E5 Petrol

shagman

Maxol are doing E5 now on all their unleaded pumps it contains 5% ethanol. The green credentials of this are argueable, BUT they claim the octane rating as 99. I've been using it in my daily driver and will probably run my classics on it come the spring. I reckon as the octane rating of petrol was a lot higher in the 70s than the 95 we get now it's probably gonna run better. Any opinions ???

http://www.maxol.ie/general-content/e5-questions-answers.html

maidhc

I was going to try it until I came across this:

http://www.ford.co.nz/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1178854863116&pagename=Page&site=FNZ&c=DFYPage

So I assume anything with a Pinto won't like E5.

napplechunks

Been using it in a 90's merc and a 60's american car, no problems whatsoever....suspect it gets slightly less mpgs... just a gut feelin tho.

cheers

245

It'll significantly damage brass components in the carbs over time

unkel

napplechunks wrote: »

suspect it gets slightly less mpgs... just a gut feelin tho.

You're gut feeling is right. The calorific value of ethanol is less than unleaded 95 petrol, so if you mix a bit of the former with a lot of the latter, your fuel economy drops (slightly)

carchaeologist

While on the subject,does anyone here use lead additive on engines that need it?

DaveCol

Yes. Can't remember which one it is, Castrol, I think, in a 1980 Mini 1000.

carchaeologist

I do in the chevette,but dont in the datsun,undecided about the beetle..

zilog_jones

Isn't the Topaz "green" unleaded E5 too? Doesn't really leave much choice for normal petrol if it is...

AsphaltRisin'

carchaeologist wrote: »

While on the subject,does anyone here use lead additive on engines that need it?

i tend to prefer to have an unleaded head if possible, but usually on anything particularly nice and old fashioned that gos through my hands i'll use additive when i can if it's not been modified for unleaded