Fuelling options

[rfoster]

Hello all, hope you can help. I've got a '90 Esprit, which currently runs on LRP Petrol. However even this is becoming rarer at my local petrol stations, and I wondered if the engine will happily accept unleaded or super unleaded, with or without modifications. it's a 912 style engine, non turbo version.

Cheers all.

[cnh1990]

I'm pretty sure you can run unleaded super, mine does but it is an SE turbo with Delco EFI. Just reset the computer if you do.

Do the the UK models have carbs with no turbo? If you have carbs better see what the UK people have to say.
Calvin 90 SE

>> Edited by cnh1990 on Monday 21st July 13:31

[rfoster]

Yup the car's got twin 40 carbs on it. (Pics on www.lotusespritworld.co.uk). I'll see if Bell & Colvill have any idea about it (but I won't hold my breath!)

Thanks for the advice Calvin.

[rob.e]

you may get a better response from the yahoo group:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit

[lotusguy]

Hi,

Aside from the ECU sampling, the engine will be fine on unleaded fuel. The problem with earlier pre-no lead engines was that they had soft metal valve seats. These needed the TetraEthyl lead to both lube and seal them. Without this benefit from the lead, the seats would wear rapidly. All Lotus 9XX engines have hardened valve seats which eliminates the concern over no-lead fuel.

But, as has already been stated, your ECU may need to learn how to run on this new fuel. Removing the battery terminals and touching the positive lead to the engine or chassis will drain the ECU rapidly. Upon restart, it may take several miles or days for the ECU to settle back down, especially if there is still some of the old gas in the system. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

[Lasse]

If you have twin carbs you don't have a ECU, do you? You probably have a distributor system which is pre-set (angle of ignition) for a specific quality of gasoline. In Sweden we have 95, 96 and 98 Octane ROT (this corresponds somehow to "Regular" and "Super" and so on, i don't know the relation). Check your "Owners hanbook" for which quality is required for your car. It's probably 98 octane.
As stated above you can run your car on unleaded petrol without problems. However if you want to run it on a lower octane quality than stated in the handbook you NEED to change the pre-set angle of the distributor. I have this information somewhere if your're intersted.

Best Regards /Lasse

[rfoster]

Cheers for all your help guys - Mr Knowledge himself, Steve at SJ Sportscars has just advised that it will run fine on Super unleaded (98 Ron) without any modifications required. Apparently the lead itself is not an issue on thes cars. Handy infor for anyone else running the same - as Esso have just stopped selling LRP petrol nationwide as of this week!