Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[peter scott]

Having just changed my "modern" to one with a cat. I found this article interesting. https://itstillruns.com/effects-ethanol-catalytic-converter-12172217.html

I was triggered by this video on a failed cat. The suggestion being that E10 was the problem. https://youtu.be/jRevBBB9cZo

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[alastairq]

ZDDP, or, zinc content, of engine oil has been reduced dramatically over the past few decades.
On older engines, this has resulted in undue camshaft wear [amongst other things].

Hence why,[for my Mustang] I look for old-style , so-called 'classic' oils which contain a high level of zinc.

it has been noted [by me?] that one can in fact go ''too high'' with zinc content in engine oil.
Of course, none of my oldies have cats [or even, dead pheasants!]

But for the one motor made this century that I daily-run, [an 02 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2 litre petrol]...I use the cheapest commonplace oil I can find, of the correct grade.[Opie oils seem to be the keenest on price]
But then, the whole car only cost me 500 pension-quids....Not some 30 grand for a boggo family saloon!

Ethanol seems to be getting the blame for the ill effects created by a lot of other hidden additives...yet we in the UK have only gone up a mere 5% more than what we've been used to for the past couple of decades or more.

I think a lot of the 'troubles' folk have reported have started off from owner errors..But it is easier, and more fashionable, to blame ethanol.

Certainly my sidevalve Dellow runs as good, if not better, on E10 than it did before.

I think owners of moderns might do well to be aware of playing around with gucci oils, etc without checking the 'facts'...We as owners are not meant to play around with our modern motors.....
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

[Crashbox]

Well I'm using E10 in my 1932 Side-Valve Morris Minor. I've done well over a 1000 miles on the stuff. Car's still running without any detectable difference from when it ran on E5.
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1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater

[Clactonguy]

ether are some cars that will despite 'age' run. seemingly happy on e5 or e10 fuel. however others do not like it.my rover p6 for example . engine bay is very hot and with a clear fuel filter we can see 'bubbles' forming in fuel .when they get to carb we get stumbling/low power and inability to restart until carbs (fuel) cools! .

[Ray White]

I have substituted an efficient electric fan for the original and also fitted a high performance water pump in the hope (rather than expectation) that when I eventually do have the MG running it will make a difference.

I am also hoping that as the supercharger carb is well away from the exhaust it will not be badly affected by the heat but I have seen some similarly equipped cars with their bonnet sides removed and I doubt they have done that just for show!

[alanb]

Back in pre 1960 two of the most popular fuels in the U.K. was National Benzole and Cleveland Discol, both these fuels had 20% alcohol (ethanol). Alcohol was used as fuel for the internal combustion engine before petrol and lead was not added to petrol until the 1930s and was then not widely available in Europe until mid to late 30s , at the outbreak of war it was then reserved aircraft use only. Most cars built pre war will happily run on E10 and in most cases better, remember pre war cars also had very low compression compared to today’s cars and the fuel back the was 80 octane or lower so using high octane fuels in old cars has no benefits.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater

[Crashbox]

You're absolutely right Alan, I've mentioned on another thread on the subject of E5 and E10 that Cleveland Discol was available from around 1928-1968 and the ethanol content was at least 20%, and might have been as high as 30%. I've been running both old cars on E10 without any noticeable difference so far. If I do start to find any problems that I believe is caused by the ethanol in the petrol I will post a comment. I will say though, that any issues brought about by modern fuel is likely not due to the ethanol content, but by one or more of the other ingredients that makes up modern fuel. Those additives will be in E5 and E10 in equal measure, so it won't be down to the use of E10 over E5 that will make any difference. Most European countries have been using E10 for the best part of the last decade and over on the International 2CV Friends forum there has been a number of continental members who have been using E10 for tens of thousands of kilometres without any issues to report, whether it's a 1950s 2CV, or a 1990 model from the last year of production.
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1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater