unleade or not unleaded

Post by **redline** » 31 Jan 2006 02:15 pm

received this email today from a total stranger , whats the answer guys

Hello I have just bought a 1985 Volvo 340GL with 45,000 genuine miles. Please can you tell me can I use unleaded petrol or should I mix it with red x.

Many thanks Linda

Post by **d3k4y0** » 31 Jan 2006 02:31 pm

I think this discussion's been had before somewhere... I'll have a look

edit: here we go

360GL wrote:All 300 series petrol engines without catalytic converter from including 1987 model year onward can use either leaded or unleaded fuel. The octane rating requirements are:

B14.4E, B172K, B200K: min. 96 RON leaded, min. 95 RON unleaded
B14.4E-D, B172K-D: min. 95 RON unleaded only
B200E without cat. converter: min. 92 RON leaded, min. 91 RON unleaded
B200E with cat. converter, B200F: min. 91 RON unleaded only

Early models must use leaded fuel (or lead supplement additive):

B14 models: min. 96 RON
B172, B19A, B19E, B200K, B200E models: min. 98 RON

source: Haynes Manual, User Manual

Janitor wrote:most people use a "fuel cat"-this converts unleaded back to 4star !!
they go inline with your pipe/hose!!

http://www.fuelcat.co.uk/mainpage.html

I'd say that's a no, unless it's got a fuel cat in it

Website · Post by **antiekeradio** » 31 Jan 2006 04:09 pm

the required RON number has nothing to do with leaded/unleaded

the kat versions did not have any changes to the engines (valve seats etc), and they are unleaded _only_

so if the RON is 96 or higher, no problem if its unleaded!

(the 'fuel kat' ghyzmo looks like a genuine example of 95% marketing and 5% luck... what a BS

)

Post by **SteveP** » 31 Jan 2006 05:25 pm

Depends on the engine.. that 340 could well be a 1.7 which afaik all can run on Unleaded.

I doubt any problems will arise from running it on unleaded - our 1982 345's were always run on unleaded without any trouble.

Post by **n xntrx volvo** » 31 Jan 2006 06:36 pm

Post by **foggyjames** » 31 Jan 2006 07:53 pm

I got the email too. Hugh always ran on 95 unleaded, so I guess that's just fine. If it eats the valve seats, just pull a late-model head...

cheers

James

Post by **shimon340** » 31 Jan 2006 08:01 pm

there is a mistake in haynes guys...

Al 340s with the B144E engine can use unleaded. So thats X reg onwards...

You need to change the ignition timing on the pre-Renix cars.

For Renix 340s you need to ground the B pin to allow the car to run on unleaded....

Post by **classicswede** » 31 Jan 2006 08:20 pm

Janitor wrote:most people use a "fuel cat"-this converts unleaded back to 4star !!
they go inline with your pipe/hose!!

http://www.fuelcat.co.uk/mainpage.html

This is one thing that winds me up with the amazon bigade. They "THINK" this fuel cat is what is allowing them to run on unleaded with no problems - the funny thing is they run spot on with std unleaded-no treatment.
All these fuel cats do is increase octane which is fine if high compression is the issue. If valve guide or seat wear is the problem a fuel cat will do bugger all for you. The best bet IF the engine needs 4star fuel is to use an approved additive such as castrol valve master.

Post by **foggyjames** » 31 Jan 2006 08:33 pm

shimon340 wrote:For Renix 340s you need to ground the B pin to allow the car to run on unleaded....

I actually saw an official Volvo 'pin grounding kit' on a scrapper the other week - dead impressed!

cheers

James

Post by **pettaw** » 31 Jan 2006 09:45 pm

Erm, yeah, but on some engine's like mine, its a compression issue and you need the high octane (mine's a pre 1987 B200E)

There's good info on the Volvo Car UK website.

Post by **ebdl** » 31 Jan 2006 09:51 pm

X reg onwards are not all B14.4E - mine's an '83/A and has a B14.2E. I suppose I should probably be using an additive... hmm.

Post by **Andy's-Old-Beast** » 31 Jan 2006 11:20 pm

Yeah, using leaded never really occurred to me, the previous owner said she always ran it on unleaded, but should I be using an additive? Now I'm confused...

Mine's an '86 B200K.

[EDIT] D'oh! No it's not, it's an '89! Not sure what I was thinking then, I had a bit of a brain error. sm75

So it's probably ok then... sorry about that!

Post by **foggyjames** » 31 Jan 2006 11:26 pm

An 86 B200K in an 89 car?

cheers

James

Post by **Andy's-Old-Beast** » 31 Jan 2006 11:27 pm

(see edit above)

Post by **foggyjames** » 31 Jan 2006 11:31 pm

Go on, you cover those tracks

Yeah, 89MY is well and truly 95 octane lame-spec

cheers

James