Andrew Russell

Hi John, I use Autoglym Leather Cream and find it quite good although have never tried anything else except the odd bit shoe leather spray when I had nothing else...... Lots of specialist feeds are available from either good cobblers shops or the motoring trade, with a variety of claims...... I have found the seats to need very little treatment anyway. Best wishes. Andrew

That's more than I pay for Comma Syna G from my local motor factors! Andrew

I think that you should try and see just how long this problem persists. You are not going to pump out all your oil and I think that it will, as Steve said, reach a point where it no longer is a problem. I overfilled my engine to cure the noisey hydaulic tappet problems when using Mobil 1 and altho' I have now changed to Comma Oil which seems to eradicate the tappet problem, I still put a little extra oil in out of habit! The standard Caterham sump doesn't hold a vast quantity anyway and so I feel happier with a little more there! Can't think of any other suggestions...... The SBD mod is just that, it is not a bit to buy. It involves cutting away about 95% of the original plate, leaving just a small segment under the breather outlet. Plan is on their website. Andrew Edited by - andrew russell on 26 Nov 2001 15:47:37

Aves I run the same breathing system on my car with no modifications to the 'plate'. Engine is on 45's and puts out about 205 bhp. I use Comma Syna G oil and fill to about 1 cm above the standard mark on the dip stick. If I overfill beyond that level, oil is thrown out into the catch tank, but then stabilises. How much oil is yours throwing out and is it still doing it? Has it stabilised once a certain level is reached? What did it do before your recent mods? Andrew

Aves, SBD illustrate a cut down plate, under the cam cover,on their website which I know Alex uses and swears by.......not sure of the logic behind it though. Andrew

Saved me a task tonight, thanks!!! I've got no connection with Dave either, but was well pleased with his service, in case you hadn't guessed. He sent a hose of the wrong diameter, in error, and simply sent the correct item the next day......no need to return the wrong item. Nice way of doing business............. Andrew

Nigel You can purchase silicone hose lengths as Peter says in any length and bore. I shopped around a while back and obtained excellent service and at very reasonable prices from a firm in Doncaster called HosesDirect, if I recall. Try a search as I reccommended them at the time altho' I don't have their details to hand in the office. Good quality product, and far cheaper than Samco, who only deal thro' factors who add on a hefty mark up. If you can't find my earlier post, I will try to locate the details at home over w/end. Andrew

The full chassis number should be located where Alex says, under the pedal box cover. Arch also stamp the chassis with a seperate and different number around the offside rollbar mounting, showing I recall date of manufacture and another coded reference which means something to Caterham and Arch! Andrew

Ben Sally mentioned that you might be facing a problem.....really tough luck. Not yet managed to link up with the Playstation, but thanks for everything. Hope the new year brings a change in fortune.................. Best wishes Andrew

I have had problems with my Vx engine Seven with high oil pressure readings, very much along the readings which you now relate. Oil pressure relief valve taken out more times than I care to remember and all seemed fine. A few months back the engine blew off the oil filter at speed, depositing the contents of the sump all over the road and the car, and I really mean ALL over the car.....air flow and high and low pressure areas have a lot to answer for!! All was cleaned up and put back together and at idle with cold oil all seemed fine.Good oil pressure...well back to 8 bar cold, which is what mine has always shown. More investigations over the winter. Out of interest, does any VX owner know if there is a second 'release valve' in the oil filter head, in addition to that situated under the alternator? Be warned and investigate...... Geoff, what does yours drop to, once warmed up? Andrew. Edited by - andrew russell on 31 Oct 2001 08:38:46

Which engine?? Andrew

.....in the quest for weight reduction, subconsciously, of course? Even though, we Vx drivers don't need to worry about thatsort of thing do we teeth.gif Andrew Edited by - andrew russell on 30 Oct 2001 15:36:05

Kenny, I can understand your grievance.....you wouldn't want your anorak to be mistaken for a cheap 'nylon' copy, would you? Andrew

Have fun! I wish I could join you......... Spending the day at York Races, watching the four legged, single horse power critters.......I know where I'd rather be, but we're entertaining some visitors......... Enjoy yourself.Sounds like you could do with a distraction for a few hours. Andrew Edited by - andrew russell on 12 Oct 2001 16:09:51

John Sorry to learn of your problems at work....hope all goes well. Hope to meet up soon. Where is your trackday? Andrew

Hi John, long time no hear! I've used Rainex before although not recently. Iseem to recall that you need to apply to a clean screen in the first instance and then put on like a polish in small circular motions. I think it was necessary to leave to dry and then apply again. Seemed quite effective but my bottle ran out and I never replaced it....... How's tricks? Andrew

Tom I have had my clutch stick on a couple of occassions when the car has been laid-up over the winter months. Very similar symptoms to those described by you. I have always managed to free it off by simply putting car in gear, depressing the clutch pedal and then briefly using the starter motor to 'shock' the plate free. Sounds brutal but isn't really and is without risk to life and limb..... Good luck! Andrew

Rob, I bet you are really chuffed that you started this deal off, heh? Andrew

Allan Staniforth's books are available from many 'quality' book shops; also from Demon Tweeks, I recall. I have seen them advertised in various 'motorsport' specialist book stockists, such as advertise in Motorsport, etc. I am sure a search in Amazon might turn something up as well. Andrew

I can let you have a brand new windage tray that is sandwiched between sump and block but do not have a spare sump or bell housing. Let me know if it's of interest. Andrew

AVES I think your qustion was answered on the 16th September, wasn't it? Andrew

Sparkey Can't believe that you cannot find anyone in the Manchester area to hire a trailer from! Seems that you will be making a few too many journeys over the Pennines...... I know Whaley Bridge very well, my brother lives in New Mills, although I've never taken the Seven over to see him. I am originally from Merseyside and used to do road rallies in the 70's around Derbyshire etc. Andrew

I can only repeat the above, for a long time I used Mobil 1 in my Vauxhall XE and suffered all sorts of problems with rattly tappets (hydraulic) and oil pressure problems. Changed to Comma Syna G and everything now is perfect......well on the oil front anyway! Weird!!! Andrew

Sparkey, Whereabouts are you? Andrew

Tockwith Trailer Hire in, would you believe, Tockwith near York, have Brian James car trailers for hire....3 I believe available. Can't remember the rates but very reasonable. Not sure where abouts in the North of England you are though.......Number not to hand but try Directory enquiries. Andrew