fbekholden.com

Just wondering what octane fuel you guys use in your Red motors?
I have a 161 and I normally put 95 octane in it...
can i go higher or should i go lower, or am I ok where i am?

A stock red will just about run on kero - 95 is fine

Blacky wrote:A stock red will just about run on kero - 95 is fine

i've run 'em on thinners yes i pretty much put what ever in and of late E10 cause it's cheapest which is sposed to be 95 but i've put 91, 98, and that 100 stuff Vmax or whatever it is with no notable differance

ah so i can even chuck in that bp ultimate stuff?
wiked

J wrote:ah so i can even chuck in that bp ultimate stuff?
wiked

but why you'll be paying extra money for something you don't need
but it is up to you some people are fussy about things like fuel oil etc

i think its just in my head but i wont put in any other than the higher octane.....

i havent noticed anyy difference in anything so i might be paying more for no reason....

but iv had no problems running it

aidan...

I use motorcharge
apparently its like the coke zero of fuel

the only thing 98 octane fuel makes a noticeable difference in is dirt bikes. i run 91 (10% ethanol sometimes) coz I can't afford to fill her up with premium when she doesn't need it (yes its a grey but whatever)
Maybe it was just because it's a &*#@, but 98 had no impact on my BA falcon ute either- don't waste your money
Jimmy

I'm going to deviate from the current line of thoughts a little based on my experience with a few cars I've owned ( not just Holdens ).

My FB ( standard 149 bored to 167 ) seems to run better on higher octane fuel than 91 ULP.

Not a great difference mind you but can be seen after refuelling with higher octane just in its slightly smoother idle.

It doesn't make normal driving any different and can't say I've experienced any betterment in fuel economy that the fuel companies advertise, but I can tell the difference mainly when towing.Holds tow speed better and less tendency to ping under high load/lower engine rpm when pinging is more likely to happen.

Same experience with my ED Frod Flacon< XR8 Sprint.No noticable difference under normal driving but definately an improvement especially when I'm towing FB/EK's home with it.

Same experience again with the Mrs Honda Jazz when towing ( no I don't tow car trailers with it but have towed a trailer with it with 2 chev V8's in the trailer

And again, same experience with other Jap cars,Frods etc that I've owned since ethanol and higher premium fuels became more readily available where I live.

I find the best bang for buck I've found is United Petroleum 95 octane ( with 10% ethanol ) never had a problem with it at all and have used it for years when I can get it.

Never had a problem with ethanol fuel in any of my cars actually contrary to the experiences that some people speak of.

I have my own personal opinion on why ethanol fuel is blamed for the damage to car engine components and it differs to the line of thinking for some motoring so called experts that we read about in editorials here and there.

FB MAD wrote:I find the best bang for buck I've found is United Petroleum 95 octane ( with 10% ethanol ) never had a problem with it at all and have used it for years when I can get it.

Never had a problem with ethanol fuel in any of my cars actually contrary to the experiences that some people speak of.

Same as Terry I've tried them and seen no real difference. My EK runs the united 95 octane with ethanol and has done so flawlessly for 3 years. I also run my A v-8 roadster on the ethanol blend without any problems.

Don't know they even produce 91 octane - err maybe for lawn mowers.
That said in our older car we run 91 (because it's cheaper) around town & run 95 on the longer trips & appear to get better mileage per tank - 95 burns hotter & seems to keep the motor cleaner........ IMHO

ive been up to 4psi boost with 95 with no pinging but i use 98 when i can, but if i had a stocker i would just use the 91.
if you have a liberty servo the cheap shit is 95 and the premium is 100

i'll throw a spanner in the works, went to canberra had a mix of e10 and regular unleaded went ok but it's a small engine so can't expect much on the run home it had half a tank of regular so i chucked in 20 bucks vortex and seemed to be a bit better still no world beater though

of the MANY cars i've had we had a mid '80's corrolla that pinged on anything but premium and couldn't be tuned out, a nissan 720 ute that if we put e10 in it would absolutely drink it and now this one

i've been running my ek on 95 octane with appropriate flash lube adjustments since the switch occurred back when ever.. a red 186 nestles inside. have had this reconditioned red for over 20 yrs now and has purred the whole time. after long hauls the timing would have to be tweaked a little though after the switch to 95 octane, which i've always sourced from BP. i tried both 98 and half tank of ethanol once each. terrible! engine ran rough, sounded like an old tractor without the power.
last long haul however, up to Qld and back, a slightly different story. same deal occurred so went to get the timing readjusted. ended up getting a reconditioned head and all valves reseated to suit unleaded fuel.
the cause i'm not sure; general fatigue of engine? grabbing what ever 95 i could find on road trip?
i'm no car buff at all, i just love cruising in my ek. my guess choice of fuel over a long period of time will have it's consequences though. reseating of valves was not cheap!

Found out something very interesting during the week, a mate just started driving tankers and he was saying the fuel he is delivering to one company so far has come from three different companies refineries!

As for your EK Leinamoon, I'm guessing some of the problem would be the lack of leaded fuel taking its toll on the head. Not sold on the whole flash lube scenario. I'll have mine setup for unleaded when I reco the motor.