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Ricko

Member

From: SW Lancs

Registered: 2017-01-18

Posts: 334

A quick trip up north

Hi, I decided to head up north even though there are still plenty of jobs to do on the conversion.
Day One
SW Lancs to the border; filled up, stopped off at Carnforth to see a friend, got some grub at Aldi, cooked using my Trangia, parked up in a lay by near Longtown
Day Two
Headed up to Thankerton, climbed Ben Tinto, had a sleep in the back before heading towards The Forest of Galloway, stopped somewhere en route
Day Three
Headed towards Newton Stewart with a view to climbing Cairnsmore of Fleet, great drive on the Raiders Road through the forest, more of a track 20mph max, spotted loads of great places to stay next time. Torrential rain all day so headed back (I needed to be back on Monday anyway)
Things to do to the van;
Essential: interior lights, charging system etc
Desirable: still fancy putting some spotlights on the front!
544 miles on 54.75 litres
45.1 mpg (approx.)

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2004 Citroen Dispatch 2.0 Hdi

OAT

Member

From: Borders/Dales

Registered: 2017-01-03

Posts: 909

Re: A quick trip up north

Nice trip Ricko.  Make the most of the hill climbing while you can.  I can only sit and look at them these days.

Although I spent a lot of time and money sorting out my own dual charge and lighting recently, I find my most used light is still a single led bendy map reading thing with a clip to attach where needed.  Enough light in summer for most things I might be doing after dusk. 

Different in winter though and I can't find any leds that I like for full illumination of the van.  The ones I have now are very unpleasantly glaringly white (like the van! )  Those very cheap triple a push on/push off leds are useful too.  Surface mount magnetic, velcro or sticky wherever you need one.  Very handy in cupboards.

Most of my use was charging the phone and camera batteries which could mostly be done whilst driving.

Just back from a northern tour myself.  No plan, just wandered  for 1,400 miles.  Van ran perfect apart from me flattening the battery!  (a post on this to follow.

It has developed a smoking habit on startup though.  Clouds of grey which disappear as soon as warmed up.  Am I right in suspecting worn valve stem oil seals?

Some pics...

Loch Voil:-

Scourie Bay:-

On the Nigg - Cromarty ferry overtaking an oil rig:-

Last edited by OAT (2017-08-07 19:36:59)

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,117

Re: A quick trip up north

Before spending any money on your engine to cure your smoking start up google how to clean your MAF sensor. Bit effort cleaning is free and as for your bright LED issue try a dimmer switch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PWM-Dimmer-Co … SwhOVXc7E9

Ricko

Member

From: SW Lancs

Registered: 2017-01-18

Posts: 334

Re: A quick trip up north

Great inspiration OAT, I must admit when it went dark I went to sleep, so didn't use my torch, I'll still wire up my lights though.
Unlikely to be valve stem oil seals if it's only smoking on start up
Personally I ignore a cold engine, it spends most of its time at its optimum running temp so that's when I take notice of any problems

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2004 Citroen Dispatch 2.0 Hdi

vaz2121

Member

From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland

Registered: 2015-08-31

Posts: 1,311

Re: A quick trip up north

It has developed a smoking habit on startup though.  Clouds of grey which disappear as soon as warmed up.  Am I right in suspecting worn valve stem oil seals?

I'm in agreement with Ricko.....However if it was stem seals it would smoke on start up to burn off any oil that had seeped into cylinder...  but would also tend to be smokey when slowing down on overun and possibly a fair puff when changing  gear........

Glow plugs would be worth a test/check at next service....

Our 306 has essentially the same DW8 as the van bar a Bosch pump and about 120,000+ more miles on it.......... I noticed about2 years ago the 306 had similar cold start tactics (light smoke from/on cold start tick over) it then as the year progressed got more reluctant to start ..... on deeper investigation at the service (November) it was discovered It was down on a couple of glow plugs.... plugs changed = No more cold engine tick over smoke...... I'm assuming as the weather got cooler the 2 working plugs just couldn't generate enough heat to start the engine without resorting to a couple pre-heats and when it did fire the 2 non working plugs/cylinders were drawing away any thermal heat generated and causing some smoke until a certain amount of internal heat was reached

I believe HDI's (Most Common Rail Diesels)  glow plugs are only activated if ambient temp is low enough and only active when engine is running till needed ...... unlike the older diesel system where although the dash light has gone out for starting purposes ...The glow plugs are still active, but on a timer rather than temp controlled
(non working glow plugs on common rail can give a similar result apparently)

OAT

Member

From: Borders/Dales

Registered: 2017-01-03

Posts: 909

Re: A quick trip up north

Thanks for the suggestions all.  As all seems ok when warmed up I think I will live with it for now and see how it goes.  It's just a bit embarrassing when starting from cold in a crowded area.

I can understand your need for an early night after all that climbing Ricko.  Having always had problems getting off to sleep I am often still gazing out the windows to 2 or 3 in the morning myself.  It's surprising how few nights are truly dark in the summer.  Especially as you get further north.

luthier

Member

From: Eyemouth

Registered: 2017-06-17

Posts: 99

Re: A quick trip up north

Sounds like a great trip you had I wish I could get near to 45mpg lol

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,117

Re: A quick trip up north

Sounds like a great trip you had I wish I could get near to 45mpg lol

Drive slower Think only averaged 34-35 round europe with my 1.9D. That was a lot of hills and 75-80 on the motorway though.

luthier

Member

From: Eyemouth

Registered: 2017-06-17

Posts: 99

Re: A quick trip up north

Sounds like a great trip you had I wish I could get near to 45mpg lol

Drive slower Think only averaged 34-35 round europe with my 1.9D. That was a lot of hills and 75-80 on the motorway though.

Hahaha     that's the first time I've been told to drive slower in a 1.9 diesel Expert, I get about the same Casper, mid 30's mpg on a run, never had more than 40mpg though