Tyre pressures & fuel Question 280i
Discussion
Running a 280i Fixed Head.....
What Tyre pressures should I be running at as I think they are to high???
&
Fuel...no unleaded conversion...sticking Shell Optimax in with out any leaded additives at the moment...is this ok or would you suggest me doing something else???
Thanks in advance.
P
What Tyre pressures should I be running at as I think they are to high???
&
Fuel...no unleaded conversion...sticking Shell Optimax in with out any leaded additives at the moment...is this ok or would you suggest me doing something else???
Thanks in advance.
P
In Steve Heath's book it says all 280 fixed Heads made before 1983 do NOT have hardened valve seats, so if you have an original engine then you should be using a lead substitute additive. It also says
"For tasmin cars made from 1983 onwards and the 280i models, the situationis different. These may be run continuously on unleaded fuel, provided they have been fitted with the later version cylinder heads with hardened valve seats. These can be identified by looking for the letters D or E that are stamped on the cylinder head exhaust flange upper face near the middle spark plug. This mark can be very light and covered with grime."
Regarding tyres I can only tell you what it says in my owners handbook (which says it is for all models) and this is 22psi front and 24psi rear.
Jon
"For tasmin cars made from 1983 onwards and the 280i models, the situationis different. These may be run continuously on unleaded fuel, provided they have been fitted with the later version cylinder heads with hardened valve seats. These can be identified by looking for the letters D or E that are stamped on the cylinder head exhaust flange upper face near the middle spark plug. This mark can be very light and covered with grime."
Regarding tyres I can only tell you what it says in my owners handbook (which says it is for all models) and this is 22psi front and 24psi rear.
Jon
jon@127 said:
In Steve Heath's book it says all 280 fixed Heads made before 1983 do NOT have hardened valve seats, so if you have an original engine then you should be using a lead substitute additive. It also says
"For tasmin cars made from 1983 onwards and the 280i models, the situationis different. These may be run continuously on unleaded fuel, provided they have been fitted with the later version cylinder heads with hardened valve seats. These can be identified by looking for the letters D or E that are stamped on the cylinder head exhaust flange upper face near the middle spark plug. This mark can be very light and covered with grime."
Regarding tyres I can only tell you what it says in my owners handbook (which says it is for all models) and this is 22psi front and 24psi rear.
Jon
Mine was built 1980.
A lead additive is required - no hassle really.
My bottle has lasted me quite a few months.
Could the cost of leaded heads be justified on such low mileage vehicles ?
I try to put Optimax in whenever I can.
The timing has just been set to 'standard' makers figure, and the plugs look to have been running hot, so I might look at cooler running plugs next.
When I found that my 280 had broken rings and a rebore was going to be a fortune, I hunted round the breakers till I found a serviceable 2.8 engine as a replacement (I had two with knackered crank bearings and one delivered that was clearly marked as a 2.3 - bloody gyppo monkeys 
).
As it turned out, it was from a Sierra XR4i and had the unleaded cylinder heads. At the time U/L was still available and I didn't know it was to be phased out - and obviously neither did the breakers, or I bet the price would have been higher
One of the added benefits of the XR4i motor was that it had cast alloy rocker covers. I ground off the Ford logos and had the covers powder-coated red to match the car. Made the engine look a whole lot nicer!
). As it turned out, it was from a Sierra XR4i and had the unleaded cylinder heads. At the time U/L was still available and I didn't know it was to be phased out - and obviously neither did the breakers, or I bet the price would have been higher
One of the added benefits of the XR4i motor was that it had cast alloy rocker covers. I ground off the Ford logos and had the covers powder-coated red to match the car. Made the engine look a whole lot nicer!
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