01 July 2010

Tool of the month

Where there’s smoke 

01 June 2010 -  By: Prefix Administrators

Pulling the wires

We’ve discussed the procedure for removing an old steel spark plug that’s installed in an aluminium head before. It ain’t easy. Last week I had to change a set of plugs that hadn’t been touched for 15 years.  

01 June 2010 -  By: Prefix Administrators

Check your CV boots

Constant-velocity (CV) joints, the articulated joints that carry power from the differential to the wheels of cars with independent suspensions, generally last a good long time. The mechanical parts are bathed in a generous handful of special grease doped with a high concentration of molybdenum disulphide, a... 

01 June 2010 -  By: Prefix Administrators

Spark plug tester

I turned the old bakkie’s key and knew instantly – it was dead; there was no juice left in the battery. Someone had rescued a dead battery, charged it and shoved it into the bakkie to save money. The bad battery fried the ageing alternator, and it wound up in my workshop for a charging-system transplant. Hours... 

01 June 2010 -  By: Prefix Administrators

Proper diagnosis pays off

Winter time is generally no fun, at least in my opinion. One cold day, a neighbour brought me his car, distraught. His mechanic had told him he had a head or manifold gasket leak, and that his oil was heavily contaminated with coolant. Uh-oh. A manifold gasket leak could cost several hundred bucks to remedy. A head... 

01 March 2010 -  By: Mike Allen

Spark plug tester

I turned the old bakkie’s key and knew instantly – it was dead; there was no juice left in the battery. Someone had rescued a dead battery, charged it and shoved it into the bakkie to save money.  

01 February 2010

Why diesels have more torque

Why do diesel engines work so well when it comes to hauling power and economy? 

01 November 2009 -  By: Mike Allen

Get home at any cost

Crack a raw egg into the radiator filler cap (not the overflow tank, if you have one). The egg white will plug the hole – for a while. Now that you’ve fixed the hole in the radiator, you don’t have enough water to refill it. Top off with a diet soft drink (no sugar to gum up the water pump). Other liquids will... 

01 October 2008 -  By: Mike Allen

Parsing the sidewall

What those numbers on the side of your tyre mean.