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MG MGA - Redex

Anyone use Redex fuel additive (or similar) in either the MGA or daily driver.

My MOT examiner was telling me how beneficial he thinks it is, based on many years experience of taking engines apart.

Any thoughts?
John Bray

John, many many moons ago, my father would religiously use Redex when he filled up at a petrol station. The stuff had its own conical-shaped stand next to the pump, and was contained in a special dispenser that gave the required dose for a gallon of petrol with the squeeze of a trigger. "Four and four shots" he would say to the attendant. Depending on how old you are you probably remember.
Lindsay Sampford

Yes Lindsay - remember that well - it was called an "upper cylinder lubricant" and was supposed to give more miles per gallon and make engines last longer - my uncle swore by it ( Dad didn't have a car or licence). John - you don't see it nowadays as modern fuel is supposed to contain all the additives needed.
Cam Cunningham

As a schoolboy in the 60's I worked in a petrol station in the evenings. The proprietor would put ordinary engine oil in the Redex dispenser, and charge Redex prices for it!!
Nigel Munford

Glad this topic has come up since my neighbor gave me a bottle of Redex and I've been wondering if it has any beneficial use for the MGA or is it just 60's 'snake oil'
J H Cole

A spoonful of Castrol'R' per gallon of fuel give a nice effect but only to the person following you (top down of course)! As young aspiring 'motorcycle racers', we used to do this with our road bikes and take turns to ride at the back and breathe in the'R'oma!
Lindsay Sampford

As well as Redex I remember my Father putting in Adcoids? a small one inch square of jelly like substance each one wrapped in cellophane - was supposed to do the same thing as redex - I still put a shot of Redex in the Plug hole of my lawn mower before putting it away for the winter
Paul
P D Camp

Lindsay

Yes, wonderful smell you get from Castrol R. I put it in the lawn mower once. Made mowing the lawn such a pleasure. It does gum things up though.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, I didn't really want to admit it, especially on line, but I've put it in the mower too! A bit off the Redex subject, but that's how these posts usually go.
What about the smell of Methanol and Castrol 'R' Steve? It was the only reason I used to go to speedway and I'll swear you can get high on it!
Lindsay Sampford

I was hoping someone might confirm my vague memory that it was claimed that by injecting neat through the carbs it helped remove the carbon!
J H Cole

That additive sounds like our "Marvel Mystery Oil" to me...my repair shop told me to use a couple of ounces per fill up with my VW Turbo Diesel Jetta...I always wondered if it would work well with my MGs. Anyone from US or UK have experience with this additive?


Joe Walck

Lindsay

Wife's side of the family lives in the Isle of Man. We try to get across just for the smell of the bikes on the TT course!

Steve
Steve Gyles

JH, your vague memory is correct. I was present when somebody performed that operation, and I remember lots of smoke and spluttering, but as to whether it cleared the carbon out I don't know!
Lindsay Sampford

I did it quite regularly in the late 50s /6os The procedure was to put a teaspoonfull of Redex in each cylinder leave overnight, next day remove air filters start engine and dribble a couple of ounces of Redex in the carb inlets maintaining 1500-2000 revs. A wet towel over the exhaust was supposed to keep the smoke down !!. This procedure resulted in clouds of white smoke but the car did seem to run smoother after the treatment. I suspect the environment police would object today
P D Camp

I am told dribbling small amounts of Dot 4 brake/clutch fluid into each carb inlet whilst maintaining high revs can also be an effective cleanser - with similar clouds of white smoke; have never tried it though.
Joe Gates




In 1964 I purchased a 1929 Studebaker (still have it) from the owner’s widow. She knew nothing of the car but with it came a hand written exercise book of things to be done on the car for maintenance and a description of how to carry out individual repairs he had done written in the style of a modern shop manual.

Fitted to the car was this “Tip Top Oiler” which connected to the intake manifold immediately above the updraught carburetor. The rate of flow (suck) can be adjusted by the small needle jet and the bowl is removed for refilling from a knurled nut on the bottom. Also with the car was this half full can of Redex. I took the oiler off in deference to some concourse judges ( since woken up to myself) and had since forgotten about it. May have to refit it and use the remaining Redex.

The other images posted below show the can rear with some interesting comments and claims. Also with the car in a box was some Redex competitor badges and I put these onto the car some years later after rediscovering them. Sorry ‘bout the quality of this one but gives the idea.

The site below tells about these Redex trials in Australia in the 1950’s and these are competitor badges from those trials. I have no idea what car the previous owner may have competed in (if at all) but he was certainly a ‘car man’ and seems to have had some connection to Redex. There is a couple of funny original audio tracks of Redex ads on this site worth a listen.

http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/redex_trials_the_legend.htm


John McMaster

Back of Redex can


John McMaster

Badge pic.


John McMaster

What a wonderful car John!

I love the before and after Redex compression test!

Instant cure for worn bores, and if not "...do not condemn cylinder as a few days' running on REDEXed oil may free rings and restore compression..."

It's amazing how many benefits there are to be had just by burning extra oil!
N McGurk

I checked with the Chief Operations Manager from Infineum here in Oxford. Infineum are the world leader in additives for fuels worldwide in a joint venture between Exxon and Shell.

The person used to sell Redex and he said that Redex is just a simple standard oil with no additives in it but I have mislaid the number he gave me. There is no modern equivalent to Redex and modern additives do not do the same job ie upper cylinder lubrication .

Its only useful on engines that have a tendency to suffer from high wear on upper cylinder components and I'm not sure if the B series engine has that problem so not sure if its worth it at all.

John Francis

Well I took the plunge and tried a bottle of the diesel additive in my 2005 Audi diesel.

Indications are that the car starts easier (I'm not sure why) appears to run smoother and seems a little more lively.

At the moment there does not appear to be any noticeable increase in fuel consumption. I would need to achieve an extra 50 miles out of every tank of diesel to make it worthwhile on a financial basis.

I suspect similar benefits may be obtained by using better quality fuels on a regular basis.

John Bray

I found what Redex is. It is purely HVI 650 oil coloured red. Not quite sure what it is but my man was absolutely certain about it. Googled it and

http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_X_cbe_24855_key_140001979688_5838.pdf
John Francis

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2011 and 14/06/2011

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