I WISH I could find the magazine (I believe it was Classic Car) that had all the available pommy additives tested in a lab for their supposed anti-VSR qualities. This was about the year 2000 or so.

The drum was that 9 of the 10 or so were craaap. There was only one or two of the available brands which showed any form of protection against VSR. I didn't recognise the brand at the time which passed, but it was a pommy one not available here.

All things being equal in the commercial world, we probably are feeding the same into our own engines. Anyone else remember the article?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Practical Classics (incorporating Popular Classics) May, Issue 6, 1999


I don't have a scanner, so here are photos.




Practical Classics did several articles about unleaded from about 1998 to 2001

I can email these pics if folks want.

Hey Mike,

Noone is saying to stop using whatever works for you. I used Flashlube and I can tell you first hand it works. It coats the entire upper chamber, valves and spark plugs with a white chalk like residue. This is obviously what keeps the valves from contact welding themselves to the head. This is from a 12G202 head which ran about 10,000 miles on 98 and Flashlube. I still have 500Mls of flashlube left on the shelf.

I agree that Flashlube is probably one of the better products and if you are running a non modified head on a small bore engine then this is probably a must.

All I am saying is that there are other things that can be done such as deshrouding the chamber and running a product such as a Fuelstar. Each to their own. If it works then don't change anything.

HS6, HIF44 same crap different fuel bowl

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Chong
haha - it wasn't me that made the HS6 HIF comment and made the comment "mistake" - some one else said that.

Seriously, I am not trying to disprove anyone but to get a sensible understanding of what and why. After a couple of years on this this forum we had two very defined camps of opinion. But thats all it was - opinion.

Now we are starting to shed light and make sensible reccomendations to the many who do ask. I have too much money invested in cars and not enough money to cover a failure should one fail.

I dont know what the valve seats and shrouding is like on the HQ 308 tonner and I am not about to pull the heads off to find out. Same goes for the speedway car and the paddock basher - so in goes the automotive condom.

I'll have a look ... I think my Dad may have that magazine I know he has hundreds of them, so likelihood of it is high.

Ok, I've been right back through my stack of Practical Classics'

Sept (issue 10) 1997 had a four page guide to VSR, valve seats, unleaded petrol and conversion.

May 1999 see my above post

August (issue 9) 1999 Included a summary piece of the (May) article I've photographed above.

April (Issue 4) 2003 Included a guide to fuels which included reference to this site which has tested and endorsed the following additives:
http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/fuel/additives.htm


Finally, if you're checking your valve clearances reasonably often, you'll pick up on any VSR before it becomes a disaster. If the gaps close up, look for VSR.

I will continue to run flashlube in both Mini's (smallbore van and big bore LS). Most of my decision is still ignorance, but this ignorance is bliss!

We've not had dedicated flash lube heads fail, so thats why I will still use it. I will still recomend people use it over not using it.

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I used to run on flash lube and had my valve burn out.... had the problem fixed and now don't use it. I have always run the car on 98. All depends and relative to the engine condition I guess. As well as what everybodies been tossing about in discussion here.

Each to their own is what I say, whatever floats your boat and works best for your Mini is the best thing to do.

What ever happens to my head doesn't really worry me because I have a new head sitting here waiting to go on if something happens.....mmmmmmm ported 295 goodness......

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Worst case scenario is what? Fitting hardened inserts.
So, ill run mine however I choose... if the seats wear excessively.... get inserts put in... if no wear, just keep on keeping on.

Peter.

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Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

I'm not sure anyone has ever suggested lead substitute is necessary in a head with hardened exhaust seats. IF the head in the pic has such seats, what is this thread actually about??

i'm been looking at this picture for a while now and i've only realised why it looks familiar...

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A hardend seat

The cyl head in the pic "CLEARLY" does NOT have hardened inserts fitted

end of story

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Can some one put a Picture of hardn Seats Please

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It