2022 Toyota GR86 - Black Forest Run

[thebaron]

There have been some reports from the US about 86 engine failures due to RTV moving around the innards.

I wanted to get the oil changed after break-in so with 3500km on the clock it was back to the dealership again.

I asked them to leave me the old filter and a sample of the oil.











I cut the old filter up today and thankfully I've dodged the RTV issue for now.







I want to get the oil analysed now as well. Does anyone know of a service in Europe that does this? (a la Blackstone in the US)

[jimi]

Try searching for oil analysis labs, there's many places offering this type of service. In the UK I know Castrol & Finning do it for industrial equipment, we used them offshore on a contract basis. Many offer a consumer service en.oelcheck.com/industries/private-users/

[thebaron]

Dec 6, 2022 23:50:23 GMT jimi said:

Try searching for oil analysis labs, there's many places offering this type of service. In the UK I know Castrol & Finning do it for industrial equipment, we used them offshore on a contract basis. Many offer a consumer service en.oelcheck.com/industries/private-users/

Excellent, Thanks very much jimi !

[joem83]

Look on YouTube at JimmyOakes, he did a video about his. He dropped the sump and re-sealed it.

[thebaron]

Dec 7, 2022 14:14:22 GMT joem83 said:

Look on YouTube at JimmyOakes, he did a video about his. He dropped the sump and re-sealed it.

Thanks for the heads up joem83 - I'll give that a look.

To be honest I don't want to have to go to the effort of that right now and that's why I'm doing check on the Oil, Filter, Dipstick etc. I know this level won't keep me fully safe but I'll keep a keen eye on things until I get a new garage space sorted where I can give that process a go. (I'm assuming already it's something I can do myself having not watched the video yet

It needs to be a bit warmer so I can use the Speedster again as well and it's about to go into hibernation in a garage 1 hour away.

[thebaron]

The Speedster has moved south for the Winter. I have started the house move and step one is to clear out all of the space that we don't live in on a daily basis.

So the 86 had to coax the Speedster out of the garage again.








I had moved all of the extra wheels and spares the previous week so a nice, but cooold drive followed and the Speedster was parked up for the Winter.











I pulled the battery and here it will rest up until the Spring.

[thomfr]

It must be only Speedster in the world on winter tyres. ;-)

Thom

[thebaron]

Dec 15, 2022 11:29:44 GMT thomfr said:

It must be only Speedster in the world on winter tyres. ;-)

Thom

I must admit that it's not on winter's thomfr - I was beaten to the punch by the weather a little and had no choice but to take the risk a go on the Summer tires. I stuck to the motorway rather than take my normal cross country route to avoid the conditions and stay as low as possible in terms of altitude.

Saying that - a set of Winters are one of my many plans for next year if it hangs around.

[thebaron]

Now that the Speedster is away from me I've got the itch already to start spannering on something else.

Luckily one of the other guys with an 86 (one of only two more Neptune Blue ones that are in CH) bought himself a Milltek cat back exhaust. He has no garage so I told him to pop up from Geneva (not close, 3 hours one way) and I'd do it for him.

Bolts are so easy on new cars

[thebaron]

A few updates from the festive period. Nothing Speedster related but regarding some of the other fleet memebers.

I got a few gifts for the 86.

New Clutch Spring to try and rectify the current pedal action inconsistency




Some camber bolts to hopefully dial in a little more negative on the front axle.




Finally a non butchered USA/JDM spec front grille with no terrible holes gouged into it.




I need to find some time to install them.


Next up was what's happening on the Irish side as I was back for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year.

The Legacy is still going strong but was emitting an unappealing belt shriek at every start up. Instead of investigating I drove about 1250km around the country until a couple of days before the trip ended, when I got a battery and power steering warning light intermittently flashing.

At this point I finally popped the bonnet to be greeted by this.





I'd say that's about used up. I certainly got all the value out of that belt.

Will pop back later with a Starlet update as well.

[jamesd1972]

I think that is the absolute definition of hanging by a thread !
Nice that it survived to get you home.
James

[thebaron]

Jan 17, 2023 14:48:24 GMT jamesd1972 said:

I think that is the absolute definition of hanging by a thread !
Nice that it survived to get you home.
James

It really is. The fact that the day before this discovery I took a 4 hour journey back to my MIL's from Kerry in terrible weather conditions is not lost on me. Getting stuck en-route that day would have been particularly galling.

I'm a huge fan of this old beater. I'd really like to get another one that's tidier with a manual but I fear such a machine no longer exists. I also don't know what I'd actually do with it. I'm at five cars in the fleet currently, which is two more than I actually need and one more than I've really got sensible parking for.

[thebaron]

So what about that Starlet then. When I last updated about it I had finally gotten it back on the road when I was Ireland during the summer.

It had of course been sitting since then so out to the farm on a frankly miserable Christmas Eve to get the battery in and fire it up.




... and fire up it did, immediately on the first crank. What a machine this little thing is.

Then I took it racing, 90 mins across country early morning on the 27th when everyone else was surely nursing hangovers I was briskly making my way to Arklow to compete in my (and the Starlet's) first event in 5 years. Wow, time got away from me on that one!!!



















Finally my absolute favourite shot of the day, just after a high speed change of direction on the hydraulic handbrake, going sideways. I may not look it in the photo by my heart was singing in this moment.




The car then completed an equally brisk 90 mins return journey. It's an absolute champ. Never missed a beat and when my brain finally started to recall how to correctly memorize tests after the first two loops even I started to get it together.

[thomfr]

Looking at the front tires I would pump them a bar harder next time you use it this hard.
Thom

[thebaron]

Jan 17, 2023 20:10:55 GMT thomfr said:

Looking at the front tires I would pump them a bar harder next time you use it this hard.
Thom

For sure the car was not "optimized". I fired it up on Christmas Eve and then returned to it in the dark at 07:30 on the 27th, threw some fuel into it and took off.

[thebaron]

Finally some snow here and a short drive early this morning in the 86 to avail of the favourable conditions.

[thebaron]

Car stuff is at a minimum as we have finally moved house.

The 86 did pass 4000



My friend Dave helped me transfer over the last few items that I couldn't muscle up alone. Two perfect cars for transporting large items ....





To be fair, they did nothing - the 528iX Estate is a beast at swallowing stuff though. A big estate is a must for me from here on out. I've had big cars (saloons and coupes) and I've had estates but never both in one vehicle. The key measurement is the ability to take 200cms behind the rear seats and still close the tailgate which the BMW just manages. The split tailgate is also genius.

[thebaron]

I've decided to get back to the 'Ring this year. As such, I've booked a couple of nights in the Dorint in early June. What's pretty cool is that a bunch of mates are now going to come up at the same time and I'm likely meeting up with the podcast guys over from the U.S. as well as the dates line up.


I've been gathering a few parts for the 86 (New grill, camber bolts, clutch spring, short shifter) and the last of these is coming in with my SIL from the U.S. in 3 weeks time. At that point I'll carve out a half day and get them on.

Now my dilemma is that while I'd really like to take the 86 on track I feel it's a waste not to bring the Speedster instead. It will be just under 4 years of ownership at that point and if you have been following from the start you will remember that one of the first things I did with it was take it to the 'Ring. I have made many, many tweaks to it since then (when it was bone stock) and it would be great to compare and contrast.

The mulling has commenced.

[pedalcarjoe]

A bit of a wild idea, is there any chance you can get both cars there ?

assuming it is practical, maybe get one of your friends to take the speedster, either drive it or get it there on a trailer

just a thought

[thebaron]

Feb 15, 2023 10:11:27 GMT pedalcarjoe said:

A bit of a wild idea, is there any chance you can get both cars there ?

assuming it is practical, maybe get one of your friends to take the speedster, either drive it or get it there on a trailer

just a thought

You are reading my mind I was definitely weighing up the option of bringing both. However, My 4 friends are all bringing their cars as well (NC MX5, ND MX5 RF, MK 8.5 Fiesta ST and a 2018 Cayman S) so I have not got a spare driver available.

Maybe a transport option as you mention. I guess it will be hideously expensive but might as well check just in case.