105 Bertones ~ Unleaded??

Can anybody confirm if the 2000GTV is OK on unleaded?
Ta.

Originally Posted by RicksAlfas

Can anybody confirm if the 2000GTV is OK on unleaded?
Ta.

Most People seem to agree that they are OK with super unleaded. Alloy Engine with alloy head, means it allready has Hardened valve seats anyway. Sodium filled valves also help.
I was assured mine had been running on unleaded for a while, and I intend to use it as well. When LRP is available and convenient, (as it was on Sunday by pure luck!), I will probably put that in anyway, but not as a rule.
83P a litre is a bit eye watering.

My Junior has a 2000GTV engine in it and I've done 2,500 miles in last year with no ill effects on LPG from Safeways. (Had been run on LPG for a few years too).

LPG is gas - is that what you are on??


LRP is crap - don't use it! You are better with unleaded and an additive. LRP is only suitable for cars used for "moderate driving".....

Wooops always get those 2 mixed up, why is LRP so bad!

Originally Posted by alfatastic

Wooops always get those 2 mixed up, why is LRP so bad!

It's probably me being a bit alarmist, but at the time of leaded being phased out, the "mags" were saying that LRP was only suitable for cars used for pootling about in, and the LRP makers were very conservative saying "moderate use" "light loads" "no towing" etc. etc. The general feeling was that if you were going to fly about like your pants were on fire, use unleaded (or super unleaded if you need the Octane) with a lead additive.

But if the Twin Cam has hardened seats, it can probably run on straight unleaded.
Or gas.


if you want four star check here : http://www.leadedpetrol.co.uk/list.htm

LRP is !!!!, you can have hardened valve seats fitted, but its much easier to use unleaded fuel and an additive like Millers VSL, it is very effective and not too expensive either, www.alfaholics.com have it in stock.

Originally Posted by IanM

Most People seem to agree that they are OK with super unleaded. Alloy Engine with alloy head, means it allready has Hardened valve seats anyway. Sodium filled valves also help.
I was assured mine had been running on unleaded for a while, and I intend to use it as well. When LRP is available and convenient, (as it was on Sunday by pure luck!), I will probably put that in anyway, but not as a rule.
83P a litre is a bit eye watering.

My latest info is to use Super Unleaded, or Optimax, or BP Splendiferous for everyday use, and the same but with an additive like Millers CVL for hard (track) use.


Do you have a Tuscan, Tuscan?

There's a lot of mentions about LRP but nobody has said why it won't work in your Alfa or most other sports cars. LRP is a slow burning fuel. Unfortunately no British Standard exists so every maker has his own formula so some is better than other makes. With spark ignition engines the LRP is often still burning when the inlet valve opens again, hence spitting back and misfiring through the inlet port. This is why the engines run so badly.

Been running my 1600 GTJ for the last few years on a mixure of LRP and unleaded with additive, depending on availability.

Recently checked the plugs out and they were rather oily, now i'm wondering if i should be more consistent with my use of fuel or just make sure i get out of London more and have a proper blat round to clear the cobwebs.

Any opinions out there??

The advise I was given on additives was to choose one, and stick to it.
I used Millers VSP Plus and Optimax in a hard driven Westfield, with no ill effects.
(Other than to my piggy bank).

thanks for the tip

I know I've posted this before but I can't seem to find it. It's probably in those lost few weeks that didn't get archived when the board was switched over.

Over here we don't have the option of leaded fuel. All we've had is strictly unleaded, and it has been that way for at least 20 years.

I don't bother with lead-compensating additives. Never have, and doubt I ever will. I think my brother put in one or two bottles of additive in the tank when he first got his '66 Mustang on the road over 15 years ago. He hasn't bothered since, and even using the highest grade fuel available, he can't match the octane level that was recommended for his car. Anyway, the lack of lead hasn't seemed to have hurt his engine, and I'm not expecting the lack of lead to hurt my car either.

And for what it's worth, even though I usually use the premium grade, I have dumped plain old regular in my tank when the fuel prices have risen beyond what I thought was reasonable, and honestly I can't tell the difference. My engine seems to run just fine on the cheap stuff. That said, I am paranoid enough to switch back to the good stuff with the next fill-up.

I keep coming back to basic maintenance. As long as you're caring for your engine and doing the preventative work, nothing major should happen, lead or no lead.
--Toronto

No need to go for leaded fuel, unles your Alfa is very old. All the Nord engines have reinforced valves and valve seats, no need to lube'm with lead. However, if you cant get hold of 98 RON, have the timing slightly (2 degrees) retarded from the factory settings to allow trouble free 95 RON usage

Cheers

Hoygs

Hoygaard...how old is old?

How about the early iron block, aluminum head, twin overhead cam engines?

wrinx

Originally Posted by Hoygaard

No need to go for leaded fuel, unles your Alfa is very old. All the Nord engines have reinforced valves and valve seats, no need to lube'm with lead. However, if you cant get hold of 98 RON, have the timing slightly (2 degrees) retarded from the factory settings to allow trouble free 95 RON usage

Cheers

Hoygs

How old is 'very old' Hoygs?, 1968 I suppose is middle aged but not old...

.....and I'm looking at 1953

wrinx

Originally Posted by wrinx

.....and I'm looking at 1953

wrinx

Thats Ancient..............

Looks like I'll be pushing then

wrinx

Wrinx, are we talking a 1900 for your something for the weekend?

OI, That's beyond me I'm only familiar with the all alloy Nord engine. A good old sayings is; 2 tanks of unleaded and one tank full of the leaded stuff, and you'll be fine. If you cant get the good old stuff, have the head reworked (and ported ) with hardened seats and sodium filled valves.

-- Hoygaard

I remember reading something a few years ago when the leaded ban came in....apparantly if you run on unleaded and take it steady the engine should be ok

Anyone else heard this?

wrinx