'71 Eldo....87 octane ok?

[wbdeford]

With the drop to 8.5:1 compression for 1971, does that mean I can use 87 octane?

Thanks!

Brian
CLC 29073
1958 Sedan de Ville
1971 Eldorado Convertible

[TJ Hopland]

In a perfect world it should be fine.   In many cases with some age and carbon and sludge build up then figure in ethanol you could end up with detonation (pinging).    If it was me I would get the tank down fairly low then get about 1/4-1/2 of 87 and see what happens.  If you do get detonation you can then full up with premium which should get you somewhere in the middle which should be fine.  If you still have issues there you will need to look closer at things. 

[wbdeford]

Thanks, TJ.  Fortunately, that will be very easy to do since the car was delivered to me empty....not just mostly empty, but EMPTY.  I dumped in a gallon or so to move it into my garage.  (Other issue was a broken positive battery cable that was just taped back together and started smoking when I tried to crank....that was the first thing to get fixed.)

Will probably do about 4 gallons and see....thanks again!

[R Schroeder]

My 78 is low compression. It runs just fine on regular.
Roy

[35-709]

Should run fine on regular pump gas --- my '73 does.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I run straight unleaded in my '72 Eldo, the lowest available here in Australia, and not a problem.

I have even upped the compression with '70 pistons, and gone '040 oversize, and still no problems.

Bruce.