Can a 1985 V8 drink unleaded and survive?

[Fugly]

Now I know I've said it is for sale but my two door has an '85 motor in it and I'm curious about wether it can cope with a diet of unleaded.

I've nearly finished the damn thing and could have it back on the road soon enough but with the loss of LRP I want to know if it can run on straight premium unleaded without any dramas or does it need to have new heads. Which means it'd probably be cheaper to toss the motor and get a post 86 lump. Which probably means unlikely since I couldn't be stuffed spending another shedload of cash on something I no longer have much time for......

And no I'm not going to convert the thing to gas because I'm over it really. I'd be happy for someone to give me better than six grand for it then fit the LPG themselves. Check out that 'first car=2 door' thread for details and PM me if you are interested

[RaginRover]

Now I know I've said it is for sale but my two door has an '85 motor in it and I'm curious about wether it can cope with a diet of unleaded.

I've nearly finished the damn thing and could have it back on the road soon enough but with the loss of LRP I want to know if it can run on straight premium unleaded without any dramas or does it need to have new heads. Which means it'd probably be cheaper to toss the motor and get a post 86 lump. Which probably means unlikely since I couldn't be stuffed spending another shedload of cash on something I no longer have much time for......

And no I'm not going to convert the thing to gas because I'm over it really. I'd be happy for someone to give me better than six grand for it then fit the LPG themselves. Check out that 'first car=2 door' thread for details and PM me if you are interested

It will cop it fine - might need re-tune/timing adjustment and pop some flash lube in it once every couple of tanks and you will be fine

Tom

[up2nogood]

It will be OK for a good while. Lead was added as a anti knock agent primarily. Also to make the DuPont family more wealthy.

If you use an off the shelf additive with each tank, there won't be any dramas.
There's an upper cylinder lubricant kit called 'Flashlube' made in Aus you could fit to the car as well.

[RaginRover]

It will be OK for a good while. Lead was added as a anti knock agent primarily. Also to make the DuPont family more wealthy.

If you use an off the shelf additive with each tank, there won't be any dramas.
There's an upper cylinder lubricant kit called 'Flashlube' made in Aus you could fit to the car as well.

It also lubricated the system - mainly the valve seats which are hardened on all alloy motors - making them perfect for premium fuel with little or no ill effects (none that I have heard of).

I would advise against optimax though - I have heard reports of it burning exhaust valves on 3.9/4.0 EFI engines in rangies and discos.

Tom

[Maxtd5def]

Its the valve seat lubrication thats the issue. It'll run OK, but top end life will be short.

Drive it quietly and it'll last a while, but put your foot down & the valve seat wear rockets.

Its not that hard to put new seats & valves in..

Regards
Max P

[Loanrangie]

All rover v8's have hardened seat inserts and will be fine on any ulp, i havent found pulp to be of any benefit unless you tune for it and only run it. And with the current price of petrol who would bother. Flashlube may be good for lpg but for petrol you dont need the extra expense, i have 2 RR's 1on gas, 1 not (for now) and 1 on gas has done 270k with nothing more than a set of head gaskets and a light valve lap. Besides it will fall apart from shoddy build quality before the engine dies ! And i have 2 of them ?

This is half in jest and half serious, so go easy fella's.