The Last Drive of silVertWist!

It was around 05:15 on Monday the 21st, A careless bus driver crossed the Colombo - Airport main road where I endup as below. I must have done some good to be alive, thanks to the strength of the car and the seat belts as rain didn't help the breaks.

This will be my last post in this blog and Thanks for all the bug fans around the world who wrote and exchanged ideas n comments. Do KIT. manojs.lk@gmail.com

Wheels and Road handling

The VW stock wheels are 4 or 4.5-inch rim width. Most owners never bother to change wheels and they absolutely have no idea how much they miss out in one of the finest improvements which they can make to their cars.

Replacement wheels in a wider width are an important purchase for the VW owner who wants maximum cornering performance for driving pleasure or for competition.

Wider wheels can be built from your stock wheels, but the special tools and precision which are essential.

Most times the inner portion and center of stock wheel is welded to the outer rim section of another wheel.

However, with the availability of steel adaptors to fit the VW bolt pattern (130 PCD), the trend is to use Alloy wheels in the desired width. A slight reduction in MPG due to added weight, relatively shorter wheel bearing life are the major drawbacks in using adaptors.

With experience my recommendation is to drill the drums/disks and use studs instead.

Many VW experts recommend to use at least 5-1/2” width and also in various catalog articles discuss about the benefits of using narrow front and wider back wheels which gives the best road handling ability for the BUG.

• How to Hotrod Volkswagen Engines - Handling.
• Putting aftermarket wheels on your air cooled vw bug or bus.

Bosch Platin - WR 8 BP

On my personal note, this is really promising and quite better over the WR 8 AP I had before...

Exhausting exhaust refreshed!

Its been an exhausting exercise over the last 2 years finding the best exhaust system possible for performance + decent mpg + bit GT sound + good looks etc. etc… After many attempts of different styles n sizes, this I like to settle with finally… the shisha style
4 to 1 system with custom muffler end.
1 3/8” tubing, 2” collector bend (stainless steel) reduced to 1 ¾”, Spiral flow 2 ½” muffler out connected to VW tail tips.

I also got a single quiet pack muffler whenever I feel like needing a change J Getting rid of the Heat Exchangers made an extra gain, abt 10-12Kg weight reduction…

VW colors

Source – vwvortex.com

Reading Spark Plug Faces

1 + 2 Normal

Insulator nose grayish-yellow to russet brown.

Engine is in order. Heat range of plug correct.

Mixture setting & ignition timing are correct, no misfiring, cold starting device functions correctly.

No deposits from fuel additives containing lead or from alloying constituents in the engine oil.

No overheating.

3 + 4 Soot - carbon fouled

Insulator nose, electrodes & spark-plug shell covered with velvet-like, dull black soot deposits.

Cause : Incorrect mixture setting (carburetor, fuel injection) mixture too rich, air filter very dirty, automatic choke not in order or manual choke pulled too long, mainly short distance driving, spark plug too cold, heat range code number too low

Effect : Misfiring, poor cold-starting performance.

Remedy : Set mixture & cold-starting device correctly, check air filter.

5 + 6 Oil-fouled

Insulator nose electrodes & spark-plug shell covered with shiny soot or carbon residue.

Cause : Too much oil in combustion chamber. Oil level too high, badly worn piston rings, cylinders & valve guides. In two stroke gasoline engines, too much oil in mixture.

Effect : Misfiring, poor starting performance.

Remedy : Overhaul engine, correct fuel-oil mixture, new spark plugs.

7 + 8 Lead deposits

In places the insulator nose is glazed brownish yellow; this may also tend towards green.

Cause : Fuel additives which contain lead. The glaze appears in the case of heavy engine loading after lengthy
part load operation.

Effect : Under heavy loading deposits become electrically conductive & cause misfiring.

Remedy : New spark plugs, cleaning is pointless.

9 + 10 Heavy Lead deposits

In places the insulator nose is thickly glazed brownish-yellow, this may also tend towards green.

Cause : fuel additives which contain lead. The glaze appears in the case of heavy engine loading after lengthy
part load operation.

Effect : Under heavy loading, deposits become electrically conductive & cause misfiring.

Remedy : new spark plugs, cleaning is pointless.

11 + 12 Heavy Lead deposits

Heavy ash deposits from oil & fuel additives on the insulator nose, in the scavenging area & on the ground electrode. The structure of the ash is loose to cinder-like.

Cause : Alloying constituents, in particular from oil, can deposit this ash in the combustion chamber & on the spark-plug face.

Effect : Can lead to auto ignition with loss of power & engine damage.

Remedy : Repair engine. New spark plugs. Possibly use other oil.

13 Partially melted centre electrode

Centre electrode partially melted, blistered, spongy insulator tip.

Cause : Overheating due to auto ignition, eg: due to
over advanced ignition timing, combustion deposits in combustion chamber, defective valves, defective ignition distributor, inadequate fuel quality, heat range possibly too low.

Effect : Misfiring, loss of power. (engine damage)

Remedy : Check engine, ignition & mixture formation. New spark plugswith correct heat range.

14 Centre electrode melted away

Centre electrode melted away, ground electrode also severely attacked.

Cause : Overheating due to auto ignition, eg: due to over-advanced ignition timing, combustion deposits in combustion chamber, defective valves, defective ignition distributor, inadequate fuel quality.

Effect : Misfiring, loss of power, possibly engine damage. Overheated centre electrode may result in insulator nose cracking.

Remedy : Check engine, ignition & mixture formation. New spark plugs.

15 Partially melted electrodes

Cauliflower-like appearance of the electrodes. Possibly deposition of foreign matter.

Cause : overheating due to auto ignition, eg: due to over-advanced ignition timing, combustion deposits in combustion chamber, defective valves, defective ignition distributor, inadequate fuel quality.

Effect : Loss of power prior to complete failure. (engine damage).

Remedy : Check engine, ignition & mixture formation. New spark plugs.

16 Heavy wear on centre electrode

Cause : Recommended interval between sparkplug changes not complied with.

Effect : Misfiring, particularly when accelerating. (ignition voltage no longer sufficient for large electrode gap)

Poor starting performance

Remedy : New spark plugs.

17 Heavy wear on ground electrode

Cause : Aggressive fuel & oil additives.
Unfavorable influence of gas turbulence in the combustion chamber, possibly caused by deposits. Knocking. No overheating.

Effect : Misfiring particularly when accelerating. (ignition voltage no longer sufficient for large electrode gap.)

Poor starting performance.

Remedy: new spark plugs.

18 Cracking of insulator nose

Cause: Mechanical damage due to impact, dropping or pressure on the centre electrode resulting from
incorrect handling. In marginal cases - especially after excessively long use - the insulator nose may crack due to deposits between the centre electrode and insulator nose, and due to corrosion of the centre electrode.

Effect: Misfiring, sparkover at pointsnot reliably supplied with fresh mixture.

Remedy: New spark plugs.

Source – BOSCH Technical Resources.

Get The Most Out Of Your Vehicle

With vehicles staying on the road longer than ever, these helpful tips will help you to get the most out of your vehicle and keep your ride going for long.

People spend many more hours in vehicles travelling to and from work etc etc. As the amount of time a vehicle stays on the road increases, so does the amount of maintenance required to keep it running.

There are ways to increase your car's longevity. Three of the most important areas to maintain are your engine, your tires and the exterior of your vehicle.

Motor oil is the lifeblood of an engine as it lubricates vital engine parts. It is imperative to utilize a durable motor oil that can stand up to the constant stress of everyday driving. Regular level checks and timely change of engine oil is perhaps the most essential maintenance task drivers can perform.

Another very important, and often neglected, maintenance area in your vehicle are the tires. Checking air pressure regularly and wheel alignment are major contributing factors to keep your car on the road longer. When temperatures rise, the air inside the tire expands. This can mean you are driving on overinflated tires - ultimately resulting in premature tread wear. Underinflated tires too will result uneven tread wear and gives less gas mileage per-liter, not to mention the effects in handling and stopping power. Improper or neglected maintenance of tires and wheels can cause extensive damage and lead to pricey repairs.

While some tips may help keep a vehicle running smoothly, it is also important to protect the exterior of the vehicle. More than one-third of car owners use non-automotive products when washing their cars, which can cause considerable damage to paint, plastics and chrome parts. Washing and polishing a car with quality cleaners and waxes goes a long way toward protecting the vehicle’s exterior.

Following these tips and performing regular maintenance under-the-hood having regular tune-ups are critical steps in helping to extend the life of any vehicle. Good Luck!

For those who works on time,

...and for those who wants to, get this printed n paste it in ur pulley to get ur timing set right!