MuddyLanes

I'm always amazed how much difference the aircon makes ... about 41mpg for me versus 47 mpg. Didn't get chance to do anything today as it was raining.

"I do track all my fuel returns and the only thing that demonstrably affected my MPG (over 75K miles) is the EA189 update." For better or worse? If I get chance, I'll get the stuff into the tank tomorrow and take the car for a long run and see what's what.

I've certainly read conflicting opinions on it, but the car isn't as smooth as it used to be so I thought I'd try some and see if it turns out be a quick fix. Or not.

I'll definitely do it at home them! Don't want to be faffing around with an audience at a petrol station :)

Will do!

Ah. Thanks for the warning. Maybe I will get a fuel can and do a little experimenting at home then, better safe than sorry and all that.

When people respond to this topic I get an email telling me they've done so. In the email is a link to click on to get to their response. When I click on this I get - "We could not locate the item you are trying to view. Error code: 2S136/C" Anybody else get this? Known problem?

The "stuff" is a diesel fuel system cleaner, something I saw recommended on this forum.

In case there's a "trapdoor" and it all comes spilling back out ...

Good ideas guys, thanks. If I get a diesel-can it means I can experiment in the comfort of my own home, so to speak, and see whether or not there is a "trapdoor" down there.

I want to put a bit of BG244 into my Yeti 170 DPF 4x4. It comes in a "lager" tin so I'm going to need a funnel, but I'm wondering whether or not I'll need a very long-stemmed funnel to open some sort of "trapdoor" in the filler neck??? I tried poking a metal rod down the filler but it wasn't clear to me whether or not I was pushing anything open. I guess I'll be doing this in a petrol station so I don't want BG244 sloshing all over the place!

OK, thanks for the info. I'm going to see if I can get a tie-wrap around the body of the moulding.

Good point. And I'll check for leaves periodically!

Thanks, chaps. Tabs seem OK on mine, but it still won't sit down securely. Thought about a tie-wrap, but not easy to find a place to wrap it around. Relieved to hear that I haven't shed a filter! But still puzzled as to why the lid comes off at all!

At the front of the engine compartment in my Yeti 4x4 is what looks like an air-intake. Its lid was rattling around loose under the bonnet. Two questions - Has anybody else had this lid come loose? It really doesn't fit back on with a satisfying "click" so I'm thinking I may have to figure out some way to keep it in place. Should there be a filter of some sort in there? Else why would it have a (self) removing lid????

A Megane on standard summer tyres is exactly what my other half has! The only problem she's having at the moment is ground clearance. I may have to go out with a spade And, yes, the previous owners did indeed put some "cobbles" (2" stones) down each year, so that's what we'll be doing too, so your suggestion is a good one.

Thanks all - points and recommendations noted. Just back from Devon - the (muddy) track was traversable with ease in SWMBO's Meganne, so I may have been worrying too soon! I think ice and snow would be a different proposition.

Yes, I know what you mean. I do get very frustrated with the "bucket shop" type companies, especially as it's nigh on impossible to get anything in writing, nor even an agent who really knows what you're asking them. I guess they exist to cherry-pick the easy business, where one size does more or less fit all (and don't get me started on the 2" spacing on men's jean's waist sizes!). I think I may follow PirateSyrett's advice and, first, fix the track rather than the car. Then, if it's starting to look difficult in wet weather I'll switch insurance company to one that is a little more understanding. I've heard that NFU are reasonable, and presumably understand farm tracks have to be used by people living in the back of beyond. They even seem to offer real people in branches that you can actually visit!

So what makes the 16" wheel so much better???

Again not available in my size :( I presume then, that "real" offroaders have big wheels? Though, obviously, some people swear by 16" wheels!

Good idea - will have to look at that, if the lorry can get up the track of course!

I've just spoken to my insurers, Direct line. They said a change of wheel size is a no-no. I also asked about All Season tyres, which was a new one on the guy answering the phone! As were speed ratings and load ratings. He did however, speak to the underwriters, and they said it was OK to drop from a W speed rating to a V. And OK to go up from a 94 load rating to a 98 (various tyres I've looked at are only available as 98V rather than my current 94W - any good technical reasons for this?). At least I think so - communication was slightly difficult. Has anybody else (PirateSyrett?) spoken to their insurers about this sort of change? I don't want to give them any reason to wriggle out if I ever have to make a claim. FWIW the maximum speed of the Yeti-170 according to the handbook is 201 kph (about 125 mph), so H-rated tyres onwards would presumably be legally acceptable? Not sure how the load factor comes into it? One might think more (98 v 94) is better, but?

Sadly not available in my wheel size etc. As Jeeves said to me, a 225/50 17 "off road" is a very niche market ... I'm going to end with summer tyres aren't I Well, at least they work well most of the time. Maybe I'll have to buy a beat-up D******r to tow the Yeti out should it ever become stuck. And there again I might be pleasantly surprised at what its 4x4 ability can do!

"There is one big but to all this though... since there is no official or conformed testing across all tyres and the testing and labelling is left up to individual manufacturers, the whole thing is pointless anyway. One manufacturers C might correspond with another manufacturers A etc etc. Really it's meaningless" Wonderful, just when I thought I'd found a useful point of comparison! Thanks for the warning.

Quite right, I didn't think to check that! My Yeti is 4.2m. Even a Fiat 500 (SWMBO wants one) is 3.5 m. So their "4 car lengths" (for 18m) is reasonable, they just need to change the "roughly 3m - an average car length" bit.