110 Octane Leaded Gas in Car??

[Henning]

Having worked for a couple of racing head manufacturers, who made heads for leaded racing gas and other fuels, I've got to say I've never heard of this and I'll leave it at that.

Find a set f old '462' SB Chevy heads, or pull a head off any old 30s-60s engine and check out the valve guide and report back what you find.

 

[Jaybird180]

One day (about 7 or 8 yrs ago) a few of us were at the local hangout and a guy shows up on a black GSXR-1000 and removes his helmet with an ear-ear grin across his face.

Someone from the group commented that he runs Avgas and that he should stop, "I told you you're going to blow your motor, keep on running that stuff; you don't listen."

I watched his face and he was unphased by the advice. I suspect he continued to run Avgas.

I never saw him after that day and therefore cannot attest to the fate of the motor. But clearly he'd done so for long enough time for his buddy to chide him.

Nevertheless, I don't think I've ever seen a GSXR motor much over 30,000 miles. They get thrashed too much.

I ride my Honda like I stole it (on the track) and it's got about 37,000 miles and is a normal engine.

 

[SkyHog]

One day (about 7 or 8 yrs ago) a few of us were at the local hangout and a guy shows up on a black GSXR-1000 and removes his helmet with an ear-ear grin across his face.

Someone from the group commented that he runs Avgas and that he should stop, "I told you you're going to blow your motor, keep on running that stuff; you don't listen."

I watched his face and he was unphased by the advice. I suspect he continued to run Avgas.

I never saw him after that day and therefore cannot attest to the fate of the motor. But clearly he'd done so for long enough time for his buddy to chide him.

Nevertheless, I don't think I've ever seen a GSXR motor much over 30,000 miles. They get thrashed too much.

I ride my Honda like I stole it (on the track) and it's got about 37,000 miles and is a normal engine.

30,000 miles is an awful long time at 1/4 mile per lap...in fact, that's 120,000 laps. Makes me a happy man.

 

[Henning]

30,000 miles is an awful long time at 1/4 mile per lap...in fact, that's 120,000 laps. Makes me a happy man.

Motorcycles work a lighter duty cycle than cars do, don't expect to be getting 120,000 laps out of an engine. Half the fun is working on the engines anyway.

 

[JHW]

i used to have a gsxr-1100. I would fill it with 100LL and run for a few minutes as part of winter storage prep. In the spring i'd burn the tank of 100LL and the plugs would need to be cleaned by the time it was out. Finally got wise and drained most of the avgas in the spring and put it in the airport lawnmower where it belongs. It also needs it's plug cleaned avery now and then.

 

[Bill]

i used to have a gsxr-1100. I would fill it with 100LL and run for a few minutes as part of winter storage prep.

Simply add the proper amount of StaBil, go run the bike long enough to get it thru the carbs or injectors, and put it up for the winter. No worries.

 

[JHW]

Simply add the proper amount of StaBil, go run the bike long enough to get it thru the carbs or injectors, and put it up for the winter. No worries.

stabil is nothing compared to avgas. Avgas lasts forever, for all practical purposes. i store all my small seasonal engines with avgas. Also off-season store the boat and piper pawnee that way.

 

[pikespeakmtnman]

Is that true? For some reason, I'd always heard that higher octane was better for power and speed, but if its lower, that's an easy solution

And it is a 1000cc class (1250cc if its air-cooled), the cars run motorcycle engines on both dirt and pavement, although I'm more looking at the dirt track racing. Once I buy the car (this week), I'll post more details.

If you plan on racing either Pueblo or Calhan, we'd probably enjoy coming out to root you on, my buddy used to race Hornets and F-8 in Pueblo but his new job is taking all his time and hasn't raced yet this year.

 

[Henning]

Is that true? For some reason, I'd always heard that higher octane was better for power and speed, but if its lower, that's an easy solution

And it is a 1000cc class (1250cc if its air-cooled), the cars run motorcycle engines on both dirt and pavement, although I'm more looking at the dirt track racing. Once I buy the car (this week), I'll post more details.

Higher octane allows you to run more advanced timing and higher compression. If the engine is set up to not get into detonation (knocking, pinging...) on low octane fuel, and you don't do anything to change the engine, then you are at disadvantage using the racing fuel.

 

[jesse]

I don't like to run Avgas in anything, even airplanes, if I can avoid it. There is just too much damn lead that there is no reason to be dumping into engines that don't need it.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Is that true? For some reason, I'd always heard that higher octane was better for power and speed, but if its lower, that's an easy solution

If the engine is designed for higher octane with a higher compression ratio you can get better power and speed than one that was designed for lower octane with a lower compression ratio (and other combustion chamber details).

On the other hand, if you engine was designed to use, say, 80 octane, then running something higher does nothing for power and speed.

Get what you need.

Note: Some (and only some) production automobiles have knock sensors that adjust spark advance based on sensing knock or not. They will get better fuel economy with higher octane fuel because more spark advance is allowed where desired.

And it is a 1000cc class (1250cc if its air-cooled), the cars run motorcycle engines on both dirt and pavement, although I'm more looking at the dirt track racing. Once I buy the car (this week), I'll post more details.

You need the octane rating that the engine was designed for. Lower is bad, higher is OK but pointless.

Probably not an issue in your case, but if you run leaded fuel in an engine with EGR and aluminum where the EGR goes into the intake manifold, the leaded fuel exhaust will react with the aluminum and corrode it away.

If it is a motorcycle derived engine with an integral transmission (shares oil with the engine) lead is not a good thing - review the fuel / oil recommendations for the Rotax 912 for an example.

 

[Sac Arrow]

Probably not an issue in your case, but if you run leaded fuel in an engine with EGR and aluminum where the EGR goes into the intake manifold, the leaded fuel exhaust will react with the aluminum and corrode it away.

If it is a motorcycle derived engine with an integral transmission (shares oil with the engine) lead is not a good thing - review the fuel / oil recommendations for the Rotax 912 for an example.

The crankcase vent does however vent to the airbox, so you will get blowby gasses directed to the intake system.

Excellent point on the transmission - particularly with a wet clutch.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

The crankcase vent does however vent to the airbox, so you will get blowby gasses directed to the intake system.

That should be cool enough to not be as big a problem.

 

[Jaybird180]

That should be cool enough to not be as big a problem.

Until the children come out ahh.....mentally challenged.

 

[Henning]

I don't understand why lead in the clutch and transmission is a problem, it never was before. Hypoid gear oil has lead in it to improve wiping qualities, and that is used with clutch packs in limited slip rears. Heck, in 2 strokes raw leaded fuel was run through the crank cases.