WARNING Faulty 2 Litre engine cylinder head gaskets

[Eric Brumenil]

A manufacturer sold me faulty cylinder head gaskets and I have been unfailry treated !
It looks they had been manufactured in 1989

Detailed photos here

2-L-Bristol-FAULTY-Cylinder-Head-Gasket

I informed the manufacturer in 2009
I thought on the precautionary principle it should have informed the dozens of clients(the number is coming directly from the manufacturer)
who bought or had this gasket installed on their car
The manufacturer wrote me that I am the only one to complaint about it !

Is it an appropriate answer when you are informed of important problem that may cause important damage to the engine ?

I have contacted Consumer Direct in the UK and they wrote me consumers have 6 years to make a claim .

To the honnorable sarcastic members of this forum :
I just want to remind you that most of the respectable Car Manufacturers have recalled thousands of cars on the precautionary principle .
Please don't loose your time to say you are happy with your car .

We are talking about goods that are NOT satisfactory for their particular purpose

When we purchase parts for our (over 45 year old engines) we must be aware that the parts must be checked before fitting. I have been in the motor trade for over 40 years, and one rule that should always be followed is to check the new gasket with the old.
If this had been done before the head was fitted the problem could have been cured before fitting, either by contacting the gasket manufacturer or simply punching a new hole.
Roger.

[Hydroglen]

I agree with you in checking parts, and yes I would have punched a new
hole. The engine function may not necessarily overheat even with a plugged
hole.
However Eric is correct, that the reply given, that he was the only one to
complain, is totally inappropriate. It is a feeble attempt to shift the
blame to the customer and is rude and unacceptable.
Dorien Berteletti

[Eric Brumenil]

Originally Posted by 190251cars

When we purchase parts for our (over 45 year old engines) we must be aware that the parts must be checked before fitting. I have been in the motor trade for over 40 years, and one rule that should always be followed is to check the new gasket with the old.
If this had been done before the head was fitted the problem could have been cured before fitting, either by contacting the gasket manufacturer or simply punching a new hole.
Roger.

I agree with you
The problem is that this manufacture wrote that dozens of cars are RUNNING with the faulty gasket fitted as it !

The reason for my replying to this post was to say that the onus must lay with the engine builder and not the manufacturer of the gasket.
These gaskets are most likely made by "men in sheds" not computerized robots,
so once again check against the old gasket rather than blindly fitting it.
As for the manufacturer telling you that no one else has complained could well have been true as a competent and professional engineer would have checked old against new.
Do you not agree that the engine builder is at least partly to blame?
Roger

[Rubbond]

Eric,
This gasket looks well made and its age (unused) is irrelevant.
It presumably fits other engines, where that one hole is not required.
This is no longer amusing.
In my opinion you are a complete nutter.

[Hydroglen]

Roger,
I am not sure if your reply is to Eric or me. I agree that the engine
builder may have some blame. However you write
a competent and professional engineer would have checked old against new

Presumably when the "man in the shed" delivered the faulty gaskets "a
competent and professional engineer at Bristol would have checked old
against new" but maybe he was off on his tea break!! LOL

Regards
Dorien

[Eric Brumenil]

Originally Posted by Rubbond

Eric,
In my opinion you are a complete nutter.

Dear Rubbond , are you Antony Steevenson from the Bristol Cars Ltd who wrote me a registered letter november 11 , 2010 ?
What is your position in the Bristol Cars Ltd ?