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Petrol additives.. Consensus?

R

Richard Williams

Enthusiast
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It's a while since I ran one of these cars so have lost touch with the current thoughts . 1126 847cc 1977 French built. Have members found one fuel additive to be better that others? (I'm talking lead substitutes )If so was it at recommended dilutions.
While I'm pestering opinions on engine flushes, Engine oil type/grade and Transmission oil... all appreciated
 
R4s were originally designed to run on unleaded so no additives are necessary to correct the absence of lead.

But there may be a problem with ethanol in today’s unleaded petrol. If you know your automotive history, during WW2 some cars were adapted in France to run on ethanol derived from the destructive distillation of wood (a device called a gazogène which also was used for railcars). So the R4 engine might also be designed to accommodate ethanol as well as no-lead. But others on the Forum might know better.

Oil : 20/50. No particular make. No percentage in using expensive semi-synthetic if you change the oil regularly. Gearbox oil : standard (SAE 90??).

I believe that specialised engine flush compounds are not recommended for the R4 engine. Easiest to buy some cheap 20/50 and change the oil several times (running the car a bit each time to warm the oil up) until it comes out reasonably clean.

I think R1126 is 747cc, not 847.
 
Last edited:
benchseat said:
R4s were originally designed to run on unleaded so no additives are necessary to correct the absence of lead.

But there may be a problem with ethanol in today’s unleaded petrol. If you know your automotive history, during WW2 some cars were adopted in France to run on ethanol derived from the destructive distillation of wood (a device called a gazogène which also was used for railcars). So the R4 engine might also be designed to accommodate ethanol as well as no-lead. But others on the Forum might know better.

Oil : 20/50. No particular make. No percentage in using expensive semi-synthetic if you change the oil regularly. Gearbox oil : standard (SAE 90??).

I believe that specialised engine flush compounds are not recommended for the R4 engine. Easiest to buy some cheap 20/50 and change the oil several times (running the car a bit each time to warm the oil up) until it comes out reasonably clean.

I think R1126 is 747cc, not 847.
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Thanks for the response
 
I recommend Millers VSPe Power Plus Multi Shot, it is an all-in-one additive for ethanol protection, lead substitution, octane booster, it won't do any harm to have them all covered. You certainly want the ethanol protection especially with E10 possibly on it's way.

PS: I'm pretty certain the 1126 is instead the 782cc enlarged version of the 747cc :).
 
After quite a lot of research this year into additives for my Reliant Scimitar GTE, 1973 - I agree with Jnr-Renospeed - the Millers VSPE Power Plus seems most highly regarded. The octane booster just reduces the possibility of knocking, so fine to use.

If you have worries about the fuel hoses, Choline 2240 is the type to look for - 100% ethanol-proof.
 
Living near the German border I always used 102 octane petrol and it's still available at gas stations over there.
 
R4's were bred on much lesser fuel though, weren't they ? More like 92/95 octane?
 
AdamWilkes said:
R4's were bred on much lesser fuel though, weren't they ? More like 92/95 octane?
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Yes they were, I think Adam. I put 98 octane in on longer motorway journeys, but for local use I use 95 octane, with the additive that Jnr-Renospeed speaks of in both cases. So I can recommend this product Richard, mainly for the ethanol protection, but you've no need to worry about lead replacement. As for engine oil, a good quality mineral based classic 20/50w oil is fine.
 
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