As I know the same motors of BA and BG have different number of hp. 114 (BA) and 129 (BG). Does anybody know what was changed in the motor for BA model? Maybe it is not very difficult to restore the justice

I know that most of the BG's never had CATs but that is only 1-2 BHP, other than that I have no idead sorry

...is it anything to do with the ol Jap Vs UK ECU settings chestnut?

[b]wai.cheung01[/b],
[quote]ol Jap [/quote]
Excuse me, what do you mean?

Think he means the Japanese set up versus the UK spec set up ... correct me if I am wrong.

I used to have a 1.6 Jap imported MX5 and it was much quicker than a similar UK spec 1.6... basically the have different controls in japan, imports are usually restricted, but once derestricted go like stink :P

It's to do with the fact that the Japanese market is blessed with 100RON or better fuel and we have to live with 95RON+ (no doubt, we pay 10 times the amount of money for it too!! ).
This means that the engine can be tuned to a higher compression as they can be confident that the fuel won't self-ignite under pressure before the spark plug can do the job (throwing off the timing and doing nasty things to your engine in the long run!).

Hence why a Jap Civic Type-R can have around 220BHP rolling off the factory floor! (doesn't explain why it costs about 2 Grand less, has Climate Control fitted .... .....AND was built in SWINDON!!! )

So what octane is Shell Optimax??? On that note, does anyone use it and is it worth the extra few pence per litre???

Optimax is supposed to be 97 RON - must admit I always use it and I would say you can notice the difference

I thought Optimax was more than 98RON (Super-Super-unleaded)

I'm pretty sure that it is more than 97....

I like it too and have been using it since I had my previous 1.5 323F.

...However, there are soem biker groups who say that it may not be advisable to use it constantly due to the detergents in it; I think they were referring to the carbon deposits constantly being cleaned off the valves.... and ending up in other places in the engine!! 8-[

Hopefully they were referring to 2 STROKE engines.....

...my engine has started to sound a little 'taxi' like lately and i don't know if it's due to the mileage, the water-thin Synthetic oil or just noisey tappets.


Gonna run half-a-can of Ecotek Powerboost through it soon; that should send any rogue carbon deposits down the exhaust pipe!! =D> (I LOVE these new smileys!! =D> )

Here Here Three cheers for the Novel Smileys

Found this on the Shell website ([url]http://www.shell.com[/url]):

[quote]What is octane rating and how does it affect the running of a car?

The octane rating is a measure of a fuel's resistance to knocking. Knock, also known as `pinking', occurs during combustion when the fuel-air mixture explodes ahead of the flame front rather than burning smoothly, causing a knocking noise. Using a method established in 1929, petrol is rated on a scale of 0 - 100, and given a research octane number (RON). In the 1920s petrol had an octane rating of around 50 to 60. Today, Lead Replacement Petrol has a minimum octane of 97 RON, Unleaded of 95 RON, Super of 97 RON and in August 2001 Shell introduced Shell Optimax, which with an octane rating of 98 RON is the UK's highest octane petrol.
[/quote]

BP Ultimate is only about 97 RON.

[b]Mark[/b]

"in August 2001 Shell introduced Shell Optimax, which with an octane rating of 98 RON is the UK's highest octane petrol. "

So its 98RON for optimax

Aha, I must have confused myself as mine is about 100RON..... after the OCtane Boosters!! :-$

aha.... yeah anyway, doesnt matter seing as my car runs on NOS all the time.

Wouldnt reccomend it tho, i have to get a new engine every 9 mile, it seems that the pistons fuse to the shaft, and the engine seems to get a bit hot and not start...

Maybe i should start a new thread about this is the technical section... hmmm...

Guys, I did not mean the Japan motor at all. European motor of BG has 128 hp. It goes with 95 RON pretty well.

I thought they had different engines. Even if they do - you could still ask the question "why is the MX-5 1.8 engine more powerful than the 323F BA 1.8 engine?" because these [i]are [/i]the same (depending on year).

The answer I think is in different cams, ECU and compression ratio. Also in standard guise, the MX-5 does not have the funny air intake routing that the 323F BA has.

I think, on this forum somewhere, theres a list of which MX-5 engine bits that can be swapped with which 323F BA engine bits - have a search.

Hope this helps.

[b]Mark[/b]

The MX-5 has hotter cams, slightly different ecu settings and a far better exhaust extractor .

isn't the 1,8 MX a V6 engine?

Nope its a 4 cylinder Dohc :P

You can buy a V6 MX-5 but they are all imports in the UK

1.8 V6 was in the MX-3 (easy to get confused; glad our cars didn't end up as MX-4s!! :-&

[quote]glad our cars didn't end up as MX-4s!! [/quote]

I bet they'd have been quicker and lower as standard though!


[b]Mark[/b]

yep its the ECU & emissions. the BG 323/323f 1.8 had a cat on the later models (130bhp) whereas earlier ones(pre cat) is 140bhp. the later BA 1.8 was not performance focused but the early ones were. hence the BG is badged GTi.