1. Sometimes it is difficult to see the oil level on a dipstick especially after an oil change. Drill a small hole through the dipstick at the "add" mark and the "full" mark. Check the oil, hold up the dipstick and you can see the film of oil covering the hole. No more guessing.
  2. Concerned about your heater core being plugged? Figure out which pipe is the inlet and which is the outlet. Remove the hoses from the heater core pipes - on most British cars you can do this from under the hood - then connect a garden hose to the pipe that is the outlet or return line and run water through the heater core. This reverse water flow will often dislodge plugged passages. Let the water run and gradually increase the volume by opening the faucet. Don’t start with the faucet on wide open since you could damage the heater core if you encountered a blockage. Once the water is flowing, gradually increase the flow and when you have good pressure, leave it run for 15 or 20 minutes. Reconnect the hoses and be sure to check hose and hose clamp condition.
  3. Trying to remove a brake drum with no success? Make sure the adjuster is fully released, the emergency brake cable is slack and the screws holding the drum to the axle are removed. Then with a lead or brass hammer, hit the brake drum with a single hard blow on the face of the drum next to the center where the axle protrudes. This sudden blow causes the drum to slam against the axle flange and the rebound will cause the drum to pop free. Repeat until this drum is loose. Suggestion - do not hit on the holes where the screws held the drum to the axle, but rather move around the circle 90 degrees.

 

 

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