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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: tobz. on 25 October 2004, 14:51

Title: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 25 October 2004, 14:51
Hi
I've just started using my winter car and wasn't 100% sure what I should be running it on.
It's a 1984 1300cc mk2 golf, on the back of the flap all it says is 91ron minimum but it doesn't say whether it runs on unleaded or not. The last thing I wan't to do is burn out a valve by running it on unleaded when I shouldn't  be. Does anybody know for sure what I should be using???
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: marcus123 on 25 October 2004, 15:53
leaded :)
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Blue MK2 on 25 October 2004, 15:55
ive been running my 1300 polo on unleaded
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Len on 25 October 2004, 16:00
LRP mate.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 25 October 2004, 16:09
ive been running my 1300 polo on unleaded

Your polo is about a 1990 though isn't it??? That would definately be fine on unleaded. I think as the other guys say it may require LRP  :-\
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: marcus123 on 25 October 2004, 16:27
id say cos it was 84 its got to be leaded, surely ???
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Blue MK2 on 25 October 2004, 16:27
F plate. what yr is that?

just fil it with diesel, unleaded and leaded, LRP and Optimax  :D

sorted
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 25 October 2004, 16:55
F plate. what yr is that?



Bout an 89 which I would think is fine on unleaded, 1984 is early enough for it to be a bit uncertain
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: was on 25 October 2004, 17:07
I'd say it should be run on lrp.

But depending on how much the car cost (less than ?250?), i'd just run it on unleaded and save the money and dispose of the car if it starts dieing.

I've heard of ford pinto engines running for 10's of thousands of mile on unleaded when they were supposed to be on leaded.

Or try an additive? might work out cheaper.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: rubjonny on 26 October 2004, 10:48
I'm pretty sure that all VW engines are fine on unleaded as they all have hardened valve seats.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 26 October 2004, 10:51
Yep John that's the critical thing finding the difinitive piece of information that says the engine does have hardened seats. Had a quick browse on the web yesterday but didn't really come up with anything yet.
Seems like mixed views so far.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: rubjonny on 26 October 2004, 11:12
This is what I found, looks promising!
http://www.1302super.com/page40.html
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 26 October 2004, 12:50
Nice one John that's what I was looking for. They say all post 76 dubs had the hardened seats so a 1984 is obviously gonna be fine on unleaded.
It's a bit worrying though when you start reading into the topic and realise all the pitfalls of mixing different additives and even fuel types. The report you posted elsewhere re: optimax also made interesting reading, I go out of my way to use optimax but not sure if I should now  :-\
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: rubjonny on 26 October 2004, 13:03
I used it once and my engine didn't blow up ;)
I've used BP, Esso & Optimax, and I've not noticed any real difference between them, although all were an improvement over Sainsbury's own!

I use Esso now mostly because of that report, but also because they have good meal deals and have a penny tray if you accidently go a bit over ?20 :)
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: JMallows on 26 October 2004, 13:34
My 1.3 runs on unleaded, always has done..... But like you say it is an older one, mine is 1988. And i have the newer engine style too, but i really amm unsure! Probably be fine on unleaded though.... What did the previous owners run it on?
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 26 October 2004, 15:37
Hmmm the previous owner was 75 so I guess she ran it on whatever her pension allowed.......I'm guessing it wouldn't have been optimax though. I would have thought she slapped any old stuff that was the cheapest in it.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: JMallows on 26 October 2004, 19:04
Ah, i see.... But you never know, she might have been putting unleaded in, in which case LRP wouldn't be so good. Is there a way for you to find out what fuel has been used for most of it's life, or has the previous owner only had it for a few yers?
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 26 October 2004, 19:31
i had an 'a' reg mk2 that was fine on unleaded
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Speedydub on 26 October 2004, 19:37
Anything after 1970-something is fine on normal unleaded.

But ive never had a VW that liked Esso......  :-\

 :D
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: Device on 26 October 2004, 20:57
I run my '84 golf on optimax due to previous threads on here and what i've read elsewhere.? The only difference am noticing at the moment is the price. But reckon the extra cost is worth it.

oh and the other thing i notice was how much the the golf can bloody hold. I actually stopped the pump and looked under the car because i thought there must be a leak. Even the woman in the garage could nae believe how much "..wee car could take..."? ?:)
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: tobz. on 27 October 2004, 09:25
Is there a way for you to find out what fuel has been used for most of it's life, or has the previous owner only had it for a few yers?

The old girl had owned it for 19years!!! The woman I bought it off was the woman who sold it to her originally in 1985. I could probably find out what she ran it on but I think I'll just bung unleaded in it and be done with it.
Title: Re: What fuel (not the usual optimax question)
Post by: JMallows on 27 October 2004, 11:00
Probably be fine!

19 years, eh, thats quite good! I met a woman the other day, who had a nice E reg GTI, i said, thets nice, how long you had that, from new was her reply! I waslike, hmmm, if you want to sell it, it's quite nice....... She's keeping it though :(

 :D