31 replies to this topic

[MRA]

Finally,

Suspected coating issue, gasket can potentially move on higher power installetions, but good for normal power levels....

I am unsure what a normal power level is, but suspect that it means standard 63bhp ish....

No new stocks, no date for delivery etc etc ................

We are actively looking for an alternative supplier

Regards Martin

[FartinMartin]

anybody have any idea of batch numbers at fault? I had a string of failures last year, and after much head and block work over the winter I am still running with a low rev limit. I still have the packaging lying about for the latest gasket fitted, so would like to check before i lift the limiter and drive to Germany with it!

thanks

[gav]

http://www.turbomini...p...295818&fr=0 Basically if it's made in the UK then it will be fine, if not don't use it.

[mike.]

So can we get refunds on these items or what?

[mike.]

Also, just looked all over the packaging on my gaskets and they're nothing about where it was made. How do I find out?

[gav]

All these questions are answered in the link, it will say made in.... in the bottom left corner of the package sticker.

[MRA]

Sorry, to point out that even Payen don't know the faulty serial numbers, and they have been made in brazil for some years, ever since the slough factory closed, so finding a gasket with UK stamped on it is going to be a lucky find

Unfortunately as a Mini community we are up the muddy track without the correct tyres ANY payen gasket is suspect at the moment, however how about hearing from those that have fitted them with no problems ? As I know that NOT all of the gaskets are faulty.

Regards Martin

[mike.]

Right well, i'm not even that bothered about getting my money back at the moment. I don't want to risk fitting one of these gaskets if it could go within a few miles, its not worth the effort to me.

So whats the next best performance headgasket to use? It'll be a 1275 with about 90bhp hopefully.

Any suggestions, preferably not paygen after this news

[MRA]

Then you are severely limited to what is available............ research ongoing but really limited

[Shifty]

So for the time being and assuming that the engine is fairly standard, would a composite cheepo gasket be a better choice?

[gav]

If it's a 1275 just use an AF460 copper gasket, these are very good.

[MRA]

Hi,

I am also being informed that AF460's are not good either...... as the tooling used to make them comes from the UK.... hence MADE IN ENGLAND so again, these could also be faulty.... lets hear it from you guys ? has there been any AF460 failures ??

Regards Martin

[Cooperman]

Martin,
Thanks for your diligent research.
I have just got some AF460 gaskets as alternatives as I must have something and we shalls ee how they work. I'm a bit unsure about putting one on a 1380 engine.

[MRA]

I understand your situation, we need someone in the UK to take the ball by the horns and start making a replacement, I can get about 250 AF460 I have 50 BK450's in stock and about 30 "sets" which include the BK450.......... there's just no confidence in the product from Federal Mogul........

Maybe if everyone emailed Federal Mogul on their website to complain they may be incensed to do something a little quicker ? or maybe it's a ploy, partly sponsored by the new car market.....

Regards Martin (cynical head on this afternoon)

[Sprocket]

I have been using one of these suspicious BK450 gaskets, and so far with 200+ miles on it with hard driving 105bhp and 87lbft 8000rpm, it is ok. How long that lasts is yet to be seen. The last suspicious BK450 gasket was only on the engine 300 miles and that showed no signs of failure, but did show distortion of the fire rings at the bore intersections.

I personaly think there is an issue with the thickness of the backing material as I discussed earlier. I also have two new AF470 gaskets that do not have Made In England stampped on them, but thenew uncompressed thickness is 1.02mm which could allow for 0.04mm compression perhaps, or maybe 0.08mm if it is a faulty one.

The two used 'Made In England' gaskets I have compared to the two suspicious ones, I can see that the steel backing (underneath the fibre backing) is on the top on the suspicious gaskets, and on the bottom of the 'Made In England' The clear silicone coating material on all of them has the same apearance and texture.

Make of that as you will, but I will be keeping an eye on the cylinder compression, and be carrying spares anywhere on a long run