Irish Mini Owners Club

Hi guys im just wondering if my car is unleaded or leaded petrol????
Its an 86 998cc mayfair and i dont know if the heads been modified or not????????
The previous owner doesnt know either, ive been using a lead substitute just to be sure but id like to know now if im wasting my money.

Ive the head off now at the moment so is there any easy way to know?

No way to know .Only if the valves have recessed into the seats could you say that its a
leaded head that has been run for sometime on unleaded fuel . If you use an additive that won't have happened anyway .You could have new seats fitted but its cheaper to buy an off the shelf head . I had mine done for my 998 motor it cost me €600 for new seats guides and
a skim . Off the shelf unlead head for a 998 in the u.k. is only £165 or so . But you will need to go and get it cheap enough on the ferry now

even if the cylinder head has been converted to run unleaded it would be very wise to continue using lead replacement additives!

Cheers lads

I think maybe il just keep using a shot of the additive so...........

Better safe than sorry Just like condoms!

Hi JonesyG
I only got the exhaust seats done as these are the ones that get hottest. I still use an add to help keep the cylinder cool on a long run. around town and short spins it runs ok without adding it.

Eamonn