Petrol Problems

[Steve6]

Has anybody had any problems with pump petrol in race engines. At Cadwell Park on September 6th I developed a misfire in practice which we thought was the coil failing.

I've used Total Excellium this season without any problems and previously it was amber in colour. At Cadwell it was colourless. Has this petrol become "bio rich".

The engine is a big valve 1.6 205 GTi on 45-mm throttle bodies, race cam etc. Rev's to 7500 but wouldn't go past 6500 at Cadwell sometimes feeling like it was going to cut out completely. It was that bad I gave up after two laps of the race.


Steve

[stockhatcher]

sometimes certain petrol stations can find that the underground tanks have coroded and ground water leaks in. This can cause quite a high water content in the petrol you purchase. This is particularly prevalent in smaller older petrol stations with low turnover.

Did you purchase from your normal petrol station?
Is this a high volume station?

I know of people in the past who have successfully sued the petrol station for blown race engines because the fuel was mostly water. You'll need a receipt, and evidence of the fuel in question.

hth.

[Jemco Andy]

Steve, I think I raced with/against you in Tin Tops on that weekend. Both the white Midway Motorsport Rover & Alfa used the Cadwell pump fuel on the Sunday for racing (in Tin Tops & Future Classics) and we experienced no problems at all.

Not sure if that helps ?!

Andy

[CNHSS1]

a trick to check for/remove water in methanol based fuels, was to put a couple of litres in the freezer overnight and then pour through a very fine strainer. If you get any lumps of ice, that'll be the water content. Not sure how it applies to modern fuels though.

[Steve6]

Hi All,

The petrol was bought from local, busy, fairly modern petrol station and although the petrol was a different colour (colourless) we think an electrical ignition fault is the likely culprit.

I've emailed the company that tuned the engine for the previous owner to ask their advice.

Hi Andy,

Yes I was sat behind you on the grid in the red 205. I won't be at Snetterton but am booking for the CSCC dinner.

Cheers


Steve

[mat205125]

Buy from a trusted retailer, or go the whole hog

http://www.aaoil.co.uk/racing-R-MR-unleaded-MSA-ra...

[stacy]

Hi,

I've never suffered direct from a pump, but I did get caught once at Cadwell Park myself - but it transpired it was fuel which had become contaminated after the race car was stored in a lockup type garage for a couple of weeks some years ago. I can't remember what had happened to my garage, but it was in my mums single skin unit at the end of her garden. That was enough - vents go both ways I guess.

Like yourself we were swapping components like crazy, in such haste that even once we drained it dry and refilled we then managed to get a piece of silicon in the jets - which we noticed after the event. We were puzzled as to why the symptoms changed at the time, but that's what doing it in a rush does for you.

Moving forward I fuel up with either 76 MSA fuel (if the engine is fresh) and once it's had some miles and the race fuel makes much less difference, I use V-Power from a large station.

S.

[The Wookie]

Only time I've ever had a problem was fuel from the onsite station at Donington. I filled it up there and the car ran like a pig until I drained it and replaced it with a 'borrowed' jerry can

[TimCrighton]

Our cars only go out on V Power, Sunoco or a controlled fuel. As for off the fuel court fuels then it would have to be V Power for me.

[Steve6]

I've had various comments on cars "missing and running rough" at high speed when on standard unleaded, also the previous owner and engine builder used to run it on BP 102.

I've contacted Total and asked if there is a colour difference (see original post) between their standard unleaded and excellium petrol. I should have an answer by tomorrow.