Vapid

Thinking of buying one of these for my girlfriend, have owned a 1.6 and 1.9 before so not a total noob.
What I'm wondering is does the 1.9 run OK on 98 ron unleaded fuel? I'm asking this because mine expired shortly after I sold it. Big ends the guy I sold it to said although he knows next to nothing about cars (otherwise he wouldn't have bought that shed off me!). Something to do with the fuel perhaps?

Also anyone know what year they were catalysed from and if there are any particularly special editions I should be looking for? Obviously would like a 'One FM' but they rarely come up for sale.

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Unleaded fuel in a car designed for leaded shouldn't cause big end failure (at least not before other problems were pretty obvious)

Catalysed from 1990 - 1994 ( engine type XU9JAZ). Less power and torque than the non cat cars.

The non catalyst cars - engine type XU9JA were still produced until 1993

(Remember when catalysts were optional..LOL..)

I would assume that anything post 1990 would run on unleaded quite happily.

My 1.9 was an '89 on an F plate. Can't recall what fuel I put in.

LongTimeLurker

My 89 1.9 ran on normal UL for the 8 1/2 year i had it, circa 70k miles without issue .

Petem95

Ive always used 98ron in my 1.9's, and never had any problems. I did get hardened valve seats fitted to my first 1.9 as they are designed for leaded - but never had any problems with the others I had running on 98ron with the stock valve seats.

Try and find a Turbo Technics 1.9! Not special editions, but it was a factory approved conversion upping the power from 130bhp to 175bhp with 50% more torque.

Gutmann pug

Never run SUL in mine ......... forgive me if i'm wrong but surely they are made to run on normal unleaded arent they?

Mine has had a hell of a hard life and never had an issue ......

gary

Dream Weaver

Some duff info in this thread, so to correct it...

Anything after a 1987 model has no problems running on NUL or SUL, anything before is more than likely fine also.

Catalyst models were from late 92, but mostly 93 onwards. Anything before October 92 will be fine. But, bear in mind the cat models have a much better engine management system and run a lot better as they don't usually have an AFM, and in reality the book figures are pretty much the same (i.e. the non cat 130bhp vs the cat 122bhp model usually make the same RR power).

92 on models suffer from paint lacquer problems.

Using NUL/SUL on a car not designed for it would damage the valve seats, and the cylinder head and wouldn't touch the bottom end.

1990 Miami and Laser specials with grey leather, also Sorrento and Steel Gray worth a punt.

1FM model is just tarted up with Aircon and CD Player, not worth the premium over std.

ScoobyJawa

Just to add to what DW said.

The 1.9 and 1.6 precat engines were designed to run on leaded petrol. Therefore you really should run them on the highest octane you can.

However - they will run perfectly fine on NUL - providing you adjust the timing to suit so it doesn't pink - might lose a hew bhp but not much.

Personally - always ran/run mine on Optimax/V-Power............

Vapid

Some useful info there. Looks like I'm going to be going for a Sorrento catalysed 93 car I've found then. Has the green interior which I'm not sure about but 60K miles, FSH and 2 grand sounds like a bargain to me.

Dream Weaver

Defo sounds a bargain, the green interior is lovely.

Vapid

I've only seen pictures so far as the car is 100 miles away but from the pictures I've seen the green doesn't look as nice as the red.
I bought my 1990 1.9 in 2001 and it cost me £900 with 50K miles on it. These cars seem to be going up in value.

ScoobyJawa

I had a cherry red 1.9 first - red interior, my current car is a 1990 Sorrento and the green interior is MUCH nicer

Dream Weaver

The red interior is authentic in an 80's hot hatch way, but the green interior makes it look more modern, so depends what you want.

I don't mind the red carpet though there is a black option about as well.

MooseRacer

French Clutter (c)

Dream Weaver

French Money Pit would be more accurate

Vapid

You mean 'classy, timeless and chic French clutter'.

EVOLUTION

why would you want to run it on SUL?



put the fuel thats meant to be in it, NUL

Vapid

Depends what level of tune it's in and whether catalysed or not doesn't it?

Dream Weaver

Just what Vapid says.

Mine's running throttle bodies and is mapped on Optimax, so it runs best on that and above

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

My (very) old website said something on fuel and 205 GTi - hope it helps

http://www.renaissance59.fsnet.co.uk/pug/problems.html

Dave uk blue mica

my 1991 1.9 road rally car runs fine on NUL but i use SUL for events, no issues with engine problems, i've got a H reg steel grey 1.9 non sunroof road car too, bought it last year for £400

Gutmann pug

Just becuase the car has a CAT it doesnt mean it needs SUL.

Mine is a 1990 model so what should I be using? ...........

I have been thrashing the living death out of it on NUL for the past 3 years without issue, should I be paying more for my fuel and using Optimax? ....... not that im going to anyway

Vapid

There's a three eurocent premium for 98 ron over 95 where I live. Which would you use?

I for one wasn't suggesting a car with CAT would need SUL, rather that the cars designed to run on leaded fuel might give more power with it. Guess it depends on how your car is tuned more than anything else.

As I said earlier in the thread the guy who bought my 1.9 from me said the engine went pop shortly after he bought it because as he put it ' it made the big ends go'. Obvious pap as I thought and has been confirmed but it does make you wonder what caused it to die.

Dream Weaver

Depends how the engine went, and what the symptoms were.

My last engine died, and after removing it and stripping it down it turned out to be a exploded dizzy cap, luckily the engine needed removing anyway but at the time it sounded like bottom end - the broken dizzy was making the noise.

ScoobyJawa

Assuming your timing has been adjusted and its not pinking under load it will be fine on NUL mate. However if you stick a few tanks of SUL in and then have a little play with the timing you might find you get a few more HP/more urgency. Swings and roundabouts! I just always use SUL, few extra pence a tank don't bother me!

Olly

Selling mine soon Vapid; so if your sale falls through, and you fancy a real nice one...

Although I think DW has first dibs...

Vapid

The one I'm buying is LHD as the maker intended as I don't live in the UK but thanks for the offer anyway.

Dream Weaver

PM me when you decide to sell, if I don't have it I know a few people that are after one.

Where do you live then Vapid?

Vapid

On Grand Cayman officially, otherwise all over the place just never in the UK if I can avoid it.

Adidas

Yep!!!!

Gutmann pug

The petrol its supposed to use not one with a higher grade which could cause issues..........