Tesco petrol

[armb]

Our local Tesco has stopped selling LRP and started selling high octane unleaded with 5% bioethanol. I filled the Audi's tank this morning [EDIT: after checkup/clean at the dentist - warning about jaw bone loss repeated, but no new problems] and it seemed happy on the way in. Now to go home and try and find out what's wrong with the Ka.

Comments

[armb.livejournal.com]

Well, the Ka hadn't lost oil and had lost coolant, suggesting it was steam rather than smoke that Alice saw. Having put some water in, it drove home ok.
Best case it's an easily fixed coolant leak and no lasting damage. Worst case the overheating is both a symptom of a serious problem and has caused more problems itself. We shall see (any leak wasn't obvious in the dark and rain).

[armb.livejournal.com]

The radiator cooling fan seems not to be working. Looking at the Haynes manual, it doesn't just have a thermostat switch, it's controlled by the "Powertrain Control Model" which testable only with dealer-only equipment. (But I haven't tested the fan motor itself yet, could be that.)