Fuel Question

The above answers are spot on. Also use a low octane fuel. High octane is a waste of money and will give poorer performance in an A.
 
Big Hammer is right. MMO does smell good. But I'm not sure what the smell is. Is it cloves or wintergreen or what?
Marty
 
Tetra-ethyl-lead or TEL as an anti-knock additive wasn't widely used in auto gas until the years following the model A era where octane ratings finally started to show up at most filling stations. With the lower compression ratings in the model T and model A eras, most cars would run on anything that had enough volatility to support internal combustion. Ford had enough adjustability in the spark control and Zenith carb designs to run stuff that wouldn't even be considered for fuel use in this day and age.
 
Up here I use the Non Ethanol fuel - but unfortunately it is only available as Super Unleaded. Premium paid, but better spent than the effects from using non ethanol fuel, especially if it sits a while. I wish some of these stations had non ethanol based regular fuel.
 
mgambuzza said:
Up here I use the Non Ethanol fuel - but unfortunately it is only available as Super Unleaded. Premium paid, but better spent than the effects from using non ethanol fuel, especially if it sits a while. I wish some of these stations had non ethanol based regular fuel.
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Same here. The extra cost is worth it for the stability and not having the Ethanol gumming up the carb and valves.

David Serrano
 
I have yet to meet a fellow Model A owner here in California that has had issues from using ethanol gasoline. There are lots and lots of Model A’s here, and I am not aware of any gas stations selling non-ethanol fuel either. If I had a choice, I would also use non-ethanol fuel as it gives better gas mileage.
 
TerryH said:
I have yet to meet a fellow Model A owner here in California that has had issues from using ethanol gasoline. There are lots and lots of Model A’s here, and I am not aware of any gas stations selling non-ethanol fuel either. If I had a choice, I would also use non-ethanol fuel as it gives better gas mileage.
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Terry,

I use Union 76 gas in my cars that take premium on the recommendation of my Toyota mechanic. I was in Redlands several years ago at a 76 station on Alabama & Lagonia Avenues and the station had what they called “racing fuel” which was listed as non-ethanol. Not cheap at $10/gal. The station was on a list that was mentioned here on the Barn for non-ethanol gas.

I got some for the Model A primarily as a preventative measure since I don’t drive it very much. I haven’t been in that station in at least a year due the pandemic. I’ll check to see if it’s still available next time I’m in the area.

Union 76 gas is expensive now, I put some in my Highlander yesterday because the Costco station was mobbed and it was $4/gal. for 87 regular so I’m going mostly to Costco until gas prices go down.

David Serrano
 
Strictly non-ethanol in the Model A UNLESS I am on a long tour and will burn it up in 24hrs then I go with the cheap stuff......

My sympathies to CA residents- non-ethanol is about $2.90 just over the SC border and I paid $2.51 at Costco last week for the modern car.....
 
When the new administration decided American energy independence was a bad idea the price of gas will never go down, only up.

7.5 to 1 compression ratio and a Holley 94,B cam..haven't tried it but it should run on anything, even hot water..
 
My 'A' and Studebaker will run on anything. Well, I haven't tried diesel but I think it just might run on it. I dump all my old stale fuel especially 2 stroke stuff in them and they are just as happy as can be.

Around here non-ethanol is usually the premium at many/most stations.

If I need to store anything for awhile I usually use 100LL and still run the carburetors dry.
 
Non-ethaonol fuel 90 octane is avalible here in Florida and it is about .75 cents a gal. above the 10% ethaonol, Corn gas here @ 2.75/gal. I run it all the time...
 
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