Total miles about 275, car running mechanically fine, doing about 11 2/3 mpg plus about 1/3 gallon to steam up on 50/50 petrol/diesel mix. The UK Stanley Steam car catalogue says a 15hp car should run 12-14 miles on a gallon of paraffin.
Being generous with the cylinder oil though, using about 1/3 as much as recommended in the Stanley literature.
The Pilot burner gives occasional problems, look like dirt in pilot tank. Plot fuel consumption varying a lot, clearly have not go the hang of setting it low yet!
Repeated main burner problems due to small particles of carbon clogging jets. Don Bourdon's article 'Stanley Burners' in the latest issue of The Steam Car (No. 61 Oct 2013 ) very useful. Looks like I was not cleaning things frequently enough! Thinking of installing a 'steam enema' live steam blow-through valve to help with cleaning!
Hood (Top) bows still on order, should have been read by now but are unfortunately delayed. Want to get hood made up for next season, certainly by mid-summer.
Have not had much success with the original 3-tube water level indicator, which keeps reading high (ie water low in glass). Suspect its mounted about 1 1/2" too high. This is probably a job for another year, don;t want to risk damaging the low water automatic and pipework.
Only real problems are the cracked pilot tank and the leak in the top quarter of the main fuel tank. Have tried & failed to get the tank out - can not compress the new upholstery enough to clear the tank. Do not want to remove it at present so will live with the fuel tank leak for the moment - just fill 2/3 instead of full! The pilot tank is more of a problem, will probably fit a new horizontal tank on the running board where the prestolite cylinder (stolen in the 1940s) should be.
