Practically Classics Forum

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!

'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!

Shell V Power with Castrol Valvemaster Plus for my V8 P6B

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

I should have shares in Shell and Castrol

Dave

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.