More valve seat unleaded fuel questions

Mar 26, 2005 2 Replies
C

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?


  1. Are there any other simpler way to tell.

  2. If I need to use additives, any recommendations, available in Paris, France?

many thanks, CM


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D

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 snipped-for-privacy@minilist.org The Mini Gallery:

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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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