Best fuel - LRP or unleaded with supplement

R

rickkk

New Member
Hi

What is the best fuel to keep my 1974 3500S healthy and quick? Just bought it and the chap advised me unleaded plus additives - is this the case and if so normal or super plus unleaded?

Would LRP work or is the octane rating too low?

Thanks
 
Hello Rickkk,
This sounds like a case for my famous article on FUELS!
If you send me a private e-mail with your e-mail address I will reply with said article attached. (cannot attach to messages via this website)
Regards, John.
 
Hi Rickk,

I used Castrol additives for several years and had pinking problems when accelerating. I changed to Miller about eigtheen months ago and the car is running beautifully since. I use Millers at twice the standard dose --- the maximum allowed.

John Larkin.
 
Ordinary unleaded is fine if you retard the ignition to 0 degrees. If you want to keep the timing nearer to 6 degrees BTDC then you'll need optimax or superunleaded. Just listen for pinking and retard as necessary. Valve recession is not an issue with this engine despite stories you may hear.
 
Hi,

Interesting point about the unleaded. My own high compression V8S had the engine rebuilt by specialists before I bought it so I've never been too sure whether it has been 'modified'. However that was in 1990, so very unlikely.

Anyway, I've always been a believer in the V8 being OK with unleaded & to put my money where my mouth is, I've run mine on neat normal unleaded for over 25,000 miles now without problems.

Saves a lot of faffing about!

Phil (East Yorks RO) :)
 
The early Range Rover was sold in the USA and had to be ok with unleaded. The part numbers for the valve seats etc. is the same as for UK V8s so they're fine with unleaded. I think people confuse the need for the octane rating of leaded with the wear protection of the lead. You need the former but not the latter.
 
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