Hi,
does anyone know what needs to be done so older cars can be converted to using unleaded petrol? Thank you
MissTB Casual Dubber
21 posts · joined Jul 2012 ·
Swith to unleaded petrol?
BRUTUS Officially Full-On Dubber
255 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Any original/standard superbug should run well on 91 ULP. Some volks prefer 95 ULP (not really necessary for original 7.5:1 compression engine -- but may be good "insurance" if your ign.-timing is way out!). If you hear PINGING on 91 ulp, change to 95 ulp.
You shouldn't need any additives, though again some feel happier using them.
You shouldn't need any additives, though again some feel happier using them.
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
donn Wolfsburg Elder
3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·
Nothing for our old dubs, they run fine on unleaded but keep away from E10
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
MissTB Casual Dubber
21 posts · joined Jul 2012 ·
Thank you both, this board is amazingly informative!
helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body
7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
Beetles were Unleaded from 1968. Nothing to do if after this date.
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
All fuel is unleaded.
I wouldn't put 91 in my lawnmower.
Low octane fuel used to burn valves when it had lead in it.
Just do your VW a favour and put 95/98 in it. It can't hurt it.
I wouldn't put 91 in my lawnmower.
Low octane fuel used to burn valves when it had lead in it.
Just do your VW a favour and put 95/98 in it. It can't hurt it.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Shuffs Commited Dubber
50 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·
Same here,95 in everything,(including the mower),it costs a little bit more,but the improved economy, takes a bit of the pain away 👍AA003 wrote:All fuel is unleaded.
I wouldn't put 91 in my lawnmower.
Low octane fuel used to burn valves when it had lead in it.
Just do your VW a favour and put 95/98 in it. It can't hurt it.
Paul Smith Casual Dubber
43 posts · joined Jul 2012 ·
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought any engine that doesn't have stainless steel valves and seats should have an upper cylinder lubricant like Morrie's added to the fuel.
helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body
7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
Original cast iron heads on other models of cars ran on unleaded with no valve seats at all, with hardened valves for many years. On unleaded they need the Upper cylinder head lubricant. Most cast iron heads now have hardened valve seats. If you converted a cast iron head car to LPG you had to get hardened seats.
Alloy heads usually have hardened valve seats anyway, so Lubricant is not required.
My wife was recommended by someone to put a tank of 98RON in the Beetle, and the car didn't run well at all, as the timing and compression is stock, so it is set up for 91RON. So compression ratio, timing and plugs need to be part of your fuel selection. It does all go together in a older carbie, distributor car.
Alloy heads usually have hardened valve seats anyway, so Lubricant is not required.
My wife was recommended by someone to put a tank of 98RON in the Beetle, and the car didn't run well at all, as the timing and compression is stock, so it is set up for 91RON. So compression ratio, timing and plugs need to be part of your fuel selection. It does all go together in a older carbie, distributor car.
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
But pre unleaded fuel, most people ran 98. What has changed?helbus wrote:My wife was recommended by someone to put a tank of 98RON in the Beetle, and the car didn't run well at all, as the timing and compression is stock, so it is set up for 91RON. So compression ratio, timing and plugs need to be part of your fuel selection. It does all go together in a older carbie, distributor car.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
BRUTUS Officially Full-On Dubber
255 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Well actually no.
We VW owners (economical devils) in the 60's-70's usually ran Standard (or Regular) which was 89 octane min. (and often contained more lead than the the 98 super, but that's another story).
Or we used BP Super-Mix, with 25% Super (or whatever the minimum increment was) added to the Regular.
Use the lowest octane that will work well. Modern high octane fuel uses much higher amounts of "aromatics".
We VW owners (economical devils) in the 60's-70's usually ran Standard (or Regular) which was 89 octane min. (and often contained more lead than the the 98 super, but that's another story).
Or we used BP Super-Mix, with 25% Super (or whatever the minimum increment was) added to the Regular.
Use the lowest octane that will work well. Modern high octane fuel uses much higher amounts of "aromatics".
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
......and they burnt out valves.BRUTUS wrote:We VW owners (economical devils) in the 60's-70's usually ran Standard (or Regular) which was 89 octane min. (and often contained more lead than the the 98 super, but that's another story).
You cannot hurt an engine by running higher octane. But you can if you run lower.
Unleaded 91 is usually around 88/89.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
High octane fuel is a slower burn and needs more advance,, even a bone stock engine can be tuned to run better on it, regular 91 unleaded is cats piss.helbus wrote:My wife was recommended by someone to put a tank of 98RON in the Beetle, and the car didn't run well at all, as the timing and compression is stock, so it is set up for 91RON. So compression ratio, timing and plugs need to be part of your fuel selection. It does all go together in a older carbie, distributor car.
I set my mates Superbug up to run like that as its only a weekend cruiser so stock 1600 only gets 98.
it gets better mpg now and runs slightly better but can only have 98 now
you pay more at the bowser but better economy and more power balance it out.
jedsgpz Seriously Crusin Dubber
106 posts · joined May 2010 ·
The sticker inside the fuel flap on my 73 Squareback says 91RON, and I run Flashlube with 91 at the recommended mix ratio. I have been driving it as my daily driver (up to 2 weeks ago, when I was taken out from behind) for the last 5 years, and the previous owner for the preceding 6 years.
The car doesn't ping, gets great economy, and for a dead stock engine develops good performance, uses bugger all oil between changes.
Nymeyer's VW specialists at Belmont North (near Newcastle) recommend nothing else for a dead stock engine of that era!
The car doesn't ping, gets great economy, and for a dead stock engine develops good performance, uses bugger all oil between changes.
Nymeyer's VW specialists at Belmont North (near Newcastle) recommend nothing else for a dead stock engine of that era!
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
Why do you need flashlube then?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
jedsgpz Seriously Crusin Dubber
106 posts · joined May 2010 ·
Because engines run a bit hotter on unleaded than they do on leaded, and for the price it's a cheap additive!
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
I haven't heard that one before. I know that they run hotter using 91, but flashlube won't make it run any cooler.jedsgpz wrote:Because engines run a bit hotter on unleaded than they do on leaded, and for the price it's a cheap additive!
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
jedsgpz Seriously Crusin Dubber
106 posts · joined May 2010 ·
No, flashlube won't make it run cooler, but will provide a measure of valve/upper cylinder lubrication that was previously provided by leaded fuel. According to advise given to me by the reputable long time VW specialist mechanics previously mentioned, VW engines run hotter on unleaded fuel be it 91, 95 or 98, and due to a stock engine being of low compression, there is no benefit to be gained by using higher octane fuels!
These guys know their stuff, being second generation VW specialists, so I for one trust their opinions, if others don't choose to, so be it, I can only judge on how my car performs, and as stated previously, it performs very well!
These guys know their stuff, being second generation VW specialists, so I for one trust their opinions, if others don't choose to, so be it, I can only judge on how my car performs, and as stated previously, it performs very well!
1303Steve Scirocco Rare
8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Dont buy high octane fuel from servos that have low turnover, it can go stale
modnrod Fahrvergnugen
978 posts · joined Mar 2011 ·
Or if the temp goes over lo-mid 40s with the sun on the bowser, it won't even pump.
If you're tuned to run 98 then you're inside drinking crap roadhouse coffee for hours until the pump works again.
🙁
If you're tuned to run 98 then you're inside drinking crap roadhouse coffee for hours until the pump works again.
🙁
AA003 Custom Title Time!
1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·
I will have to agree to disagree on that one.jedsgpz wrote:VW engines run hotter on unleaded fuel be it 91, 95 or 98,
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂