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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - fuel

took the midget for mot today filled it up in tescos with the high octane fuel with my own lead additive the after 2 miles she breaks down just found out this stuff is not good for classic cars it has ruined the seals in a new su pump and havent got to carbs yet dont use this stuff there should be a warning on the pumps will be going there in a few days to speak to manager too angry to go at the moment !!
rj hardwick

Why is it unsuitable for your car? What is in it that has ruined your pump seals? It is only 5% ethanol, which is the same as lots of petrol today.
Mike Howlett

rj don't go in and complain

I've been using Tesco 99/Momentum99 for years in my classics with no problems

as Mike has pointed out it's only 5% same as other brands - http://www.tesco.com/Momentum99/productBenefits-specs.asp

Tesco is 99 octane, the cars were designed to run on 97 (my model year at least) and will run on 95 (you might need to adjust your timing a little)

unless your driving your car very hard I'd give up the expense and hassle of the lead additive personally

I'm not fussed about SU (points or electronic) pumps I've got a Q&H electronic been running fine for the last 5 years 25,000+ miles
Nigel Atkins

Specification of Tesco Momentum 99

http://www.tesco.com/Momentum99/productBenefits-specs.asp
Dave O'Neill2

Dave you must type slow to be behind me :)
Nigel Atkins

No, it's my blooming internet connection...I've just had to reboot my router...again!
Dave O'Neill2

I've got expensive but good (for my use anyway) BT

I often feel like booting my computer though
Nigel Atkins

Mine is BT too, but my contract is due for renewal next month!
Dave O'Neill2

I've got the wireless 20 hub and it's very good (not the latest one you see on TV)

I've got a mate with about 3 or 4 unused previous BT wireless hubs just sitting unused in a draw if your stuck
Nigel Atkins

R, nothing wrong with Tesco's MIllenium, I've been racing on it for 3 years in two different cars with good results.
David Smith

apparenty there is a new additive that that reacts with moisture and old metal was told this by garage mech as by has been doing it to a few cars in the area took su pump apart seals were so ruined will have no chance of refitting whats the odd on finding some new ones on a sunday !!
rj hardwick

if that's the case you'll find out for sure when all the SORN'd cars come back on the road for their sunny Sunday runs after 1st April

pity they're missing all this fabulous weather now, probably be cold and wet from start of April onwards :)

ETA: how old was your pump, how often do you run the car, when was the previous time you filled up - I was just wondering if it was from the previous fill up and then car's been sitting for a while, just thoughts
Nigel Atkins

Much more likely that the pump's died over time, the stuff'd have to be pretty nasty to kill the seals in 2 miles on a good pump. Has it had 'posh' fuel sat in it over winter?

I run the P6 on Tesco 99 and sometimes Shell V-power and it's absolutely fine, and has been for 4000 miles. The problems arise when it's left for a long time, the ethanol tends to settle out or evaporate or something and the fuel goes 'bad' faster than the 95 stuff.

In other areas on the web of potential lies I read that half a tank of ethanol based and half a tank of 'normal' makes the ethanol concentration off and it drops the water that the ethanol holds into the bottom of the tank.

I have a friend with a spitfire that always fuels it with BP ultimate "because it's better" then doesn't drive it for weeks, then complains because it runs like a bag of nails because the fuel's gone off. It's also timed for 95 because "that's what it says on the bonnet" , so in his case there's no point whatsoever in putting the expensive fuel in...
Rob Armstrong

When did Ethanol fuel in the UK come in? Am I right in thinking, that it came in prior to 2008?

I ask because, in October 2008, I boxed up my Sprite in my garage, and rented the house out whilst I went away for 2 years 5 months. I left about 2 gallons in the tank.

When I came back, I unboxed the Sprite, connected a new battery, span the engine without plugs to get oil pressure, put back the plugs, and it fired first time. It ran perfectly. No problem with the standard points SU pump or anything else to do with fuel.

I probably used Sainsbury as they are the closest to me.




Lawrence Slater

Blimey Lawrence, when I first saw that photo, I thought you were sending it somewhere!
Dave O'Neill2

I use whatever is cheapest (sorry I meant least expensive). I'll put sainsburys basics whisky in it when petrol hits £6 a litre.

I have no problems with my pump or anything, and I'm running mechanical original everything because it all works.

I don't even put in any additive cos it doesn't do what everyone thinks it does - it doesn't suddenly make unleaded fuel leaded again... and after rebuilding my engine and having the valves out - the amount of material on the valves, I could run for 100000 miles and get negligible seat recession.

Its far more likely that whatever fuel you use the quality of the rubber in your pump is chinese at best!
C L Carter

"quality of the rubber is chinese at best!"

Ah, that explains a lot...









(Sorry, couldn't resist)
Alex G Matla

left the seals in the sun and the shrunk back to original size fished out some gel from both carb bowls fitted filter between tank and pump and one just before carbs spoke to a fitter at mazda garage ant they had problems when this fuel was delivered to them in their old storage tanks it reacts aparrenty to rust and debris causd them no end of problems when they filled up new cars spoke to father in law who has a concours gt and 46 tc and he has read about this in octane magazine and there is plans to put it in normal unleaded as well hope this helps someone not making the same mistakes as me !
rj hardwick

fair enough, the Mazda place has perhaps hinted at how lax some petrol filling stations are about looking after their tanks including possibly theirs

when Prop sees this thread he'll give you all the details from the USA

perhaps we don't notice because we use our cars more because I doubt on average that most petrol stations are better at looking after their tanks than up your way
Nigel Atkins

David,
My intention was to send it somewhere, but I couldn't get storage for less than 2000 quid a year at the time. Crazy. They all wanted to start it every few months, and do all kinds of crap. The car isn't worth 4K over 2 years to store it. I just wanted somewhere dry, so I built a box around it, and let the tenants use the box platform as storage.

So anyway, what responsibility do petrol stations have to their customers, if they sell crap fuel that screws the engine? Assuming it was crap fuel.
Lawrence Slater

could be neglect of storeage conditions rather than fuel or a combination/mixture of both

I don't know but I would offer a possibility that not all petrol retailers adhere to the maintence requirements of their storeage facilities and equipment - they should read a handbook on it :)

when there was the Tesco's business before every chancer jumped in asap
Nigel Atkins

Here you go RJ I've got a few spare: ............ ,,,,,,,,,,,


:o)
Jordan Gibson

This thread was discussed between 24/03/2012 and 26/03/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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