Steve Cargill

Hi, I've posted a few times about the BHG on the UKSUPRAS list. I've copied my latest update below. Do you think I'll need the colder plugs given my spec? I haven't got a boost guage yet so can't tell what I'm actually running. I also think I don't have the second cat in. I've hit fuel cut twice - both after LONG WOT runs up hills at about 130MPHish. I guess the SHOP!! plugs arn't Platinum tipped at that price, they will be the BKR7E-11. ==== Start story ==== AS some may remember back in June I was talking about my car maybe having a BHG. I would drive 100 miles to work and after the engine had cooled down the expansion tank was empty and you usually couldn't see any water in the rad. Top it up and drive home and the same thing happened. Take it for a 15 minute WOT run and the same thing happened. There was no detectable leak, no problems with a pressure test and an analysis of the coolant didn't show any exhaust gasses. It had been to two places, and the second time in at one of them they managed to crash it on a road test. Not too bad, but due to a combination of errors I got it back last week after three months. Needless to say, despite having a new rad the problem was still there. They finally decided that it must be either a BHG or cracked head. ( I'd originally told them it was probably a BHG, but they naturally wanted to diagnose it themselves.) They took the head off today and sure enough the gasket has gone. The strange thing is the head bolts on the inlet side were all 75lbs and the ones on the exhaust side were all 45lbs; probable cause of BHG. He said he'd seen this before on Integralies, apparently due to the heat off the turbos. So, perhaps a warning here - mine was built June 93 - chassis number in the low 6000 range with 100,000 KMs ( 60K miles ) this may be something to watch out for. Hopefully getting it back next Friday (how many time have I heard that before) so am looking forward to becoming a proper member and actually turning up to events and track days etc etc. I guess Oakington if there as still spaces, but I don't want to book it until I've got a reliable car under my feet! ==== End Story ====

Sorry for following up my own so qucikly, but gapping. NGK says 44 thou MKIV-NZ says about 0.7-0.8mm (about 33 thou) Thoughts?

Whilst I'm getting a new HG fitted they also want to change the plugs. The standard plugs are BKR6EP-11. I've looked in the archives and the consensus seems to be that :- a) Don't bother with platinum, the only advantage is they MAY last longer b) Use heat 7 instead of 6. I need to let them know tomorrow, any thoughs?

Doesn't the Overdrive button just 'disable' 4th gear? Therefore it would make no difference apart from when ragging the 4rse out of it at high speed? If I'm wrong then I'll gently back away....

I remember reading a few years ago a magazine doing a review of a AM Vantage, they had that problem at about 130 MPH ISTR. They took it as a "safety device" to stop you going TOOOO fast in the wet :wink:

I remember reading a few years ago a magazine doing a review of a AM Vantage, they had that problem at about 130 MPH ISTR. They took it as a "safety device" to stop you going TOOOO fast in the wet :wink: