G-Lad

My car has always run hotter than I would have liked, but it seems to finally be under control. So far in the last 18mths I've (in no particular order): - Replaced the fan control box - Replaced the thermostat and housing twice - Replaced all three housing sensors - Replaced the main water pump - Replaced the electric after-run water pump - Replaced the Oil temp sensor - Replaced the Radiator coolant temp sensor - had an acid-flush done on the block and head - Added water-wetter to the new G12+ - Swapped the clocks (coolant was under reading / wouldn't go over 95, plus suspected over-reading Oil) - Changed the oil from Synta Silver (10W-40) to Motul X-cess 8100 (5W-40) - Fitted 6 new NGK BKR5E plugs The water wetter took off 4-6 degrees on the oil guage, the oil lost me another 2-4 degrees and the plugs seems to have improved the power delivery, meaning I rag the car a little less ;) ...so the moral of the story is: Yes do replace long term service items like the sensors & thermostat, and indeed the water pumps if like me you find the fins of the impellers have partially broken off! But, don't forget the oil, plugs and actually checking if your clocks are telling you the truth by swapping a different set into the car and taking it for a drive! Good luck all! Chris

I really need to tell you all how much of a difference some fully synthetic oil and quality simple single electrode spark plugs have made to the performance and running temps of my VR6. I was using Quantum Synta silver oil (10W-40) and some random model of multi electrode Bosch spark plugs that came with the car. Following a bit of research on here and following some advice from Purple Tom & Kevhaywire, I changed my Oil for Motul X-cess 8100 (which is a fully synthetic oil, 5W-40) and also fitted Kev's recommended non-platinum single electrode plugs NGK BKR5E. Both Oil & plugs were purchased from Opie Oils. http://www.opieoils.co.uk/ WOW. Smoother power under 3.5k rpm, less oil temperatures when cruising at 4.5k rpm, and generally a much nicer idle. :clap: I changed the Oil about 2 weeks ago and noticed about 2-4 degrees drop on the oil temp. Also, it quietens down much more quickly (I have 125k miles and a bit of tappet clatter on cold start). Also, it is burning much less that the 1litre per 1000miles it was doing on Synta. I have done about 500miles and not needed to top it up yet. I fitted the plugs on Sunday morning and have done around 150 miles with them. The plugs made a noticeable difference to the performance on its own, and probably not least in part to the more relaxed way I drove yesterday (it now cruises more smoothly), I lost another 2-4 degrees at 80-90mph / 4-4.5k rpm in fifth gear (yes, in Germany on unrestricted roads of course). Seriously folks, I really want any VR6 owners to consider this combination next time they do a basic service... I'm genuinely shocked at the difference when all of the common knowledge I'd ever picked up was "use Bosch multi electrode" "always use Quantum Synta oil". Perhaps these statements are not untrue in my Golf 2 16v (KR - same as 1.8litre Corrados), but not so for the VR6. NB: Opie Oils couldn't provide me with a Mann H932/5x filter, so I bought mine from good old GSF. You can also get them mailorder from AVS car parts in Swaffham, but the postal cost makes it a bit prohibitive if you're only buying that one item since the filter is only worth a fiver... ...and entertainingly, the plugs are listed on Opie Oils as for a Kia Picanto, but on request they sent me 6 when ordered by model name, not by car. If you ask for the plugs they list for a VR6 Corrado, they'll suggest the expensive platinum ones for no real benefit other than longer term use. Just Swap them every couple of years (or every year at that price). http://www.opieoils.co.uk/car-spark-plu ... -6953.aspx? That's all folks! Chris

Very pretty! The bumper looks nice with the early spec deep fogs / indicators (compared to my late ones which are frankly rather tatty). You have a very tidy looking front end and the Borbets are the pimpy icing on the cake for me :D New paint, I assume? Early spec bumper and late spec bonnet was the clue... I'm always on the lookout for good bodyshop recommendations. Do I spy a solid roof with no sunroof? I wish I didn't have to polish around mine!! Chris

Only use t-cut to strip off the oxydised surface paint that makes it look pink. Do not use t-cut regularly, and heaven forbid you need to use anything more abrasive. Use t-cut perhaps once a year, tops. I agree with the Super Resin Polish suggestions, plus the Extra Gloss Protection to seal on top every few months. These worked well on my Tornado Pink Golf ;) Chris

Blue late spec (N or M reg) spotted parked up in Glen Coe on Sunday 5th. Probably a fellow hill walker out for a stroll! Chris

I'm happy to confirm I had good service from these guys recently Bought 10l of Motul x-cess 5w/40 and 6 x NGK plugs Chris

the bushes in my wiper mechanism are a bit worn, meaning the precise relative position of each wiper varies on my car. Because of this i abandoned the bend technique in favour of trimming which is now perfect.. So a bend may be enough if youre lucky, agreed, but not for me :)

Search this thread for Pat McCrotch - he works at an Audi Dealers and used to sell the bits for discount... from memory it's 2 x driver arms, 2 x driver blades, with a bit of shortening of the blade fitted to the passenger's side required for perfect wipe. ...pricey but brilliant.

Yes please, I'll take one. Are they still going for £15? I notice this thread started back in 2006! Please PM me with payment details - Cheers Chris

Well, if you want the job I might just get back to you to ask your hourly rate ;) if there is anyone in or around the East Midlands with a 2.8 24v in their Corrado who would let me go for a spin, I'd love to see what the experience is like (and have fully comp!). I'd like to know if it's anything like as fun as a 16v mk2 with the extra 2 cylinders of go... RE: the exhaust fitting issues and need for a custom downpipe - is it just an issue down to the cat? I recently fitted a bona fide genuine centre and back box from VW, so would be gutted to not fit that back on!

thanks all, ill definately check the plugs soon. From reading it sounds like cylinders 1 and 6 are most prone to wear. ? Ive been trawling the 24v thread this lunchtime and getting myself ready for a big price tag! Without wanting to plan too far ahead, itd be good to know names of recommended places that would do me a 24v 4 Motion swap, keeping as much standard as reasonably possible, without compromising reliability too much. Stealth are on my list of people to call for a ball park quote..

yes, thats exactly why you need to do it.. Thanks, will do!

Unfortunately it does. Worn bores allow too much of exhaust gases past the rings and into the crank case, which blasts excessive amounts of oil vapour through the breather, which then condenses into oil in your intake pipes. All very common and normal. 1/2 litre per 1000 isn't horrendous by VR6 standards, but it should be doing 1 litre per 4000ish on a standard engine in good condition. Oh dear, thanks Kev! Well, lets see how long the old girl has left in her! I'll have to start swotting up on the engine rebuild costs and compare / contrast with the price to do a transplant / upgrade... I'll get the plugs out and have a look ASAP.

anyone got any idea? I didnt drive the car in the week and have done about 75miles of mixed town and A road driving this weekend. The exhaust manifold guard has got drips of oil on it again. The dip stick says it isnt over filled, and im pretty sure the oil is coming through the rocker cover breather and through the new ish pcv value into the air intake. It seems to be leaking out through the flexi pipe with the sensor and dripping onto the hot manifold guard.

beautiful! when i win the lottery, i'll happily commission you to rebuild by collection of delapidated motors. :notworthy:

I was out and about at the weekend and pulled in to Decathlon, like you do. I noticed a nasty oil burning smell, and spotted an oily mess in the top of the manifold under the PCV valve. I replaced the PCV last year with a Ford item and all is still good, however there was a good 10mls+ of engine oil throughout the rocker cover breather tube right up to the throttle body, with oil by that nearest spark plug and oil dripping off the bottom of the smaller bendy pipe attached to the PCV / air intake (the one with the inline sensor). I've given the pipes a good wipe out and wire brushed the manifold clean again, and it all runs fine as before, with the smell now gone (albeit I think under performing a bit, but could be my imagination - it's a stock 16 year old car, albeit with a Mk4 plastic rocker cover and the usual slew of work for a car of it's age). I'll monitor it over the next few hundred miles and see if it happens again, but what causes oil to get shot out of the back rocker cover breather pipe?. I'm sure that's where it came from, unless there is something crazy going on and it came out of the throttle body!? The MAF looked fine and clean, and was replaced last winter anyway, so it was all still as new looking. It's done about 5000 miles on the current synta silver and filter, and burns about 500mls per 1000 miles or thereabouts. I guess it's conceivable I over filled it, but I think it's unlikely as I am so used to chucking in half a litre every month or two I know it's half way from the top of the dip stick marker to the bottom for half a litre... History: It used to run very hot until I had the belt and electric coolant pumps replaced, along with the thermostat, sensors, heat exchanger and an acid coolant system flush. NB: I recently changed the clocks as the coolant never went over 90 (unbelievable) the oil was often between 110 and 120 (again, unlikely), the speedo over read and the revs under read! All read outs are much more believeable now and it doesn't go over 110 on the oil unless I'm *really* pushing it for a significant time period (on private roads of course). I assume the advice would be to take out each plug and look for oil fouling, which would suggest valve stem seals or piston rings getting worn, explaining the moderately high oil usage. This doesn't answer why I have a fair amount of oil coming into the air intake pipe though, does it? Thanks folks Chris PS: is it worth me declaring my clock swap to the DVLA or Insurance Co, since my milage now over reads by 44800 miles? I wouldn't like to be in an accident and half issues with my Insurance Co claiming i've mislead them about the usage or something.

Spotted a blue 'rado on the B4077 or possibly the A46, while I was leaving Tewkesbury at 17:35 on Saturday 3rd (just after leaving BVF). I was in whitey VR and gave an excited flash and honk!

Black C, rear smokes and big shiney rims, on the BBC roundabout in Nottingham, 5 mins ago - approx 11:58 am Not many of my spots seem to be for people on here, but stil a steady stream of tidy Corrados keep coming up in sunny Nottingham! Perhaps I'd better recruit them to here...!

I spotted a very tidy looking Blackberry C this morning in Nottingham! It sounded like a VR, had a ___-----___ bonnet and a wide pair of rims on the back. Lady driver, L*** VLT, coming across the railway bridge on Wilford Road, at the city end of Queen's Drive at around 08:45. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 38495&z=15

Dark C exiting the BBC roundabout towards the north of Nottingham, last night at around 1145pm.

Received with thanks! You're a credit to the scene - I appreciate your dedication! :clap:

You do know I have a Black VR now not the Red valver? If it was the valver you would have spotted Mark who is now the new owner. It was defo a dark car with a baldy driver :lol: I'm surprised you didn't spot my Golf :norty:

Spotted daves16v twice today! #1 at 16:15 just by the Nottingham Evening Post building, you were heading towards Castle Boulevard / the turning towards Queens Drive #2 at 17:15 at the top of the Nottingham ring road near the the City Hospital roundabout ..I was in my red Golf2 valver!

blue J reg running single piece BBS rims (4 cylinder i guess), red rear badge just out of view. Spotted outside the Alfa garage at the top of the Nottingham ring road near Basford, approx 1pm on wed 28th (yesterday).

Much as it pains me to agree to £116 as a contingency plan, add me to your list! fingers crossed the price comes down for a bulk buy.