Club 80-90 Forums

Hi

Was chatting with a VW mechanic that frequents VZI mostly

He told me that he will only run 3 tanks of gas to 1 tank of petrol

That he puts a lead substitute in from time to time as these engines (Aircooled) were originally for leaded petty

He changes his spark plugs more frequently than he would on petrol, twice as often in fact.

Just wondering if any others do this or have any views on it?

My van is a 2L Aircooled and ill run petrol when i remember really and only for about 10 miles or so then back to the gas
cheers
irishkeet

I use about 5% petrol on every journey. Usually park on petrol and keep the float chamber filled, pump primed, etc. LPG puts more demand on the ignition components so regular checks and renewal probably a good idea but I am sure others who have been running their T25 variants will offer their advice/experiences about service intervals, problems,etc.

I use petrol when the gas runs out ... ie when i've been slack in filling up and have 3/4s of a commute left . It does the system good to run on it every now and then and also to have a bit sloshing around .... like half a tank in my case ... I consider it an investment ... it's gone up more in value than the ftse in the last 3 weeks

Ian.

Now there's a good idea, fill the tank up and double your investment in a few months........

Most LPG burners almost never run on petrol. Like Ian, we use it only when we have to.

There is no need to run on petrol other then to keep petrol system (carb) in order.

Lead (usually tetra-ethyl lead) was added to petrol to increase octane and as a side effect of protecting the valve seats from erosion. Unleaded petrol will speed up seat wear in many old classic cars. Old cast iron heads of leaded fuel engines did not have hardened valve seats and would wear out much faster on unleaded petrol. Leaded petrol is not needed in VWs' as aluminium heads have silcone bronse valve guides and steel valve seats and do not need lead or lead additives.

Lead was removed from road fuel in North America in 1975. VW engines keep right on running there with no problems.

cheers so i guess im doing the right thing with mine also

whilst I have no mechanical know;ledge my Aircooled has run on gas for past 4 years or so and I only switch to petrol if I run out of gas....works well on either drives just as well on either but I have also gone months without using petrol

last time I used petrol a bloke came out and filled my tank up then wiped my windows...

kevtherev wrote:last time I used petrol a bloke came out and filled my tank up then wiped my windows...

you sure he wiped them not licked them

That he puts a lead substitute in from time to time as these engines (Aircooled) were originally for leaded petty

????? why would you put that i an engine designed to run on unleaded???
been in the trade long has he???

ally engine with hardened valve seats don't need lead substitute.

Flibbertigibbet wrote:
you sure he wiped them not licked them

I wish I had said that....

I'd give up Martin, its like the proverbial "Life of Brian"

Somebody says something somewhere within the VW world then all of a sudden everybodies got it or think they may get it, psycho-suggestion, a little knowledge.

How many times has it been said by better people than me that these engines run on unleaded, NO PROBLEM and will run on gas NO PROBLEM and usually the only problem is the owner tinkering with things they should know better than to tinker with.

he gives out advice on vzi.does he...

Was chatting with a VW mechanic that frequents VZI mostly

not sure about that
im just asking Q and wondering what views people have on what i heard