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Flathead engine: Which is the right petrol?

Started by Oliver Betker, April 25, 2018, 09:34:07 AM

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Oliver Betker

Which Petrol do you use for the V8 flathead Cadillacs from the fourties era?

Do These machines Need lead additives?
The petrol in Europe is mixed with bio-proportions, which is very agressiv against Aluminium and Metall. Only the high octane Petrol is free of it, but it has a Minimum of 100-104 octane. Could such a high rate octane be a Problem for the old mashines?

I read in an old thread that somebody mixed the Petrol with diesel. What's are your expieriences?
Regards Oliver
1946 Cadillac Series 61 Coupe
1958 Chevrolet Bel Air 4door Sedan
1958 Wartburg 311 4door Sedan 900
1961 Wartburg 311 4door Sedan 1000
1963 Trabant 500 2door Sedan
1989 Trabant 601 2door Sedan
1966 Bulldozer T 100 MGP
1968 Bulldozer T 100 MGP
1998 Nissan Pickup Navara
2015 Ford Ranger Pickup
1978 MZ T 250/1
1992 Harley Davidson Fat boy

Steve Passmore

Lead-free is fine for such low revving, low compression, engines like the flatheads.  Most fuel stations here (England) only have one type of petrol anyway and the amount of Bio mix is small here compared to the US. I have been using lead-free since it was first introduced here in my flatheads and I have never had any engine problems because of it.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

C Gorgas

I have been fortunate to get no ethanol fuel and use low octane with no problems. chet 25441 

Carl Fielding

Yes, use as low octane as possible.   -  CC