I'd say that what you can see and think are valve cut outs are the shadows or actual valves standing open looking like they overlap the bright ring. The bright ring could be the top piston ring if these are the actual valves rather than cut outs...

Inlet manifold gasket can let water into engine too.

There appears to be reflections but looks like your arrowed part of gasket to me. Is that looking up at head underside or block ??

Looks like the shiny fire ring on the head gasket. Compression sounds OK if all similar.

Bought one of these. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365506841438?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=U9IdHnTiTmy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=b5qQSb6hQNK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Took 10 days from China ! A 18 MHz digital storage scope...

Is that up to 2001 ?? In which case MOT man is wrong and no EML on pre 2001 petrol.

You are missing nothing ! It is a simple way of effecting EGR removal and cost nowt... If a blank or a hollowed out EGR is fitted it improves the air flow. Whether it is noticeable is difficult to answer

My 2003 1.8 Petrol has an EML. It has shown at times. Not with emission problems though and I am pretty sure it doesn't power on at key turning time. Lat time it showed it was a coil pack fault which is not fitted on early models.

EML.doesn't light as a test when switched on. I will double check that !! But sure it doesn't. I can put Pscan on it for you when you pass through.

Here's some. Never seen one, except my old brake pipe spanner !!

The nuts on the front of the propshaft to IRD bolts are best fit for 1/2 inch AF. Also the TD4 aux belt tensioner is 15/16 inch AF. 24mm is loose and hurts your knuckles when it slips off !! Can you get 6 sided ring spanners ??

Ever since I got my 2003 TD4 Sport, the turbo lets out a growl or a rasping noise when it is working, say when the car changes down on a hill and the turbo comes in again. At 53k miles, I didn't think it was a turbo bearing, now at 68k it has...

And leaves them on for a while after starting too. Stick a voltmeter on one..it is interesting.

Can do whatever date people want. Be good if weather was fine. Do you go on holiday for the entire school holidays?

There is summat to increase the county division !! I know, let's go pasties 🫡

Got 3 phase, should get him home again 🫢

Been thinking..... If I proposed Saturday 26th July, could folks let me know how many people might be interested?? Long distancers could pitch a tent overnight. Could organise a port a loo and refreshments. All depends on the interest. It...

Thanks for all the info. As above, oil in bores puts compression back to where it should be so worn bores or broken and worn rings I guess. Today, loosened off all the bits to come off ready. Drained all fluids, removed everything that I could...

Happy to donate use of a field if North Devon suits anyone. Date by agreement !! About 25 mins from M5 JCN 27. As it's a field you'd need a 4x4 🤭

That's how I understand it. Unplugging the fuel rail sensor provides some default values apparently. Voltage from centre wire (bluey colour) to ground should be around the 1.8 to 2 V level on idle.

So with a camera in the injector hole and a thin pipe and syringe fed into the glowplug hole, I injected oil around the edge of the piston. Bingo, the compression is back. Over 350 psi. That's what my gauge goes to !! So, a head change won't...