Well 2 out of 3 is pretty good. You'd be a super star in major league baseball. ;>)

Understood.

Bob S.

 

I think everyone needs to relax, it's fuel. One of which does not even pertain to our vehicles.

Go to the freaking gas station, fill up with unleaded 91+, be done with it, and all the worlds problems will be solved.

This thread is becomming tiresome, and mundane.

 

Does "Regular" have a good definition - a specific "octane" (AKI) rating?

Here (UK), the bottom end petrol (gas) is often called economy or some such but is (always?) 95 (but that's 95 RON, about 91 AKI). The S-Type is calibrated for 95 RON over here but is differently calibrated in different countries. No idea if we have E85 but I will avoid it if so LOL

 

Yes it's the lowest octane rating over here. Super, premium, Hi-test, ethyl and there must be more terms that refer to the top octane rating. There is a mid-grade which I could never figure out who uses it and why. Sunoco used have quite a few grades years ago but I think they're down to just 3 now?

Then from a historical standpoint we used to have unleaded and regular (contained lead) at the same time so that got confusing for a while. I think those were pretty close in octane rating and the pump knozzles & tank inlets were specially sized. But that's quite some time ago now.

Bob S.

 

Ethyl is actually Tetraethyllead or leaded gas.

Nozzle sizes now are usually related to the type of fuel - gas vs diesel.

Not that long ago. I remember them and I'm not that old!

 

So Regular could be any AKI (octane)?

(We had and to a slight extent still have leaded (lead replacement, now), and all the usual petrol here is labelled Unleaded with whatever other words such as Premium or Ultimate.... the latter being snake oil for many cars.)

 

1. partially false. It will not damage the engine

2. incorrect. E10 is 10% alcohol which Jaguar clears permits

3. partially incorrect. No components required 'lubrication'.

Repaeating these statements just adds to the confusion, not eliminates it. Please provide hard proof if you believe that I am wrong.

 

I believe that pumps in the UK are also labelled for the actual octane rating which is what counts, not the brand name. Recognizing that the N.Am and Europe have different ratings systems that cannot always be converted precisely, octane ratings here can range from 85 for regular in high altitude locations to 94 for ultra premium at some service stations in the east. All the fartcan muffler Honda types fill up on 94 thinking that it give them more zoom-zoom, I gave up years ago trying to explain why it's waste of money.

What are the posted numbers on UK petrol?

 

This is correct, but the term 'ethyl' is frequently used as a generic term for gasoline in general, whether or it not it actually contains any lead. Sort of like 'Kleenex' for any facial tissue.

Anybody else remember the joke about 'going down to the gas station to pump Ethyl'?

 

1. Not correct. Run low octane long enough and deposits will form and knocking will happen - both create damage.

2. Is E10 truly an alcohol based fuel? No. My statement stands and is correct.

3. No. Here is proof from one of many sites. You are wrong so stop going there.

http://www.musclecarclub.com/library...gasoline.shtml

Gasoline
Gasoline has many advantages and is used to a greater extent than any other fuel in internal combustion engines having spark ignition. It has a better burning rate than other fuels, and, because it vaporizes easily, it gives quick starting in cold weather, smooth acceleration and maximum power.

High performance cars require high performance gasoline. Owners of pre-1971 cars know that their cars require leaded gasoline to run correctly. As leaded gasoline is not sold in the United States, these owners need to buy Lead Substitute Additives (generally $1-$2 per bottle) which are good for one tank of gas. The lead is important because it acts as a lubricant for the internal engine parts and stops them from wearing out to quickly. Engines built in 1971 and later are generally built to run on Unleaded Gas so adding Lead Substitute won't help. In fact, lead damages Catalytic Converters (mandatory on cars built after 1977), and is more harmful to the environment, so don't add it if you don't have to. In either case, you should be purchasing the highest Octane gas at the pump. Supreme Unleaded (92 Octane) is fine and should be used for most engines and everyday driving. Owners of truly high performance engines (i.e. Compression ratios greater than 10.0:1) should consider using Octane boosters to keep their engines running smoothly. Octane boosters may also help if you plan to race your car extensively or whenever you want a little more power. Note that Racing Fuel (104 Octane +) is expensive (often more than triple the price of Supreme Unleaded) and hard to find, and should only be used if you truly have an engine built for racing. It is just overkill in a regular street car being taken to the drag strip and won't give you any measurable improvement over Supreme Unleaded.

 

Not that I'd admit ...

 

UK (unleaded) petrol seems to start at (and is mainly) 95 RON.

You can sometimes also buy a higher RON fuel, depending on the filling station. 97, 98, 99 and I think up to 102 are available, some very rarely. You pay more and they're quite heavily advertised on TV as having benefits, but if you listen carefully to the ad. wording and read the small print there are few if any guarantees (as in: things you could require them to prove in court lol).

Mainly bought by those with furry dice, maybe.

(I have a performance classic that needs 98, but it's a special case. And no furry dice.)

 

Yes most of us probably know that but "back in the day" "Ethyl" was slang for the premium grade. I remember $ 0.22 a gallon gas and there was an Ethyl, Fred, Lucy and Ricky that were popular at that time.

Bob S.

 

NO DICE! Oh you've go to have those.

I take my race car to a lot of club track events. No real racing just blasts around the track by a bunch of us wanna bees ... There's no end of amusment to see guys buying the race fuel some of which get as high as 120 but most we see are 110 octane and at least $8.00 a gallon for their chariots thinking it's gonna do something for them when the car is tuned to run on ordinary pump gas. Some need it most don't but they buy it anyway. I just bring ole "Ethyl" in plastic jugs from where it's a lot cheaper.

Bob S.

 

1) I asked for hard proof. You've not provided any just repeated an unsubstantiated rumour.

2) ethanol is alcohol. So is methanol, butanol and butanol. Ethanol is by far the most common form.

3) again, you're cutting and pasting from the giant myth machine. Hardly the proof I asked for. The lubrication they are referring to is incorrect terminology for the microwelding of the valve seats I mentoned way above.

 

Here is some info for the Jaguar engines regarding octane (actually Range Rover, is same engine though):


The engine is designed for high octane, however as stated can run on lower octane which it detects via the knock sensor, and of course you will some performance there.

 

Thanks for that. Interesting that the spark plugs are not Denso. I wonder why not (that's not a comment against the ones listed, but I understand the STR uses Denso as OE).

 

As I understand E85, it could fairly be described as ethanol-based or an ethanol fuel. Using "alcohol" instead of "ethanol".... not sure I would but I can see why some might.

E10, by contrast, isn't ethanol-based or alcohol-based. Not at 10%. That's far too low to call it an alcohol or ethanol fuel. Describe it as part-ethanol or ethanol-containing or some such and I'd be happy.

 

Here more story about E85 :


The alternative energy revolution continues in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Extreme Speed Motorsports became the latest team to switch to cellulosic E85R for the 2010 season; both its Ferrari F430 GTs will compete for the first time on the energy source at this weekend’s Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix.

Risi Competizione’s two Ferraris also will compete for the first time on the biofuel this weekend.

“It’s mostly a development by Ferrari to improve the performance of the cars,” said Derek Granison, ESM’s team manager. “And everyone in the paddock wants to go green as well. “We’re still looking over the data from the test earlier this week and compiling information. Generally, it has shown to be improvement that needed to be made.”

Ten of the 13 cars in the GT class will be powered by cellulosic E85 - Corvette Racing, BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team and Flying Lizard Motorsports (all two-car efforts) are the others; Drayson Racing, Autocon Motorsports and Intersport Racing are all on the biofuel from the prototype ranks. In addition, Dyson Racing’s Mazda-powered Lola coupe uses isobutanol


Interested ?
Just in case here's the full link to the E85

http://www.americanlemans.com/primar...cat=news|14938

 

Not interested in putting it in my STR, no!! Scared, would be closer. My handbook says that 10% is the max ethanol that may be used and hedges that about a little bit. No way would I exceed 10% without data from Jaguar themselves about the STR's engine (of 2004) saying it would be OK.