Unleaded or leaded

[F111RHK]

Hi, I have a 1990 car on the front slam plate it shows that a symbol for 95 unleaded fuel, but in car manual it provides unleaded and leaded versions, so is the head unleaded or leaded? The previous owner said it was leaded this is what they were told by the dealer. Also it hates running on unleaded.


Many Thanks inadvance

[E_T_V]

Which engine?

2 litres were all unleaded
1.3's at that age should be unleaded
1.6's I'm not sure about.

[F111RHK]

its a 1.3, but it doesn't have the cat on the exhaust, not sure when this came into effect thou. It is only a mk2 maestro ie interior etc.... I think its a late registered one, but I could be wrong.

[Oli]

1991 CATs became a legal requirement iirc.

[E_T_V]

Cats still aren't a legal requirement. If the car can pass emissions tests without them then it doesn't have to have one.

Cats came in at 1991 on the 1.3's. (I've got one).

However the engine from 89 onward should be unleaded compatible. You need to set the timing up for whichever octane fuel you use as there is no automatic igntion timing and knock sensor as some cars have.

[talkingcars]

IIRC the green unleaded stickers were added by ARG when the car was set up to run on unleaded.

Have you tried running the car with a lead substitute addative?

Fitting a cat was a legal requirement from 1st Aug 1992, most manufactures did it well before this date.

[F111RHK]

I've put a fuel cat on there we had run the car on lead additive and runs better, than just on unleaded fuel.

[Beaker]

Its unleaded if 1990 so it won't make any difference.

[maestro vans]

Out of interest does anyone know what the timings are for leaded versus unleaded. I usually set my unleaded up for 14degrees BTDC.

thanks

maestro vans

[E_T_V]

In general you adjust if by 4 degrees, i.e. 12 deg BTDC, but in general you run as much advance as you can to just avoid pinking.