Puglet1 Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Hello All. Ā I am planning to pick up our new (to usš) Mk2 Vitesse tomorrow. I have bought some VSPE in preparation for the journey home. Which fuel do I need to use with it, E5 or E10? Sorry if this seems a silly question but I have no previous experience with a 50year old car. Ā Ā Ā Ā Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 I use Super E5 in both of my 2L cars. Both have valve seats changed for unleaded although many folk will tell you that it isn't necessary on cars running relatively limited mileages. I have used E10 when I couldn't get E5 and the car ran reasonably well but lacked a bit of oomph. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 The engine was designed for higher octane fuel so E5 97/98/99 octane will be better. It will run on E10 95 octane, but perhaps not perfectly depending on how it has been set up / maintained. For getting it home, donāt be too concerned! On additives, the consensus seems to be not to bother. Iāve had my Herald 15 years, itās had the occasional bit of fuel additive and especially when I was younger and poorer I used 95 octane fuel. Iāve seen mild signs of VSR over that time. A Vitesse will be happier with higher octane though.Ā 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Stratton Jimmer and Josef. Thank you for your quick response. I will probably go belt and braces by using E5 plus the additive for peace of mind on the maiden journey home of 200 miles. Ā Ā 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 the valve seats of a head with no hard inserts fitted has many thousands of miles lead memory and if you browse the whole of the fourum i dont recall any member having any seat problemsĀ i seriuosly agree use a E5 97/99 fuelĀ in fact the esso site says they have to say E5 is present but in fact they dont add any i would save the money you might spend od silly must have addatives and just buy the higher octane fuel and drive itĀ with 97+ fuel you can use close to TriumphĀ specified timing and mixture settind and the car will perform to its optimumĀ 95 2* was in the day more for low compression side valves and your motor mower , why put it in your sports saloon ???? Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 The one thing I would say about ethanol in fuel is that job number one should be to replace all the fuel hoses with proper R9/R14 grade, unless you can see very clearly and certainly that this has been done recently!Ā 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 club shop sell Gates BarricadeĀ Ā there are two sizesĀ 1/4"Ā 5/16"Ā as suggested do not buy fake from the market placeĀ there is a lot of rubbish on saleĀ Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Pete L and Josef. Thank you very much for your advice, I have taken it all on board. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Once up to temperature you can hear how the engine is running on the fuel youve used, in particular listen for 'pinking/knocking'. This is metallic pinging rattling sound which you wont hear in modern cars as they have systems to stop it but isnt a problem if not excessive. The limit is that the sound should stop if accelerating in 4th gear on the flat before you reach 2000rpm and if it carries on after this there can be various possibly causes with one being too low octane fuel. In this case the solution is to increase the octane or slightly retard engine ignition timing from the standard settingš 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 johny. Thanks for that. I will try E5 with no additve. Listen for the pinking as described, if concerned add additive to get me home. Ā Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Thats exactly what I do with my Vitesse. Its usually fine on E5 with standard timing but if doing a long faster hot run I'll give it a shot of VSPe... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: seriuosly agree use a E5 97/99 fuelĀ in fact the esso site says they have to say E5 is present but in fact they dont add any The specification fo E5 is 'upto 5%' so there could be none of very little depending on supplier. Enjoy your first run in the car. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 I think ethanol actually increases octane and the producers have to adjust the base fuel to give the correct level but of course there are other possible undesirable effects... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Oh and another effect Ive noticed which VSPe seems to help with is run on. On a very hot engine sometimes there is a tendency to continue firing a bit after turning off the ignition and the additive seems to reduce this...Ā 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted March 4, 2023 Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 On 02/03/2023 at 20:02, Pete Lewis said: club shop sell Gates BarricadeĀ Ā there are two sizesĀ 1/4"Ā 5/16"Ā Ā£6 per half metre plus p&p. I bought some from a local merchants only this week (Swindon Car and Truck) for Ā£9 per metre with zero p&p. It pays to shop around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK2 Ed Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 Shell v-power (or similar 99 RON unleaded) and a splash of Millers will be fine in the Vitesse. Ā 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 forget the addativesĀ just a waste of moneyĀ Ā if you waste you wallet on every must have addative thats for sale is just playing the worry myth by the time you have a shelf full of leak stopper, synchro solver ,piston reviver ring sealer ,oil seal fixerĀ you wont afford any petrol ... remember the loss of leaded and the milenium clockĀ Ā and are we doomedĀ Ā NOĀ get realĀ Ā use 97+ and drive itĀ if you ever need the head off then dream about exhaust inserts at that timeĀ i drove my 1600 likeĀ i stole it for 15 yearsĀ and never a problemĀ Ā the lead memory will out last any worries about unleaded fuelsĀ Ā just keepĀ to E5 97 of betterĀ and get the smileĀ Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 Found my Mk1 2L ran better without additive, mainly use Tesco super unleaded as it's convenient. Had the head of the engine just over a year ago, failed head gasket, no sign of valve seat recession, so didn't bother with valve seat inserts. Regards Paul 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 that says it allĀ Ā Ā BingoĀ !!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted March 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: forget the addativesĀ just a waste of moneyĀ Ā use 97+ and drive itĀ if you ever need the head off then dream about exhaust inserts at that timeĀ i drove my 1600 likeĀ i stole it for 15 yearsĀ and never a problemĀ Ā the lead memory will out last any worries about unleaded fuelsĀ Ā just keepĀ to E5 97 of betterĀ and get the smileĀ Pete Hi Pete. My wife has just gone through a bunch of old documents that the PO gave us. It looks like he fitted an unleaded head from Rimmers around 2011 . Not sure if this can be identified without removing the head ? so I think definitely no need for an additive. Many thanks. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 18 hours ago, Stratton Jimmer said: IĀ£6 per half metre plus p&p. I bought some from a local merchants only this week (Swindon Car and Truck) for Ā£9 per metre with zero p&p. It pays to shop around The Club Shop Gates Barricade IS Gates Barricade, sometimes you have to pay to be sure. Fuel additive turned my plugs pink so I wasn't sure if I was running rich or lean. Don't use it now. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 if you can get a endoscopeĀ often cheap in lidl and aldi it may be possible to see the exhaust seat via the spark plug holeĀ Ā never tried but if the documents say soĀ i would take it as read and sleep easy .. with anĀ addative free lifeĀ like Doug some others have found the addative dyed the plugsĀ Ā and he doesnt have rose tinted glassesĀ Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 2 hours ago, Puglet1 said: unleaded head from Rimmers around 2011 . some stamp a part number onthe face inside the rocker zoneĀ Ā put cyl head in the canley search and you get all the part numbers across the rangeĀ Welcome to Canley Classics : Canley Classics Ā never everĀ be tempted toĀ fit the "spawn of satan"Ā Ā external rocker oil feed kitĀ Ā Ā unless you wish to flood the valve guides and reduce flow to the main brgs !!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted March 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 āJust looked under the bonnet, āthe spawn of satanā wouldnāt happen to be one of these would it? If so, am I in trouble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigolf Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 Yes, that looks like the "spawn of satan" Remove it asap and chuck it in the bin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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