Gasoline, Ethanol and additives

[drcoastline]

I recently was gifted a 59 Edsel, it is numbers matching and largely original but, I have no idea what has been done to the engine.

What is the brain trusts opinions, recommendations on what gasoline to use? What about additives? I have heard opinions on adding Stabil marine to the gas to counter act the ethanol. I have heard adding octane boosters, lead substitutes even dumping Marvel mystery oil into the gas.

What about oil? Some have recommended Lucas 10W40 with Zinc.

Lets have it what do the great minds around here have to say?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[LWJ]

My FIL has a collection of similar vintage cars. He buys aviation gas. Leaded + no ethanol. Expensive as all get out!!! He says it has a shelf life in years.

Me? I would buy non ethanol and add a lead substitute.

Oil? I can’t imagine the Edsel has mechanical lifters. If not, then a quality oils should be fine. Am I missing something?

I do know with FIL’s cars, they need to be driven. Brakes, batteries, and transmissions all degrade shockingly quickly without miles. The av-gas has removed one variable of failure from these cars, however.

Congratulations on the gift. These American Iron cars are pretty cool.

[KFC911]

Ethanol in gasoline is EVIL, and no additive is better than just having pure gas. Stabil added for long term storage is good ... when added to pure gasoline. No E gas is readily avaulable at pumps here now, in various octane levels. If it's not in your area, I'd fill up cans at a Marina pump .... and bend over.

Are you ever around marinas ?

[wdfifteen]

The 332 has hydraulic lifters. The problem with ethanol is that it may react with fuel system seals. In a car this old you may need to rebuild the fuel pump and carb anyway. Just use rebuild kits that have ethanol proof parts. That engine has cast iron valve seats, so I wouldn’t be stressing the engine much. It should be ok for several years with a couple thousand miles of easy driving per year.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The 332 has hydraulic lifters. The problem with ethanol is that it may react with fuel system seals. In a car this old you may need to rebuild the fuel pump and carb anyway. Just use rebuild kits that have ethanol proof parts. That engine has cast iron valve seats, so I wouldn’t be stressing the engine much. It should be ok for several years with a couple thousand miles of easy driving per year.

Based on experience with my 356 anything that the fuel flows through. carb diaphragms fuel lines fuel pump diaphragms everything

[flipper35]

Yup. Anything the fuel touches can be an issue with anything that isn't 100% gasoline.

The oil should be good as I doubt you will put many miles per year on it. Change it before winter storage and call it good.

[thor66]

100% gasoline is kind of an oxymoron since it is a mix of different hydrocarbons

and...
all gas has detergents and other additives

e.g. Techron

[KFC911]

0% Ethanol then ...

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by KC911

Ethanol in gasoline is EVIL, and no additive is better than just having pure gas. Stabil added for long term storage is good ... when added to pure gasoline. No E gas is readily avaulable at pumps here now, in various octane levels. If it's not in your area, I'd fill up cans at a Marina pump .... and bend over.

Are you ever around marinas ?

I have been know to stop in a marina from time to time.

I was under the impression the Marine Stabil "neutralized" the ethanol. I had never heard that in the marine circles but the impression I was given.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The 332 has hydraulic lifters. The problem with ethanol is that it may react with fuel system seals. In a car this old you may need to rebuild the fuel pump and carb anyway. Just use rebuild kits that have ethanol proof parts. That engine has cast iron valve seats, so I wouldn’t be stressing the engine much. It should be ok for several years with a couple thousand miles of easy driving per year.

I don't know the history regarding engine, carb rebuild or anything like that, but the car was driven from time to time over the past twenty or so years. I am familiar with ethanol issues from a marine stand point and fuel systems. I am guessing if anything was going to go wrong from ethanol in this system it would have happened by now and dealt with.

I guess my question is more from leaded vs. unleaded gas and octane with these engines.

[thor66]

Originally Posted by KC911

0% Ethanol then ...

Yup - and good luck fighting the agri-biz lobby, esp. when it only damages fun cars and older boat motors

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

I don't know the history regarding engine, carb rebuild or anything like that, but the car was driven from time to time over the past twenty or so years. I am familiar with ethanol issues from a marine stand point and fuel systems. I am guessing if anything was going to go wrong from ethanol in this system it would have happened by now and dealt with.

I guess my question is more from leaded vs. unleaded gas and octane with these engines.

Burn the lowest octane pump gas you can buy, and don't worry about the lead substitutes/verifying your hardened valve seats etc unless this becomes your daily driver and you're putting thousands of miles on it. For engine oil, get the cheap no name dino oil from your FLAPS. For transmission oil get the cheap no name stuff from tractor supply, nothing modern as some of the additives can have a poor effect on any yellow metals.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

I guess my question is more from leaded vs. unleaded gas and octane with these engines.

I would think you would be driving the car fairly gently. I know I would. In the day I would not have given it a second thought - pedal to the metal. But looking back, with one circuit drum brakes, a dashboard built to impart concussions, and no real concessions to passenger safety I would be driving it rather gingerly now. For that, 93 octane no lead ethanol gas should be just fine. The valve seats deteriorate when they get hot and are pounded by high rpms. Don't drive it hard and it should be fine for years of recreational driving on 93 octane no lead ethanol.

[drcoastline]

Grant, wdfifteen- Thanks,

She will be driven gently and probably less than a thousand miles per year. Spring, summer, fall here in NJ.