The 'E' Type Forum

All,

S1 4.2, 1964.

Next Saturday my E-type will be MOT'd for the first ime in about 15 years. I've done quite a few technical and cosmetic jobs in it recently in preparation, but I'm unsure about what fuel to use. Since it was last on the road, leaded petrol is completely unavailable, and the change from E5 to E10 has taken place.

For initial fettling I've been using Shell V-Power.

Question is, for a standard engine like mine:

1) Which fuel is best? I'm assuming Shell V-Power, Esso Synergy Supreme, BP Ultimate?

2) Are any additives beneficial e.g. octane booster/lead replacement or others that may reduce the advesr effects of additional ethanol?

For the amount of miles I'll be doing per year, I'm far less concerned about fuel/additive price than getting the best fuel for the engine and associated fuel system parts.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

Given that the fuel will be sitting around unused, Esso's Synergy (E0 but marked E5 at the pump) is your best bet. This minimises any potential deterioration due to ethanol in the fuel separating out next winter.
kind regards
Marek

Esso Supreme 99 is my choice for my classic cars as it contains NO alcohol (by law it has to be labelled E5 which actually means that the fuel being dispensed contains up to 5% alcohol which in Supreme’s case is zero).
Also, I get 6p/litre discount through a deal with the PCGB which brings it closer to the price of the standard E10 fuel.

A year or so ago I almost ‘lost’ my XK120 when whilst out driving, the carbs started leaking petrol - the alcohol in the Standard E5 fuel had literally dissolved the cork composite gaskets in the SUs (according to Burlens).
Luckily the good old XK engines are cross flow otherwise the petrol would have fallen on a hot exhaust manifold —— you can imagine what the outcome would have been!!
Ever since then I have always used Esso Supreme.

It’s well worth paying the little bit extra for piece of mind.

Richard

Thanks guys. I guess E5 is OK too as far as Ethanol goes?

Re. the fire risk of leaking carbs on a triple-carb E-Type engine: I'd assume a petrol soaked distributor wouldn't be too great either...

I also use Esso Synergy Supreme as it is usually ethanol free. From their website:

"Esso Synergy Supreme+ 99 contains zero ethanol, except (for logistics reasons) sites supplied from Scotland, North Wales, North England and Cornwall."

Annoyingly, they also have this update on the website:

"We currently supply an ethanol-free Synergy Supreme+ 99 unleaded in some parts of the UK. From September 2023 our Synergy Supreme+ 99 will transition to contain up to a maximum of 5% ethanol at all Esso pumps irrespective of which part of the country they are located. The labelling at our pumps will remain as E5 for Synergy Supreme+ 99 unleaded."

I suppose it would be worth checking fuel flexible lines, seals and so on for compatibility with E5 but this isn't expected to be an issue. As Marek says, the long winter layup may be more problematic.

Cheers, Chris