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Hi all,
I'm not trying to cry down the product, I want opinions on this stuff, based on whats just happened to me. In short, after running a tank of this in my '73 2.8 XJ6, what was a sweet engine has eaten a piston.
You all know the background on the 2.8 and its habit for eating them anyway, which was caused by deposits on the piston getting burned off the next time the car was driven hard.
Which is why this from Shell's literature worries me when I read it:
The new unleaded formula contains a lubrication agent that coats the top of the pistons when fuel is injected into the cylinders, reducing friction and thus improving combustion efficiency.
To be honest the car ran curse word on it, but it was the only fuel available at the time. It pinked under load and felt lethargic. So the next tank was regular unleaded. Doing the same trip, and a misfire developed... which turned out to be due to no6 piston CROWN departing.
I'm a tad annoyed, as I now have an engine rebuild ahead of me, and the 2.8 was in perfect health. It has covered some 7500 miles in 5 months, and never missed a beat. Compression figures taken 3 weeks ago showed it to be healthy.
Reports from a few other classic owners around the area suggests that I'm not the only one having problems.
So.... anybody else, or am I on my own with this one and its just a co-incidence?
Regards
Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,933
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 11, 2010 12:12:56 GMT
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Don't think you could ever prove it even if it was the cause. I think the fuelsaver stuff is more designed for modern engines where they're burning everything that enters the combustion chamber to cut emissions. On a carbed engine where you usually don't get a complete burn it could cause probs with buildups of additives.
Matt
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Oct 11, 2010 12:22:42 GMT
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If its any use i used it in the carlton the other week and it felt absolutely gutless on it.... Normal total fuel in atm and running alot better.... Not sure what asda sells but that seems the best around here...
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Oct 11, 2010 12:45:37 GMT
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Don't think you could ever prove it even if it was the cause. Matt Yes, I guessed as much... I was more interested in whether others had found difficulties with it. It annoys me that they just replace the type of petrol at the pump, and don't give you any clear indication, or information as to whether your car might take it. Even just leaflets at the side of the pump would have been good.
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,632
Club RR Member Number: 11
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Oct 11, 2010 13:17:14 GMT
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I don't think they sell regular unleaded along side the fuel save. I tend to use V power in my daily more often than not but the fuel save stuff was ok in my daily, as said its probably designed for modern engines like my Octavia VRS.
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Oct 11, 2010 13:43:13 GMT
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I don't think there really is that much difference in pump fuels for us to really notice much difference, especially in normal aspirated non-variable timing engines.
Have we all fallen for the marketting machine so much that within 5 minutes of fueling with brand X or Brand Y we can "really feel the difference".
I suspect there is a lot of psychomechanical effect here...
I did see some testing done a while ago which showed like no noticabledifference between a basic petrol and fancy Optimax type fuel - likewise I'm sure I saw one where they did find a difference. You can set these things up one way or another...
There are pretty tight BS/ISO specs for petrol after all.
The problems come when there is a bad batch, or water ingress into the system somewhere (EG the underground tanks) which can be enough to polute the fuel sufficient to cause poor performance or even engine damage.
ASA and Trading Standards are always looking at petrol and motor oil ads. So much snake oil...
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Last Edit: Oct 11, 2010 13:44:10 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 11, 2010 13:56:51 GMT
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If it was pinking it could have damaged the piston whatever extra stuff the fuel does or does not do, you can make holes in pistons just with the pinking.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Oct 11, 2010 15:55:15 GMT
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Shell don't sell regular unleaded round here anymore, just the fuel save and the vPower. I've always managed to get more MPG from vPower
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Oct 11, 2010 16:18:47 GMT
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My triumph certainly runs happier on anyones super unleaded than it does on the standard stuff that makes it pink. Ive found tescos fuel the best and its cheap as well even the standard unleaded from there doesn't make it pink as much as some
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Oct 11, 2010 16:57:53 GMT
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I don't think there really is that much difference in pump fuels for us to really notice much difference, especially in normal aspirated non-variable timing engines. Have we all fallen for the marketting machine so much that within 5 minutes of fueling with brand X or Brand Y we can "really feel the difference In my own car, on a fresh tank each time - put 4 star, unleaded, or that curse word that may have killed the engine in, and don't tell me which one the old car's running on. I'll tell you. If you've a good ear for music, the exhaust note is noticably different. On the fuelsaver I used, it wouldn't pull, sounded harsh, and was just... flat. If it was pinking, I wouldn't have heard it as it was on the motorway. Unleaded was just normal. 4star makes it drive like I've got at least one passenger less, and it sounds different. Happier/creamier/smoother. There's no way to really describe it. Obviously you can't tell if you mix the fuels, but from a near dry tank you can. Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Oct 11, 2010 17:16:13 GMT
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My '74 stacklight 280CE ran flat on unleaded, octane rating was to low for it although it was Efi and would wind the timing back to compensate, it ran MUCH better on 98ron, but it had been designed for 5 star fuel according to the owners manual.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Oct 11, 2010 17:20:47 GMT
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Wonder what mine would run like (when fixed) if I pinch some AVGAS out of the Shackleton?!
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Oct 11, 2010 18:11:54 GMT
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Wonder what mine would run like (when fixed) if I pinch some AVGAS out of the Shackleton?! fast haha.. I think a bloke i used to work with ran an aprilia rsv on that stuff
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Oct 11, 2010 20:06:19 GMT
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My Camaro is noticeably frisker on V power/super unleaded...
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,933
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 11, 2010 20:37:51 GMT
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The GSi is the same, no knock sensors just a changeable plug to knock the timing back for 95 fuel. With the plug on the 98 setting and super unleaded you get a shed load more mid range torque.
Matt
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Oct 11, 2010 20:43:51 GMT
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I have to say that upon chucking £10 of fuel in the panda (Shell foolsave) on a run yesterday, the car ran flatter than a pancake, and it only improved when i put in £5 of Morrisons fuel
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Oct 12, 2010 17:55:59 GMT
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Wonder what mine would run like (when fixed) if I pinch some AVGAS out of the Shackleton?! Better, but you do have to adjust the timing accordingly. Note that without a cat the smell of burned Avgas is noticeably different (don't want to use it with a cat, the lead in the Avgas will cause trouble with prolonged use). That and it rots mild steel exhausts like there's no tomorrow. Runs hotter so watch your valve seats and spark plug type. Deposits are pinkish tan. Local banger track lads used to like to run their stock cars on it. --Phil
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Oct 12, 2010 19:05:11 GMT
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My old MGB with a fairly heavily tuned Oseli engine didn't like 95 ron one little bit. It had to run on super or it ran flat as a fart.
The modern doesn't really seam to mind too much what it eats, but is more frisky on vtec when running super.
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Oct 12, 2010 19:54:27 GMT
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I did read that petrol has had the ethanol level changed this past year and the Ital runs like a 'bag of........' now. Using a mix of Morrisons, Tesco 99 and Optimax and it runs reasonably well, but suffers from fuel starvation if left for more that 20mins after a run. Quick blast with Easystart cures that, but I'm going electric pump soon to try and cure it permanently.
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Last Edit: Oct 12, 2010 19:54:57 GMT by marinanut
Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored Rover 75 - Barge MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer... MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored Project Minion........ Can you see the theme?
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Oct 12, 2010 20:01:04 GMT
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My Jeep runs perfectly fine on Fuelsave, as have a few other cars I've run it on - but the majority of them are moderns.
I usually wouldn't but the stations I stop at are part of the fuel-price lottery so the higher quality fuels tend to cost 126p upwards.
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