I'm not good at getting to the point quickly, but please bear with me.

 

To check the engine oil level, the car has to be on an absolutely flat,level surface. My driveway slopes, as does the lane I live on, so I have to look out for somewhere flat when (a) I'm out and about and (b) I remember that I should check the oil.

 

One day last summer I was on my way to town to do the shopping (a 75 mile round trip, if you recall) when it did occur to me, so I pulled into the next suitable-looking layby, turned the engine off, waited a few minutes and then checked the dipstick. It was a bit lower than I would have liked, and I was just about to top it up when I finally noticed that the layby had a slight side-to-side slope to it.

 

Five miles or so to the next layby, which turned out to be perfect, so engine off again, etc, etc,. The oil level turned out to be just fine.

 

Now to the point. You will see, if you go outside and lift your bonnet, that at the base of each of the bonnet struts is a complexly-moulded foam thing of unknown (to me, at least) purpose and of pretty poor quality in that they are easily split and not stuck to the bodywork at all well - I have had to put them back into place on a number of occasions. 

 

On this particular occasion, having at last successfully checked the oil, I happened to glance across and see that one of these foam things was missing. I checked around the car. I moved the car to check underneath, I walked 50 yards up and down the road on both sides in case the wind had blown it away - nothing!

 

So I went back to the original layby and checked all around there - nothing! Bloody annoying, so now I'll have to phone Arnold Clark and ask them to send me a replacement, no doubt at huge expense, and figure out what sort of adhesive to stick it on with.

 

As usual, I didn't get around to it. However, a few weeks later I needed to top up the screenwash and remembered that I was supposed to have done something about getting a new foam thing. But there it was, exactly where it should be, looking as innocent as you like!

 

Now, it may be that I was briefly, and entirely temporarily, deranged, in that layby, but my preferred theory is that the foam thing had stuck itself to the underside of the bonnet when I lifted it and then gone back into place when I closed it again - I now believe this theory, and have persuaded my wife to believe it too.

 

So the point of this long-winded story is that if you ever lose one of these things, check the underside of your bonnet before doing anything else.

Cool story bro 😆

27 minutes ago, ArisaigDavid said:

a complexly-moulded foam thing of unknown (to me, at least) purpose

 

Probably working with the rubber seal along the front of the scuttle area to isolate engine bay air from the cabin fresh air intake inside the scuttle area.  

I prefer the deranged theory.

Gorilla glue.  I glued mine in the first few weeks and it's not budged since. 

They do tend to come unstuck, good story though!

2 hours ago, ArisaigDavid said:

I'm not good at getting to the point quickly, but please bear with me.

 

My kind of story, but now I have something else I have to worry about!   😃

2 minutes ago, freelunch said:

 

My kind of story, but now I have something else I have to worry about!   😃

You need to stop worrying about everything or you might give yourself ulcers.

Don't you people have staff to tinker with your automobiles? 🧐

1 hour ago, unclerichy said:

Don't you people have staff to tinker with your automobiles? 🧐

 

My chauffeur has a strong sense of respect for what he still views as the class system, and has felt duty bound to distance himself, socially.

Try hot glue.

Be careful not to block the drain hole through the bottom of the foam if you do glue it, or you'll end up with a pool of water in the square end which can't be a good thing. 

 

My drive slopes at about 1:10 down to the garage which makes it even worse if I park nose down, I found a pool of water in those same foam bits when the drain holes got blocked with debris, so now I try to remember to hose the crap out of them when I wash the car.

All is now apparent. May I thank you all for the kind words, the explanation and the advice - it has been heart-warming.

could someone provide a photo of whatever you are all talking about.

8 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

 

 

It's that sort of thing, but very different. That's a curious - looking engine you have there?

My picture is of the MkII Superb, it was taken when I was changing the oil so the engine cover is upside down awaiting to go back on after replacing the oil filter housing lid.

 

MkIII...