MK1 GOLF-WHAT DO YOU DO TO CHANGE TO UNLEADED?

I have bought a 1983 mk1 GTI can i run it on unleaded fuel?(there was abottle of additive with the car) if not how do i convert it.

Thanks

simon t

GTIs originally used 4 star. But these days they can drink super unleaded, they need the improved octane but not the lead. You could use regular unleaded in an emergency, but due to the high compression of the engine, you'd need to go easy on the throttle (don't use more than 3/4 throttle), and avoid high revs, high acceleration and sustained high speed cruising. Basically, your engine will pink/knock more easily so you're avoiding this happening.

paul_c said

GTIs originally used 4 star. But these days they can drink super unleaded, they need the improved octane but not the lead. You could use regular unleaded in an emergency, but due to the high compression of the engine, you'd need to go easy on the throttle (don't use more than 3/4 throttle), and avoid high revs, high acceleration and sustained high speed cruising. Basically, your engine will pink/knock more easily so you're avoiding this happening.

Is this right ? I had mine changed a while back with no ill effects and use standard unleaded. :scratch:

they run just fine on unleaded. better on super. can et a bit of pinking on regular if your timing is a bit out.

just pull up at the unleaded pump and fill up,my 1.6 GTi runs well on it,infact better when its flat out,it makes me grin,the engines have hardened valve seats so it will be ok.
Bert

But don't use supermarket unleaded!

Agree there  
Bert

The Mk1 Golf Owners Club  :wink:

Agree with the link with advice from Rajan. I've run 1.8DX engines on ordinary unleaded without problems provided the ignition timing is retarded slightly - if it pinks then it's not retarded quite enough! Super unleaded is fine, but costs a couple of quid more per tankful and is quite rare, so I tend not to take this option.
Never had a problem with supermarket fuel either - maybe I'm just not fussy enough? Once filled up at a local independant station and the car (Passat GT) conked out fifty yards up the road and wouldn't run at all. Turned out (after towing it home and looking in the tank via fuel pump opening) there was about half a gallon of water at the bottom of the tank. Turned out the garage had a leaky tank which allowed ground water to seep into their underground storage tank!!!
Put me off small garages for fuel….don't get this sort of problem at large turnover supermarkets!
BTW - don't ever want to have to empty a full fifteen gallon fuel tank again….nightmare to find places to temporarily store that much fuel!!!!!

There have been threads and links before about supermarket fuel.  IIRC, the supermarkets source the fuel from eastern europe where it isn't filtered so much as middle eastern fuel.  There was a letter in the motoring section of the Telegraph on Saturday where the engine of a woman's 4 year old car blew up.  It was put down to the fact she filled up with supermarket fuel and only did short drives where as her husband's company car (with the same fuel) did a lot higher mileage.  I think its something to do with burning temperatures.  When a vehicle does short trips, the engine doesn't warm up enough and so cannot burn off the contaminates whereas long journeys can (mostly).

Just my thoughts really.  I know both my Gti and Mk4 TDi have better performance using BP/Shell/Esso etc rahter than my local Sainsburys.

i will say that all my previous mk1's have liked shell optimax above all others

dannyboyblue said

There have been threads and links before about supermarket fuel.  IIRC, the supermarkets source the fuel from eastern europe where it isn't filtered so much as middle eastern fuel.  There was a letter in the motoring section of the Telegraph on Saturday where the engine of a woman's 4 year old car blew up.  It was put down to the fact she filled up with supermarket fuel and only did short drives where as her husband's company car (with the same fuel) did a lot higher mileage.  I think its something to do with burning temperatures.  When a vehicle does short trips, the engine doesn't warm up enough and so cannot burn off the contaminates whereas long journeys can (mostly).

Just my thoughts really.  I know both my Gti and Mk4 TDi have better performance using BP/Shell/Esso etc rahter than my local Sainsburys.

Can't see how this would happen. All petrol in the UK has to comply with EN 228, which has specifications on the volatility and calorific value. Additionally, petrol (base-stock) is a 'single quality' product and suppliers co-operate by using the same local supplier. Only the additives differ.

Its possible that the tanks at the supermarket petrol station, were dirty or containted contaminants (water) which affected the fuel.

Right, I know this thread has gone off topic somewhat but I thought I'd look into this a bit more.  Most of the info on various forums go along the lines of 'my mate's brother's friend's dad used to work at a refinery and he says' etc;

Paul c, it looks like you're right with regard to petrol coming from a single stock.  I got my original info from here but only read the first thread.  
The main difference is that supermarkets keep their fuel so cheap by putting fewer and lower quality additives in the product.  Standard additives for BP,Shell, Esso etc; are:
octane-enhancing additives ( improve octane ratings )
anti-oxidants ( inhibit gum formation, improve stability )
metal deactivators ( inhibit gum formation, improve stability )
deposit modifiers ( reduce deposits, spark-plug fouling and preignition )
surfactants ( prevent icing, improve vaporisation, inhibit deposits, reduce NOx emissions )
freezing point depressants ( prevent icing )
corrosion inhibitors ( prevent gasoline corroding storage tanks )
dyes ( product colour for safety or regulatory purposes ).

Few of the larger Fuel companies run their own delivery fleets now - it seems Wincanton do most of it now.  The tankers are filled up at Refineries and just before they leave, the additives are added.  Each customer (Shell, BP, Sainsbury, Tesco etc) has a specific card which is read by a scanner and the required type and quantity of additives are pumped directly into each of the tankers holds (depending upon fuel type).

So, I'm hoping the above has cleared things up.  Some people use supermarket fuel all the time and see no problems and others don't.  Its all down to personal preference and observations.  I'm happy sticking to my higher additive deisel and petrol even if it costs a couple of pennies more a litre.




The end

Yep dannyboyblue, that's pretty accurate. I can't offer a source for my info, other than working at Shell Stanlow oil refinery, being given a detailed working knowledge of the petrol supply chain and physically seeing the fuel loaded onto the tankers!

paul_c said

Yep dannyboyblue, that's pretty accurate. I can't offer a source for my info, other than working at Shell Stanlow oil refinery, being given a detailed working knowledge of the petrol supply chain and physically seeing the fuel loaded onto the tankers!

you mean an educated guess?