Gasoline.

[48P15Annie]

What kind of gasoline do you run in your old MoPar?

I run just regular unleaded. As did my grandfather.

When I tell people I run regular unleaded, their eyes get real big, and they look at me like I have a third eyeball or something...lol.

[1940plymouth]

regular unleaded also

[55 Fargo]

Regular unleaded also, plenty enough octane.

E-10 so far in Manitoba, I have an all new fuel system, new ank lines etc, so no issues.

Our premium, has no ethanol, some use that for older engines etc........

[james curl]

The engines come with hardened valve seats so they do not need the lead to prevent the hot spot weld of the seat and the valve. When I rebuilt mine I used Chevy stainless steal exhaust valves in my engine and all that I run is regular and mine is bored .040 over and the head was milled .100 also. I have had no problems with the valves and I run mine pretty hard, cruise at 70 MPH on the highway, I try to keep it below 3600 RPM most of the time.

[TodFitch]

I use the lowest octane gas available. If I read the literature correctly my 1933 engine's 5.5:1 compression ratio should be fine down to about 70 octane. And it has the hardened exhaust valve seats so it does not need leaded fuel.

I did have some issues with hot start "vapor lock" for the first time this last summer. Only happened on the hottest days (95 degrees) after long stints of high speed driving. A bit of water poured on the fuel pump to cool it seems to work around that issue.

[Captain Neon]

Regular unleaded is fine for a stock '48 Plymouth. However, as premium has more detergents, I use the premium to help keep the fuel system clean. There is also some evidence that premium has a lower tendency to form varnish and other sludge. After driving a '76 Eldo w/ fuel injection for two years, I am very particular about fuel system PM.

As my engine is from a '56 Dodge, there is some disagreement on whether or not the practice of building these engines with hardened valves and seats continued after 1955, I do run lead substitute and lead replacement. If nothing else, the lead helps the valves seal better and there is improved upper cylinder lubrication.

[greg g]

Can some one please explain to me what there is in the "UPPER CYLINDER" that requires lubrication???? All I can see above the top of the piston at TDC is open space comprised of the cumbustion chamber as defined by that area of the cylinder not swept by the piston and the volume defined by the machined area of the cylinder head. What needs greased???

[P-12 Tommy]

Always been regular unleaded. For me anyways.

Tom

[Don Coatney]

I have found over time that my spark plug threads do require some upper cylinder lubrication espically if I drive in the rain and the plug depression in the head fills with water and rusts.

[Don Coatney]

Is regular leaded gasolene available for purchase anywhere today?

Not that I want to buy any, I am just curious?

[busycoupe]

Haven't seen leaded gas in Massachusetts for years.

[Captain Neon]

Is regular leaded gasolene available for purchase anywhere today?

Not that I want to buy any, I am just curious?

I think our friends south of the Rio Grande may have it still. I remember back in the '80s when intrepid old car driving Texans would drive down to Mexico to fill up on their leaded petrol. However, that was almost 30 years ago, and I haven't been to Mexico myself in almost 20 years.

[martybose]

Looks like I'm the odd man out again. When we put my flathead together with 9 to 1 compression, my mechanic said that all flatheads with relatively high compression have detonation issues, so I have always run Chevron 91 octane.

Marty

[TodFitch]

Looks like I'm the odd man out again. When we put my flathead together with 9 to 1 compression, my mechanic said that all flatheads with relatively high compression have detonation issues, so I have always run Chevron 91 octane.

Marty

With a 9:1 compression ratio I think you will need pretty high octane. I bet the 91 octane you are using is just about as low as you can go.

[Don Coatney]

Looks like I'm the odd man out again. When we put my flathead together with 9 to 1 compression, my mechanic said that all flatheads with relatively high compression have detonation issues, so I have always run Chevron 91 octane.

Marty

Marty;

You are not the odd man out. You are the one that fully knows the fuel requirements of the engine you built. When you do a compression test what numbers do you get?

[carls 49]

87 in my 49 and all my cars. even my hemi ram.

[james curl]

Most people I know no longer go down to Mexico anymore too dangerous, due to all of the drug crime. Too many people killed in the dope trade and among rival gangs. Now Houston has gotten a big gang problem that's tied to the Mexican dope gangs. My brother lives in El Paso and their news is almost all about the killings across the border.

[55 Fargo]

Most people I know no longer go down to Mexico anymore too dangerous, due to all of the drug crime. Too many people killed in the dope trade and among rival gangs. Now Houston has gotten a big gang problem that's tied to the Mexican dope gangs. My brother lives in El Paso and their news is almost all about the killings across the border.

Even the tourista destinations like Puerta Vallarta, Aculpoco, are getting dangerous.

I still know people that travel by road on there bigger highway from Texas to Puerta Vallarta, I think there crazy in doing so........

[greg g]

Didn't our member Teardroppuller decide to repatriate due to the cartel carnage down there. Perhaps that is what the Mexican govt is waiting for, the country to be empty, no turistas, no citizens and no drug gangs, no problems.

[48P15Annie]

Is regular leaded gasolene available for purchase anywhere today?

Not that I want to buy any, I am just curious?

A few of those people that glared at me, said they buy a lead additive and add it to unleaded gas?

Thanks for the input guys.

Would it be wise to add some carb/fuel injector cleaner to the gas? Or is it too old and could harm something.

[Niel Hoback]

ALL gas sold in the US today has detergent in it. Addng more is questionable.

[48P15Annie]

I regularly add Gumout fuel injector cleaner to my 1998 Monte Carlo (3.1 SFI V6). I notice a big difference in performance and mileage. Especially after the first few bottles I ever used it it. The car wasn't well taken care of, and it made it run like a brand new car. Felt like I dropped in a new motor.

[Captain Neon]

Every time I change oil and any time that I go on a trip over 200 miles, I add fuel system cleaner. A remnant from my time w/ a '76 Eldo and living in Arkansas from 2000-02. Preferred brand for years was STP, but after having used just about every brand known to man (long story about proving a point to a car dealership that probably got out of hand), just a bout any brand will do.

[Troganin]

Below is a site that offers a list of gas stations that still offer un-adulterated (tree huggin' hippie free) gas.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

[Don Coatney]

Below is a site that offers a list of gas stations that still offer un-adulterated (tree huggin' hippie free) gas.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

This list is for ethenol free gas and I found 4 such stations here in my hometown. This old non tree huggin Hippie:D thanks you for posting this link