I have a Datsun 1200 with A15 fitted.

Is it safe/recommended to run PULP in it?

I checked a couple of websites that said it was ok
Just wanted to double check

Thanx Guyz.

Sure, it's safe.

In the US we've had only Unleaded gas for about 15 years. It hasn't hurt our old engines.

If your A15 is stock, the premium is a waste of money -- just use the regular unleaded.

i had an a15 in my coupe and thats one of the first things i wanted to know and i was told by a datsun specialist, well, a few that it would retard the timing to #### so im guessing u need to get the engine setup for prem unleaded petrol before u just pump it from a petty station, better to be safe than sorry....

When the Leaded Fuel Tax came in in about 1993, the government distributed a guide which told you how unleaded would affect your engine. I remember that for the A12/A14 they recommended using a tank of the leaded fuel every few tankfuls. Old engines need the lead to help the valve seals etc. Now we only have 'lead-substitute fuel', I use that in my A12. My experience found that the engine ran hotter on the freeway. So I think long term, a do nothing approach could be bad. But I've not done any longterm testing. A Series engines are so cheap. Just buy a reco engine every 3 years or so. Thanks to the B210, B310, Vanette etc, the A Series are plentiful. Full engine gasket sets are US$15...

Chris

I have never run leaded in an A series motor. I currently do 850k's a week in my A14 and have notched up 25000 k's with no probs to this less than new motor. I do run Prem unleaded (96 octane) as my emotive theory is that the higher octane helps out with hot spots and pinging and the motor handles the highway k's better. Seems like cheap maintenance too. Or maybe it just makes me feel like it's developing more hp! Anyway I had been told that the lead replacement in Aus was a lower octane and that I was better off running 96 ULP. Heck I'd run Optimax if I could! I've never had valve guides go or recession with ULP so I hope I'm not cursing mahself.

Hello everyone

I was told that my car (B310) could use 95 or 98 octanes with or without Lead. However I am still afraid of switching to unleaded. Will it be safe?

Ricardo

Yes, unleaded is safe. I thought the A15s had better valves and seats, but even if not, the unleaded is OK.

Quote:Filling the tank with different kinds of petrol won't retard the timing, but if you get lower octane fuel you might need to manually retard it a little. They were probably talking about those newer computer-controlled cars which automatically adjust the timing to match the petrol.

Looking at it another way, 96 octane unleaded and 96 octane leaded should use the same timing.

Finally, with premium fuel (higher octane) your 1200 will run just the same -- assuming the car was running well with the lower octane fuel -- but you could advance the timing a little to take advantage of the higher octane.

the fuel you tuned your car last on will develop the most hp, having a car tuned for unlead and putting premium in will result in a power loss, if you put premium in and take it to tune you will develop more hp and get better milage hence covering the increased price per litre plus it has other additives which protect the motor,

i personally feel any motor which can run lead free should run premium whether it be for performance or grandma

i was told the gx head could run premium with out mod, id think a-15 would be ok but not really sure about a-12

if you do like my mate and put premium in then without tuning test it out and come back and say it doesnt give a power gain and the motor pings at high revs you are a NOB!, but that just my opinion

Quote:Are you saying that if the car is tuned for low octane fuel (regular unleaded), and you put high octane fuel (premium unleaded), it will make less power? That's not usually true. Or does "unleaded" and "premium" mean something else in Australia?

Here's another fact to chew over....the lower the octane the faster the burn rate is. Therefore the best setup is to set your ignition timing to the maximum advance for optimum power (usually max advance of no more than 28deg TOTAL btdc in A12) then use fuel with an octane rating just high enough to avoid pinking or detonation.