Yes more valve seat unleaded fuel questions!
My engine serial number starts with BHM 1439 1XXXXX. While I was informed in
the past, via this newsgroup (thank you) that it is likely a rebuilt engine,
I still have not been able to identify whether or not my engine has the
hardened exhaust valve seat.
So, my questions are:
1. Can I look inside the combustion chamber, via the spark plug hole, and
tell if an insert has been installed? Perhaps with a borescope?
2. Are there any other simpler way to tell.
3. If I need to use additives, any recommendations, available in Paris,
France?
many thanks,
CM
David Betts - 27 Mar 2005 08:00 GMT
>Yes more valve seat unleaded fuel questions!
>
>My engine serial number starts with BHM 1439 1XXXXX. While I was informed in
>the past, via this newsgroup (thank you) that it is likely a rebuilt engine,
>I still have not been able to identify whether or not my engine has the
>hardened exhaust valve seat.
Don't worry about it. Even if you do not have hardened inserts you
will be able to drive many thousands of miles without problem. If, in
a year or two, you do start to experience symptoms of valve seat
recession then exchange the head at that point for one with hardened
inserts.
Regards, David Betts
davidb@minilist.org
The Mini Gallery:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334
David Toft - 27 Mar 2005 09:42 GMT
>>Yes more valve seat unleaded fuel questions!
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>recession then exchange the head at that point for one with hardened
>inserts.
Some years ago I had a 1300 Maestro and thought that as unleaded was
about 10p a litre cheaper than 4 star it was worth a try. I retarded the
ignition about 5 degrees as unleaded was a lower octane and ran the car
for another 30,000 miles with no trouble before I put it on the scrap
heap because of body rot. I checked the valve clearances at about 15,000
and they were unchanged.

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David Toft