Hi

[Bas]

Hello everyone,

I'm Bas, I bought a Daewoo/Chevrolet Kalos last month when my old Suzuki Swift finally started costing too much in repairs, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. It's a 2004 Kalos with quite a lot of kilometers to its name already, but it's still running great. It also has an LPG modification - one of my main "wants" for a new car what with the fuel prices here in the Netherlands.

When I bought it I decided I was going to learn a a few things about cars and try to do a lot of basic maintenance and repairs myself - both as a way to save some money and just because it's fun to learn a new skill. The car is in pretty good condition but it has some things I'd like to fix. I've already rotated the tires and cleaned out the wheel wells - there was a -lot- of gunk in there. I managed to take of the front left splash cover too and clear out all the leaves and dirt that collected behind it. I want to do the same thing to the front right one, but I can't get all the bolts off. Two of them for some reason are too big for a 6mm wrench but too small for a 7mm one, so that's a mystery.

Other things I have planned:

• Fix the rear window washer (no water comes out)
• Replace the air intake hose (it's torn)
• Change the oil (it feels a bit gritty and there's way too much oil in the engine - it keeps sweating it out, covering the engine block in oil)

I'm looking forward to getting started with it, and hopefully learn a thing or two here.

[Daox]

Welcome to the site. You're the first I've heard with an LPG addition, thats pretty cool. How does it compare to the cost of gasoline?

[classic67]

Welcome to the forum. Where are you in the Netherlands im not to for from there. It not sweating oil its got a bad valve cover gasket pretty common on out engines. There are quite a few threads on the subject good luck.

[Bas]

Thanks guys!

Daox: LPG is roughly €0,65 per litre, compared to €1,75 for regular gasoline or €1,42 for diesel that's not a bad deal. Mileage is roughly the same. Road tax is higher for LPG cars, but I drive enough kilometers per year so below the line it's cheaper. Also it's pretty great to fill up a tank for under €25 instead of over €50.

classic67: I'm near Rotterdam. Thanks for the info on the bad valve cover gasket, I'll look into it. Is that hard to replace? I guess I'll look up some of those threads.

[classic67]

Its not hard just make sure you torque the valve cover bolts correctly.

[NYChevoo]

Welcome to the forums!

[Bas]

I ordered a valve cover gasket. Will look into replacing it over the weekend, but annoyingly my torque wrench goes to 40nm at the lowest... So now it looks like I'll have to buy a second torque wrench for the valve cover.

[petrified.rabbit]

i can honestly say, i don't not know a professional mechanic who "properly" torques half the bolts you guys talk about.

its plastic, that means snug, and a 1/4 turn..

[Bas]

I don't know any professional mechanics, so I can't really compare. Also not sure when proper torque is essential and when it's more of a guideline.