The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Modern Fuel

What grade of fuel should I be feeding my Stovebolt 235?

I use 10% ethanol in my 261. I have the timing set right on the timing ball mark, and then turn the 'octane advance' almost all the way. It will ping if you lug it hard and will 'kick back' if you just bump the starter. I really should back the timing off a little.

If I use straight no-lead it will ping much easier.

I have never tried premium--I just can't make myself buy expensive fuel when I don't need it.

What about using regular unleaded with a little off the shelf lead additive?

lots of folks here run unleaded without problems, including moi, in a 235 and a 283 [E10 actually] - if you get the valves done sometime, get hardened seats, but you won't have problems, the lead additive is unnecessary

Bill

The subject of hardened valve sets has been discussed before and the bottom line is that unless you are building a race engine it's totally unnecessary.

Regular gas may safely be used in 216/235/261 engine. There is no need for a lead additive (and, as Woody posted, hardened valve seats are an unnecessary pre-caution).

Woody mentions except for racing engines - I have also heard except for high-revving heavy-working engines (low speed, high-rev large trucks for example).

The quality of the gasoline we have available today is better than what was available when these trucks were new. They were designed to run on gas with an octane rating in the low 80's.

Wow I put a case of Miller Genuine Draft in the tank last night and it ran like a champ!

Thanks for the info guys, always appreciated.

just imagine how it would have run if you had put good beer in it!

Well after a fresh tank of Reg Unleaded and a 20 min cruz around town im left with a cracked head and no compression in 4 out of 6. Any chance the gas had anything to do with it?

I mean 4 out of 6..

I'd say taking an engine that is knocking and smoking for a 20 minute drive had a lot more to do with it than the fuel used. Sounds to me like this engine was on it's last leg anyway. I'm betting you didn't baby it on the 20 minute drive either. Sounds to me like you wanted this engine ruined.

Pretty darn funny that all of the cars on the road today are running pretty darn good on the modern fuel.High performance and all.Engines running upward of 500 horsepower,and your old 216 sixes wont run right on the same fuel.Something not right here.My 350 CU.in my 55 and my 500 CU in. Caddy in my 65 run just fine.Oh yeah and thats on modern low grade fuel.

"Well after a fresh tank of Reg Unleaded and a 20 min cruz around town im left with a cracked head and no compression in 4 out of 6."

if that's what yer "left with", question is what did you start with?
answer: some burnt valves, broken rings, beer in the tank and no water in the rad

yeah, blame it on the gas, then after you spend a bundle on getting it rebuilt you'll know to never put gas in it

Bill

Ok gentleman, fuel is not the issue here.

I put 87 Octane fuel in my 261 and will drive it all day long. I will drive at speeds that most don't do in thier daily drivers.

If your running with old gas, unchecked components, and many other things, these engines will break. Pulling a truck out of where ever, changing the oil after it sat for a long time, and driving it is not an easy task for any engine.

Take that same engine, pull it apart, clean it up. Fix the other fundamentals of these trucks, and trust me, you will reach your limts before you reach the truck's.......

I did change the coolant, oil and filter, had the carb rebuilt, blew out the fuel lines, replaced the fuel and water pump, but your right I didnt do anything to this poor ol 235. Today I pulled the head and found that the pistons were hitting the intake valves. Everything was filthy and there was heavy build up everywhere. I was planning on upgrading the drivetrain anyways, its just going to have to happen sooner then later..

I think everyone should have the joy of pulling the pin and grenading an engine at least once in life. My first and only experience was a 396.....ahh, pushrods galore and the smell of burning oil.

Drove to KC last year on reg. gas 1400 miles round trip and no problems. did have fuel pump fail i think because of the alcohol in the fuel. the engine had set for 2 years while the rest of the truck was refurbished. i have put an electric pump as a backup. BTW it is a 235 with dual carbs and i ran at 70 mph all day. and averaged 20 mpg.

Im going to have the head rebuilt and give her one more try, maybe Ill run duel carbs, thanks We b OLD.

BTW, I understand it was not the new gas that caused my valves to stick..

Head shop said it was probably the old gas that was in the tank that caused the valves to stick.

If you fired it up on old gas that is what happened. And it doesn't take long.

WITNESS

Ditto that!
Been there and done that!

I drove my 49 3600 with 216 to yellowstone and back on 85-91 octane with no issues. The engine has the stock valve seats.
I used lead additive(the CD2 type) a few times early on, but then just switched to 4 oz of marvel every 3 or 4 tanks. I also put a little marvel in the air cleaner oil.

No issues