VW recommended SAE30 but only with a limited temperature range, 0degC to 25degC so it's suitable for the UK most of the time but nowhere near as good as a multi-grade. Be careful with the xx in xx- w40. Anything less than 15w-40 is too thin and with the temperatures we have at the moment 20w-50 would be better. 15w-50 would be even better and you can use it all year round. I use Motul 2100 15w50, it has appropriate levels of ZDDP for our engines and should be available in Italy. https://www.motul.com/lu/en/products/2100-15w50
It has cooled a tad here and there are thunder storms forecast over the weekend. We are on Lake Como for a couple of days so I'll drain and refill oil and fit new plugs ready for our next leg through the Alps by which point things should have cooled down
We are top end of Lake Como now. Sooo ..... Not long now til we make the crossing through the Alps. After the mountains we've negotiated in Northern Greece and Albania, I wouldn't have been too worried. However, with the old bus not performing 100 perfect right now and taking a battering from the heat, I'm looking for an easy route through the Alps. We are trying to head to Vaduz in Lichtenstein next so my route planner is suggesting the Splugen Pass. This is not one of the options I'd planned so has anyone done this one? The other option is to come back down the side of Como and go via the San Bernardino tunnel??
I wouldn’t worry. Take it is should be fine. I thought running was ok now? Just take a good few rests
I haven't been over the Splugen Pass but it looks interesting and at 2,114m it will be cold. The San Bernardino tunnel will be hot, stuffy, smelly and you'll see nothing. I'd take the pass, but don't blame me if things go wrong.
Right, I've done an oil change. The best I could get in this little town called Dongo on Lake Como was 10w-40 so I'm thinking that should be fine seeing as we are heading north where it's much cooler. The bus is running fine but seems a bit lumpy with slight power loss when we've been driving an hour or so. So I've put new plugs in and checked timing, (which was spot on) just to be sure. I also had an exhaust gasket blowing a bit so I've gummed that up til I get home. Hopefully, we should be fine now. Seen a few scary reports about the Splugen so I think we are going to take the extra 30miles on the chin and head over on the San Bernardino Pass, with the option of the tunnel if we are not running sweet enough
Como is very cool. Although it did cost us £20 for 2 small beers in Bellagio! George did offer to let us park the bus on his lawn but we were asked to move on when Deb did the washing and hung our grungies on his trees to dry
Sooo, we met up again with the Swedish T25 youngsters, joined forces and, made a very slow but cool convoy over the worst of the San Bernardino ( very steep and winding but not too scary) and we are somewhere on the way down. So far so good
We survived the Alps which wasn't so bad so won't be such a wuss next time! Lake Constance was cool,we travelled along the German shore through amazing Lindau, into Friedrichshafen to visit the Zeppelin Museum and onto Meersburg where we got the ferry to Konstanz and then travelled up the Swiss side of the lake and into the Black Forest. 10 weeks so far but France tomorrow so on our final leg home
It so is Lasty. We've just hit the 5000 miles mark and although it's a kind of relief that we've hit the home straight without any major problems, I would really like to keep going Got a list of jobs as long as my arm to do tho so best get back to Techenders in September and I can then plan the next one
In recent years, it’s become customary to bring a projector and show everybody your pictures @Mrs Busmonkey in conference room style….
We made it back! Although it was a bit touch and go when we got stuck in stationary traffic on the M25 and she started to splutter! We covered 5800 miles through 18 countries in 80 days, swam in 5 seas, travelled along 6 major lakes, sailed on 6 ferries and drove over 4 mountain ranges. It's been an epic! Thanks for everyone's advice and interest, I wouldn't have had the confidence to even attempt it without learning from the days of spannering in a field in Lutterworth and knowing that I'd have some on line support from you guys if I needed it. Gonna have the biggest and best proper fry up in the morning. The old girl has got a bit cronky since suffering in the 47 degree heat so I'll definitely need to get to the September Techenders to see if anyone has any ideas on what I need to do to get her running sweet again
Well done and more so for being brave and adventurous - we are still in transit around Europe and like you have a running list of jobs to tackle on return - you only really know when you use the van extensively and are at one with it! Start planning the next one - “ life is either a daring adventure or nothing”
Too right, life is for living! We've been amazed at how many friends old buses like ours make. Nobody gives a second look at the massive monsterhomes but turn up in a classic VW and everyone wants to chat. We saw reports on Park4nite of locals getting miffed with them parking their great massive things, clogging up the car parks (but who wouldn't). We did loads of wild camping and the locals were more than welcoming everywhere we went. You have a great time in Italy, hopefully it's cooled down a bit now
You are so spot on - the friends you meet and the smiles the buses get put a smile on my face daily. We are in Tuscany currently and a little humid at night but temperatures are manageable ( much better than Rome a couple of weeks ago) Our 3 year old having a wonderful time and tonight when asked “ where is home?” She replied “ home is here - now!” Makes me believe in what I am doing traveling and taking some time out for a while.
...which is great if you can afford to / your work lets you do that but the majority can't. I know I couldn't have - my customers wouldn't have put up with it though I could have afforded to until I got back and found my business was dead in the water. Good on you.
