VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 gas octane

Ok, I'm sure there have been a lot of posts and questions about this subject and I have heard arguments on both sides... so Im just looking for opinions from experienced drivers. What octane gas is better to run in these old motors ? (I just restored my Dad's 1938 town sedan) It seems to run fine on 93 octane with lead additive. Some people have told me that they should be run with lower octane gas. Opinions ?

Well, answer your own question. Originally we only had one type of gas and was called regular. Later Ethyl joined at the pump. Our lowest octane today is 85. Even this low is overkill for what we really need to use. Our 4-cylinders, if started with gas, can be switched over to kerosene and run quite well.

I seem to remember Aus "regular" petrol was 89 octane and super (with lead) was 95 octane. The current offering is 91 with E10, 95 and 98 without E though some do offer 91 with and without E.
I believe prior to WW2 there was only the 1 petrol which was about 85 or 87 octane.
Tony

Generally, if it runs fine on regular a higher octane is not going to do a thing for you. Cost you more is all.

Octane is to preven pre-ignition. Explosion in stead of burning. Too high octane like in aviation fuels will cause the fuel mixture to still be burning whilst it exits by the exhaust valve.

Old 216s don't have enough compression to need a higher octane than is found in 85-87 octane. The higher octanes will only cost you more money that will merely go out the exhaust pipe. They will not be better for the engine and will not give you more power unless pre-ignition is experienced at a lower octane. Regular is fine for a 216, most everywhere.

Charlie

A 1938 engine was designed to run on 70 octane gas. In 1938 70 octane gas did not contain lead. The preimum gas back then (ethyl) contained lead and was about 75 octane. The ethyl (lead) was added to increase the octane which means it caused the gas to burn slower to eleminate "pinging" on higher compression engines which a Chevrolet engine was not.
The lowest octane available today is more than sufficent for a 1938 engine and a so called lead additive (which dosen't even contain lead) is completely unecessary.
Setting the timing to be advanced as far as possible will increase power and gas milage....see octane selector in your owners/shop manual.

What do you all think about non-ethanol gas ? It`s more $$ but wouldn't it be better than the ethanol corn gas? Or , is the ethanol reg. still the gas of choice?

I don't seek out non-ethanol regular. The gas with a touch of 10% corn squeezings in it is right good stuff. Lessens our dependence on sand country sweet crude and helps our farmers.

The down-side hysterical complaints about ethanol are nothing but smoke and mirrors. For instance, I cranked up my Honda engined power washer the other day. It had been sitting for over 4 years with 10 percent regular in it. Pulled it with chock on and after third pull, it started and ran like a sewing machine.

Your turn Solon.

Charlie

I should have searched the subject before I asked "THE" question about the ethanol ....sorry guys......looks like it`s been discussed to the ragged end by all and I`d hate to waste yens time on it again .....I`m spending more on Non-ethanol for my 1940(right or wrong) ....but burn the corn in my 2011 F-150....

I have used ethanol almost 95% of the time in the last 20 years with no problem although it does evaporate faster....as does all of todays gas.

Ya...and this is also the same dude that was fooled into buying the Brooklyn Bridge....three times!

In my area we are stuck with that garbage junk gas Ethanol and it has caused numerous problems in my vehicles, weed eaters and etc. One local gas distributor is into old cars and he absolutely hates the Ethanol crap due to the problems that it has created. He is now importing a limited amount of non-Ethanol fuel out of Washington state for his customers that have old cars and that prefer the Ethanol free gas.




Stay with using the non-Ethanol gas in your older vehicle as long as possible.

Well Charlie, I really don't want to get political (not allowed) but the only reason we import oil is because of politicians. In 1962 I was taking driver training from my high school economics/history teacher. That was a part time job that helped him support his family with six kids, but it was not enough. He left in the middle of the school year to take a job with someone who had befriended him while he was in college. That man was pretty high in the chain of command of a major oil company (think mobil or exxon etc.) He commented in a class one day that the USA had more natural resources than the rest of the world combined and the only reason for getting sand country oil was that it was cheap and we could save ours for the future. As far as I am concerned the future is now and it's about time for us to develop those NATURAL resources and save the corn for the barbeque and other food needs. Oh, by the way I spent a couple of hours today cleaning the junk out of the carb in my trimmer and this one was made to run on the crap gas. My last trimmer only lasted one season when they first started to add the squeezens to the gas.

Over here the fuel companies have a notice on the pump stating the E10 fuel is NOT suitable for small engines (lawn mowers, chain saws and similar).
Tony

TonyW,

I have never seen such a notice. I wonder what it is with E10 gasoline that makes it unsuitable whereas up here it is okay to use E10 in all kinds of engines. No stinkin' notices on E10 pumps (because it is just fine) .

The notion that all small engines are destroyed by E10 in just one year is questionable, at best. Seems that such a phenomena(sp) would be universal. It isn't and the notion is unsupported by facts.

What in the world would we do if we didn't have innocent E10 to blame and kick around for our failures to properly maintain and store our equipment, yard, et al. Why, my goodness, we'd have to point the finger at ourselves, wouldn't we? E10 is merely a scapegoat. Nothing more.

This topic has indeed been discussed ad nausea but until the propaganda, supported by ignorance of facts and a need for a ready explanation of otherwise simple failure causes has been debunked, the quest to educate some and dispel false/baseless rumors will go on. And at every oppunitity. As here.

Solon is spinning, I suppose. We haven't heard from him lately and his seemingly bone fide underground(?) press releases.

Every time I fill up the old 41 or get a can of gasoline for the yard equipment, hug the pump and plant a sweet kiss right where it says it contains up to 10% Ethanol. Do too!

Charlie

m006840: Like you I have also had problems with that junk gas Ethanol in small engines. Below are a few links for you to check out that you might find informative:

http://blog.jackssmallengines.com/2013/08/see-ethanol-damage-up-close/

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...ol-can-make-small-engines-fail/index.htm

http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...ll-engines-from-the-wear-and-tear-of-e10

http://www.tractorsupply.com/know-h...small-engine-at-risk-from-ethanol-damage

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25936782/...nics-see-ethanol-damaging-small-engines/

Charlie: No need for you to waste your time reading any of the above because you wouldn't find it interesting anyway. Would not! BTW, enjoy your "PES"!

"Enjoy your PES."

Hey, JYD, I got your subtle message there although my stupidity can't be attributed to that sourse.

Charlie

One of my other cars is a 1922 Stephens. It will vapor lock if I use 10%. With Ethenol Free gas it runs great with no signs of vapor lock no matter hot the day might be. I have also had vapor lock troubles with 10% in my chainsaw. Again it runs fine on pure gas.

Ya Charlie, it must be the poor maintenance. I must have been lucky that my LawnBoy two stroke lasted 36 years. Now when you aren't busy check out the manuals on some of the newer small equipment that's designed for ethanol gas and pay special attention where it says to use a fuel additive or your warranty will be void. Try hugging a box of corn flakes. Now there's something really valuable!!