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Reckon mine's had the ignition advance cos it goes too well not to have had this done. So it's also pinking like crazy at the moment even though I always use the highest octane available at whichever servo I happen to be at. But do I also need to go with a particular brand?

This should be posted in the engine section, this section is for member who like to show off their 5's.

Any 98 octane fuel should do, just try to avoid shell, lots of members have had various/wierd problems when using them.

I personally use mobil 8000, or BP ultimate, seems the car responds the best to these two.

Also, if you are certian that timing has been bumped, check it! it may be too high and thats what could cause all this. A safe bump would be 12-15. Just do a quick search on "NA timing bump" or similar.

Grab a timing light ASAP and adjust the timing. If you can hear the engine pinging its not good... 14 deg is what a lot of people myself included run. On this I can use 95 or 98 octane with no issues. Standard timing in 10 degrees, at this setting the car runs fine on 91.

Even if you get the local mechanic to do it for you I'd look at that sooner rather than later.

I had lots and lots of stuttering on Shell V Power, whereas my six2six loved the stuff.

Using Caltex or Mobil premium these days.

If it is a standard car it will be just fine with 91. There is no sense in running 95 just because it is higher octane rating. If it is pinging - the curse of much older cars then as Ben said the timing may not be correct.I suggest get your mechanic to have a listen / test drive and get it adjusted. The brand of fuel is a myth imo. Why it is not correct remains another question

Mr Morlock wrote:If it is a standard car it will be just fine with 91. There is no sense in running 95 just because it is higher octane rating. If it is pinging - the curse of much older cars then as Ben said the timing may not be correct.I suggest get your mechanic to have a listen / test drive and get it adjusted. The brand of fuel is a myth imo. Why it is not correct remains another question

Even if its a standard car with advanced timing, it will need a higher octane fuel so it does not ping.

I have used shell V power since I brought my roadster in December, I also have it set to 16 deg advance, no problems here at all. My car doesn't seem the like the Catlex 98 tho

That's because you would Be running standard timing, correct?

some engines can handle advanced timing more than others. I have no idea why.

i've seen NA8 engines which couln't handle more than 12.5deg BTDC.

My suggesstion is to reduce the advance as soon as you can. try it at 12. Then maybe 12.5 and so on. Just because my engine runs very well on 15.5 doesn't automatically mean every other B6 engine will do the same.

you can choose to go looking for why it will not do the 14 deg......but once you've removed all ther carbon inside the cylinder.....you might have to totally rebuild you motor & you will still not be any wiser. so really there is no point. reduce the advance & accept it. your far better off spending money on axcaust & other goodies to increase power if your engine will not cope with 14deg.

StanTheMan wrote:some engines can handle advanced timing more than others. I have no idea why.

i've seen NA8 engines which couln't handle more than 12.5deg BTDC.

My suggesstion is to reduce the advance as soon as you can. try it at 12. Then maybe 12.5 and so on. Just because my engine runs very well on 15.5 doesn't automatically mean every other B6 engine will do the same.

you can choose to go looking for why it will not do the 14 deg......but once you've removed all ther carbon inside the cylinder.....you might have to totally rebuild you motor & you will still not be any wiser. so really there is no point. reduce the advance & accept it. your far better off spending money on axcaust & other goodies to increase power if your engine will not cope with 14deg.

Thanks for all the responses. Will do the winding down to 12 then slowly winding up again at the weekend and in the meantime not give it so much throttle at low revs.

Frankly, at 192,00+kms it's probably also due for what we used to call a decoke in pommieland and I won't be bothering to do that as, since buying it very recently, my job has changed and my car useage and mileage have gone up considerably which means I'm looking for something with a few more creature comforts and a little less rawness. I'm in and out of of car so often now that even little things like remote locking, elec mirrors, interior boot release, being able to see out of a glass rear window and a bit less rattliness would make life way more pleasant. Still love the NA for what it is though, so might just keep it for when my son comes over for Christmas and the New Year. Would love the supercharged 2002 NB that's on carsales but the leap from $7k to $30k (eeek!!!!) is a bit much.

Hey Dave, did you end up replacing your O2 sensor following your fuel consumption concern?
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=36775

93_Clubman wrote:Hey Dave, did you end up replacing your O2 sensor following your fuel consumption concern?
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=36775

Nah, just decided to live with the fuel consumption as the car goes and runs and sounds soooooooo well that it's worth it. Even pulls decently all the way to 7500rpm. So although not certain cos I don't know it's history, I reckon the fuel consumption might reflect some engine mods.

The fuel smell hasn't come back.

The pinging was completely solved today by a tank of Shell instead of Caltex so that's a job saved ths weekend!

Thanks for all the comments.

Dave