Living with Lady Penelope in the Wild Wild West

[Rok_Dr]

Here you go Naki

Its an Australian link but I sure a bit of googling would turn up the same in the UK.

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/products/coolant-test-strips

Don't use rainwater. Clean rainwater is mildly acidic typically ph 5.6 vs pure water at ph 7. This is due to atmospheric pollutants like sulphur dioxide. A 50% coolant/demineralised water mix will be alkaline somewhere in the range of 8.5-11 depending on the type and brand of coolant. So aside of the contaminants in rainwater, you're going to have to use a higher proportion of coolant in the mix to get the ph value up. De mineralised water is much cheaper per litre than coolant!

And I don't normally get this amount of time off. Have had a wee problem with the HR department and not taking enough annual leave so have had to cut out a large chunk.

Cheers

Steve

[nlcrane]

Depending on where you live rainwater will have a lot more dissolved solids in it than pure distilled water and don’t forget acid rain, it doesn’t come in tins you know, it comes from heaven. Look what it is doing to our precious monuments. Anyway, as with a domestic water filled radiator central heating system, the “deader” the water the better it works, less oxidization etc.

[Starbuck]

Hi Steve,

Hope your excursion is going well and the weather has been suitable - given how quickly things can turn to impassable mud when it rains there!

We are not that long back from ours. A pleasant but cold half-day was spent at Mt Tomar Botanical Gardens, so yes Bells Line of Road was travelled as far as the causeway turn off across to Mt Victoria. The GTV6 was probably more 'chuckable' on that road than our transport, but as usual the point and squirt between corners made up for that

Best,

Starbuck

[naki_k]

Cheers Steve. I forgot about ruddy acid rain. Your don't hear anything about that in the news these days? It was "big in the 80s".
I haven't ever used rain water other than for cleaning the cars, as it doesn't streak/ leave dry marks. We have hard water here (from the tap).

[Rok_Dr]

Hi Steve,

Hope your excursion is going well and the weather has been suitable - given how quickly things can turn to impassable mud when it rains there!

We are not that long back from ours. A pleasant but cold half-day was spent at Mt Tomar Botanical Gardens, so yes Bells Line of Road was travelled as far as the causeway turn off across to Mt Victoria. The GTV6 was probably more 'chuckable' on that road than our transport, but as usual the point and squirt between corners made up for that

Best,

Starbuck

Hi Starbuck

So far so good, we got to Alice Sprngs last night. Just on 3000km travelled since Perth and 1300 km of it dirt, with a lot of corrogations, particularly on the NT side of the border with WA. Most thankful I put new Bilsteins and front springs on Charlie just before we left. Some awesome scenery, walks and campsites, with absolutely perfect weather.

Mechanicaly nothing untoward to report, but I'll be fitting the spare air filter today. Whoever designed the air filter intake on a disco 2 needs to be shot as it just loves sucking up dust.

On that note back to touristing.

Cheers

Steve

[naki_k]

Let's see some pics then Steve. Some pics f the famous Red Earth scenery?

[Rok_Dr]

Let's see some pics then Steve. Some pics f the famous Red Earth scenery?

They're coming Naki.Poor old photobucket don't work 2 well on an iPad so I'll have to get home to the PC

Cheers

Steve

[naki_k]

Technology, huh.
I guess I am lucky, PB works ok from my iPhone. Currently.

[Rok_Dr]

Well time for an overdue update. With email notifications not working for me I seem to be drifting away slowly and only checking every week or so.

So we've passed the 3 year mark of ownership with Lady P and time for a brief update. She has had a more sedate existence in the last year travelling 3700km, mainly on country drives for a total of 123,000km. Blame a few overseas trips and a 3 week 7,700km trip in Charlie to central Australia in June.

Maintenance wise it has been routine servicing except for the coolant fan relay failing again in May and the drivers door handle breaking in July. Farmed the door lock out to the mechanic and was pleasantly surprised that he found a nice second hand one at reasonable cost. The handle is still available from Jaguar but the price is eyewatering!

And finally better late than never Naki a few pics of Charlie from the central Australian trip.


Great Central Road somewhere in Western Australia


Great Central Road Northern Territory end


Palm Valley NT


Gawler Ranges SA


Forrestania WA after 250km of mud and the road being closed while we were on it.

Cheers

Steve

[Starbuck]

Hi Steve,

People just don't believe how far we have to drive in Australia to duck down to the local milk bar...... That was quite a trip.

Glad to hear Lady P is doing well and only requiring relatively routine maintenance.

Best,

Starbuck