Fuel for V-12 37 engines

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

Are you using regular unleaded fuel? Is this a potential problem for a V-12? Should I use an additive? If so, where would I get it.
Ty

[JIM CLC # 15000]

TY, thats what I use in my 47 V8 engine.Regular. (also in my 05 Jeep)
I dont think the compression ratio for your V12 is any more then it is for my engine. That is pretty-much what determinds which grade of gasoline is needed.
Start out by useing regular, if you get spark-knock, switch to the next grade. and so on.
As far as being able to buy an additive, I got some on a close-out sale, real good price, otherwise I would not have purchased it.
Most auto parts stores carry the stuff.
Good Luck, Jim

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

Thanks Jim. I was wondering about using unleaded rather than leaded. Would that have any future damage to the engine?
Ty

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Ty and Jim,

I agree that the compression of an engine dictates what octane rating of fuel is required.

And, we must not forget that the original Petrols were of the Unleaded variety.

It wasnt really till after WW2 that Compression ratios of engines really started to rise in leaps and bounds until the 70s crunch.  

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

You guys are great. I thought it was Leaded back then. Many thanks.
Ty

[Rob Gerace #16100]

Remember, the 49 331 OHV engine was considered a High Compression engine at the time.  And its compression ratio was a whopping 7.5 to 1.  Im sure regular gas would work fine in anything before that, with its ratio even lower than that.  The 37 V-12 had a compression ratio of 6.0 to 1 and an optional one of 5.65 to 1.

I think when leaded gas first came out, it was called Ethyl for the tetraethyl lead that was in it.  And I think that the regular gas of the day was the earlier-style non-leaded type.  This lead compound was discovered right here in Dayton by Boss Kettering and his lab in 1921.  It was controversial even back then, about its possible health risks.  And there was even talk back then about alternative fuels, too.  Obviously, the auto companies and the oil companies succeeded in stopping a lot of other fuels from being developed.

Rob

 

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Youre right, tetraethyl lead was added to regular gasoline before WWII to give it a higher octane rating (making it high test as it was frequently called). The Ethyl corporation even had their own print ads touting its benefits.  Most of them said that your mechanic could adjust your engine (meaning the timing)so that it would give you better performance and better fuel economy if you used Ethyl gasoline. Im pretty sure that after WWII all gasoline had tetraethyl lead added to it, but there was more of it in the premium grades.  I remember my dad saying fill er up with Ethyl. Remember No-Nox,Sky Chief and Trust your car to the man who wears the star? Ty, does your post mean that you have your Twelve running or are you just planning ahead?

[Rhino 21150]

My 37 shop manual says 6.25 standard, 5.75 optional for export.
Should run nicely on kerosene. Remember Phillips 66? Union 76? Those were octane numbers! Plus, there is a new system of calculating octane numbers, such that 93 pump gas of today is 102 in the old system. 89, or regular, is about 92 by the old system. Lead has no value in protecting valves and it screwed up plugs and INCREASED bearing wear in the crank.
Oddly, the V-16 used a 6.00 compression ratio, optional 5.50.
Type history of leaded gas into Google. Tetraethylead sounds like a criminal enterprise to me!
(C2H7)4Pb chemical formula. Four Ethyl groups (two carbons, seven hydrogens) attached to a single lead atom.

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

Hello Rusty:
We will prep the engine soon for initial starting (with a new 6-volt battery). Been in storage for 6 years with gasoline preservative and I was wondering what the proper gas should be. Thought it should use lead by preference.
Many thanks.
Ty