Page 1 of 3
unleade or not unleaded
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 02:15 pm
by redline
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
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 02:31 pm
by d3k4y0
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
I'd say that's a no, unless it's got a fuel cat in it
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 04:09 pm
by antiekeradio
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
)
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 05:25 pm
by SteveP
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.
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 06:36 pm
by n xntrx volvo
scam
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 07:53 pm
by foggyjames
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
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 08:01 pm
by shimon340
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....
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 08:20 pm
by classicswede
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.
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 08:33 pm
by foggyjames
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
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 09:45 pm
by pettaw
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.
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 09:51 pm
by ebdl
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.
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 11:20 pm
by Andy's-Old-Beast
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.
So it's probably ok then... sorry about that!
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 11:26 pm
by foggyjames
An 86 B200K in an 89 car?
cheers
James
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 11:27 pm
by Andy's-Old-Beast
(see edit above)
Posted: 31 Jan 2006 11:31 pm
by foggyjames
Go on, you cover those tracks
Yeah, 89MY is well and truly 95 octane lame-spec
cheers
James