Aussie Paul & Erils SA adventure July 2015

Well, what an enlightening 10 days we have just had. Due to babysitting duties and Eril's trip to Tassie we had an 11 day window to get away. I had some business stuff to pick up in Adelaide and we wanted to visit Erils sisters family.

My main job to get the van ready was installing the Planer diesel heater. They had been out of stock so I was, with my physical disabilities, pushing **** up hill to get the job done. The comments and video help from the forum were out into practice. I could really only manage a couple hours each day so I could last the distance!! I had the job done and tested the day before we were to leave. I did not get everything put away so lots of tools, spares, electrical bits etc. just got shoved in a couple of boxes to sort later.

We headed off Wednesday the 2^nd July around 2 in the afternoon and Eril, who is now getting better using my Ipad, found a free camp at Native waterhole between Horsham and Dimboola. Gave the diesel heater its first workout, and was very pleased. Just need to learn to drive it. With CPAP machine and electric blankets on setting 1 via the inverter, and the diesel heater we were extremely comfortable. Next morning had a sleep in as we were both exhausted after the previous week. I said to Eril lets get breakfast in Nhill to save dishes etc as I wanted to get to the business place mid arvo. Going up the hills before Adelaide the Pajero engine dropped into limp mode and I pulled off to the left. The engine still running and no fault lights indicating. Stress!!! J Headed off again and took it a little gentler. I had this feeling since we left home that the auto was using a few more rpm to change.

Things went to plan after that and we got to within 400 meters of the business BUT the gps had led me 300 meters down a narrow dead end street!!!! I got out and perused the situation as well as checking if the bollards were loose enough to remove!! No such luck. There was a vacant block half way back to the main road. I reversed with mirrors and camera until I was passed the block and then pulled in and positioned myself to reverse back in the opposite direction. Eril got out to yell if I was going to hit anything and several people from units along the street came out to watch the entertainment. One saying he will hit the tree!!! The tree was surrounded by wire held up by 3 star pickets. I could see the vans left wheels in the left mirror by now and I missed the tree by 100mm. Eril got back in and off we went.

Dropped the bits off at the business and they said that they would ring me the next day, Friday, when bits were ready.  Eril then rang the Adelaide CP to see if they had room for a couple of nights, and all ok. We got the same spot as last year. Time now to relaxEril went out for some retail therapy and I just relaxed. Eril came back in time to pick up my bits and we went for dinner at her sisters. Saturday Eril went to the markets and I caught up on rest. The week before she had been in the Salamanca Market in Hobart Tassie. Saturday we attended a vigil Mass in one of the beautiful Churches in the City of Churches.

Sunday morning we packed up deciding to head north towards Clare. Found a lovely free camp at a place called Farrell Flat and decided to not stay behind the pub but in the old go cart reserve, and to stay several days. I was taking advantage of using the portable solar panels as after the first night the batteries were lower than I predicted!!! After following the sun with them I would set them up at dark facing where the sun would rise the next morning. It was about now I rralised that my left hearing aid was gone!!!!!!!! Bugger After the second night I was being forced to use genset to top up the batteries. I would set the electric blankets on 3 and run the genset until we went to bed. Not happy really as I had not had this trouble previously. Boy, the cloudy days and the lower angle of the winter sun taught me a lesson or two!!!! I was very disappointed that running the genset was not adding much to the house batteries. Even when we drove the tug was not putting much into them. I now realise that the Setec charger is not very good from the tug or 240 AC. Anyway after a couple of rest days we did an arvo tour to a few places Eril wanted to see and then had tea at the pub to help the RV friendly town. After leaving Farrell Flat I knew we would need a dump point before evening, so out with Wiki and search for dump points. There were a couple on our proposed path and chose the one at Burra. We were heading towards Truro as Eril had bought a heap of fruit and veges and did not want to hand them in if we entered the fruit fly free zone. So we were aiming to stay south and out of the zone. We stopped for coffee and leg stretch at Eudunda. As I was getting into the Pajero I dropped my drink bottle and it rolled under the vehicle and I said to Eril I would back up a bit and could she pick it up for me. As we did this Eril noticed liquid on the ground. Of course there had been the Adelaide Hills hiccup and I thought bloody Transmission oil leak!!!!! We needed fuel so found a servo and Eril got a litre of auto fluid in case as I topped up everything.

Eril then drove until we got to a free camp in a gravel pit near Truro. So, now I am thinking about the leak. I had the Pajero book out ad this model does not have a transmission oil dipstick. I rang my mechanic in Ballarat and explained what had been happening and he said that there is an oil fill point somewhere. Next morning I get the jacks out and start raising the left front wheel area. Having side steps makes it very hard for me to get underneath and have a look. I added safety blocks under the raise wheel and chassis rail. With my trusty led torch I could not find a fill point. Next thing was to Google Mitsi dealer in Murray Bridge and asked if they could top up the oil for me. They said yes and I said I would be in there later. When we got to the dealers there is a great big vacant block beside them that the staff uses so I pulled in there. I went in and found the service dept. and told them what was happening. They told me that my transmission was sealed for life and I asked how do you replace oil if you develop a leak? They went through a spiel that it was special oil and only available in 20 litre drums and that it would be several hundred dollars as they would have to pour it in one hose and wait until it came out clear. When he looked up the rego he said that there was a recall for a timing chain modification. So, now starting to get serious as we needed to be home by Sunday and this was Thursday late afternoon. I said if I gave them the recall job could they have a look at the auto while they had a lot of the engine stuff removed and he said they would, so I booked the car in for the late next morning. I was not comfortable at all re the bulldust they seemed to be feeding me. The next morning I rang my mechanic again and told him my predicament and he suggested I find an auto transmission specialist as the dealer mechanics. Mr. Google again and found a place within a kilometre. I rang and asked if they could top up my auto oil and they said they could if I came straight down as a hoist would be available.

Away I went and found them and I told them the dealer story. They seemed not surprised. They put it up on the hoist and said this is not an oil leak it is diesel and there was plenty of oil BUT it was dirty. I said what about the fact that it seems not to be as smooth changing gears and uses a few more revs before it changes. He said that because the oil was very dirty and the fact that it is towing and no engine light had come on all was not really bad and that he would be happy for me to drive it home gently, I only drive gently vehicles as usually they treat me the way I treat them. He said that when they do the recall work back in Ballarat they will probably find the diesel weep. Then I should have the transmission flushed and refilled. They said that this **** (technical word) about sealed for life is ridiculous. Might be ok for city driving and no towing BUT still **** (technical word) I asked how much and he told me $20. I learnt a lot about the current common rail diesel and auto transmission in an hour for $20 I had given the Mitsi dealer my mobile number and they did not even check with me when I did not turn up!!!

So, back to Eril and packed up ready to go. We decided to head as far as we could that afternoon. We made it to the Nhill RV friendly aerodrome and got home about 2pm the next day as the weather turned wet and windy. We had a lovely strong tail wind all the way home which made it easier on the Pajero.

Lesson is to follow the evidence and facts, not jump to conclusions. 

Aussie Paul. 

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 18th of July 2015 02:42:19 PM