Dutton Kit Cars and their owners
Fuel - what do you use and how good is it?
I have been running the legerra for 3 years now and despite regular tune-ups, and constant use have never managed more than 160 miles on a tank of unleaded.
Today I filled up with the new 'fuel saver' unleaded from shell and managed over 200 miles and still not dropped into the red. Now part of that could possibly be attributed to me not giving it a boot full, running with an empty boot that is, but never could it be attributed to my 'economical' driving style... because I don't do economy...
I just went to Derby and back on one tank, never managed that before and the car is running dog rough as one of the valves isnt closing properly. So is shell 'fuel saver' any good? Well I'm now a convert, Absolutely fantastic.
Now I wonder what the shell 'V-Power' does?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Adams on
-
i dont see how it can make that much difference, i know shell claim 1L per tank full saving but that is based on 1L per 50 which would equate to 2% and that would probably be under ideal conditions and using a modern car with full engine management able to work out how the engine is running and reduce fuel flow to suit, i cannot see how a carburettor engine could show any improvement, let alone the 20% your claiming. are you sure your actually using less fuel? and its not just your fuel gauge giving a different reading? i would be interested if it really does use much less fuel as i run a pinto as well. and you never know, but a 20% saving seems too good to miss if your not driving any differently. i also remember when shell brought Formula shell out in the 80's and had to withdraw it fairly quickly as engine damage was being recorded all over the country, i hear that this shell power fuel is similar to that old blend so perhaps our old engines wont like it over the long term. having had experience with burnt out valves in the 80's i am wary of using the new shell blend, more so as you seem to suggest you are also having valve trouble after one trip to Derby.
-
-
here is a link for the reason i am so wary of this "new" shell blend
http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2010/07/23/shell-fuelsave-reminiscent...
hope it helps.
-
Permalink Reply by Adrian Southgate on
-
Thanks for that link Dave.
Looking at the situation as it stands now. My pinto does have a worn camshaft and gets regularly serviced by a specialist.
When I took it to him on the friday before the C2C it was obvious it needed the valve gaps adjusting again, but we didn't have time to do them. It hasn't got any worse since the C2C and I was still using fuelsave every other tankfull. I do have a new cam and a spare rebuilt head which I will take with me when it next goes in (october) He will do whatever is required to make it right and let me know afterward. If it does turn out to be burnt valves I will post back accordingly. In the mean time however I will switch back to Tesco's regular as a precaution. I wasn't aware of the issues with past versions of shell fuels and maybe our old engines don't like it.
I do think the fuelsave helped the car on a long run, possibly by 'decoking' the valves. If it has then gone on to erode the valves further it would explain the drop of in performance since the run to derby. In your opinion, would burnt valves have any relation to the car's temperature being erratic? It has been getting hot more frequently in traffic and was definitely over heating when we did the C2C.
-
-
i think it is possible that the engine will run hotter as it wil work harder to make up the loss of performance, also the new fuel may burn hotter.
-
Permalink Reply by Tim Walker (The Bodger) on
-
I've been using it for a couple of months (not much choice in St Annes), in the melos (plus BP's LRP additive with octane boost) and not noticed much difference on mpg but car seems less smoky on start up and high revs. More curious is that in the mondeo 2.0 petrol estate it has actually droppped average MPG by a couple of MPGs. Not very scientific but my average weekly driving distance and style is fairly static also seems down on power but that could be perception.
-
-
Since I stopped using it the overheating problem is better, only in really heavy traffic does it begin to get too warm.
The 'escaping gas' hiss from the engine is still there though and I cannot find any form of leak. #1 and #2 pistons are down on compression and there is no camshaft rattle at all, which is very unusual.
I think the shell formula did a 'decoke' on my head which has allowed the valves to close further, but not quite far enough to seat properly, the followers have now gone tight, hence the lack of rattle.
It's going in in october to have a thorough checkup so we will find out if the valves have been damaged at all.
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Taylor on
-
You won't believe this but the consumption on the RAV as dropped by about 10%, and there is a slight misfire just like an injector missed a beat. I had it back to Toyota to check the system, but the computer hadn't saved a fault. They took it for a test drive, and it misfired, they left it ticking over in the workshop, and service manager said it sounded as if it was pinking, which being diesel was unusual. They recommended changing fuel, which for me is not possible as I have a Shell fuel card, but said I would try it with V Plus diesel 8 pence a litre dearer. I have run it for a week on that, and no miss, consumption going back up again.
I checked with a collegue in South Wales, he runs a Skoda Superb diesel, and as also notice a misfire.
Could this be a return of the problems Shell had in the 90's?
-
-
Juries out...
I hope they have a good lawyer....
If it all goes wrong in todays market it won't be like the last time, too many other cheap options and if all the company fuel card contracts went because the cars were being wrecked...
You mentioned this to your boss Dave? he might want to find you an alternative card...
-
-
So the final chapter in this paticular episode.
I dropped the Legerra off at the fuel injection centre in Bolton yesterday, went back and had a look at the results today.
4 exhaust valves with burnt and corroded seats, pitted combustion chambers, faces of all 8 valves could have been better, all 8 valve seats shot to hell.
20,000 miles on unleaded fuel with no problems until I used that second tank of sHELL super goo. Since then it has been overheating, running like a pig and sounding real rough.
I have had to pay out to have the engine stripped and rebuilt because my garage is leaking (and full of crap) I am not a happy duttoneer, I will be writing a stinking letter to sHELL and will post my dissatisfaction on as many websites as possible including theirs. As far as I am concerned the increased burn temperature of their new economy fuel has trashed my engine. There was no warning to drivers of older vehicles that it may cause issues although I should have thought about it before I slapped a tankful in the old girl.
All you drivers of 'leaded' engine cars beware, this sHELL super economy crap stands a good chance of killing your engine too.
-
-
I really didn't want to be the bearer of doom and gloom but shells track record of "new" fuel blends is not great, i certainly wouldn't choose to use it. Sorry to hear of your woes Adrian, i hope shell respond favourably.
-
-
'Stuff' happens Dave lol.
sHELL will do what ever they damn well please I guess...
I am just looking forward to getting my baby back with an EFI head fitted, all the timing done, carb tuned and better than 75 miles to a 30 litre fill up !
Dave, I have used my spare head as there wasn't one available for miles around here, If you come across an EFI head at a reasonable price let me know.
-
-
I went in to see the old girl in car hospital thursday and the cylinder head is terminal. Luckily the engine that came with the phaeton is from a Sierra EFI and is based on a 205 block too.
The sierra EFI head has gone on my Legerra and the old one is on the way to the scrap bin. Its having new rockers and camshaft while its off too, seems the 'spare' was actually some mild road cam which had hardly been used, thats gone in as well. WIN
Looks like the only cash outlay will be for the gaskets and labour. ANOTHER WIN.
So looking forward to getting her back next week.
About
© 2024 Created by Tim Walker (The Bodger).
Powered by
