SportKa MOT advisories question - oil leak

AliceBanned

I need to go more gently with it. I vaguely recall hitting a kerb a few weeks ago. And bumped over some big potholes.:(

AliceBanned

I took it to garage today instead. The spring has gone at the back so the body had dropped down - it looked and sounded really bad.


They are fixing it now as well as the oil problem and service, and possibly the wheel. They said the corrosion is on the outside only and is not urgent for repair. The spring is not a serious problem, quite simple to fix.


I have about £350 on credit card and nothing more until next pay day on Tuesday I originally went to ask them whether I should be driving it and they said 'not really'. Otherwise I was leaving the service until payday.


The garage had had 2 more of the same that morning - in different cars, and blame the potholes and cold weather.


Got a chance to chat to a couple of the mechanics and they seem friendly - some quite old and one young guy. I've only been there once before so it is hard to gauge whether to trust- but despite spending quite a bit there already on various things I would say I feel quite comfortable with them and the service so far.


Still going to do my own oil changes in future if I can though, and a few other bits and pieces.

AliceBanned

SportKa is back to being a joy to drive.

Joe_Horner

Glad to hear that

Now, if they haven't done it as part of the work, get those rust patches scrubbed off and treated, and think about getting some Dinitrol / Waxoyl or similar into the sills and all over the underside to help keep it away.

To give you an idea how effective it can be, I used Dinitrol on an old Daf we saved out of storage, which had surface rust all over the underside (but no holes). It took about half a day to give it a good wire brushing (quite uncomfortable, lying on your back with it on axle stands), paint about a bottle of Kurust over it (less than a fiver) and spray 3 cans of Dinitrol cavity wax (about £35) over the underside.

No paint, no other protection, out on the road in all weathers as a daily driver, and 5 years later it's still 100% fine and attracts admiring comments from MOT testers for its condition. It did take about 1/2 can of wax in "top-up" after the first two years - just look for any areas where it's starting to look a lighter brown - but basically the stuff just works - and without forming any nasty water traps like most coatings can

Then sit back and wait for the day that middle aged blokes in cardigans start fondly remembering their first Ka

AliceBanned

. Actually it really has a new lease of life. I can't believe I was so negligent but a least I realise I appreciate it running well. It was getting a bit slow and lost the nippiness.


No the rust wasn't dealt with - they said not urgent but needed doing at some point.


So giving it the treatment you recommend, it will just show as rust? It is barely visible anyway as it is at the bottom of the sill, but I thought I would have to re-paint that bit. If you don't recommend that then I don't mind leaving it but I have no idea what's best.


I do have to take it to a tyre place to get them to do the tracking (I didn't have this done six months ago when I got two new front tyres). No doubt they will try to sell me rear tyres as I said I'd get round to it later. But the main thing is the front nearside wheel is 'distorted' - I can hear a slight creaking sound when reversing eg out of a parking space. It has reduced a lot since the coil spring was sorted. The mechanics think the tyre place might be able to mend the alloy rather than it needing a new one. I am thinking of waiting one month before I fork out for this; think I'll do about 200 miles maximum in that time.

AliceBanned

Sorry Joe, just re-read your earlier post about stone-chipping. I've no idea what this is or what it will look like. ? Keen to do this bit myself, as well as the next oil change.

AdrianC

AliceBanned wrote: »

So giving it the treatment you recommend, it will just show as rust? It is barely visible anyway as it is at the bottom of the sill, but I thought I would have to re-paint that bit. If you don't recommend that then I don't mind leaving it but I have no idea what's best.

Post a pic or two up.

AliceBanned

AdrianC wrote: »

Post a pic or two up.

OK, will do later today hopefully.


Sorry for delay, been offline as switching broadband today - got a bit complicated but got there in the end!

AliceBanned

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fah1u1tcfmv24oq/2015-03-31%2017.15.40%20%282%29.jpg?dl=0





Not sure whether this will work..

AliceBanned

Trying to do by dropbox but if you can't see it please let me know!


Seems complicated uploading a pic onto here..I'm sure I've done it before though but can't remember how. I'm a bit tired/stressed at the mo.