Best Fuel?

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lil nicky
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:35 pm

Best Fuel?

#1 Post by lil nicky »

Hi,

Just out of interest, what do you chaps consider to be the best fuel for old motors? I currently run the V8 P6 on BP premium, 97 RON with a castrol fuel additive and octane booster. I've also got a '71 Spitfire that'll be back on the road next year. Thoughts? Suggestions? Criticisms? I'm open to the all!
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TerryG
Posts: 6757
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: East Midlands

Re: Best Fuel?

#2 Post by TerryG »

'ello,
I have a 4.6 Rover v8 in my rangey that i run on LPG / normal unleaded. I haven't had any issued caused by poor fuel. I do have an RPI duel mode ignition amp to automatically change the timing between gas / proper petrol which has made a vast improvement to driveability on both fuels as the timing can be set correctly for both (as long as the difference is within 10 degrees or so).
12mpg means supermarket petrol as the gf complains about the amount i spend now let alone running V-power!
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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Dave3066
Posts: 114
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:12 pm
Location: Clovenfords (Scottish Borders)

Re: Best Fuel?

#3 Post by Dave3066 »

Shell V Power with Castrol Valvemaster Plus for my V8 P6B :D

My 2000 SC P6 gets Shell V Power with standard Castrol Valvemaster.

I should have shares in Shell and Castrol :roll:

Dave
1966 Rover P6 2000 SC - in daily use and running like a dream
1972 Rover P6 3500S currently undergoing surgery
1965 Rover P5 3 litre Coupe - long term project
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Martin Evans
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Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:16 am
Location: South Wales.
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Re: Best Fuel?

#4 Post by Martin Evans »

If your engine needs high octane fuel, that's one thing; if it doesn't, using it achieves nothing. My modified Midget 1500 would give another 3bhp on Shell Optimax but since I can't always get that, it's set to run on super unleaded and I stick to a mere 107 bhp. Still more rare is old 4 Star.

I believe that super unleaded is less likely to contain ethanol (See http://fbhvc.co.uk/files/2011/10/Ethano ... hicles.pdf). So far as ethanol is concerned, FBHVC should have news of the tests, that have been conducted on anti ethanol products, in the next newsletter. There are quite a few on the market (Some are formulated for cars with lead free capability; others are formulated for cars that still require "Lead") and from what I gather, it is best to stick to the same additive.
Rules exist for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.

MG Midget 1500, MGB GT V8, Morris Minor Traveller 1275, MG Midget 1275 & too many bicycles.
Pilkie
Posts: 149
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:41 pm
Location: North Bristol

Re: Best Fuel?

#5 Post by Pilkie »

Have been running my 1971 P6V8auto as my daily car for 11yrs on std unleaded with no apparent ill effects.
All its needed is petrol,oil,water,and basic service stuff.
Get 15-17mpg round town,and to work,and 25mpg+ on a steady motorway cruise at 60-70mph.
The p/owner did fit SD1 heads and it currently has the later carbs fitted.
Also been running my 1970 TR6pi on std unleaded,but have changed all the injection rubbers and seals to viton.
My current fleet!
1971 S2 Rover P6V8 auto,PAS,leather,webasto,14" rostyles,in White/huntsman.
My daily driver since 1999.
1970 Triumph TR6pi,original UK car in Damson.
1968 S1 Rover P6V8 auto,2 owner/43k miles,Arden with sandalwood leather.
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Jordan T
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:50 pm
Location: Wolverhampton

Re: Best Fuel?

#6 Post by Jordan T »

Greetings,

I run my Triumph Vitesse 2Litre on Tesco Premium, with no lead replacement additives or octane booster, and it seems to run well, with 19MPG around town and havent been on any long journeys to calcualate the touring MPG yet. :D

However the car does seem to act a bit sluggish when i put standard unleaded in due to it only having a 95 Ron.

Regards

Jordan
1968 Triumph Vitesse 2-Litre Mk1 Saloon:
Now Fully restored, Follow my restoration story Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50249007@N02/sets/
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JPB
Posts: 10319
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:24 pm

Re: Best Fuel?

#7 Post by JPB »

Just to clarify this, seeing as some folk are confused about what "Premium" fuel is:

Premium IS 95RON fuel. The 97 or 99 octane stuff is Super unleaded, not Premium, which is a name carried over from the days of pool petrol to distinguish the stuff from the really low octane variety.

We don't get the "standard" (Pool grade) 92RON fuel in the UK, you'd probably need to move to California to find that.
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true.. :oops:
suffolkpete
Posts: 1141
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:54 am

Re: Best Fuel?

#8 Post by suffolkpete »

I run the Matra on Tesco Super Unleaded, without additives. I find the extra miles per gallon I get compared with the 95 RON more than compensates for the extra cost.
1974 Rover 2200 SC
1982 Matra Murena 1.6
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