What Fuel to Use in a Classic TVR

[prideaux]

I am sure this has been covered before but I cant find any threads.
When I had the cars tuned before Christmas it was suggested that using Premium petrol instead of Standard unleaded may be the way to go any one have any experience here and what difference it made and are there any changes to how the car will run
Thanks
Andrew

[rev-erend]

Get some hydrazane in there .. bit of a performance boost

[phillpot]

Unless you're running high compression ratio I'd have thought normal "standard" would be fine.

[prideaux]

phillpot said:

Unless you're running high compression ratio I'd have thought normal "standard" would be fine.

Hi Mike
Yes the Vixen is running high compression and I now have the head converted to run on unleaded as well however another thought is should we be adding any additive to prevent damage to system from modern fuel mixes?
The 3000S has a fast road Cam so not standard with bigger valves so I guess higher compression than a standard engine and Unleaded heads
The 302 V8 is built to 280ish bhp so not tuned up as many are and will stay that way as leaves a nice power for standard fun user friendly road use
I guess the answers need to be from UK users as I think the fuel across the pond is a bit different
A

[anonymous-user]

prideaux said:

I am sure this has been covered before but I cant find any threads.
When I had the cars tuned before Christmas it was suggested that using Premium petrol instead of Standard unleaded may be the way to go any one have any experience here and what difference it made and are there any changes to how the car will run
Thanks
Andrew

Andrew, most TVRs are classics.

If it's an older tuned engine (as in your vixen or your 3000s) I would be using super unleaded with additive periodically used. (Millers or similar)

[prideaux]

TVRMs said:

Andrew, most TVRs are classics.

If it's an older tuned engine (as in your vixen or your 3000s) I would be using super unleaded with additive periodically used. (Millers or similar)

Cheers
I agree they are all classics however I was amused when speaking to another TVRCC member the other day regards going to Brooklands that he would give it a miss as its more for the Classics.
So they are Classics only when it suits them ?
A

[S1Vixen]

Hi Andrew, with regard to Premium vs. Standard the suitability of your engine depends primarily on the ignition curve and compression ratio you are running (there's other factors related to air motion effects from porting etc. but let's leave those to one side for now). When your XFlow was tuned the tuner would have set the ignition curve up for on either premium or standard fuel so I'd ask them. As a vast generalisation the aftermarket changes made to engines to tune for peak power will increase the tendency to knock at low speed. As the previous posts have recommended, go with Premium if in doubt. If your tuner has set up the ignition on Standard you're fine with that also.

[alphaone]

I have a 302 in my Vixen running 320bhp I use normal unleaded with no problem. Being running on normal fuel since the 90s

[prideaux]

alphaone said:

I have a 302 in my Vixen running 320bhp I use normal unleaded with no problem. Being running on normal fuel since the 90s

Interesting
I will check with Mat what fuel he had her set up for.
With normal unleaded having I believe 5% ethanol added and I believe increasing to 10% I take it that super unleaded does not have ethanol added so I presume it would make sense to use that and not need the Millers additive one cost would offset the other please correct me here if I am wrong as I think its something we all will need to look at with the Ethanol issue increasing in years to come.
Does anyone know if the garages have to display the ethanol content.
Regards the Vixen I will change to Super on the next refill as that's what the tuner recommended and it will be going back to him in another 250miles time and when the weather warms up to reset as he set her up for running in so fuel needs leaning up slightly and the advance increasing I think.
A

[Fiscracer]

Andrew

FWIW I use either Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum with additive. The latter is higher octane and burns more cleanly but is not available abroad. After years of different additives I now use Redline lead additive. If you want combined octane and lead substitute CVL is probably best.

Many people do not realise how much impact fuel can have on performance. You should have the car set up on the fuel you intend to use as you cannot set the timing sensibly otherwise

One word of caution. Modern high octane unleaded fuels can suffer from phase separation if left in a car in a vold garage ie the ethanol separates killing the octane. It can kill your engine. If you are leaving a car over the winter I'd strongly recommend draining or running the fuel right down starting with fresh in the spring.

HTH

R

[prideaux]

Fiscracer said:

Andrew

FWIW I use either Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum with additive. The latter is higher octane and burns more cleanly but is not available abroad. After years of different additives I now use Redline lead additive. If you want combined octane and lead substitute CVL is probably best.

Many people do not realise how much impact fuel can have on performance. You should have the car set up on the fuel you intend to use as you cannot set the timing sensibly otherwise

One word of caution. Modern high octane unleaded fuels can suffer from phase separation if left in a car in a vold garage ie the ethanol separates killing the octane. It can kill your engine. If you are leaving a car over the winter I'd strongly recommend draining or running the fuel right down starting with fresh in the spring.

HTH

R

Thank you Richard that sounds great advice I try to fuel up as need for each car so there is not lots of fuel sitting getting stale.
The exception on this was the Vixen as I had her fuelled up to got to the pre 80s but due to engine issues I turned back and took the 3000s on its own hence I am using up that tank with unleaded additive as she is run in and want to get the fuel and additive if needed right before the final tune up I have changed to unleaded head as I have said but believe there are other additives that may be good for High RPM and high compression tuned engine I don't need lead additive but was looking at the Millers power plus like you said I have been made aware that getting the fuel right is important and your advice is a great help with your experience and knowledge thanks
Andrew

[alphaone]

prideaux said:

With normal unleaded having I believe 5% ethanol added and I believe increasing to 10% I take it that super unleaded does not have ethanol added so I presume it would make sense to use that and not need the Millers additive one cost would offset the other please correct me here if I am wrong as I think its something we all will need to look at with the Ethanol issue increasing in years to come.

Some companies also put ethanol in their super unleaded in certain parts of the UK

[prideaux]

alphaone said:

Some companies also put ethanol in their super unleaded in certain parts of the UK

Thanks will look out and see what is around here most additives I see on the market are also a lead replacement as well is there any harm in using these if the car has been converted to run on unleaded?
A

[Grantura MKI]

Go go jouice works best!
Cheers,
D.

[ausi steve]

Here in Aust only one brand advertises Ethanol [10%] in the fuel to take it to 98 octane, I have used it in my 3000M with no apparent troubles however there have been horror stories in the press regarding using Ethanol in old cars & outboard motors.
Can members please advise me how much Ethanol percentage they use, how long they have used it & have there been any problems related to it's use.
I also have been using it in me 1966 A code 298ci Mustang again with no apparent problems, but due to the critical stories relating to it's use I have gone back to using normal petrol.
The Ethanol petrol is considerably cheaper than non Ethanol petrol for the 98 octane grade.

[prideaux]

ausi steve said:

Here in Aust only one brand advertises Ethanol [10%] in the fuel to take it to 98 octane, I have used it in my 3000M with no apparent troubles however there have been horror stories in the press regarding using Ethanol in old cars & outboard motors.
Can members please advise me how much Ethanol percentage they use, how long they have used it & have there been any problems related to it's use.
I also have been using it in me 1966 A code 298ci Mustang again with no apparent problems, but due to the critical stories relating to it's use I have gone back to using normal petrol.
The Ethanol petrol is considerably cheaper than non Ethanol petrol for the 98 octane grade.

From what reports I have read its not the initial effects that's the problem or even running of the cars so much as the corrosive effect that the ethanol has on older materials that where not built with ethanol in mind hence the problem will not arise for a long time but when they do could be a very costly repair
A

[Cerberus90]

There was a list somewhere that showed which stations were putting ethanol in what and how much.

IIRC Tesco Momentum had ethanol, as did Shell V-Power Nitro plus stuff.

I think Texaco was one of the few who didn't have ethanol in anything, but of course, it could all have changed by now.

Most of the time we run the 1600M (1300 pistons so high comp) on normal unleaded, switching to super for trackdays and the odd tank. We do put some millers additive stuff in occasionally when we remember to do it.

• EDIT*

Found the list.

Here, right down at the bottom.

Edited by Cerberus90 on Friday 3rd January 10:58

[Mr Tank]

Hi

The problem with ethanol is it attacks certain rubber compounds and if they are used in the fuel hoses you have then it will effectively rot them, so leaks will appear!

It's a big problem in the UK as it's used in a lot of fuel and we don't relise it!

Answer to the problem is to replace your fuel lines with ones which are not effected by ethanol.

Then you can use modern fuels if your heads are unleaded.

Andy

[alphaone]

[quote=

I think Texaco was one of the few who didn't have ethanol in anything, but of course, it could all have changed by now.

]
[/quote]

They didnt use to but now all the range have up to 5% ethanol in it, it now states that on their main website

[baldies]

Have driven my Taimar (non-unleaded heads) daily since 2000, & on advice of a guy I know who has worked as Ford mechanic since early 1960's have used standard unleaded petrol.
His advice was to fill up with Super unleaded / use additives if doing long motorway or long spirited A road journeys.
My Taimar certainly runs better on non-supermarket petrol, & in particular Shell fuel.
MikeS