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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:17 PM
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Default Would I damage my engine if....

....I put 100 octane leaded aviation fuel in my '70? I have 11:1 compression and bored .040 over, maybe more compression after the engine rebuild. I can't think of a reason why not...but there may be a caveat that I don't know about.
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:22 PM
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lead will stop up a cat if you have one(prob dont have one on a 70)
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:24 PM
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Isn't aviation fuel more like a diesel than a gasoline?
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 400hp427vette
Isn't aviation fuel more like a diesel than a gasoline?
Not jet fuel...it's 100 octane gasoline that's used for light aircraft.
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by RMVette
Not jet fuel...it's 100 octane gasoline that's used for light aircraft.
Ahh Ok, Sorry about that. I don't see how it would harm the car at all. A gas station near me sells 2 types of cam2 100 octane unleaded which you pump right in and cam2 110 leaded which you have to pump in a can. I wonder if this is a avaition gasoline aswell.
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:48 PM
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Avgas is 100LL(lowlead) & 110LL. Jet fuel is JetA ( with some Kerosene ) , and JP4 (what we use in fighter acft, and most other military acft). JP4 is more volital than JetA, and so is JP5.

Last edited by eagle275; Nov 24, 2008 at 11:02 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:54 PM
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I have not seen 110LL avgas- anywhere. Lots of 100LL.

I use VP 110 (12.5:1 compression) but it's like $7.00 a gallon. Avgas will be $4.85 or thereabouts. If you can get a airport to sell it to you, don't let them know it's for a car- I don't think the road use tax is paid on it and they might refuse to sell it on that basis,
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 10:57 PM
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used 100LL in my stock L46 motor with good results. 2 gallons of 100LL to a tank full.. no ping.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 07:33 AM
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I did fill up with the 100LL at 4.35/gallon and it runs stong with no ping, maybe the be best it's ever run. My exhaust tips are starting to turn white too.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 07:39 AM
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No it won't hurt your engine.
I used to run Aviation fuel in my 70 LS-6 Chevelle back in the 70s. Never had a problem. I used to get it at a small airstrip in NJ. where my Dads buddy kept his Cesna.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 09:15 AM
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I ran Sunoco racing Gas straight in my 69 390hp, leaded at 112 octane. Sweet smell!!!!!
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 09:29 AM
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No, it won't hurt anything except your wallet.

Friend of mine with an L46 had a pinging problem and used it.

I would think addressing it from a timing standpoint would be a more permanent approach. Worked for him.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by xccter
No, it won't hurt anything except your wallet.

Friend of mine with an L46 had a pinging problem and used it.

I would think addressing it from a timing standpoint would be a more permanent approach. Worked for him.
It won't hurt it but it's highly unlikely that your motor needs it. All of my older high compression Vettes run fine on 93 Octane pump gas. If pinging is your reason for wanting more octane I would look at your timing and carb for answers first.

The factory compression ratings were a little optimistic to begin with. Your rebuild and .040 overbore shouldn't put you in a situation where you need to go to the airport for gas.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by RMVette
....I put 100 octane leaded aviation fuel in my '70? I have 11:1 compression and bored .040 over, maybe more compression after the engine rebuild. I can't think of a reason why not...but there may be a caveat that I don't know about.
I've run it. It works fine and smells good too.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 11:19 AM
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Damage may occur to U joints & Asphalt !
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 11:45 AM
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I used it in my VW Back in the 80s and all four of my fuel injectors started leaking right on the rubber piece that hooked to the injector .I would not go 100% 100LL.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by RMVette
....I put 100 octane leaded aviation fuel in my '70? I have 11:1 compression and bored .040 over, maybe more compression after the engine rebuild. I can't think of a reason why not...but there may be a caveat that I don't know about.
I use 110 sunoco leaded in my 70. If it does not ping you do not need it. Octane does not make a car faster. Here is the Wikipedia definition:

The octane rating is a measure of the resistance of gasoline and other fuels to detonation (engine knocking) in spark-ignition internal combustion engines. High-performance engines typically have higher compression ratios and are therefore more prone to detonation, so they require higher octane fuel. A lower-performance engine will not generally perform better with high-octane fuel, since the compression ratio is fixed by the engine design.

I had a pinging problem that no one could fix, 110 leaded fixed it.
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To Would I damage my engine if....

Old Nov 25, 2008 | 12:24 PM
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We'd always put in our our lawn mowers and motorcycles for the winter. Doesn't go bad. (Well it may eventually, but not for a long time)
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by capevettes
It won't hurt it but it's highly unlikely that your motor needs it. All of my older high compression Vettes run fine on 93 Octane pump gas. If pinging is your reason for wanting more octane I would look at your timing and carb for answers first.

The factory compression ratings were a little optimistic to begin with. Your rebuild and .040 overbore shouldn't put you in a situation where you need to go to the airport for gas.
I played a bit with the timing and run regular w/no ping, even under heavy load. The engine would probably like a high octane gas more, but not my wallet.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 12:52 PM
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Default you can't get the old style leaded avgas anymore

that's why they went to 100LL and the now hard-to-find 110LL. LL stands for "Low Lead".
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