Diary of an Ordinary Van

[trigger]

It was hit by the wing mirror of another van. The guy told me about it and apologised and it's someone I work with regularly so I had to accept it with good grace.

That's not the point, he still damaged your van

[ake]

It was hit by the wing mirror of another van. The guy told me about it and apologised and it's someone I work with regularly so I had to accept it with good grace.

That's not the point, he still damaged your van

I would be looking for the price of the repairs

[Vee4]

It was hit by the wing mirror of another van. The guy told me about it and apologised and it's someone I work with regularly so I had to accept it with good grace.

That's not the point, he still damaged your van

I would be looking for the price of the repairs

Thanks for the replies, and apologies for being 'out of the loop' for a while. I hit one of those weeks where you just have to put the blinkers on and not allow any distractions.

At least with this latest bruise, it doesn't affect the 'line' of the van, as for example if someone put a stripe down the side. I think the cost and down time will be too much to be worth doing anything about it, although it is very annoying. My plan is to save up a few dents (as it seems impossible to avoid them) and have them all done at once. I do hope there are no more before the Ordinary Van's first birthday.

The 'culprit' drives a company van, and the vans are all wrecked within a few months of purchase. The worst damage is usually done by temporary staff who are not used to driving vans.

[Vee4]

No pressure ...

like the correct pressure. A close second, after fuel consumption, on the list of topics of concern to the commercial vehicle operator is that of tyres and tyre wear. I meant to cover this some time ago but clouds got in my way. However, the results will now have more significance, being averaged over a greater distance.

The following UK-made tools are used:

PCL TPG4: http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Product ... oductId=89
PCL TDG16: http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Product ... oductId=98

No fancy electronics, and they always work. I had to upgrade from the smaller pressure gauge I used with the Mk5 as that only read to 50 psi*. The TPG4 reads to 120 psi.

The Ordinary Van Tyres: Pirelli Citynet Plus 195/70 R15C 104/102R 8PR (factory fitted)

Handbook recommended pressures:
Normal load: 52 (3.6) front, 61 (4.2) rear
Full load: 54 (3.7) front, 61 (4.2) rear

I have been running 55 (3.8 ) front and 55 (3.8 ) rear, with good results. I rarely run with a full load.

This is the first FWD van in my ownership, so I was interested to see how the wear would even out between front and rear. On the Mk5, it was quite even, and any changes or rotations were as a result of punctures.

Tread depth at 13,000 miles:

Front: 8.5 mm
Rear: 9.0 mm
Spare: 9.5 mm (unused)

That's not too bad, so I might be on for 80,000 to 100,000 miles on the set. This is a topic I won't tire of revisiting.


*For convenience, the term 'psi' will be used. Technically, it should be lbf/in² (pounds force per square inch). The metric unit commonly used for tyre pressure is the 'bar', approximately equal to 14.50 psi. Calculator: http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/pressure.php

Edits:
11 Jun 2010 - changed some punctuation.

[madmark_50484]

I do agree you shouldn't tire thinking about tyre pressures or you will be with the stuff in the Rim

[ake]

I will be quite impressed if you manage 100k miles on one set of tyres

[Vee4]

I will be quite impressed if you manage 100k miles on one set of tyres

The Mk5 did 120,000 miles on one set of Michelin Agilis 81 (viewtopic.php?p=439046#p439046). The Mk5's factory set only lasted 80,000 so I was expecting that the Mk7's factory set would not match up to the Michelins either. No doubt Ford's choice of 'standard' tyres is governed by a compromise between safety, longevity and what is cheap on the world market at the time.

Extrapolating from the above figures (and with some judicious rotation) 100,000 miles may be possible. The Ordinary Van is not showing any signs of uneven wear due to misalignment, as the Mk5 did in its early years (viewtopic.php?p=422169#p422169).

[ake]

Not sure how Ford pick the tyres, when we bought the first 5 Mk7s, all 85t260, on 56 plate all at the same time, 2 had Hancooks, 2 had Goodyears and 1 had Continentals. My 10 plate MK7 has Pirreli Citynets

[Vee4]

MPG update

In the last few weeks, the trip computer has been reading 39.7 mpg, although as previously discussed (viewtopic.php?p=541924#p541924), that means the actual figure could be between 39.2 and 40.2 mpg. The figure calculated from fuel purchase receipts is averaging 40.5 mpg.

Overall, this is slightly better than in the earlier part of the year. The difference is not statistically significant, but I'm wondering if it is partly attributable to higher ambient temperature. Has anyone else noticed such an effect?

39.2 MPG = 7.2 litres/100km
39.7 MPG = 7.1 litres/100km
40.2 MPG = 7.0 litres/100km

[Altransit]

Yes, I definitely get better MPG in the warmer months Not entirely sure if thats because the van is started and warmed up for a bit longer before driving, in the winter, or because traffic always appears to be heavier and hence slower in the winter

[ake]

In the warmer months there is less demand on the alternator, due to less use of lights heater fan etc, this would make a tiny differance

[Vee4]

The Ordinary Van has been busy doing what it does best - just being ordinary.

Thanks, ake and Altransit, for the summery (sic) suggestions. I think you are right - it's due more to external effects than a direct effect on the efficiency of the engine itself.

[Vee4]

Why do they always go like that?

No, I'm not referring to the England football squad. It may be apochryphal, but it was reported this morning on a national news broadcast that a white Transit, driven by a bald-headed man, was seen flying St George's flag at 'half mast'.



As we know, any van may be called a 'transit' by the general public, a testament to the ubiquity of the marque. Not surprisingly, there are rules about flying flags at half mast so I hope the Transit driver complied. In the USA, they are very touchy about Old Glory and you can be in big trouble if you get it wrong:

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

In the UK, we are more laid back, and flying the Union Flag upside down is more of an embarrassment than a hanging offence. It needs some schoolchildren to show us how:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk ... jack7.html



In Leicester they have rules:

http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_coun ... _dates.htm

and even the definition of 'half mast' varies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-staff

But we digress ...

Why do they always go like that?

Right side chassis member at door step:


Right side chassis member to rear of door step:


What's the point of putting underseal on the outside if you don't protect the inside? Perhaps Ford should put the following advice in the handbook, as given to Triumph Bonneville owners:



For 'Triumph', substitute 'Transit', and for 'motorcycle' substitute 'van'.

Thanks to triumphbonnevillecorrodes.com for the picture.

Excuse me while I go out to clean, dry and protect the Ordinary Van in this inclement weather.

[ake]

Think you need to get the Waxoyl out, the latest Mk7 do seem to have more underseal than the earlier ones

[Vee4]

Think you need to get the Waxoyl out ...

I find myself resigned to that, but I still regard it as unacceptable that I should need to do my own anti-rust treatment on a modern vehicle which is less than 12 months old. I will take it up with the dealer when it goes in for its service. The wording of the so-called '8-year corrosion protection warranty' seems to refer only to visible rust penetration of the body panels and not to invisible chassis rot:

http://www.ford.co.uk/Buyingandprotecti ... leWarranty

What is the value of this statement (my highlighting):

"In addition to the base warranty, we have separate warranties to cover your paint and cover against corrosion from the inside or underside."

What is the meaning of this exclusion:

"Failure to rectify on a timely basis any paint or corrosion damage identified during the Body and Paint Check"

When does this check occur? Is it part of the routine service at 15,000 mile intervals? Does the dealer 'forget' to do it unless you specifically request and book it, thereby invalidating your warranty?