From a wreck to a runner - Chapter 4

(Prepare for action ... )

In between serving customers I'm getting itchy to know if the car could actually turn over.

Again, there's a slow and careful way to go about this that prevents burnt-out starter motors and bent valves. Don't believe these stories people tell of pulling an old car out of the hedge, putting petrol in it, turning the key and driving off down the road. next thing you know they'll have you signing an Amway deal.

Step one is to pull the dipstick. In this case there was a reassuring inch of nice dark oil up to the normal level mark, with no traces of water or sludge.

This engine has two dipsticks, by the way, one at the side of the timing cover, where it should be for a front-well sump engine, and one by the servo, as if it was a rear-well sump.

Step two is to remove the filler cap and put water into the system.

In this case it ran straight out of the bottom of the radiator where the drain plug had been removed.

Sadly, the plug is nowhere to be found in the car, so I make my first purchase and fit a large BSF brass plug. Nearly two gallons gurgle slowly through the system and stay there.

Step three Take the spark plugs out and look to see if water is laying in any of the bores, which it isn't, and none of the plugs are rusty.

Step four is very safety-critical.