DFB's Garage
- Thread starter DFB
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Tasmania
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DFB Outlaw your new user name!Excellent, looking forward to the hearing what you think of each, the good and bad please.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure I broke the law posting the Trace-less.
So concultion on the Trace-less smells like bubblegum but with a chemical hit, I have been wanting to try this since its release in Australia but couldn't justify the 1 liter size well you know in case it sucks!
I first tried it with some cheap Chinese microfibre cloths to see what the product would react like, The same as my rag company but with a lot more lint. *china made one's.
I then cleaned the exterior glass finding it smooth and somewhat the mf to glide across the glass, this is not a simple spray on wipe a little and walk away product you have to buff it off.
Finally I tested it on some tinted glass and added some of my very own nose grease or snozz oil rag co. Mf this stuff eats grease/ finger prints for breakfast! I found ZERO streaking but the smell is my only complaint.
I have had steaks with Stoner's.
"OG Drying Aid"
Slickness in a bottle! Put this on the front of the VW and wheel face as my mum has a trip to Launceston, to see how the bug's and brake dust hold on, I will try the left over product on half the bonnet 50/50 with Ammo hydrate.
Smell could not detect one.
Thank you Deyon once again for the samples and the nice note it was appreciated.
DFB
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Yeah, the scent is somewhat an acquired taste, it has that bubblegum scent mixed with a very heady chemical/solvent/IPA aroma.
Trace-less certainly has a lovely slickness to it, and it flashes away very quickly........................which is where I think I'm struggling, it just flashes so quick that it's leaving residue behind.
The true test for you now Ayden is to sit inside the vehicle with the sunlight pointing at the glass. This is what I'm struggling with, in that I will use and be happy with the result, then when in the sunlight I'm presented with ghosting and streaks. I'm one of very few have had it do this, most people love it. I will say though, its great on stainless steel. I'm kicking myself because I got sucked into the hype of it being 1000% brilliant, then went and ordered a 5-liter bottle of the stuff. Broke my own rules on that one.
No scent with OG Drying Aid, that was one of the changes he made to basic Slipstream formula, no scent and no colorant to improve stability.
Tasmania
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I was checking for steaks with a LED torch but nothing beats natural sunlight, I'm thinking maybe the temperature had something to do with it in your case. I have fallen into the
hole with glass cleaners, only to use them once and on first try think oh my God it's such a great product, Second use is smear city! I will give SIT REPS though.
So far so good..... Maybe Big Dave can test get an opinion from Sydney weather pov.
DFB
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I was checking for steaks with a LED torch but nothing beats natural sunlight, I'm thinking maybe the temperature had something to do with it in your case. I have fallen into the
Second use is smear city! I will give SIT REPS though.
So far so good..... Maybe Big Dave can test get an opinion from Sydney weather pov.
A fellow Mustang7g forum member from Sydney got his bottle of Trace-less at the same time as me. After I struggled with it, I reached out and asked how he was finding it and he is having the same issues.
I really don't understand what's going on here. I would say that this product was designed and tested in the UK, which is naturally a very different climate to Australia, in which case I'd understand where the problem is coming from. But then Mr. Obsessed Garage is from hot and humid Florida, and yet they don't have issues.
Trust me, I wanted to love it, but I just can't get Trace-less to work.
DFB
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This old video makes me miss my old S550.................................something about the short gearing on those early cars and lovely rev match downshifting to die for....................
Something else that is clearly evident with this video, Chris is a very gifted driver. Those cars are nowhere near as easy to drive like that, they have a very abrupt rear end that requires real skill to keep under control like that.
Something else that is clearly evident with this video, Chris is a very gifted driver. Those cars are nowhere near as easy to drive like that, they have a very abrupt rear end that requires real skill to keep under control like that.
DFB
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Wash day for the XR8, which was to be rotated back under cover and swapping places with the Mustang.
I'm slowly getting more and more comfortable using AMMO Hydrate, which seems to be playing very well with Wolfgang DGPS.
This is a classic case of when using the "wrong" towel can lead to unfavorable results or user experience. In all but one occasion, I have used Hydrate with the twist-loop TRC FTW towels. Now, I say "wrong" in that this towel is "wrong" for me because I have never loved these things, they are just too grabby and tend to bunch up in my hands. And yet, most people love this towel, be it for use as intended (glass), for spray sealant application or as a small drying aid towel. About the only thing I like them for is wiping the giant instrument/infotainment screen with glass cleaner in the Mustang.
However, when I have teamed Hydrate with the Platinum Pluffle, my user experience with this product has been exceptional. I soak one towel with water and wring out till just damp, apply one or two "lines" of Hydrate to the towel and work it over a section, then swap to a dry towel to level off any remaining residue.
If there was one change I'd make to Hydrate, it would be to add a more pleasant scent as it has a very unusual aroma to it. Although Larry has chosen quite subtle, masculine scent profiles across most of the range.
I'm slowly getting more and more comfortable using AMMO Hydrate, which seems to be playing very well with Wolfgang DGPS.
This is a classic case of when using the "wrong" towel can lead to unfavorable results or user experience. In all but one occasion, I have used Hydrate with the twist-loop TRC FTW towels. Now, I say "wrong" in that this towel is "wrong" for me because I have never loved these things, they are just too grabby and tend to bunch up in my hands. And yet, most people love this towel, be it for use as intended (glass), for spray sealant application or as a small drying aid towel. About the only thing I like them for is wiping the giant instrument/infotainment screen with glass cleaner in the Mustang.
However, when I have teamed Hydrate with the Platinum Pluffle, my user experience with this product has been exceptional. I soak one towel with water and wring out till just damp, apply one or two "lines" of Hydrate to the towel and work it over a section, then swap to a dry towel to level off any remaining residue.
If there was one change I'd make to Hydrate, it would be to add a more pleasant scent as it has a very unusual aroma to it. Although Larry has chosen quite subtle, masculine scent profiles across most of the range.
Klasse Act
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Never seen you use AMMO before 
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
DFB
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Never seen you use AMMO before
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
I ordered a small selection a few years ago, before the shipping costs went out of control. It was mainly to try Hydrate. Since then, AMMO has an official Australian distributor, which was launched last year when he visited.
Coatingsarecrack
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- Dec 9, 2018
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Well it had a good car fax but at one point when car was in US (since October). Modifications were made to make it US ready. Went through auction. Well in 12/19 it was reported as a failed safety inspection l/deemed unsafe by Saskatchewan motor dept.
Weird that it was 2 months after car left Canada. Talk to a buddy in industry and said might be just so car can’t come back to Canada to registered.
But funny thing is when I asked about it nothing. Car is off sight. There car sales men if it was sold like they’d let me know…. Maybe dodged a bullet or they’re just a shitty dealer ship.
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Big Dave
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Backlot shenanigans, gotta love it.
The registration for my FJ listed the colour as Desert Tan when I bought it, and I bought it used so it was wrong for 5 years. I went in to get it changed at the Rego Office, and when I checked online a few days later it says White. Oh well, it's has white roof.
DFB
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Today, I followed through with a promise I made way back in September last year. My friend and favorite customer has had a ride in the XR8 back when I took delivery in 2014, as well as my previous Mustang in 2017, so it was a mere formality that he would get the same flame-thrower ride in the new Mustang as well.
I wouldn't say that he is a fully committed petrol head, although he once had an BMW E36 328i M-Sport back in the 90's, which he says was the best car he's owned. That 328i was his wife's car when I started working for them in the mid-2000's, I always loved the raspy exhaust note of that car. I think I was probably sadder when they traded it in on a diesel VW Passat wagon.
It's taken us this long to go for that ride in the new Mustang for a reason. When I was admitted to hospital in early November, a day later he had a fall and landed himself in the same hospital with a broken back. While my hospital recovery was somewhat speedy, he naturally needed quite a while to become fully mobile again, let alone drop himself down into a low-slung sports car. Throw in Christmas and the wedding of their daughter, well its taken until now to follow through with my promise.
As I've mentioned before, he is all but blind now and hasn't been able to drive for a number of years. For someone so limited in what he can do now, it was wonderful to share the Mustang experience with him. He may not be able to see it clearly, but he can still hear the sound of the engine and feel how the car responds. The most notable thing for him was how comfortable it rode compared to my old Mustang, and that it felt so planted on the road. And of course, the sound of the engine and how it rips through gears.
At the end of the ride, he told me how perfect the car was for me and fully understood why I bought it. He went on to compare choosing a car like this over going on an expensive overseas holiday. While the holiday can be a very enjoyable experience for some, it's all but a moment in time. However with the Mustang, well I can walk out and experience the car anytime I like. I don't feel the need to see the world, but I do feel the need to experience cars like the Mustang while I still can. We all have different priorities.
I wouldn't say that he is a fully committed petrol head, although he once had an BMW E36 328i M-Sport back in the 90's, which he says was the best car he's owned. That 328i was his wife's car when I started working for them in the mid-2000's, I always loved the raspy exhaust note of that car. I think I was probably sadder when they traded it in on a diesel VW Passat wagon.
It's taken us this long to go for that ride in the new Mustang for a reason. When I was admitted to hospital in early November, a day later he had a fall and landed himself in the same hospital with a broken back. While my hospital recovery was somewhat speedy, he naturally needed quite a while to become fully mobile again, let alone drop himself down into a low-slung sports car. Throw in Christmas and the wedding of their daughter, well its taken until now to follow through with my promise.
As I've mentioned before, he is all but blind now and hasn't been able to drive for a number of years. For someone so limited in what he can do now, it was wonderful to share the Mustang experience with him. He may not be able to see it clearly, but he can still hear the sound of the engine and feel how the car responds. The most notable thing for him was how comfortable it rode compared to my old Mustang, and that it felt so planted on the road. And of course, the sound of the engine and how it rips through gears.
At the end of the ride, he told me how perfect the car was for me and fully understood why I bought it. He went on to compare choosing a car like this over going on an expensive overseas holiday. While the holiday can be a very enjoyable experience for some, it's all but a moment in time. However with the Mustang, well I can walk out and experience the car anytime I like. I don't feel the need to see the world, but I do feel the need to experience cars like the Mustang while I still can. We all have different priorities.
DFB
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Continued work on the BG 55 today. I started by removing the carburetor, which allowed me to remove and clean the plastic intake manifold.
You don't need to remove the intake to change or service the carb, but the manifold also doubles as a guide for the throttle cable. The problem with this arrangement is as the cable stretches, it has a habit of slipping off the manifold and locking the throttle wide open. Stihl scrapped this arrangement in favor of a throttle rod as they were having a lot of problems with it, this unit has had at least one new cable.
Because of the age of the machine, finding a replacement throttle cable is proving difficult, so I need to make the most of what I have. With proper access, I removed and lubricated the cable, then cleaned the trigger and trigger post to hopefully make it move more smoothly. With the intake block off the engine, I cleaned it and the gasket, then reassembled. From here, I wedged and glued a "retainer" to the intake.....................a plastic bottle top cut in half. The idea is to prevent the cable slipping off the intake, let's see if this works as intended.
Next, I removed the muffler to check for carbon build up. The exhaust port was clear, likewise the entry to the muffler. After a little fit of stabbing, I managed to shake out a fair bit of carbon, some of it coming out in chunks. I then heated the muffler up with a gas torch to burn off what I couldn't scrape away. I then used a wire brush to remove the carbon around the inlet and outlet, followed by a rub down with sandpaper to give the exterior a little facelift.
As for the spark arrestor, it went awol a very long time ago. I remember very early on taking the unit to dealer complaining about a lack of power, this was well before me knowing how these things work. They took it out the back and chopped off the wire screen.................I guess that's one way of dealing with the problem.
While I had the muffler and intake off the machine, I had a good look at the piston and cylinder, surprisingly, both look beautiful. I may have worked this engine hard over a long time, but it always got premium engine oil and had clean filters.
The old Zama carburetor, well I am using this as a learning tool. I removed both metering and pumping sides, and as expected, both diaphragms were stiff and brittle. Otherwise, the internals were clean. Even though I bought a replacement aftermarket carb, I've decided to rebuild the original with a diaphragm kit and new primer bulb. Doing so, I'll learn how to do this, and I can perhaps sell it off at the end or keep for spares.
I will probably also remove the flywheel to inspect the three bolts that sit behind, which can work loose over time and cause the engine to lock up. I've had this happen on multiple BG 86's, the fix is to nip them up with a little thread locker.
I'm now just waiting for parts to arrive.
You don't need to remove the intake to change or service the carb, but the manifold also doubles as a guide for the throttle cable. The problem with this arrangement is as the cable stretches, it has a habit of slipping off the manifold and locking the throttle wide open. Stihl scrapped this arrangement in favor of a throttle rod as they were having a lot of problems with it, this unit has had at least one new cable.
Because of the age of the machine, finding a replacement throttle cable is proving difficult, so I need to make the most of what I have. With proper access, I removed and lubricated the cable, then cleaned the trigger and trigger post to hopefully make it move more smoothly. With the intake block off the engine, I cleaned it and the gasket, then reassembled. From here, I wedged and glued a "retainer" to the intake.....................a plastic bottle top cut in half. The idea is to prevent the cable slipping off the intake, let's see if this works as intended.
Next, I removed the muffler to check for carbon build up. The exhaust port was clear, likewise the entry to the muffler. After a little fit of stabbing, I managed to shake out a fair bit of carbon, some of it coming out in chunks. I then heated the muffler up with a gas torch to burn off what I couldn't scrape away. I then used a wire brush to remove the carbon around the inlet and outlet, followed by a rub down with sandpaper to give the exterior a little facelift.
As for the spark arrestor, it went awol a very long time ago. I remember very early on taking the unit to dealer complaining about a lack of power, this was well before me knowing how these things work. They took it out the back and chopped off the wire screen.................I guess that's one way of dealing with the problem.
While I had the muffler and intake off the machine, I had a good look at the piston and cylinder, surprisingly, both look beautiful. I may have worked this engine hard over a long time, but it always got premium engine oil and had clean filters.
The old Zama carburetor, well I am using this as a learning tool. I removed both metering and pumping sides, and as expected, both diaphragms were stiff and brittle. Otherwise, the internals were clean. Even though I bought a replacement aftermarket carb, I've decided to rebuild the original with a diaphragm kit and new primer bulb. Doing so, I'll learn how to do this, and I can perhaps sell it off at the end or keep for spares.
I will probably also remove the flywheel to inspect the three bolts that sit behind, which can work loose over time and cause the engine to lock up. I've had this happen on multiple BG 86's, the fix is to nip them up with a little thread locker.
I'm now just waiting for parts to arrive.
DFB
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A common problem on these Stihl BG blowers that have a little age on them is to suddenly lock up. This issue is well known and is caused by the bolts hiding behind the flywheel backing out over time and preventing the flywheel from turning. I've had this happen on several of these BG blowers, if you catch it early the engine will still turn but will sound awful, as if its about to throw a rod. However, if let go it will eventually come across as if the engine has locked up. I actually sidelined a very good unit for several years because of this.
Now, this BG 55 wasn't showing signs of this issue, but while I had it apart, I thought I may as well inspect them. To do this, you need to remove the flywheel. After removing the 13mm nut, you need to shock the flywheel off the crankshaft. I have done this in the past with a centre punch, and you can use a flywheel puller as well. But today, I put this knock-off tool to good use.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183838815196
This tool is threaded onto the end of the crank, then backed off a few threads. You then put some pressure under the flywheel with a pry bar and give the end of the tool a few sharp blows with a hammer, the flywheel then pops loose, the tool removed, and the flywheel lifted off the crankshaft.
This little project also means I get to use my new tools, a win-win situation!
I also have a threaded flywheel popper, this is for larger 2-stroke engines and uses thread pressure rather than striking with a hammer. This one can be configured a few ways depending on the thread size.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/182938114204
In both cases, these two are much safer for the crankshaft and provide more accuracy than a center punch.
With the flywheel removed, you now have access to the T27 bolts in question.
These ones were nice and tight, but I'd come this far and decided to zip them out and apply some thread locker. Love this ratcheting Wera T-handle!
https://www.amazon.com.au/Wera-416-...hvtargid=pla-1941482174637&psc=1&gad_source=1
Considering how much work this unit has done, I'm surprised at how tight these were compared to others I've had to repair. I'm wondering if the later models with the anti-vibration system are causing vibration to be diverted into these mounting screws and not into the surrounding plastics of the machine.
I'm now starting to anticipate hearing this engine run again for the first time in a more than a decade.
Now, this BG 55 wasn't showing signs of this issue, but while I had it apart, I thought I may as well inspect them. To do this, you need to remove the flywheel. After removing the 13mm nut, you need to shock the flywheel off the crankshaft. I have done this in the past with a centre punch, and you can use a flywheel puller as well. But today, I put this knock-off tool to good use.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183838815196
This tool is threaded onto the end of the crank, then backed off a few threads. You then put some pressure under the flywheel with a pry bar and give the end of the tool a few sharp blows with a hammer, the flywheel then pops loose, the tool removed, and the flywheel lifted off the crankshaft.
This little project also means I get to use my new tools, a win-win situation!
I also have a threaded flywheel popper, this is for larger 2-stroke engines and uses thread pressure rather than striking with a hammer. This one can be configured a few ways depending on the thread size.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/182938114204
In both cases, these two are much safer for the crankshaft and provide more accuracy than a center punch.
With the flywheel removed, you now have access to the T27 bolts in question.
These ones were nice and tight, but I'd come this far and decided to zip them out and apply some thread locker. Love this ratcheting Wera T-handle!
https://www.amazon.com.au/Wera-416-...hvtargid=pla-1941482174637&psc=1&gad_source=1
Considering how much work this unit has done, I'm surprised at how tight these were compared to others I've had to repair. I'm wondering if the later models with the anti-vibration system are causing vibration to be diverted into these mounting screws and not into the surrounding plastics of the machine.
I'm now starting to anticipate hearing this engine run again for the first time in a more than a decade.
DFB
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Soaking trimmer line, not something I have ever bothered to do. Now this was because at one point I was powering through line so quickly that I never felt the need. Even though I was using it quickly, that didn't account for the line sitting in a warehouse for extended periods. Considering Stihl put a logo on their trimmer lines suggesting to soak trimmer line, I thought I may as well give it a go...................
A quick video from the horses mouth..................
That video suggests you won't necessarily make the line perform better than new, but rather restoring it back to spec. Will be interesting to see how these two lines perform after soaking.
A quick video from the horses mouth..................
That video suggests you won't necessarily make the line perform better than new, but rather restoring it back to spec. Will be interesting to see how these two lines perform after soaking.
Tasmania
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I might try this but to be honest I have to hand in my "man card" as I can not for the life of me get the bloody line on/in the head.Soaking trimmer line, not something I have ever bothered to do. Now this was because at one point I was powering through line so quickly that I never felt the need. Even though I was using it quickly, that didn't account for the line sitting in a warehouse for extended periods. Considering Stihl put a logo on their trimmer lines suggesting to soak trimmer line, I thought I may as well give it a go...................
A quick video from the horses mouth..................
That video suggests you won't necessarily make the line perform better than new, but rather restoring it back to spec. Will be interesting to see how these two lines perform after soaking.
So yes! I get my dad to do it... it's only fair I'm triming his grass and weed's right......... I'll see myself out
DFB
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I might try this but to be honest I have to hand in my "man card" as I can not for the life of me get the bloody line on/in the head.
So yes! I get my dad to do it... it's only fair I'm triming his grass and weed's right......... I'll see myself out
I hate installing the line too. If you haven't, get yourself a Speed-Feed head, Stihl does something similar but its crap. Actually, I hate the Stihl heads, especially the Auto-Cut which automatically advances the line for you....................but only when it feels like it.
Speed Feed 375 (for smaller, bent shaft machines) -
Fast Loading Speed Feed 375 fits Echo Straight Shaft Trimmer Head SRM140 SRM200 | eBay
Fast Loading Speed Feed Head/ Fast Loading Straight Shaft Trimmer Head Uses 2mm to 2.7mm Line Loads in 30 Seconds Includes: Fitting Arbors 8mm x 1.25 Female left hand thread 10mm x 1.00 Female left hand thread 10mm x 1.25 Female left hand thread Stud 8mm x 10mm Left hand Stud 7mm x 10mm Left...
www.ebay.com.au
Speed Feed 450 (for larger, straight shaft machines) -
Fast Loading Speed Feed 450 fits Echo Straight Shaft Trimmer Head SRM302 GT1000 | eBay
Fast Loading Speed Feed Head/ Fast Loading Straight Shaft Trimmer Head Specifications: Uses 2mm to 2.7mm Line41 Loads in 30 Seconds Holds 10ft of 2.4mm Line Includes: Fitting Arbors 8mm x 1.25 Female left hand thread 10mm x 1.00 Female left hand thread 10mm x 1.25 Female left hand thread Stud...
www.ebay.com.au
Big Dave
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My Ryobi feeds ok, it normally only takes me 5-6 attempts to get it through. The bump feeds wear out quite regularly though so I always keep 2 on the shelf ready to replace it.
I watched my former neighbour spend 15 minutes trying to feed his trimmer one day, eventually he asked his wife to help out, she got it first go.
I watched my former neighbour spend 15 minutes trying to feed his trimmer one day, eventually he asked his wife to help out, she got it first go.
DFB
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The speed feed's are nice because they sell replacement parts, so if you catch it early you can just replace the cap and not the whole head.
Items for sale by greenacresmowers* | eBay
Shop eBay for great deals from greenacresmowers*!
www.ebay.com.au
DFB
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Yesterday I went on a day trip to Mitchelton Winery for my sister's birthday. I don't drink, so I wasn't there to sample the wares other than lunch at The Muse restaurant.
https://www.mitchelton.com.au/pages/muse-restaurant
Having been there a number of times in recent years, what interests me most when visiting this venue is the work put into the grounds, which consists of manicured gardens blending seamlessly into the native backdrop and riverbank. I particularly love how they have used hedging cut at apposing angles to the buildings they flank, as if they are part of the architecture.
Being a long weekend, the place was packed with well healed, toffee nosed Melbournians, most covered in fake tan and swimming in perfume. Oh honey, my tan is all natural. I'd make some pot shot at the carpark full of Audi's, BMW's and Porsche's, but my sister arrived in a Volvo XC60 and me in a Jaguar!
Taking the Jaguar was twofold. One, it was a chance to get some miles on it before rotating it back into storage, including a few Italian Tune-Up moments as well. Two, it gave me an excuse to wash it. 
Surprisingly, there was very little bug strike to deal with, just some dust from the gravel carpark. Tyres were cleaned with Brake Buster, followed by Reset for the wheels and body. Drying Aid was ADS Amplify, Stoners for the glass and InnerQD for the interior and leather. For the tyres, I decided to give them a deep clean with mineral spirits, then applied Angelwax Elixir, then some Bead Maker for the wheels, which I find makes wheels pop and shimmer on the move!
Back to spec, the Jag then traded places with Big Blue, back home for the first time since late January.
Before returning home, I took the XR6 for a bit of a drive around the outskirts of town to stretch its legs. Of course, every time I get back into this car, it takes a little while to reacclimatize to the awkward driving position, which is so pronounced coming from the Jaguar's super-low seating position and how the cabin wraps around you. Also coming from the Jag, the big Falcon feels so heavy, where the Jaguar is agile and pointy in the front end.
But then on the flipside of that, the big Falcon is so effortless to drive. The Jag's 2.0 EcoBoost certainly needs the short gearing of the 8-speed auto to keep it on the boil, whereas the 4.0 inline 6 will do the same job without breaking 2000 rpm. Looking at the numbers, despite the Falcon being nearly 200 kg heavier and down two ratios over the Jag, capacity and torque do their thing and ensure the XR6 is faster.
https://www.mitchelton.com.au/pages/muse-restaurant
Having been there a number of times in recent years, what interests me most when visiting this venue is the work put into the grounds, which consists of manicured gardens blending seamlessly into the native backdrop and riverbank. I particularly love how they have used hedging cut at apposing angles to the buildings they flank, as if they are part of the architecture.
Being a long weekend, the place was packed with well healed, toffee nosed Melbournians, most covered in fake tan and swimming in perfume. Oh honey, my tan is all natural. I'd make some pot shot at the carpark full of Audi's, BMW's and Porsche's, but my sister arrived in a Volvo XC60 and me in a Jaguar!
Taking the Jaguar was twofold. One, it was a chance to get some miles on it before rotating it back into storage, including a few Italian Tune-Up moments as well.
Two, it gave me an excuse to wash it. Surprisingly, there was very little bug strike to deal with, just some dust from the gravel carpark. Tyres were cleaned with Brake Buster, followed by Reset for the wheels and body. Drying Aid was ADS Amplify, Stoners for the glass and InnerQD for the interior and leather. For the tyres, I decided to give them a deep clean with mineral spirits, then applied Angelwax Elixir, then some Bead Maker for the wheels, which I find makes wheels pop and shimmer on the move!
Back to spec, the Jag then traded places with Big Blue, back home for the first time since late January.
Before returning home, I took the XR6 for a bit of a drive around the outskirts of town to stretch its legs. Of course, every time I get back into this car, it takes a little while to reacclimatize to the awkward driving position, which is so pronounced coming from the Jaguar's super-low seating position and how the cabin wraps around you. Also coming from the Jag, the big Falcon feels so heavy, where the Jaguar is agile and pointy in the front end.
But then on the flipside of that, the big Falcon is so effortless to drive. The Jag's 2.0 EcoBoost certainly needs the short gearing of the 8-speed auto to keep it on the boil, whereas the 4.0 inline 6 will do the same job without breaking 2000 rpm. Looking at the numbers, despite the Falcon being nearly 200 kg heavier and down two ratios over the Jag, capacity and torque do their thing and ensure the XR6 is faster.