No big bangs with the gearbox so far, it's a bit less noisy and selects gears easier too. Can't tell if it's leaking on the bulkhead side, or if the water leak is running down here and looking like oil as it's gradually cleaning the block! The water leak is getting worse I think, and I cannot see where it's coming from. Water drips onto the starter motor and down the block behind the starter motor, then runs down the block and off the sump, giving the illusion that the sump plug is leaking (it isn't). Looking from above and below I can't see the source, unless it's a black plug/recess in the block itself behind the oil breather/dipstick part. If I had time I was going to remove this and see. But I had a phone call at 8pm saying where are you, you were supposed to finish work at 3
forgot to say i'd be doing car stuff. So I had to finish the sump gasket job and whip home, almost forgot the new oil filter too.
Did the sump gasket today, took a ridiculously long time, just over 3 hours. The longest bit was cleaning off all the gasket residue on the mating surfaces, it was really hard and compacted around the bolt holes, I had to use a screwdriver and plenty of white spirit to get it all off... It had been bodged in the past too, black silicone was [resent around the edges of the gasket. Obviously put some new oil in too, went for the Total brand semi synthetic for turbo diesels which was a mid range price, but apparently decent stuff - it has made a differ3ence to turbo noise, it's more audible now, whether that's good or bad i'm not too fussed - it sounds better!
From this.
To this!
Had to photograph this! The brilliant green flying BX!
The reasons for the BX having to fly are slightly more sinister though.
It was quite a leak, and came from inside the sphere 'cup', I could see that it wasn't the sphere seals, but a leak somewhere inside the cup, LHM was filling up in there and leaking over the edge. I jacked this corner up and put the suspension on low, and the leak almost stopped. It wasn't a dribble, it was a drip, but it was 4 drips per second or so. Not sure what could cause this? I planned on taking the sphere off to see what was going on, but I ran out of time. Any ideas on what this could be? It sounds suspiciously like Ian's problem with his TZD estate, a hole in the rear cylinder.
On better news, the spare tyre (on the drivers front corner) is bald, and the inside of the other side in very worn, I did say good news though! I have found a good steel wheel and a matching pair of rear lights (courtesy of rabbercelt, thanks!), now that we have a tenant in our house (at last, hooray!) I can afford to go for 2 new Michelins next month. That is the pinnacle of excitement in my life at the moment, yep.
Next on my mental list is tyre/wheel options for my 2 BX's. I want to go for comfort on the TXD, so thought I might put the GT wheels onto it (175 section avon fuel savers), these tyres came with the GT and are part worn, but good condition. With the GT I want sporting-comfort, and have flirted with the idea of 185's on it (as per the digit of Mr Rugg) as they look quite beefy and sporting on a MK1, and do fit well apparently. So put two new MIchelins on the TXD (185's) and when the GT is running and getting sorted, put the 185 set on it and have the TXD with 175's, which may be more comfy? Need to get the sphere pressure's checked soon in the TXD too.
Ramble out
(for now, mwahahahaha)