Optimax and Washer Jets
Discussion
After knocking the old washerjet off whilst cleaning the car, a new one was fitted at MOT time.
In persuit of optimax yesterday (none locally, we set off on a mission to find some) I pulled over to see what was wrong with the new jets which had been working ok until yesterday - one jet was spraying just fine, the other seemed to be clogged.
Closer inspection revealed the jets were fine and could be adjusted manually, and pointed anywhere
It was with much glee that I discovered I could angle one jet to blast left right across the windscreen, past the passenger deep into pedestrian zone. Figured it might come in handy one day whilst crusing town, bsssst!!
Its a shame we cant get optimax in Eastbourne, so decided to ask for directions in hastings - we knew there was one somewhere, but couldnt find it.
We had to ask several people before finding someone that knew the way. Down goes window... Pardon me, Do you know where we can find a shell garage around here?
No, sorry. - OK, cheers. BSSSST!!! Plenty of right foot and we were away
Found some optimax in the end too 
In persuit of optimax yesterday (none locally, we set off on a mission to find some) I pulled over to see what was wrong with the new jets which had been working ok until yesterday - one jet was spraying just fine, the other seemed to be clogged.
Closer inspection revealed the jets were fine and could be adjusted manually, and pointed anywhere
It was with much glee that I discovered I could angle one jet to blast left right across the windscreen, past the passenger deep into pedestrian zone. Figured it might come in handy one day whilst crusing town, bsssst!!
Its a shame we cant get optimax in Eastbourne, so decided to ask for directions in hastings - we knew there was one somewhere, but couldnt find it.
We had to ask several people before finding someone that knew the way. Down goes window... Pardon me, Do you know where we can find a shell garage around here?
No, sorry. - OK, cheers. BSSSST!!! Plenty of right foot and we were away
Found some optimax in the end too Very funny hohoho.
Somebody did something similar to me many years ago when I was on a bicycle. They didn't find it so funny when I caught them up a couple of junctions later.
I also remember running almost the whole length of Princes Street in Edinburgh to have words with a joker who thought it was funny to spray pedestrians with de-icer.
Somebody did something similar to me many years ago when I was on a bicycle. They didn't find it so funny when I caught them up a couple of junctions later.
I also remember running almost the whole length of Princes Street in Edinburgh to have words with a joker who thought it was funny to spray pedestrians with de-icer.
V8Smith said:Cheers Mike. I had a look just now, its a half hour drive to the nearest garage. Worth stopping in if in the area, but not local enough to use regularly, sadly.
Bob,
If you go onto the shell website I am sure they have a Shell garage locator and it tells you the closest shell station to you when you put in your postcode?
Mike
What is the next best fuel (for performance, pops n bangs etc) other than shell? Are there any differences between BP and ESSO?
On this forum, I can't remember the exact details but it was something about pre-ignition, which has the effect of giving flames out the back etc and if you don't have hardened valve seats it can damage the seats.
I'm wanting to go over to Optomax but until this is cleared up I'm nervous.
I'm wanting to go over to Optomax but until this is cleared up I'm nervous.
Um... if you heard it on this forum then thr person was talking out of his rear end. Preignition has nothing to do with hardened valve seats.
Hardened valve seats are for the use of unleaded fuel in cars. In older cars with cast iron heads (IIRC the alloy headed cars needed inserts anyway) the valve seats were machined into the head, the lead in the fuel when combusted created lead compounds on the valve seat that prevented the valve from sticking to the seat at high combustion temperatures. When unleaded is used the valve seats are no longer lubrictaed and the valve binds to the seat on a microscopic level, when the valve moves away from the seat again it takes a small part of the seat with it. Thus after the many thousands of times a second this happens the valve seat slowly starts to recede into the head. This is known as valve seat recession. This leads to lower compression, badly sealing valves and a generally knackered head.
Preigniton, is where ingition of the fuel/air mixture occurs BTDC and the firing of the spark. If you get preignition then you will probably suffer engine damage very quickly. This can be caused by anything that can make the chamber conditions abnormal, high pressure of high temp. e.g a glowing ebmer of carbon, etc.
When people talk about pinking, or knocking they are talking about detonation, this occurs ATDC and after combustion. It is the ignition of unburnt fuel and gas left in the head just before they exit the exhaust valve. This causes a pressure spike in the cylinder head just after firing. This is the knocking sound that you can hear. This is not too bad, engines can go on like this for a while. It causes various different thigs such as piston scuffing and lowering of Exhaust Gas Temperature. Octane rating is basically how much the fuel resists destruction if anything Optimax aids the prevention of detonation. Flames out of the exhaust and preignintion are not the same thing. Standard unleaded is 95 RON, and Optimax is 97, this means it's of a higher octane rating. The higher the octane rating the higher the compression and ignition advance can be used on the car, thus improving performance and engine efficiancy, but increasing pollution (so it is said). That said if the timing on the car has been reduced to compensate for running on lower grade fuel then putting higher octane in will give no benefit.
So anyone who said that Optimax give preigniton without hardened valve seats has gotten a load of terms and just strung them together. Optimax with it's cleaning additives is better for the car.
Cologne V6 2.3/2.8lt engines all need checking to see if they have hardened valve seats. If they are suitable they are stamped in the centre of the cylinder head exhaust flange. 2.3lt engines will have ?B? or ?F? stamped on the head 2.8lt engines will have ?D? or ?E? stamped on them. The 2.9s and 2.4 are fine.
Hope this clears things up a bit.
Hardened valve seats are for the use of unleaded fuel in cars. In older cars with cast iron heads (IIRC the alloy headed cars needed inserts anyway) the valve seats were machined into the head, the lead in the fuel when combusted created lead compounds on the valve seat that prevented the valve from sticking to the seat at high combustion temperatures. When unleaded is used the valve seats are no longer lubrictaed and the valve binds to the seat on a microscopic level, when the valve moves away from the seat again it takes a small part of the seat with it. Thus after the many thousands of times a second this happens the valve seat slowly starts to recede into the head. This is known as valve seat recession. This leads to lower compression, badly sealing valves and a generally knackered head.
Preigniton, is where ingition of the fuel/air mixture occurs BTDC and the firing of the spark. If you get preignition then you will probably suffer engine damage very quickly. This can be caused by anything that can make the chamber conditions abnormal, high pressure of high temp. e.g a glowing ebmer of carbon, etc.
When people talk about pinking, or knocking they are talking about detonation, this occurs ATDC and after combustion. It is the ignition of unburnt fuel and gas left in the head just before they exit the exhaust valve. This causes a pressure spike in the cylinder head just after firing. This is the knocking sound that you can hear. This is not too bad, engines can go on like this for a while. It causes various different thigs such as piston scuffing and lowering of Exhaust Gas Temperature. Octane rating is basically how much the fuel resists destruction if anything Optimax aids the prevention of detonation. Flames out of the exhaust and preignintion are not the same thing. Standard unleaded is 95 RON, and Optimax is 97, this means it's of a higher octane rating. The higher the octane rating the higher the compression and ignition advance can be used on the car, thus improving performance and engine efficiancy, but increasing pollution (so it is said). That said if the timing on the car has been reduced to compensate for running on lower grade fuel then putting higher octane in will give no benefit.
So anyone who said that Optimax give preigniton without hardened valve seats has gotten a load of terms and just strung them together. Optimax with it's cleaning additives is better for the car.
Cologne V6 2.3/2.8lt engines all need checking to see if they have hardened valve seats. If they are suitable they are stamped in the centre of the cylinder head exhaust flange. 2.3lt engines will have ?B? or ?F? stamped on the head 2.8lt engines will have ?D? or ?E? stamped on them. The 2.9s and 2.4 are fine.
Hope this clears things up a bit.
V8Smith said:
Bob,
If you go onto the shell website I am sure they have a Shell garage locator and it tells you the closest shell station to you when you put in your postcode?
Shell Worldwide
BP
Esso UK
I can only comment on what I've learned in the few short months since ownership began, but Ive heard a number of times that you can help reduce pinking (if your V8 pinks, which mind did before the injectors were cleaned) by using optimax.
Incidentally, Hellforts have a 2-4-1 offer on washerjet fluid, picked up 10 litres for ?7.99 (despite their sale signs saying buy 2 get 1 free)
...Ahem
Incidentally, Hellforts have a 2-4-1 offer on washerjet fluid, picked up 10 litres for ?7.99 (despite their sale signs saying buy 2 get 1 free)
...Ahem
True
I'm still not sure about Optimax, in saying I heard adverse comment on this forum, I meant one of the forums, probably general gassing.
The main reason for my nerves is the age of the engine, its all very well putting out these new high efficency fuels but they were designed for more high tech engines with multi valve heads and I still wonder if we are asking too much of what is an 80's engine.
Somebody please convince me because I want it to be allright
I'm still not sure about Optimax, in saying I heard adverse comment on this forum, I meant one of the forums, probably general gassing.
The main reason for my nerves is the age of the engine, its all very well putting out these new high efficency fuels but they were designed for more high tech engines with multi valve heads and I still wonder if we are asking too much of what is an 80's engine.
Somebody please convince me because I want it to be allright
UKBoB said:They are muppets in there, I got four of their advanced coolants and some washer fluid for the price two - still damn expensive though!
Incidentally, Hellforts have a 2-4-1 offer on washerjet fluid, picked up 10 litres for ?7.99 (despite their sale signs saying buy 2 get 1 free)
Tripps said:
Incidentally, Hellforts have a 2-4-1 offer on washerjet fluid, picked up 10 litres for ?7.99 (despite their sale signs saying buy 2 get 1 free)
They are muppets in there, I got four of their advanced coolants and some washer fluid for the price two - still damn expensive though!
I phoned the Thurrock branch the other week (as I was passing them later the following day) to ask whether they stock a brake piston compressor and they said "NO" but I just called in on my way past to take a look and what did they have hanging in the tool section?
Yes, you got it ....a brake piston compressor!
Actually my wife spotted it before I did and said "Is this what you're looking for"?
I was very impressed, I'm obviously a very good influence!
I may halt my plans to run away with Kylie after all unless she's also good with the spanners. I was going to say with my tool but.....
Tripps said:
KentishS2 said:
I may halt my plans to run away with Kylie after all unless she's also good with the spanners. I was going to say with my tool but.....
She was a car mechanic in Neighbours so I'm sure she picked up something
Oh yes she was wasn't she in her little Dungarees!
She's like a fine wine though and has become better with age, she looks fabulous now and she's just so cute with it.
I've got all her records you know....
I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky...
>> Edited by KentishS2 on Tuesday 30th November 09:24
Tripps said:
She was a car mechanic in Neighbours so I'm sure she picked up something
Hopefully nothing contagious though Tripps, or you'd have to put your tongue back in your mouth
KentishS2 said:
I've got all her records you know....
I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky...
We're all lucky to have you here Kentish, droolstaining the S forum
But not as lucky as my mate Dave's brother who is Kylies keyboard player for all the live gigs 
edited to say: Id like to spray her with my washer jets!
>> Edited by UKBoB on Tuesday 30th November 09:51
UKBoB said:I gave up Kylie a few years back and moved onto the younger model (Ms Ivy Bedsheet) before I had the chance to catch anything
She was a car mechanic in Neighbours so I'm sure she picked up something
Hopefully nothing contagious though Tripps, or you'd have to put your tongue back in your mouth
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