Maybe another one going to the scrappie.

Right now I am NOT in love with my X1/9. Last year the head gasket went,for a huge variety of reasons it took a long time before I could repair it. Last week we finally got it done and she was running well so I booked it in for some brake work and MOT with a local garage. It failed the MOT on the HC emissions but they re-tuned her and the ticket was duly issued, yesterday. Today I bought new tax, number plates, some paint and filled the tank right up (nearly £40), all in all this week I have spent about £400. Yesterday's trip to the garage, drive home plus today's trip to get the tax and petrol is probably only about 25 miles. I was taking my wife out for a ride in my newly returned pride and joy this afternoon when BANG, huge clouds of oily grey smoke billowing from the exhaust and an oily substance spluttering out from it too.

Right now I may have had enough! I am soooooo pi55ed off it is not true. So it may be time to say goodbye. It was not as if I was doing 100 mph either, I doddled around at about 50 or on the speed limit all the time and only occasionally flicked up to 70 to pass a stream of slow moving cars.

Maybe when I have calmed down I will rethink but right now she is looking at the scrap heap.

Sorry to here about your woes, unfortunatley cars can (and do) have a down side, where are you based if near to essex I could assist?

Brgds

Fading away

i hope they skimmed the head before the head gasket was fitted?

Thank you for your kind words, especially Chill's kind offer of help, that was really appreciated and cheered me up no end. Fortunately I have a mate who is a bit of a petrol head and regards these things as a challenge, he came over this morning and we have decided that the gasket has gone again, the head was skimmed but maybe the block is distorted. The oily stuff exiting the exhaust is coolant.

Today is another day and the disappointment and disbelief in yesterday's events are being replaced, helped by your encouragement, by a steely resolve to fix the bl00dy thing. If the block is bent I may think about having a Uno engine, if I do I shall need the advice this club has to offer big time.

Incidentally Thorpey, I am sorry I never got to any TVS meets, but she was always off the road, I am really sad that you will no longer be the TVS rep.