Which Fuels Work Best in Classic Cars?
- High-Octane Fuel A handful of fuel suppliers in the UK do offer high-octane petrol, which is often billed as “performance-enhancing”. ...
- Standard Low-Ethanol Fuels While high-octane fuel is preferred for classics, they can run perfectly well on lower octane petrol, especially if the ignition is adjusted to counteract the change in combustion rate. ...
What kind of fuel is best for classic cars?
Which Fuels Work Best in Classic Cars? 1 High-Octane Fuel. A handful of fuel suppliers in the UK do offer high-octane petrol, which is often billed as “performance-enhancing”. 2 Standard Low-Ethanol Fuels. ... 3 LPG. ... 4 Converting to Modern Engine. ... 5 Lead Replacement Additives. ...
Can I use ethanol in my Classic Car fuel?
As the government looks to clamp down on petrol and diesel cars, fuel suppliers have launched new fuels containing a greater quantity of ethanol. This means it’s now even harder for classic car owners to find a fuel with a low enough ethanol count for use in their cars.
Are modern fuels bad for classic cars?
Older cars typically run on leaded fuels with a high octane rating, but since they were scrapped in the early 2000s, classic car enthusiasts have had to look for other alternatives to keep their motors on the road. In this guide, we look at why modern fuels containing ethanol are bad for classic cars and the best available alternatives:
Why do old cars still use lead-based petrol?
Old cars rely on this kind of fuel because they aren’t built for modern alternatives, which can be far too abrasive in the fuel system. Ever since the older-style of lead-based petrol was banned in 2000, fuel companies have provided standard unleaded which is mixed with a small quantity of ethanol.
What does LPG stand for in cars?
When will classic cars be axed?
Can you use redex lead in a classic car?
Can you use E10 fuel in 2011?
Does ethanol cause rust?
Is ethanol in diesel fuel?
Can you use lead in an unleaded car?
See 2 more
Do old cars need leaded gas?
Q: When leaded gas was discontinued, there was a lot of talk about a continuing need for leaded engines to get lead to lubricate valve guides. There was a liquid lead additive for gasoline available for these older cars so that the valves didn't "burn up," as they said .
Can old cars use E10 petrol?
Almost all (95%) petrol-powered vehicles on the road today will be able to use E10 without any problems. If your car was made after 2011, it will definitely be compatible with the new fuel. However, there are a small number of pre-2011 cars, and many classic cars, that will be incompatible.
What age of car Cannot use E10 fuel?
Those vehicles manufactured before 2002 were not designed to operate with such high ethanol content fuel and as a result, could be damaged by using E10. Other models in the top 10 incompatibility list include the Nissan Micra (15,785), Rover 25 (9,879) and Ford Escort (8,947).
What age cars Cannot use E10?
All new cars manufactured since 2011 are compatible with E10 petrol, and most cars and motorcycles manufactured since the late 1990s are also approved by manufacturers to use E10.
What does E10 do to older engines?
The prolonged use of E10 fuel in those older and classic vehicles not under manufacturer warranty can cause corrosion of some rubbers and alloys used in the engine and fuel systems. For those vehicles, the Department remains committed to ensuring that E5 is retained as a protection grade, if E10 is introduced.”
What does E10 petrol do to old engines?
First: ethanol is corrosive. So with there being a higher percentage of ethanol in E10, there's more risk of corrosion on any metal, plastic and rubber in your classic car's fuel system. This can result in many different issues, from fully broken fuel lines to carburettor issues.
Can I use E10 petrol in my 2008 car?
E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines manufactured from 1st January 1991. Older models should continue to use E5. E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Toyota European petrol models made from January 1998, excluding: Avensis 2.0 litre with engine 1AZ-FSE made between July 2000 and October 2008.
Is E10 gasoline good?
From an automotive standpoint, there is nothing good about E10, the blend of gasoline with 10-percent ethanol sold at most pumps around the country. Ethanol is hygroscopic—it absorbs water. One could argue that the ability of gas to absorb a small amount of water is a good thing.
Can you buy ethanol free gas?
In short, buy ethanol-free gas if you can, and buy gas with sufficient octane that your car doesn’t knock. If you’re forced to choose, take the higher octane to prevent knocking. But if the car doesn’t knock, go with the ethanol-free gas.
What fuel did classic cars use?
Classic car engines were designed and built prior to the mid-70s ran solely on leaded gas . For the unsuspecting driving these vintage cars which are unrestored on unleaded gas may cause serious damage to the engine. Why does it matter; isn’t gas just gas? Not any more as current fuels have dramatically changed over the past 30 years, and we need to take care of what goes into the gas tank to avoid damage and big repair bills.
When buying a classic car, is it important to know the condition of the engine?
When buying a classic car, it is important to know the condition of the engine as to whether it original to the vintage car, or has it been restored and updated to run on modern fuels.
How to run an engine on unleaded gas?
If you wish to run on unleaded gas for sustained periods of time, then the best option is to have a machine shop perform an ‘unleaded conversion’ on your cylinder head. This will normally involve them removing the old valve seats and replacing them with special hardened alloy valve seat inserts – which tough enough not to suffer from valve seat regression. It should however be noted that, due to a change in octane number, when converting to an unleaded fuel, your engine’s timing will need adjusting. This is quite important as otherwise detonation can occur instead of a controlled combustion of the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber. Detonation, sometimes called ‘pinking’ due to the sound it makes, can literally ruin an engine.
Why use lead replacement in a car?
Lead Replacement is specifically designed for use in classic and vintage cars and should be used in every tank to maintain your car’s performance and protect vulnerable components like valve seals.
When was leaded gas introduced?
In 1920 , leaded gas was introduced to the motoring market as a main fuel for running cars. In the 1980s, it was decided that the increasing collective lead content was too toxic, and as such unleaded gas was introduced in the mid-1970s, and leaded gas was subsequently phased out and withdrawn from the gas market. Only a small percentage of gas stations still offer, and this potentially poses a problem for the vintage car owner.
Can you use lead in an unleaded car?
Cars built for lead-based fuels do not work well with modern unleaded variants. Lead is needed to protect compounds in the fuel valves and without it, old engines can suffer serious damage and wear. Not only that, but ignition firing can be affected and may need to be reset and adjusted to work with different types of modern fuel.
Is ethanol a good match for petrol?
Ethanol is added to fuel to make it more environmentally friendly, but its corrosive properties mean it is not a good match for older cars that are not built for this kind of fuel.
When did cars start using E10 fuel?
More modern future classics also escape the issue, since all new cars have been capable of using E10 fuels since 2011.
Why is E10 used in cars?
In theory the use of E10 petrol is an environmental move, intended to reduce the fossil fuel component of vehicle fuels and therefore combat climate change.
What can classic owners do about E10?
Owners of modern classics can use the government’s online checker tool which uses information supplied by car makers as to the suitability of the fuel system. Information is patchy but has improved since the online check was first offered and for many brands the system will go as far back as the early ’90s.
How much ethanol is in E10?
As its name suggests, E10 petrol contains up to 10 per cent ethanol, twice the proportion of the E5 grade which has been the standard for the last decade. The issue of ethanol in fuel has long been a hot potato in the classic car world but at the lower concentration of the E5 fuel has proved not to be a problem in practice. However, the E10 grade has people worried about its effects on older cars.
How to determine the correct fuel hose size?
The easiest thing to do is grab a vernier and measure the outer diameter of the metal standpipes on the carburettor, fuel pump, fuel tank etc. and then apply the 10 per cent rule. The fuel hose needs to elastically stretch by approximately 10 per cent to provide a frictional gripping force and form a proper fluid-tight seal.
What is the SAE rating for fuel hose?
The commonly used SAE standard for fuel hose follows the J30/Rx rating, with the current J30/R9 being the accepted choice for modern fuels and rated at 100psi. The higher ‘R’ rating doesn‘t necessarily mean the hose is any better for ethanol fuels, though.
Can you replace a fuel hose with a R9?
It all sounds straightforward: replace all your existing hoses with R9 and be done with it. But not all fuel hose is what it says it is, as Alan Baxter from Nuneaton specialist Volksbolts explained to Classics World.
Is Unleaded Fuel Good for Old Cars?
All the cars produced before the 1970s had engines that run on leaded gas. The lead added to fuels in that time had two functions:
Ethanol is More Harmful than Unleaded gas for Old Cars
Another element added to modern fuels is ethanol to make them more environmentally friendly. Ethanol is plant-based and has better ignition properties that can help modern cars. It has been used in modern fuels since 2005 as an attempt to increase renewable fuels. But it can be highly corrosive and damaging to older car engines.
Alternatives to Unleaded Gas
Although the best fuel for every classic car has been determined by its manufacturer, you may not always find the best possible fuel for your vehicle. Here are some alternatives that can be least damaging to your classic car’s engine:
Final Thoughts
While classic car owners extensively use unleaded fuel for their cars, it can potentially damage their vehicles. Classic cars’ engines have soft valves that rely on deposits from lead to protect them from corrosion. You don’t have that option with modern unleaded fuels because the fuel doesn’t leave any deposits.
Why do older cars have higher octane engines?
Many of the older cars had higher compression engines which require higher octane to prevent engine damaging pre-ignition. Lastly, be sure the fuel treatment suspends the water absorbed by ethanol-blended gasoline, but does it without using alcohol.
What would happen if the fuel mixture went lean?
If the fuel mixture went lean (too much air and not enough fuel), the computer would allow additional fuel to be added to the engine.
Who started the classic car tour?
This event was started by Charles Glidden in 1905 and put together by AAA. This tour is classic cars all the way back to the teens (pre 1920s). I did not hear one complaint about valve problems related to unleaded fuels, either through the event or my shop.
Is ethanol corrosive to gasoline?
The problems I saw most often were damage caused by ethanol in gasoline. Ethanol is highly corrosive and damages older fuel system components not made to resist this corrosion. If you have anything to be concerned about with older and classic vehicles, it is this problem.
What does LPG stand for in cars?
LPG, which stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is becoming more popular in the UK, with drivers favouring it for its affordability and reduced C0 2 emissions.
When will classic cars be axed?
October 30, 2019. October 30, 2019. If you’re thinking of buying a classic car, or you’ve recently bought one, you might be wondering what fuel you should use in it. With the majority of high-octane leaded fuels axed for environmental reasons, it can be difficult to find the right one.
Can you use redex lead in a classic car?
If you own a classic car built for leaded fuel, you can either convert it, or take the easier option of using a standard fuel and adding lead to it with an additive like Redex Lead Replacement. It contains additives which lubricate and protect the fuel system, safeguarding it against the harmful effects of ethanol while guaranteeing excellent performance.
Can you use E10 fuel in 2011?
It also provides an additional protective layer to prevent corrosion from the increased ethanol content found in E10 Petrol, which means that even if your car was manufactured before 2011 you can use E10 fuel safely by adding Redex as well.
Does ethanol cause rust?
Ethanol is “hygroscopic”, meaning it absorbs moisture. This moisture can condense in the fuel tank and cause components to rust, especially when the car is stored for long periods. Fuels containing ethanol produce over 30% less power than older types of petrol, so the performance of older cars not built to work with this kind of fuel can suffer. ...
Is ethanol in diesel fuel?
As the government looks to clamp down on petrol and diesel cars, fuel suppliers have launched new fuels containing a greater quantity of ethanol. This means it’s now even harder for classic car owners to find a fuel with a low enough ethanol count for use in their cars.
Can you use lead in an unleaded car?
Cars built for lead-based fuels don’t work well with modern unleaded variants. Lead is needed to protect compounds in the fuel valves and without it, old engines can suffer serious damage and wear. Not only that, but ignition firing can be affected and may need to be reset and adjusted to work with different types of modern fuel.
