Would one know when lead fuel was introduced in GB please? I believe it was used in the 20s in USA?

Location: Sunny Brittany

Lead petrol was used in 1920s in England pleased you are from sunny Brittany it's cold and windy here

Location: New Forest

Derek,Lack of lead is not a problem but ethanol is,so I suggest you use an additive intended to cope with this.

Location: The pits,Leicester

I remember being concerned about the ethanol content in petrol when it use was first brought up a few years back.

Several problems were suggested at the time.

I have used my cars constantly since, without any additive of any sort.

The only issue I have had is with a chummy tank that was lined, some years ago, coming adrift, which was a pain - newer linings are designed to overcome this problem.

Has anyone actually suffered any problems in an Austin Seven they can solely attribute to increased Ethanol content in petrol?

Hard to attribute directly to ethanol but I filled up the Chummy at Morrisons in Lincoln once and the engine ran like a bag of spanners until I drained and refilled with V power when I got home.

I have cars which stand idle in garages over the winter and the gummy substance which accumulates in and around the leaky bits in the fuel lines is a pain. As is having to strip the carb to blow the water out, which, I understand is directly attributable to the hygroscopic property of ethanol.

Location: Farnham

I haven't used a lead additive in my daily driver Sevens for a long time, with no ill effects.

I haven't suffered any ethanol related problems, either. The impression that I get is that this is only a possible issue when cars are inactive for long periods.

Location: Herefordshire, with an "E" not a "T".

I've never used a lead additive in any of my cars. You should never say never I suppose but, so far, so good.

As to ethanol and the reported issues of petrol 'going off', because I needed to move my cars around at Christmas, I had to fire all three up. The Ulster has Esso Super Unleaded in it from September. Started, on 12v, immediately. The Trials Chummy, also on 12v and with similar Esso petrol from November took three long pulls to get going. Unusual, but it was a very damp day. The RM Saloon, on 6V and with ordinary unleaded from a petrol station near Thirsk in May, started first pull. Last year it sat from the previous September until April with nondescript petrol from a French Supermarket in it and, again, started first pull. The Ulster and Chummy have SU carburettors. The Saloon has an updraught bronze Zenith. The only concession I make is to the Saloon where I turn the fuel off and leave it ticking over until it stops when I put it away so as to empty the carburettor. Before I started doing this, it would suffer a blocked jet when taken out after a long lay up. Doesn't happen any more.

Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

I've never used any additive in unleaded petrol either.
I discovered years ago that the Ulster was a couple of seconds quicker up Olivers Mount hill climb on Super unleaded, compared with normal pump petrol. I've used it ever since, and the tank gets drained after every meeting. It goes in either the RL or the lawnmower. That said, I've never had starting problems from using old petrol on any of the other cars.

Thanks for your help

Location: New Forest

Thanks for your information

Location: New Forest

Thanks for your reply it was very helpful

Location: New Forest

Thanks for your information

Location: New Forest

One of my previous Austin 7's handbook (1934 I think) had a detailed paragraph explaining how the new leaded petrol wouldn't do any hard to the engine.
In the 60s I often used Cleveland Discol petrol which had a fairly large ethanol content. The car seemed to like it and ran very smoothly.
I've never had any problems with either alchohol (in petrol) or unleaded.
Originally frequent valve grinding was necessary. Now most(?) cars have had exhaust valve seat inserts fitted because the grinding had worn the seats away. These are likely to be hard and so be in no danger from unleaded fuel.

Many thanks

Location: New Forest

Since lead was eliminated from petrol I have found that no problem arises using modern exhaust valves. When I first started re-grinding valves more than 50 years ago it was common to find bad pitting on seats and even 'flats' on the valve head circumference. If you have a collection of old valves, check them with a magnet. Modern ones are non-magnetic, being made from suitable high grade stainless steel. If they are magnetic they are the old type, and were usable with leaded petrol, but are no longer suitable.

Location: just north of Cambridge