Fuel

[Landscape21]

I’m not sure whether to keep running my 1967 2000 mk 1 on Supreme unleaded E5. I’m not sure if the head has been sorted out to run on standard unleaded so anyone out there got any advice, thanks, Anthony Rowan

[johnnydog]

Hi Anthony,
Whether or not your cylinder head has been fitted with hardened valves/seats, using E5 or E10 will make no difference in relation to valve seat recession; the difference between the two grades is the percentage of the Ethanol content (5 or 10%). Ethanol is extremely corrosive, and on older cars can cause serious deterioration of rubber and metal components in the fuel system. Modern cars are designed to run on fuels with higher percentages of ethanol, but our Triumphs weren't - the intended fuel was leaded 98 /100 octane (4/5 star) which hasn't been widely available for over 20 years. I personally use a fuel additive called Millers VSPe that is designed to protect against VSR, increases the octane rating by up to 2 RON, and also offers protection against the harmful effects of ethanol. Combine this additive with Super Unleaded 97/98/99 E5 fuel, and you should have no issues whatsoever. Heavier on the wallet, but I would rather pay more for the better grade E5 fuel, and an additive that gives this protection from VSR, the harmful effects of ethanol and gives an increase in the octane rating, effectively giving up to 101 octane. The increase in performance is also noticeable! It also helps to keep modern fuel stable during longer periods of the Triumphs being laid up.
None of my Triumphs have had the heads converted. I have used Millers VSP and more recently VSPe since 2000, and 21 years after the demise of leaded fuel, and more recently since the introduction of ethanol in fuel, I have not had any fuel related issues that have contributed to engine wear / problems.
There are other additives available, but this is my preference with the benefits it offers.

[Charles H]

100% agree with Johnnydog. I too have not had valve inserts fitted, use Shell super unleaded and Millers VSPe. My car get used hard, including tests for the Mk1 at high revs. After about 40K miles, the head when removed for a head gasket showed no recession. My advise, just keep going.

[torque2me]

I’m not sure whether to keep running my 1967 2000 mk 1 on Supreme unleaded E5. I’m not sure if the head has been sorted out to run on standard unleaded so anyone out there got any advice, thanks, Anthony Rowan

My little knowledge suggests using Esso Supper+ 99 octane E5. Up until the introduction of E10 this product was 0% without the alcohol. I've not been able to obtain definitive answer from Esso about E content in Super+ lately and the nil additive was not UK wide but was in my neck of the woods.

Kev

[Landscape21]

Thanks for all your advice.

[Landscape21]

Can anyone advise me as to where I can get a full set of vynl covered seats dyed from “Cactus “, pale green , to dark blue for my Wedgewood blue Mk 1 2000?

[johnnydog]

Millers Oils are in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, but only sell to the trade. Good Motor Factors, Halfords, or Ebay / Amazon are the some outlets, or autojumbles. Do a Google search!
They supply it in one shot bottles which treat 40 litres, or a concentrate which works out a lot cheaper, but isn't quite as easy to dispense, although simple enough. It is marked in segments for adding to 25 or 50 litres. You need to make sure you can put 40 or 25 /50 litres in at one go - overfilling to try to get near the right dose can result in fuel spillage down the wing due to the near horizontal angle of the filler neck!
Make sure it is VSPe, not the old VSP which doesn't have the ethanol protection.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Millers-Oils ... 635-2958-0