Hello I'm new & need help. Know nothing about cars! Typical girl! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush-anim-cl.gif)

I have 1993 K reg RVR. 2 litre exceed auto. In UK.

I have read through the other posts & asked at a garage but get confused

1st: I have no coolant whatso ever, what type should I be using? Have been driving about for a while without any, am i going to have problems when i finally do it?

2nd: Oil 10/40??? I saw a post where someone said it was fine to use, but also saw 5/???? mentioned.
Is it ok to go from one type of oil to another as I have no idea what the previous owner put in & need to top up?

3rd: Tyre pressure I was told by a mitsibushi garage to go 32psi in all tyres, but he said that was just a guess.

4th. How do i get it through the MOT? The emmissions are supposedly high & it kicks out black smoke, put a fuel cleaner in the diesel which seems to have helped, but was wondering if something like that would be good enough to get it through the MOT?

Any help would be great. Thanks

First of all welcome to the club and asking questions before you have some expensive problems. I'll try and do my best to give you some straight answers and help you where I can. Most of what I'm going to suggest depends on you doing some regular maintenace on your car. You will probably need to find a trustwhorthy friend or mechanic to help with this.

1/ You need coolant and I'm sure enough is present to keep your engine from siezing. Any department store will have antifreeze and just add this to your radiator and reservoir until full. Be careful not to open the radiator cap when engine is hot or else you will get burn't!

2/ 10w40 oil is fine.

3/ 32psi is right but does depend on the tyres and load you may carry. I generally run 35psi all the way around as it extends tyre life but provides a rougher ride. Make sure you check every month or two to make sure you don't have any leaks. Buy yourself a pressure gauge and leave in your glove box.

4/ Injector cleaner in the fuel tank will help but not fix you black smoke problem. This can be any number of things. Best you get some regular maintenace done (change oil, filters, air cleaner, etc) and ask your mechanic to check over.

Hope that this is of some help.

Jim

Hello, Thank you very much.
I will top up oil, coolant & rob bank on the way to the garage.

I'm sure they will see me coming so will be back for more advice on what's essential,what's not & what sort of costs.
So far, dare i say it... apart from the shakes in traffic (which i believe can also be fixed with some TLC) & the odd puff of black smoke its great.



Off to spend lots of money...

thanks

Good glad to hear your on to it rather than waiting to have the next problem. You will find that the regular maintenance doesn't cost a bomb if you do a bit yourself and keep tabs on things which don't work/look/smell/feel right. If you are going to hit the bank bertter make sure your vehicle is up to scratch for a quick get away.

Any problems or questions feel free to ask.

Jim

WOW do I need to call Jack Bauer?

Well my "Green machine" as it has been nicknamed is almost at its 1 month aniversary.

Though it would have cost me a fortune by now but luckily it hasn't, yet! Except on insurance.

Will keep up the maintenence for sure.
Thanks