Car additives
A couple of months back, MOTORING ran a piece on additives. This month, we go one step further in order to provide further assistance to all owners of cars manufactured before 2000.
“The removal of lead from fuels and the addition of ethanol can cause problems for certain classic vehicles ranging from valve seat recession to fuel system corrosion”. This statement is found in the official blurb from Millers Oils, one of the world’s leading independent blenders of oil and fuel additives
Here in Malta, many use Millers Oils’ VSPe Power Plus, an all-in-one fuel treatment that protects against the corrosion effects of ethanol in modern fuel. It has been specially developed for veteran, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and commercials and is one of a series of additives recommended by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. Believe me, it works.
We contacted the local Old Motors Club for their view but we were entirely disregarded and as far as I know, nothing of note has appeared in the club’s magazine even though various foreign-based motor clubs have published write-ups on the problems related to ethanol, an EU requirement in petrol today.
Road repairs
I was recently flipping through a newspaper one morning and I came across a statement by a councillor who seemed to claim that road repairing responsibilities of local councils were not as strict as they should be.
From what I understood, it seems that if the road repair is of a relatively complex and technical nature, it is therefore Transport Malta’s responsibility to handle such repair.
At this point, I asked myself... why don’t they simply contact the road works contractor that probably did a poor job in the first place and get them to do the repairs at their own cost (always if found to be at fault)?
On a positive note, my personal congratulations go to the team that worked for some nights on the bad stretches of the Burmarrad to St Paul’s by-pass roundabout road. My classic Mini with its 12” wheels now handles this stretch of road without any undue fuss, and without any passenger’s teeth being unduly rattled.
Mosta/Żebbiegħ road
Some weeks ago someone, somewhere, decreed that the broken centre line on the Mosta/Żebbiegħ road should become a continuous unbroken line.
The reasoning behind the original decision to allow a broken centre line on this important arterial road was decided by the traffic management section in those far off days when no decision was taken lightly.
The Żebbiegħ road is probably one of the most important ‘farm roads’ in Malta. It carries a disproportionate number of tractors and farm vehicles with a maximum speed of only 25km/h, along with a variety of farm trucks and lorries.
Sadly, many drivers are now breaking the law by overtaking on this continuous unbroken line, and since there is clear visibility for about a kilometre approaching or departing from Żebbiegħ, the line is being crossed whenever the driver deems it safe to do so.
We do appreciate that there is reason for more continuous stretches of centre line due to the adjacent schools, but these need only be carefully calculated lengths of road.
Why punish everyone simply because twice a day a section of this road carries a lot of traffic moving to or from the Mosta direction? Place temporary traffic lights on the Mosta roundabout immediately and use traffic police to patrol this road during the relevant hours. Parents will soon learn to drive with due care and attention.
Santi Hill, limits of Mġarr
Many Times of Malta readers will be aware that an Italian-ridden quad bike recently fell off Santi Hill (see also our Dacia test-drive on page 3).
This is not at all surprising and Transport Malta is well aware that it is their responsibility to make this particular road, which is built on clay, safe and fit for purpose.
Why not get on with it before someone gets killed?
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A disgrace!
This photograph shows a Mini Minor at an odd angle in one of the most dangerous areas of Wardija Hill. This is bus route 401 and it is the route taken by various child-laden mini-buses to the school at the top of the hill. You’re looking at enormous insurance claims if, or when, a serious crash occurs as a result of the disgraceful state of this road.