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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 08:12 AM
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Default Spluttering & Stalling

Took the Vette out on a short round trip yesterday to get measured for a new exhaust. Ran fine going but coming back it was spluttering and stalled twice (auto car) At home I let it sit and cool for the rest of the day and then put it away in the garage it was still the same, spluttering and dying.

Two things I have looked at are the breather tube is soft and mostly collapsed where it turns slightly. I’ve bought new tube but not fitted it yet. Secondly, I filled up last weekend with a higher octane fuel as it’s the general understanding that it burns at a higher temperature which used now and then can be beneficial to the motor.

Below is some information gleaned from the net on the fuel I used instead of the usual 95 RON. Could this be the culprit ?


What is inside Shell V-Power Nitro+?
You won't find any eye of newt or toe of frog in the mixture (we think -- Shell is very secretive of its methods). V-Power Nitro+ Unleaded is spiked with a formulation called Friction Modification Technology (FMT) which, as far as we can tell, is fancy science talk for 'lube'. This particular ingredient smears itself over the moving parts of your engine, reducing friction between the piston assembly and cylinder wall by coating them with a protective film. FMT appeared in the previous generation of the V-Power fuel, but this latest version comes with 25 per cent more of the stuff.
Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel, meanwhile, is loaded up with what Shell says is its most powerful detergent technology to date. This additive reduces the amount of, for want of a better word, 'crap' (soot particles and such) that are formed on the tiny outlet holes in a diesel engine's injectors. Without detergents, these deposits can form, disrupting the spray pattern of fuel as it enters the engine, reducing fuel flow.
Is V-Power Nitro+ suitable for every car?
Shell says it'll work in anything, old or new. It can help maintain the performance levels of a new car and help restore lost performance to older motors.
Will V-Power Nitro+ give me better performance?
It's a distinct possibility. Shell's Friction Modification Technology, or lube, helps the engine turn more freely. Less friction means less wasted energy and more power from the fuel can be transmitted to the wheels. Also, whereas ordinary unleaded fuels have a research octane number of 95 RON, V-Power Nitro+ is rated at 99 RON. This gives your engine the potential to extract more power from every swig of petrol.


Thanks in advance for any help.
Next step would be to get it into a service ctr but I’d like to avoid that for now, maybe just top it off with regular fuel ?

Stuart
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 08:22 AM
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I think you've answered your question. You say the only change you've made is the switch to the Shell gasoline.

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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 08:24 AM
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I'd check the choke first to make sure it's going off when it's warm. If this started with new gas, I'd also be suspicious of that until I proved otherwise. Assuming spluttering is the same as sputtering, I lean toward a fuel related cause. Maybe a vacuum leak somewhere pulling in air and messing up your air/fuel ratio. You didn't say what year, what engine, what carb, so I'm speaking general terms here.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
I think you've answered your question. You say the only change you've made is the switch to the Shell gasoline.

So it's a possibility, cheers Mike
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
I'd check the choke first to make sure it's going off when it's warm. If this started with new gas, I'd also be suspicious of that until I proved otherwise. Assuming spluttering is the same as sputtering, I lean toward a fuel related cause. Maybe a vacuum leak somewhere pulling in air and messing up your air/fuel ratio. You didn't say what year, what engine, what carb, so I'm speaking general terms here.
Yes sorry.

1972, 350 cid 200 BHP, Rochester 4MV
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by brit vet
Yes sorry.

1972, 350 cid 200 BHP, Rochester 4MV
I've got the exact year and combination. Mine hesitated and bucked when I first bought it. It had rarely been started for the last two years when I got it, as I was running some fresh gas through it, it got better with each drive. The choke pull off also had a piece of linkage missing, but I don't think that affected the missing much. Before I spent much time with troubleshooting (other than check the choke operation as it warms up) I'd make sure it wasn't a bad gas issue. Did the problem show up after you bought the gas, or was it already there?

Last edited by 65GGvert; Mar 19, 2015 at 09:14 AM.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 09:19 AM
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All my vehicles idle/cruise/mpg better with EXXON and RaceTrack gasolines. Shell, Chevron, and Texaco cause problems.

It must have something to do with the individual brand additives....

In the 1960s Shell gasoline was the best with better mpg.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
I've got the exact year and combination.


First half of what was a full tank seemed to be ok, sat for a week until yesterday and then the start of the problem. I'll be leaving work shortly to top it off so we'll see
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by doorgunner
All my vehicles idle/cruise/mpg better with EXXON and RaceTrack gasolines. Shell, Chevron, and Texaco cause problems.

It must have something to do with the individual brand additives....

In the 1960s Shell gasoline was the best with better mpg.
I always use shell as they're the nearest to me but this was the first time using the Shell Ultra fuel
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by brit vet


First half of what was a full tank seemed to be ok, sat for a week until yesterday and then the start of the problem. I'll be leaving work shortly to top it off so we'll see
Did it rain on the car in that week. Thinking water in the fuel.
Could also be filter getting clogged up or sock in the tank clogged.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by REELAV8R
Did it rain on the car in that week. Thinking water in the fuel.
Could also be filter getting clogged up or sock in the tank clogged.
Not been rained on and garage kept.

So I managed to squeeze 24 ltrs of the normal brand fuel in and took it around 20 miles and it didn't miss a beat. The only downside was gong back to the office as it's a beautiful sunny day and perfect for a drive..

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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 12:32 PM
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When I bought my 78 I filled it with 91 and drove it 150 miles home. As I got off the interstate it would die, and also die at red lights. Called my Vette mechanic and he said to run 85 in it. I have done it since and never a problem.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 01:39 PM
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Octane rating is used to prevent ping.
Sputtering or poor idling is due to some other cause. Contaminated fuel would be my first thought, if it is only the fuel that causes it and not some other carb or fuel delivery related problem.
With water or other not so well blended additives.
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Old Mar 20, 2015 | 04:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Rky Mtn C6
When I bought my 78 I filled it with 91 and drove it 150 miles home. As I got off the interstate it would die, and also die at red lights. Called my Vette mechanic and he said to run 85 in it. I have done it since and never a problem.
Originally Posted by REELAV8R
Octane rating is used to prevent ping.
Sputtering or poor idling is due to some other cause. Contaminated fuel would be my first thought, if it is only the fuel that causes it and not some other carb or fuel delivery related problem.
With water or other not so well blended additives.
Well it had another run last night and didn't miss a beat so I guess I'll see how it goes for now.

Thanks for all the replies
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