burnt out headgasket can this happen and how?

[Gareth]

I shouldn't think that one shot of RedEx caused the headgasket to burn out... It could be a coincidence .

Have a good check over the cooling system - oil in water, water in oil, no water at all &c... Overheating eats headgaskets (ask any K-series driver) so it could be that there is something awry in the cooling system, or the combustion bit was too fierce?

Additives? My advice (which is given without gaurantee, and should probably come with a health warning ) would be to use regular unleaded, or Optimax/Ultimate. When the head goes, whack a new unleaded one on, although you could be waiting a while for that!

[rayofleamington]

yes check the cooling system - especially the water pump.
Minors can be driven around in winter with a failed water pump without the owner realising. The tell tale 'hot' smell from the engine is a give away but it can easily be overlooked.

Having said that - a headgasket can fail 'randomly' if you are very unlucky. Head gasket failure is more likely if you drive agressively with long periods at high revs.
If it goes again make sure the head and block are flat. If you drove for a long way with a failed headgasket it can cause erosion of the sealing faces.

As for additives I use the Castrol one with octane booster. Most places in the country have a Halfords so there's little chance of being caught short.
As for which one to recommend? - unless someone has done 100K miles using one, then its purely guess work. Even with a panacea like tin pellets most Minor drivers would continue without problems for years on end. Therefore probably best to rely on something that can be proven - There is a list of recommended ones which was available somewhere through this site.
I'm just off to find the link.....

[Cam]

Next Potteries branch meeting: Monday 19th Jan.

See: http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Contact.htm

I seriously doubt that the fuel would have caused the head gasket to go, like has been said, the valves (especially exhaust valves) would go first.

I think Cam could and should open a moggie service centre

I would love to, but I don't think there is the demand in our area or the money in it for me to give up my current job! Plus it would be rather unpleasant in winter!!!

For fuel and additives, use either normal unleaded or shell optimax PLUS a good fuel additive.

I use Castrol Valvemaster plus (available from Halfords at £9.99 a bottle) which treats 250 litres (or 10 tanks full).



p.s. Nick, have you got some photos of your car?? if so can you bring them along to the next meeting for me to scan and bring a little write-up on your car, so I can put them on our website (that is if you are wanting to become a member!!): http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk

[rayofleamington]

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/technica ... etrol.html

[Cam]

Excellent Nick! I know you are a member of the National club, but you also have to join the local one!! and pay the subs when you go to the meetings (a whopping £1.50!!). It's worth it though as you get to meet me!! Ahem.........

So, what you are telling me is that you are related to the captain of the Titanic and you are wondering why your head gasket went??? obviously a family curse........

With regard to the pictures of your car, you could always e-mail them to me with a bit of a write up before the meeting if you like.

p.s. have you checked our potteries branch website out yet?? if so I would be grateful for opinions and ideas. That goes for everyone too!

[Cam]

Cam do you ever go to sleep?

Yes, but I'm on holiday this week (spending most of it in the garage!).

How much is it to join the local branch?

Oh, it costs nothing, in fact you don't have to pay the subs the first time!!

God only knows what he takes pictures of but the camera always needs batteries

Tell me about it!! I keep lending my camera to my sister (age 14) and she manages to fill it (190 pictures) with absolute rubbish so that the batteries are dead and it can't take another picture when I want to take a picture of a repair on my car!! kids eh!

[Kevin]

so that the batteries are dead and it can't take another picture when I want to take a picture of a repair on my car!!

Hey guys are you not using Ni nmh recargeable batteries that have no memory and can be recharged 500-1000 times, they do 8 packs of Uniross 2100`s for £11:00 and various chargers and other batteries with different power ratings, so you can always keep a set fully charged, have a look at the link I doubt you will find anywhere cheaper, they also do most of the cards, Smart Media, Compact Flash Etc at prices almost half the high steet price see what you think.
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=777

[Cam]

Kevin, yes I use the Ni-MH batteries, but they do run out eventually though! and my camera seems to like eating them. I have 3 sets which I rotate (charge and use). It still always seems to run out when I want to use it and not when my sister wants to use it!!

[Matt]

Going back to the original post.... I saw some RedEx for sale today in a shop near me for £1.50 (the one that treats 500L) is that a good price or what? shame i've got an unleaded head.....

[Cam]

That's a very cheap price, but RedEx is not recommended by the FBHVC see: http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/

The equivalvent amount of Castrol Valvemaster would cost £19.98!

Makes you wonder about the difference!! Personally I think it would be very unwise to use RedEx. Not that you need to make that decision with your posh unleaded head.

[Cam]

You only had to ask!!

The price should have been an indication. A bottle at a tenner or a bottle at £1.50.

Hmmmm...... difficult decision!!

[Matt]

sorry! you could travel all the way to southampton to get some if you really wanted nick...... they have quite a lot of the stuff!