uleaded fuel

UNLEADED PETROL

Interesting questions. Look forward to more answers.

I run normal unleaded in my 1964 International with a bit of additive. I don't believe that running normal unleaded in the truck has affected it at all (so far) when running empty. However when loaded the truck does consume a lot more fuel when on normal unleaded. When loaded I generally run on premium unleaded as I have found that while per litre more expensive I use less fuel and the engine generally runs happier. Certainly don't have to push it as hard. Also when running premium when loaded the inter performs almost identical as when empty with normal unleaded. Heating of the engine does change however. Normal unleaded the truck sits just under halfway. Premium it runs at halfway. Never had any problem with overheating even when loaded and running premium.

Just as an indication I had about 1.5 - 2 ton on the tray of the inter and was able to maintain 80Km/hr over the westgate bridge and through the burnley tunnel using premium unleaded. Yet with a similar load running on normal unleaded on the same road was only able to maintain 60 - 70Km/hr or so.

So far I haven't had any fuel go off in the inter. But this may depend on the quantity of fuel. The mower usually has about 1 litre of fuel where as the inter has closer to 40 litres. Could also be due to type of carby and fuel pumps etc.

I don't have any copper lines on the inter all steel for the fuel lines so cant comment.

I haven't noticed any problems with leeching as you mention on the inter. But I'm not even sure that the fuel tank is even soldered! I have seen staining and lifiting of paint finish on other items. But generally this is due to either leaks or spills. I haven't seen any case that it might be coming through solder! Maybe there is a small hole in the tank?

In 1999 I had reason to ring BP's technical advice line about the use of 20 litres of oil Helen won in a raffle at Mt Barker. While I had them on the phone I asked them about fuel and the XP.

Their advice was:
If the vehicle was designed to run on Super use premium unleaded, normal unleaded is the equivalent of standard.
An upper cylinder lubricant won't hurt but if your vehicle needs valve work get hardened valve seats installed.

All Unleaded petrol starts to 'go off' about 4 weeks after leaving the plant (or probably 2 weeks after you fill your tank)
Premium takes a couple of weeks longer before beecoming unuseable - it has to 'degrade' to the level of normal unleaded first.

My Inter's compression ratio is closer to some of my stationary motors so fuel starting to go off is not as much of a concern. in both cases the vehicle can be harder to start but will run ok when warm. I could see how it could become unburnable by a car or motor mower

As a result I use Premuim in the XP (if I can get it) and normal unleaded in the Inter with an upper cylinder lubricant in both cases.

I also fill tanks when leaving on the next journey - not last thing before storing.

Stale unleaded leaves a horrible smell out the exhaust pipe. - In that case I top up with the highest octane fuel I can find. it mixes in the tank to burn a bit better.

I haven't heard of the problem with fuel tanks or unleaded fuel lifting paint. I have had diesel lift paint on one of my stationary engines (an alloy tank). I have seen fuel split on stationary motors when filling but not seen the paint damaged as a result. I don't think it does any more damage than the leaded petrol used to regarding staining of paint. I was always taught to wash down the side of a vehicle after filling so the petrol didn't damage the paint - even before there was any such thing as unleaded petrol.

I haven't had any problems with the copper lines on my stationary motors not have I heard of anyone who has. I will ask around and see what I can find out

Hi ,well in my 34 Bedford i run cooper pipes and have run on unleaded with addivtte since 2002 and my 1949 landrover since 1995 and no dramas.
Leaking tanks well i will agree with everyone i've had no probelms either.
Fuel going off i find that bit hard to take as i some times don't start the 34 over winter for 6weeks or so but i'm soon to find out the landrover hasn't been started for a least 6 mnths i will report back on this.Deadly

As i said i would report back on unleaded going off after a short time and as i said i hadn't started the landy for least 6 mnths or more welli'm happy to report it started on about 3rd grank not bad.Deadly

Well my little 1hp single cylinder cooper shearing plant started 2nd pull and its tank was still 1/2 full from at least last November (probably earlier).

The XP Ute kicked into life today with fuel brought on 18th March (premium though) on the way home from Kyabram. The only problem was a flat battery, The ute hadn't gone anywhere since Warrandyte Festival on 25th March, just started and moved in and out of the shed. That and the clock on the radio was enough to flatten the battery too much to kick it over. A couple of hours on the charger and all was sweet.

I don't think there are too many problems with unleaded fuel doing anything the older types wouldn't do. Fuel for petrol vehicles with ethanol in it I would avoid at any cost. People use it because it is cheaper only to find they need repairs that wipe out several years worth of savings.

The fuel causing problems with brass or copper fuel line wasn't an ethanol blend was it?