Brand Newbie

[whirnot]

Hey folks, brand new here, Why not before? Because I just bought my car yesterday! And of course have a lot to learn. Two questions that may sound stupid, but, living in CO. all our gas is has ethanol in it, especially in winter. I do travel to NE often, is it recommeded I bring some regular fuel back and use it as much as possible?

Also recommended oil, Straight 30W?

[Gary WA]

Reg gas is nice but I put Marvel Mystery Oil in my a's. Also there are products Seafoam. Ethanol additive. Your choice. If your car is garaged for periods of time put something in the ethanol gas or drive it every day. Oil is a sticky subject we all have our oils, I use Delo 400 15-40. Check with the past owner stick to the same oil.

[1931 flamingo]

WELCOME ! ! ! ! This is the place to be. I use regular 30W, others have their own preferences. There is a search function at the top of the page, VERY useful.
Regular gas is avail some places. Personnally I don't think it makes much of a difference considering what was avail 80 years ago. JMO
Paul in CT

[Forker]

I'm a Newbee myself, and there are far more knowledgable folks on this site than I will ever be, but I will comment on the idea of moving...I lived up north on the east coast and now have lived in Texas for longer than where I grew up back east...never regretted for a moment leaving those harsh winters behind. All it takes is a short visit in winter to remind me that I made the right decision years ago.

[newshirt]

whirnot,
I also live in Colorado, as you can see from the "Location" under the avatar. I never found Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam to help. My car runs the same with or without it, even on the crap gas. And that's at 7,600' elevation. Evidently the ethanol has no adverse effect, or the MMO doesn't improve the mixture enough to change how the car runs. I was thinking that the 20 - 30% humidity might have a positive effect, so those additives may not be needed. Not sure... But I doubt you'll need "pure gas" in Colorado.

If your car runs poorly, you might consider looking into the ignition or carburation rather than additives. Just a thought...

Welcome to the site!

[Fred K-OR]

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I have used crap-gas in my A's for a couple of years. They run OK on it and I put some stabilizer in the tanks when I store them in the winter. But lately I have been able to buy non crap-gas at some stations here in Oregon. You find them out in the country or at boat landings. The A's seem to run better on the non crap-gas but that is only my "feeling" that they do. I also use straight 30 weight oil. You will get many opinions on this questions.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by newshirt

whirnot,
I also live in Colorado, as you can see from the "Location" under the avatar. I never found Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam to help. My car runs the same with or without it, even on the crap gas. And that's at 7,600' elevation. Evidently the ethanol has no adverse effect, or the MMO doesn't improve the mixture enough to change how the car runs. I was thinking that the 20 - 30% humidity might have a positive effect, so those additives may not be needed. Not sure... But I doubt you'll need "pure gas" in Colorado.

If your car runs poorly, you might consider looking into the ignition or carburation rather than additives. Just a thought...

Welcome to the site!

Take an engine apart that has run on nothing but ethanol gas with no additives you may be surprised!!!!! Especially the valves/stems with no lubrication from ethanol gas. MMO Does Help!!!! Maybe your elevation but not here at Sea level..

[Tom Wesenberg]

I agree with Gary. I've heard of a couple guys with new flex fuel (what a joke) cars that had to have their engines rebuilt after 65,000 miles when running E-85. I've always been using the good gas, but am tired of paying a buck a gallon extra to leave the corn crap out, so I might use the standard crap gas with MMO for the summer, but store the car for the winter with a full tank of good gas.

[Skibb]

Welcome WHIRNOT, I'm a newbie also and enjoy this Forum a lot; it's an incredible resource. The Forum bridges the gap from Henry and Edsel to the present. MMO here in gas and 10w30 Shell Rotella T for me 30 straight could be to heavy for winter startups in frozen North. Note that the opinions on oil when written on one sheet of paper per individual would bury the Empire State Building. Change your oil now and do your lubrication, water/anitfreeze in radiator and check the search feature for suggestion on all that. I've been told my tires could roll off the wheels at less than 34 psi. I'm at 35 psi. But, you'll get all that from these seasoned Model A'ers

[columbiA]

The only thing I dont like about crap gas is the tendency to vapor lock in hot weather.I never had that problem years ago.As for oil,I use either 15-40 or 20-50.I wouldnt use a straight 30 non detergent except in a lawn mower.

[John LaVoy]

Welcome to the Model A family! The Model A will run on low octane fuel. On our Summer Tours through CO we had problems with the higher ethenol fuels causing vapor locking. Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF in the fuel will help with that. Enjoy the hobby take the advice that is given with open arms, but it always helps to join a local chapter and get help from the members there.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Welcome to our wonderful hobby.

I can think of two thing you should start out with: get a copy of the owners manual. Reproductions are available from any A parts dealer. It has all kinds of information you will want to know, like how to use the spark advance, how to shift a crash box, how to use the carburetor gas adjusting valve and choke, etc.

Second, explore the search feature on this site. Our conversations over the last several years are all in there. For example, "oil" will get you hours and hours of reading matter. There is sound advice there from many of us, including several real experts who have, sadly, passed on.

In your oil instance, what you use depends on what it has been using: detergent or non detergent. You can switch, but there are things to watch out for first. You'll probably find more than you ever wanted to know in the archives.

good luck and many happy A days

[Mike V. Florida]

Yes welcome to the family!!

I use corn gas and have no problems but again I use my car often so the gas does not stay in the tank too long. Can't hurt to use MMO and if the car is to sit for weeks, months, use the sablizer for ethanol.

As for oil, the use of any oil made for vehicles will work fine in your car. We all have personal preferences but the fact is that no engine rebuilder on this site has ever said an engine failed because of one type or another.

Drive it often and have fun.

OH, there are no stupid questions here (answers maybe).

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Mike V, Dog here,
Saw you sneak in a little face like this,! Is that a "DIG"? Buster T.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Mike V, Dog here,
Saw you sneak in a little face like this,! Is that a "DIG"? Buster T.

Not at all

[JBill]

I've never had any problems with my A, my chainsaw, my lawnmower(s), my tiller, my weed whacker, or anything else with a gas engine caused by so-called "crap gas."