Pete Lewis Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 apart from costs why run on a lower grade of fuel than the engine is designed to run on we cant get 101 but even sainbugs and tesco sell 97 -99 this is as close you can get if you want brisk performance why run on a retarded mix with additives when the right stuff with the right timing doesnt need retarding which adds heat many seem paranoid about with the retarded giving you low acceleration sooty plugs and valve burning i dont get the plot if its your pride and joy why skimp a few pound a year on its lifeblood too many worry about the myths and misguided ideas rather than do whats right and get the smile .......do whats designed and it will repay you easily mess with the specifications if you like a headache Ha ! the basics work perfectly Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 The last time I had that to consider, BMW RS100 Motorcycle, I had to go 15 Miles, JUST to get super leaded fuel!. So much of the time I ran it on (I think) 97octane from Tesco, And topped up with "Super" as and when I could get it. Bike didn`t seem to mind?. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 55 minutes ago, PeteH said: Bike didn`t seem to mind? Some engines do, some don't. The 100 octane spec. on our cars is only really applicable to Mk1 Vitesse and GT6 - all Heralds were 95RON (3* in the day) and the Vitesse / GT6 were re-tuned for 97 (4*, because 5* had disappeared) on Mk2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 1 hour ago, NonMember said: all Heralds were 95RON (3* in the day) My owners handbook for the 13/0 says minimum octane rating of 97 (4 star) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 here we go now the stars are in conflict whilst fuels have changed and how close old rating stars are to present fuels but i still remember 2* was for mowers and side valves with a CR of often less than 7 :1 happy days Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Amey Posted September 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 I would say cost wise additives are extremely expensive. But having said that, if you do feel the need to use them Millers do the best range on the market in my opinion. The problem I have identified with not doing a lead conversion on the head is , if you don't know the history of what fuel it's been running on, the lead embedded in the valve seats could have eroded long ago. The problem being it's about twenty years since leaded fuel was available in this country. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: 2* was for mowers and side valves 2* was for the few days at the end of the month before payday, followed by a topup of 4* once paid to make up for it with a kind of 3* mix.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Paul Amey said: the lead embedded in the valve seats could have eroded long ago. The problem being it's about twenty years since leaded fuel was available in this country. is there anyone on here with years of classis driving suffere valve seat rescession ???? i cant remeber anyone posting they have got it our heads last realy well with general driving i would be more worried about whats for dinner than any valve problems tight tappets will destroy a valve far quicker than lead memory and they are in the hands of the owner Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said: 2* was for the few days at the end of the month before payday, followed by a topup of 4* once paid to make up for it with a kind of 3* mix.... Sort of did the same thing with beer (for 'umans not cars). Close to pay day drank the cheaper stuff at 1/10, once paid went upmarket to the 2/- a pint better stuff 😵 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: is there anyone on here with years of classis driving suffere valve seat rescession ???? i cant remeber anyone posting they have got it I did earlier. But was due I think to the PO lapping the valves in which caused the lead memory to disappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 whats wrong with Red Barrel Ha ! was around 1/- a pint at tech college or Flowers Keg seeing as the brewery was across the road to the tech college now has a university name over the doors and the Flowers ( later whitbread) brewery is long gone thats when Luton was going places now its just ...gone Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: whats wrong with Red Barrel Ha ! I was well aware how much Southerners appreciated it I always drank something else to leave it for them. Locally it was the 'Smith brothers'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 10 hours ago, Paul Amey said: I would say cost wise additives are extremely expensive. But having said that, if you do feel the need to use them Millers do the best range on the market in my opinion. The problem I have identified with not doing a lead conversion on the head is , if you don't know the history of what fuel it's been running on, the lead embedded in the valve seats could have eroded long ago. The problem being it's about twenty years since leaded fuel was available in this country. Paul Lead memory lasts VERY well on cars that are not driven hard. My good friend has a herald he has averaged 10+K a year in for 25 years (do the maths!) on an unconverted head. In fact the who engine just had a refresh when he fitted it, although a piston blew about 5 years ago, so a used piston and new set of rings solved that. However, I don't think it every goes much over 3000rpm. I wonder if that car is the highest mileage herald, could be but no idea of how many miles on it when bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 Quote from (1962) The Herald 1200 Owners Manual:- "If further supply is needed, fill up with premium grade fuel unless a low compression cylinder head is fitted". The C-R is quoted as 8:1. (or 8.5:1 where the twin Carb; conversion is fitted. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 I started using additive until I checked the plugs to see if the mixture was right. Black, white or biscuit? No, pink! Still got 1/2 a bottle. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 I might as well throw my hat, or bottle of additive, into the ring. I do use one. I'm aware of the pros & cons. I use it because a while after I bought the car, it came with some bills but not a lot of history, I eventually noticed a rather large plaque on the heater for a garage in the UK. I phoned them and the guy remembered the car. He said that the engine smoked a lot and had a rebore but when asked he said the head hadn't been modified to unleaded. I forgot to ask if any valve work had been carried out. I have assumed that it was likely and that the lead memory could have been lost. The guy even went to try and see if he had some of the paint left that had been used for a respray, he thought it was a VW reference. I ought to try and contact them again for any other info they might have and if possible copies of bills for work carried out. I would be willing to send them some beer tokens or even a couple of bottles of stronger stuff to compensate them for their trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 1 hour ago, Chris A said: he thought it was a VW reference. Chris, There was a VW colour very close to that, used on the Passat range, a Mate of mine had a very similar colour on an early Golf. Nice deep "burgundy" colour in the "flesh". Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 14 minutes ago, PeteH said: Chris, There was a VW colour very close to that, used on the Passat range, a Mate of mine had a very similar colour on an early Golf. Nice deep "burgundy" colour in the "flesh". Pete Yes it is a nice one, with the (off)white stripe to set it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Amey Posted September 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 Thanks folks for your input. There is at least now plenty to refer to about the subject on here. Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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