I imported my 1965 E-Type from the UK recently and would like advice on what type of gas to use.

I heard the valve inserts are hard enough not to need lead additive. Do I need to use a lead substitute for the 4.2L engine? Is 99 grade gas OK?

Thanks! John

Submitted by dale@ls.net on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 22:51

Hi guys, I am glad lead is out of todays fuel, but it was a great lubricant for the valves
and guides in early engines. I am presently in the process of restoring a 1971 E (XKE)
or whatever, and also play with old muscle cars. My current muscle toy is a 1972 Chevrolet
Chevelle, with 502 CU engine + Procharger supercharger, 723 H.P. 0 -103 MPH in
6.66 seconds in the !/8 mile. The Chevelle is also a full licensed and inspected street
car. The cylinder heads have bronze valve guides because of no lead in the fuel now.
The Chevelle also has a roller cam, since zink additives in the oil were eliminated a few
years back and caused massive flat tappet cam failures.
Now watch out, because even though the Jag's have overhead cams, they are still
basic flat tappet, so you need to be very careful about the type of oil you use. If you are
cranking up a new/rebuilt engine, it would be safe to use Rotella T oil which is high
zink, and used in diesel trucks. Once you have completed break in of a new engine, it
would be OK to use a synthetic oil.

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 21:53

Well John, we thought you were a "fly by night" What is the year & where do you live,? I often need RHD cars on my site "101classiccarrental" . I trust your drive was in the small hours and M25 M4 all the way! It's little stressful on the motor, and isn't very efficient but sometimes we just have to do some things. Did you ever hear about the American lady who drove the same route in a Mini without changing gear? This was in 1968, she had rented the car and didn't know it was a stick shift. The AA towed her into a garage in Exeter with a blown engine, it had been in first gear all the way!

Submitted by jwhiti04@yahoo.com on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 21:13

So it sounds like Premium with no additives is the way - thanks guys for the info!!!

Mine's a Series 1 with the glassed in headlamps, RHD FHC silver/blue. Bought it in 1989 as a dusty old wreck under a pile of carpets and gradually rebuilt it.

Someone once told me it was desgned to run from 15 to 150mph in 4th gear - nothing like a challenge, I drove it 100 miles from London to the South West one evening without changing gears - no problem, but it does help to have roundabouts rather than stop lights at road junctions!!
Looking forward to driving on the other side of the road now I know what juice to use!

Thanks all

John

Submitted by antiqman@bells… on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 18:15

William, my name is Michael Schenkman and i have 5 vintage jaguars that are restored. I put in high test gasoline either mobil or shell. I also throw in a cap of BHT which is a food perservative from the vrp,, vitamin research products. I learned this from an old timer years ago. I only drive maybe 100 miles per year per car. this bht perserves the gas. and it is cheap and effective.. good luck

Submitted by wcjssj@comcast.net on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 16:11

Regular or premium? You just dont want it to ping (or pink since its British). Because pinking is very damaging, I just buy premium to be safe.

In the early sixties my Dad went out of his way to put AMOCO in his Mark 2, because it was unleaded. Drove the car for 100,000 miles before he sold it. No problems.

Curt

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 09:58

Billy. As it was a "habit" why had it never happened before and what did you do to rectify it? Santa wouldn't be around anyway he is far too busy in the summer! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Submitted by tvtom@sbcglobal.net on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 01:23

One summer day out of habit I filled our '63 with Regular. When I started up the freeway on-ramp I immediately knew I had made a mistake What a clatter arose---and it wasn't Santa.

I run only Premium, no additives.

Tom

Submitted by SC38-21185J on Thu, 12/31/2009 - 23:03

Agree, though I use the high octance stuff. Don't even think about a valve job just to run regular fuel. Do NOT use any additives in gas, you will regret it.

P