New Chim Owner - Fuel pump priming

[jsc1976]

Hi, I picked up my new toy yesterday, a 95 chim 400 and need some advice as to how long the fuel pump should prime before starting? On mine it seems to continue until I start the engine - is this right or should it cut out after a few seconds?

Also, what fuel should I be using - only Shell Optimax or any super-unleaded fuel (i.e. BP ultimate)?

A great car by the way, just a shame the weather was so bad today for my first day of ownership!!

Many thanks

[jsc1976]

cheers quinny,

perhaps i'm being a bit too eager to turn the key!

[cowhead]

Shell Optimax all the way buddy. If you live in the SE you may like to try Tesco 99. It's recommended that you dont have anything below 98 Octane.

Steer well clear of Shell 95.

Got my Chim 3 days ago and cant wait for some dry roads!

[big martin]

Hi jsc1976 I picked mine up last Tuesday also a 1995 4.0 Took it out for a run today first run in the pi@@ing rain but loved it didnt have any problems would like to keep in touch to see how our cars go through the winter months

[cowhead]

Can i pass on a recommendation I was given? Use Rain Ex on your windscreen, it works a treat and kind of makes the wipers uneccessary - I bought it in wipes which are quite handy! Had a few tail squirms on my first run out but quickly learnt to avoid that!!

[jsc1976]

Cheers Cowhead & Big Martin,

Would be good to keep in touch to see how our cars behave . . .

I've found a couple of minor problems so far; irratic idling which looking at previous forums could well be the stepper motor and a slight clunk fron the back which I think is probably the exhaust hitting something. It is due a service soon so hopefully I will get these resolved then.

Other than that, great fun although a little tail-happy in the wet.

Just waiting for a dry day now to go for a bit of a blast!!

[tvr keith]

I have found Tesco 99 to be better on my Chim 450 than Optimax. Doesn't like BP ultima. The only thing with the tesco fuel is that I am not sure whether it has all the detergents that the shell product has. May try the occasional 1/2 tank of Shell mixed with it to keep things clean.
Keith

[bigdods]

My 450 loves BP ultimate. THis has been covered before but here it is again from memory - the ECU learns as it goes and gets used to a particular fuel type . Plenty of people run chims on ordinary 95 - the ECU will apparently learn to love it. But as its designed to run with higher octane use Ultimate, shell optimax tesco super - they should all be fine but if you change from one type to another you will have to run a tank or two through before it will run smoothly again .

Happened to me a while back, had to put in Optimax and she hated it. Nothing wrong with the fuel, just the car is used to BP ultimate.

[big martin]

[quote=cowhead]Can i pass on a recommendation I was given? Use Rain Ex on your windscreen, it works a treat and kind of makes the wipers uneccessary - I bought it in wipes which are quite handy! Had a few tail squirms on my first run out but quickly learnt to avoid that!!

Cowhead where can I get rain Ex from please

[kenny chim 4]

big martin said:

Cowhead where can I get rain Ex from please

Any spares store like Hafords sell Rain-X- yellow plastic bottle.
Clued-up bikers use it on their visors and, on the TVR, it's useful to apply it on the wing mirror glass as well as the screen

[snorky]

used 95 octane in mine for 2 years with no problems ( we have very few suppliers with 98 round here )but only a 4litre so probably copes better than a 5 would. But fill up with 98 if I see it...

[tahiti450]

bigdods said:

the ECU learns as it goes and gets used to a particular fuel type . Plenty of people run chims on ordinary 95 - the ECU will apparently learn to love it.

I think you'll find that the 14CUX ECU (and its ancestors)on chims / griffs does not have any adaptive function that enables the system to modulate ignition timimg to suit octane rating (there are no knock sensors fitted - so this is out really). Have a look at the current thread on octane and ECUs running on this forum.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=233094&f=8&h=0

Most of the cars stickered for 98 will tolerate 95 octane provided the engine isn't laboured at low rpm and the engine temp remains below about 85C.

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Tuesday 10th January 23:33

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Tuesday 10th January 23:34

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tvr keith said:

I have found Tesco 99 to be better on my Chim 450 than Optimax. Doesn't like BP ultima. The only thing with the tesco fuel is that I am not sure whether it has all the detergents that the shell product has. May try the occasional 1/2 tank of Shell mixed with it to keep things clean. Keith

You could try using a fuel cleaner, such as Redex, STP fuel treatment etc. This can be added to the petrol in the tank every 4th tank full or so. These clean out all the fuel lines and the injectors, much like the additive in shell or BP. I used to use it on my older cars to clean out the carbs, this used to make them run better.

[mark450]

Hi JSC

I've tried Optimax and other super unleaded and after 4 months of ownership find BP Ultimate to be as good as any in my 450 - particularly as my nearest Shell station is 10 miles away !

Have fun and watch the back end !