Unleaded petrol mixed with Diesel in a Chrysler 2.5CRD

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by miruttledge, Dec 3, 2005.

  1. miruttledge

    Johannes Guest

    16800 miles! And you're telling me she had no other expenses on the car?
     
    Johannes, Dec 4, 2005
  2. miruttledge

    RichardK Guest

    Every working day, so lose weekends. Servicing like oil changes don't
    count, IMO. I think it was more like 11,000 miles it racked up.

    And she left the lights on one day, so bought a new battery (but, the
    old one charged and worked fine and went back in it when we got rid of it).

    When she got rid (I bought her a newer and vastly more expensive Metro,
    IIRC), one CV boot had split and needed replacement.

    When she got it it had one window held shut with sealant. This was never
    changed.

    The little car also proved to be capable of keeping up with my XM Turbo
    on the bypass; despite being a 4-speed super-basic one, it'd sit at 95
    and get there quick enough.

    IIRC the car survived a two-wheel trip after hitting a verge to avoid an
    oncoming Transit, amongst other indignities, and frequently got stuck in
    traffic on the A71 yet never overheated.

    Richard
     
    RichardK, Dec 4, 2005
  3. miruttledge

    Peter Guest

    I would expect any such business to protect its back in this way but, in
    reality, the example I gave of a few drops of petrol in a full tank of
    diesel surely cannot cause damage.
    There are degrees of negligence and I would suggest that the original
    poster's story indicates a relatively low degree was involved, allied
    with an earnest attempt by this responsible-sounding person to rectify
    matters.

    Given that the manufacturers are well aware that mis-fuelling is far
    from uncommon, it could be held that they should take steps to ensure
    that the outcome is not dangerous* or unduly costly. Any failure to do
    so could well be classed as negligence and, with the Courts' present
    tendency to protect consumers, manufacturers could find themselves in a
    losing position.

    * I used the word 'dangerous' because someone (it might have been you)
    said that mis-fuelling can cause fuel pump seizure. Imagine the
    consequences of that happening in the outside lane of a motorway on a
    dark, wet, rush-hour. Would it be held to be the fault of the driver
    for mis-fuelling his/her vehicle, and what if, unknown to him/her,
    his/her spouse had mis-fuelled it earlier in the day, or the previous
    owner had done so months before? I think it is clear that the
    manufacturers have got to get to grips with the problem.

    [Snip]
     
    Peter, Dec 4, 2005
  4. miruttledge

    Johannes Guest

    What did you say that car was...A Nissan...Hmmmm. Just shame about the
    shape of the new models. Cut out from a piece of cheese.
     
    Johannes, Dec 4, 2005
  5. miruttledge

    Domestos Guest

    In
    From me I suppose

    I had a Renault 19 RN from new with no problems
    but it was 12years old, with nine months MOT and One years tax,
    I bought a brand new car, and off course the dealer did not want PX,
    I advertised Regie the Renault but no takers Regie was too old

    I could scrap Regie and get the £40 but had not the heart as I knew he was
    good. even the sun roof worked still

    I then contacted a Kerbside Motors, who I knew would sell Regie on rather
    than scrap I sold for £140 (with Tax on)
    Regie is still going, driven by Kerbside Motors Daughter nearly two years
    on, (had brake pads done last year) and often passes me on a morning on the
    work run
    (If I had family I would have passed Regie on)

    Problem is no one trusts people anymore or indeed they never did trust
    anyone when it comes to motors

    Which takes me back to 1964
    My apprentice pal was offered a motorcycle by one of the older Engineers, he
    said I do not want to buy someones rubbish and paid £60 for a second hand
    BSA C15 The engineer was a bit miffed and came to me and said do you want a
    motorcycle, (what eighteen year old wouldn't but I simply could not afford
    one on apprentices wages) I said off course but I can not afford it
    He said rubbish you can have it, I have not offered your pal shite, so he
    ran me to his home in his 1958 Ford Prefect, went into his "garage" and
    their was this beautiful old bike covered with a sheet
    It was a 1953 PANTHER He connected the battery up, tickeled the carb moved
    the advance lever kicked it over and voo voo vum, Christ it was huge too,
    he showed me what advance and retard did, and off I went for free

    Whilst my pals C15 Spent four-months stripped in bits with gearbox troubles
    I used my bike everyday for three years, until I went away to sea, when I
    came home after two years my bloody brother had got rid of it as it was
    using too much room in the shed, I miss that bike

    Sorry for off topic, but yes it is possible to buy and run a car/bike for
    just the MOT and Tax, and yes good deals and samaritans are about, it just
    takes TRUST

    ps When I came home from sea, I had money, I went to see my old engineer and
    gave him his just reward for making my teenage years such fun Magic
     
    Domestos, Dec 4, 2005
  6. You own / work at one? Which brand? I am reading this from a Chrysler NG,
    believe it or not, but we did get copied. ( Probably because the OP has
    one...:) )

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 4, 2005
  7. This sounds like a great opportunity to rehearse that old
    oil-change-interval debate... but note here. I'd prefer a pub with a nice
    choice of beers.

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 4, 2005
  8. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    [Snipped Text]
    Actually it is, but only for the spray pattern.
    Yes, they have a plastic lining that dissolves in petrol.
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  9. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    [Snipped Text]
    No, but the volume does mean it's manageable.

    [Snipped Text]
    The last four manufacturers I have worked with have used no more than 48
    hour stock delivery. Most can do 24 hours now.

    [Snipped Text]
    I was using realistic figures myself, based on what I know a good
    technician can do. A one off major job like an engine is unlikely to be
    much better than 100% efficiency. Even if we did it at £50/hr (which is
    actually what we did charge the last diesel repair at), we make about
    £900 of labour, £700 if it's warranty. If we did a simple flush out and
    refill, we could do it for, say £200, and fill the rest of the time with
    more lucrative service work. A good tech can manage 130% on those, that
    makes us £1200. That doesn't allow for the higher discount we get on the
    parts as well.

    [Snipped Text]
    What's that got to do with it? We're no less liable for our actions just
    because we know our customers better.
    That made me laugh that did ;-)
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  10. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    [Snipped Text]
    Indeed, although some other sites suggest that even the old trick of
    using petrol to prevent waxing in cold weather is a bad thing too. I
    would suspect that much more than a gallon would do it.
    Indeed, in this case the RAC man is at fault, he should have advised a
    flush IMHO - especially as it's the RAC that's bunging out adverts on
    the TV about this.
    Why? That's like selling a gun and suing the manufacturer because they
    didn't put a warning on it that it could fire a bullet at someone!
    Actually the fuel suppliers already are. What could the manufacturer do?
    They put a damned great diesel warning sign on the filler flap and cap,
    and you will have probably knowingly bought a diesel car. I would put
    the onus on the fuel suppliers to make a better standard for marking the
    pumps.
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  11. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    In my case Honda (it has been mentioned).
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  12. miruttledge

    SteveH Guest

    Are you *sure* about that. Think about it.... I'm not convinced ;-)
     
    SteveH, Dec 4, 2005
  13. You're right. It's difficult. Especially with the bit about "the future".

    Did you see the Top Gear Three this evening with their
    under-ten-thousand-pound cars (Ferrari Dino, Lambo & Maserati) having
    endless problems?... ;-)

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

    [...]
    [...]
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 4, 2005
  14. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    [Snipped Text]
    Well, apart from back-orders that is ;-)
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  15. miruttledge

    SteveH Guest

    Heh.... trouble is, *everything* is on back order.
     
    SteveH, Dec 4, 2005
  16. Are you saying that there is now more noise emanating from this thread than
    from your 'contaminated' engine?

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

    [...]
    [...]
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 4, 2005
  17. <grin>

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 4, 2005
  18. miruttledge

    Andy Hewitt Guest

    [Snipped Text]
    Well, yes that's true with Alfa Romeo, and they normally go 90 days too.

    A back-order with Honda might be a week or so.
     
    Andy Hewitt, Dec 4, 2005
  19. miruttledge

    Huw Guest

    85% of parts my company supply are in stock at our depots. Only 5% of all
    parts from the main franchise is on back-order at Cat Logistics Desford at
    any time and most of those will be on non urgent stock order from us. From
    my experience with some car dealers they carry very few parts indeed and the
    manufacturers are woeful at supplying parts ordered from them. Andy paints a
    rosy picture of what happens at most car dealers. My experience is that they
    are generally a shambles and my company now only deals with a select number
    of dealers who keep adequate stock of parts to supply us. We will not waste
    our time doing business with what are effectively amateurs who piss us
    around even if they supply parts somewhat cheaper. Our standards are high
    and we expect the same service from our business partners. Downtime is
    unacceptable.

    Huw
     
    Huw, Dec 4, 2005
  20. miruttledge

    Huw Guest

    Oh yes let's. I have beer in the fridge.


    Huw
    don't take that seriously please.
     
    Huw, Dec 4, 2005
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