again for being so childish

Rich

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I'm sorry but I just cant resist.......I always shower before getting dressed so my clothes don't get wet!

There. It's out of my system now!

Hope the test results are favourable! And sorry again for being so childish

Rich

Thanks so much for that. I'm half asleep still at this moment and your comment caught me unexpectedly, I actually laughed out loud - Mrs J has a puzzled expression on her face! My best "party piece" is getting in the shower with my hearing aids still in my ears. They really don't like getting wet but so far have always come back to life after a few hours on top of the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard! Getting in the shower as soon as I get up is tending to stop me doing that!

Thanks also for the good wishes re the results. The doc, a lovely chap who is always so nice to deal with, says he's not particularly concerned but, as a result of the examination - best left without description - wants to check up various things to do with bloods. Ah well, what will be will be?

 

[Leroypanda]

Panda Definitely staying dirty i think they wear dirt well. Just got back from a towing trip

 

[tomdee]

Took the Panda today to do the Inspection (equivalent to MOT here in Portugal), everything was ok, though they had a hard time at checking the rear axle brake because of 4x4 keeping in sending torque to the front axle and making the panda go off the rolls.
At first I was a bit concerned if they were going to say something regarding the engine since I got a new one early on this year. No issues with that and now I only have to get back there on 2023.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

everything was ok, though they had a hard time at checking the rear axle brake because of 4x4 keeping in sending torque to the front axle and making the panda go off the rolls.

This made me think of the old DAF Variomatics - Was it you PB who, like me, worked in a DAF garage back in the day? I remember the earlier cars, which had no diff so if one rear wheel turned then the other had to as well, could strip the, rather fragile, gears in the reduction units if you tried to brake test them on the MOT rollers. - A pointless exercise anyway as you wouldn't know if one of the rear brakes was defective or, indeed which one was the problem. I seem to remember they were granted exemption and were tested on the road with the old brake meter which you took in the car with you and sat on the passenger's side floor whilst you carried out braking tests on the move. Wonder what they do now with people's pride and joy? - I've always fancied trying to find a 33 van - I ran one for years as a "3rd" car.