Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any input on running the mk3 xr2i on 97 octane. Any changes needed or can it be ran straight off the bat. With the latest e10 roll out, I was looking at additives and millers are doing one which is a protector and octane booster. However, it is designed as a lead replacement also. Anyone else using it or is it best to avoid?

Thanks!

Just run it on the best quality fuel you can get.  97/99 RON will be fine.

I thought super unleaded was E5 and normal unleaded was E10. I'm sure I've read Esso super is claimed to be Ethanol free (E0). 

Is it the extra Ethanol or Octane you are worried about?  If the latter, then wasn't the engine designed for 4* leaded, which was 98 Octane anyway.

BTW, Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome to the forum Ray.

I've always wondered how all these older cars will cope with today's fuel,
my friend has an old 1980's car, he puts Redex Lead Replacement additive
in his car and doesn't suffer with pinking or and running problems.

Be great to see your car ?

 

A Mk3 XR2i will be OK for unleaded, no lead substitute required.

Use only super unleaded as it's, at worst, only E5, some are rumoured to be E0 (ESSO, Tesco) but have to be labelled E5 by law. No need to change ignition timing from standard

13 hours ago, Ian Lanc said:

Welcome to the forum Ray.

I've always wondered how all these older cars will cope with today's fuel,
my friend has an old 1980's car, he puts Redex Lead Replacement additive
in his car and doesn't suffer with pinking or and running problems.

Be great to see your car ?

 

My gaffers dad has a 67(?) Ford Zephyr.  All he used to do was put a lead replacement additive in with normal unleaded.  Since E10, he'll probably have to run it on 97/99 RON fuel,

Thanks guys,

Very much appreciated! And thanks all for the welcome. Unfortunately, super unleaded is not hugely close to me, so I would burn a quarter of a tank just going to the nearest station that has it. I'm surrounded by e10, so was looking at the only viable option of using an additive.

I know the mk3 was designed for 95, but having minor hesitations in acceleration, so thought about trying 97.  The Haynes manual wasn't fully clear if I could run it, hence wondering if anyone had any experience.

If I can, the only option I could find was the millers, albeit, it had a lead replacement additive. My worry was just if the 1.6 EFI was designed to run on leaded or not. Assuming it was, the additive shouldn't cause any harm

Adding a photo from earlier this year when I picked it up

1 hour ago, RayW said:

Adding a photo from earlier this year when I picked it up

What an epic photo & surrounded by aircraft of the past, just brilliant.

On another note about the fuel problems my Sons gaffer got himself a mint near on concours red Escort RS Turbo, it gleamed but he only had it for six months, this was due to running problems using fuel, he was sick of all the messing so sold it on out the way.

There is never a problem going up in octane value, it just costs more and won't give any better performance unless the engine has a knock sensor and can dynamically adjust the timing to match the fuel - which your XR2 doesn't. A bigger worry is the effect on fuel lines and plastics of E10. Ford say models sold before 1992 should continue to use E5. I don't know how effective any additives to E10 would be to minimise this problem.

As an aside, is that plane behind the car a Soviet era Mig 23 Flogger F/H? The nose, canopy, intake splitters and tailfin match but if so then what is it doing in Ireland?

 

 

@Ian Lanc

Thanks a million! Sorry haven't quite figured out how to reply to a specific message yet 🙈 I can't say mine is too bad, I also suspect the catalytic converter could be adding to it. Real minor hesitations when flooring it.

@agraham, well spotted, it's actually not in Ireland, I bought the car in Germany, and after I picked it up, myself and a mate stopped off at that mini museum for a photo shoot  before driving it back to Ireland lol

I should add, because it came from Germany is also the reason it has a catalytic converter. Germany has had e10 for a while, so the fuel lines may have been replaced, I can't find it in the receipts or service of the car, so planning on replacing them anyways just to be safe.

Lack of classics where I am, and the cost factor, very few would pay for e5 now, so the added fear is getting e5 that has been laying for a while. The closest busy station then makes it doubly uneconomical 

41 minutes ago, RayW said:

Sorry haven't quite figured out how to reply to a specific message yet

Make a selection of text in their post and click on the popup "Quote selection". 

97 is super unleaded, it should still be E5

Just now, DaveT70 said:

97 is super unleaded, it should still be E5

He's already said that is not really a viable option for him for various reasons.

20 hours ago, RayW said:

I know the mk3 was designed for 95, but having minor hesitations in acceleration, so thought about trying 97.  The Haynes manual wasn't fully clear if I could run it, hence wondering if anyone had any experience.

All MK3 Fiestas have unleaded heads, most Fords from 1986 started getting converted.

I'm not sure if there's a converter in the ignition system, like there was on my '89 Pinto EFi Sierra to ***** the ignition timing, the Haynes manual should tell you.

If you can't get hold of Super E5, then I would try to use an Ethanol reducing additive or budget to change the fuel lines, seals and injectors.

Always carry a good fire extinguisher 👍

Millers do make an additive to prevent effects of Ethanol, and does state it's cat safe.  https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/eps-ethanol-protection-system-multi-shot/

Their petrol clean additive (Petrol Power Ecomax) claims to be an octane booster (2 points), but does not protect against Ethanol. https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/petrol-power-ecomax-2/  Their VSP does both, but contains lead replacement additives (for valve seats), but I'm not sure if compatible with cats.

I currently use petrol ecomax in my car and have used the diesel one in previous car. I also used to use VSP in my first car as it could not run on unleaded.  I have also used their engine oils for more than 20 years.