Unleaded/Timing?

[Deleted]

Hello all,

According to the manual and the engine number on my 1988/89, 998 Racing Green it should run on unleaded fuel. Although i have no way of telling if the head has been changed.
When i bought the car i used to run it on unleaded +a lead
additive.The car runs fine on this,but it would save money/hassel if i could just run on unleaded.
Then after checking the book etc. i filled it with unleaded and it promtly blew the head gasket within 5 miles!
Do you have to retard/advance the timing to run on unleaded?
If so how much/what degree BTDC ?
Any way of telling if it has an unleaded head?
John.

[oldgit]

Think that might just be a coincidence John.We run with a lead additive but does no harm to run without sometimes.

[Deleted]

Yea,thought it was a coincidence Jim because the temperature did not get hot.
So...no need to adjust the timing then?

[monkeyjim]

From 1989 onwards Mini's were unleaded . My brother had a new (and still has it ) H reg second version Racing Green and that definately ran on unleaded . Quite sure everything From the Mini 30/summer of 1989 was unleaded.
d

[oldgit]

Well you have got to take head off now to renew gasket so would be a good time to check or replace valves.

[joski]

Our Duckling is actually a leaded head, but we only sometimes use the additive (when we remember! )

Simon's been planing to change the head for an unleaded one for a while now, but I'm not sure that's really gonna make much difference. He's just spent ages adjusting the timing on it now.

[Stephen]

I forgot my white one was leaded for the whole of last year and its still going hahaha