| Author | Message | ||
     Clive Lungmuss Experienced User Username: clive_lungmuss Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2006 |
After reading the thread on Ethonal blended fuel I thought the following might prompt discussion or contribution on fuels. Following a struggle to get my old BMW 7 Series through the UK MOT section on emissions I followed the advice of the MOT Tester when taking my 1988 Bentley Turbo for its MOT. I filled up with Shell VPower and did a few runs before going for the MOT. The car passed but the emission test surprised the MOT Tester. CO Limit ,<3.5 Actual 0.13 HC Limit <1200 Actual 65 In his words 'its nearly breathing fresh air'. The Shell VPower is certainly not the lowest priced fuel but the car ran better and more smoothly on tickover. I don't do a large mileage so I think I may well be sticking to a higher grade fuel. Just an observation which I hope will help others in choosing the right fuel. Regards, Clive | ||
| Mark Aldridge Grand Master Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 437 Registered: 10-2008 |
Clive, an interesting observation. I have a 1500 MG Midget that is octane sensitive. I have been using Shell V power recently, and it has run well without "dieseling " when switching off. Filled up with Supergreen 97Ron today and dieseling is back and car is not as lively particularly at high revs. The problem is that many cars were designed for 98 Ron minimum,some Shadows 100 octane min, and therefore Supergreen 97 is still not really adequate. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1562 Registered: 4-2016 |
Ok, Next couple of fills, I will give Shell V Power a go. My car states 100 octane in the fuel inlet housing. I will keep you posted. | ||
| David Towers Prolific User Username: xtriple Post Number: 155 Registered: 6-2010 |
I also run my car on 'Super-green' unleaded fuel. It definitely runs better/cooler and is much smoother. The cost however is a tad painful but still 110 litres at £1.39 per is only going to bankrupt me once  I was told that it makes no difference to the running of the car as it was designed for standard unleaded so I worried that it was merely 'placebo' effect. Tried it again on ordinary stuff from the supermarket and it was noticeably worse - slight stumble at idle, less instant response to throttle and it did run hotter! Back to a proper garage super stuff and she was a happy old lady again. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1563 Registered: 4-2016 |
Gotta keep our old ladies happy David  | ||
| Patrick Francis Prolific User Username: jackpot Post Number: 140 Registered: 11-2016 |
Hi Guys Modern day fuels seem to degrade so quickly. I have a Fiat Barchetta that the kids use, so when they are away for a while (couple to three months), it never runs very happily for the first few hours until we put some fuel in it. This is with modern day knock sensors and all - so just imagine what our oldies go through. I always leave a car with 1/4 tank of fuel, no more, if it will sit for a while, just so that I can give it a boost with fresh fuel. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 2321 Registered: 6-2009 |
First, thank you Mr. Aldrige for including the RON when quoting your octane numbers. So many discussions of octane "go off the rails" (particularly when folks from the USA get involved) because most of the world uses RON but the US and several other countries use AKI [RON+MON/2]. AKI numbers are always roughly 10 points below RON numbers. I guess experiences with "old gas/petrol" vary widely by where you are, too. I have never had a moment's problem when awaking my cars from their long winter's nap. We've had ethanol blend fuel in the United States ever since I began driving in the late 1970s, and it became standard by the early 1980s. I've never had any issue with petrol that's been sitting in a closed (or very nearly closed, as cars can vent, or some can) containers. I have fuel that's now way more than a couple of years old via inheritance that is powering my lawn mower and string trimmer and neither complains at all. These tend to be much finickier than any car I've ever dealt with. Brian | ||
| Todd Keleske Experienced User Username: toddk Post Number: 50 Registered: 4-2017 |
AND...The way I layup my Hacker Craft for the past 30 years that has a 454 C I GMC Marine power plant...I've always filled to 25 gallon capacity adding fuel preservative "Stabil" 1 oz per 5 gallons. My reasoning is that I believe without filling up, condensation will form within the tank and obviously add H2O to the fuel. Have never ever had any issues when starting up and taking that 1st cruise in the Spring. Todd | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1394 Registered: 9-2004 |
I left a car with a full tank of v-power + additive for 2 years and had to drain and flush the fuel system. The carbs floats were stuck and the disc fuel filter gummed up. The fuel tank sender is also stuck on full. The colour of the fuel has turned green. This is on a fifties car with a mixture of copper, brass, alloys and steel in the system.   The fuel tank sender is also stuck on full. The colour of the fuel has turned green. This is on a fifties car with a mixture of copper, brass, alloys and steel in the system.  I have some thoughts on this problem that never seemed to happen before the ethonal blended fuel was used weather useing low or high octane. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 455 Registered: 11-2015 |
Patrick L, That looks all kinds of terrible. Not sure I would even run that in the diesel golf as an oil thinner. Just kidding, of course I would but with 10% more guilt. Seriously though, want proof alcohol in gas is bad. Check out avgas, the FAA won't let you put alcohol in because of all the problems it causes. If you live near an airport, they have the gas you want to leave in an engine for long term storage. In the USA, https://pure-gas.org has the locations of all stations that sell E0. I'm sure there is such a site for all countries. Also, what car was that? | ||
| Patrick Francis Prolific User Username: jackpot Post Number: 146 Registered: 11-2016 |
Hi guys talking about fuels, I have two restaurants, and I have been running a few cars over the past years on my old chip oil. You cannot imagine the grin on my face when I first tried it and found it worked! Saved money on having the old oil disposed of properly, and saved £1 a litre every time I put oil in my tank. Only problem was that the cars smell like a fish n chip shop when running. My "chip fat chariots" were and are: Ford Scorpio 2ltr diesel Chrysler voyager diesel Ford Escort Estate diesel (2 of those) Mercedes 124 series 250 diesel Fiat Multipla diesel (with that wonderful JTD engine) Nothing complicated, just let the used oil (the more used, the better) sit for a while to separate the wax. Then filtered it well. Then put in my tank. Works a dream in a hot summer - slightly less power, but just add diesel to taste! In winter (minimum 8deg c) chip oil tends to coagulate a bit, so I usually needed a 50/50 mix, depending on the car and engine. Mercedes worked best - 100% in summer and 70/30 mix in winter. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 458 Registered: 11-2015 |
Patrick, Good on you for saving the environment! You even let the oil settle, I just put in whatever. Low pressure indirect injection diesels are the best at running random oil products as fuel. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 460 Registered: 11-2015 |
Patrick L, Was that a iron carb perchance. I just cleaned a marvel scheibler and the floats were green just like yours. Maybe, iron copper alcohol is extra bad. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1396 Registered: 9-2004 |
Ross, the carbs are made of a sort of diecast! Webbers are the make. Not the aircraft type here. The fuel lines are copper, I think that is the main cause of the reaction with maybe a + earth helping. | ||
| ross kowalski Grand Master Username: cdfpw Post Number: 476 Registered: 11-2015 |
Patrick F, Don't forget to add fuel additives when running off fuels. Here's the addative I use. | ||
| christopher carnley Unregistered guest Posted From: 5.80.48.141 |
Old sump oil in older engines has a deleterious effect on the emissions. (Message approved by david_gore) |
