can a ford capri 3.os run on un-leaded fuel?

Answer 1

No it cannot, it has cast iron cylinder heads, and unless it has had a modification to the valve seats made, it will soon wear out the exhaust valve seat.
This is because the tetraethyl lead in old 4 star acted as a high temp lubricant for the exhaust valve and its seat, therefore the engineers at Ford decided that instead of a further engineering process to fit Iconel or Stellite valve seats, the cast iron of the parent head would suffice, providing the engine is run on leaded fuel.

you can buy additives to add the fuel to replace the lead, but this can lead to other problems such as misfires.

It will run on unleaded with a change to the ignition timing, but who knows how long the valves will last?

Answer 2

oh, i remember this and all the hoo ha when it all changed. ok i was running a 1972 land rover, and it didnt like unleaded as it lacked power compared to 4*, so i used to put ten quids worth of UL and 5 quids 4*, but now 4* has gone. in all but a few gargages.

UL burns hotter than old 4*, so when youre going quick, the mixture creates hotspots around the valve seats and burns them out..well thats the story. but, ive never actualy seen or heard of an engine destroying itself under normal everyday use. i had a 2.8 v6 mk1 granada, which had the same engine..all i did was adjust the timing, and richen the mix a tad. and that used to sit on motorways at between 80 and 90..ok it got a bit hot, but they all did...and they kept on running. 3 years i had that before rustworm got it...and i loved it.

so my advice is yes, run your baby on UL, just dont thrash it. adjust the timing after you ve put the fuel in, slacken the dizzy and turn it untill you hear the revs pick up, and back it off a degree or two..experience lets me do this with my ear and adjust teh mixture a screwdriver, locate the main jet and adjust it (but its 3am, and i cant remember whether its a fuel screw of an air screw , but if its and air, then 1/2 turn in, and fuel, its 1/2 turn out... listen to your engine..you should be able to tell when its ahppy and when its not..its a zen thing..and thankfully older car were user friendly. and youll know whn you hot hte gas whether youve got it right..but it costs nothing to fiddle..

Answer 3

Yes and No. If you use unleaded don't race the engine, keep it under 4000. Leaded fuel leaves a deposit of lubricating lead on valve faces, unleaded washes it of but will take years to do this, best thing to do is get it converted, have the valve seats changed, useually £50 a pot, but you do have a long time to save up. happy motoring and enjoy the coolest car ever built.

Answer 4

NO NO NO,you need a lead substitute,dont listen to them,they stopped making capris before unleaded reached the forecourts,only vw's and a few more expensive cars could automatically use it

Answer 5

NO! Use an FBHVC approved additive such as Castrol Valvemaster with unleaded fuel. Valvemaster is available form Halfords.

Answer 6

as long as the Capri is newer than 1972 (which I believe they all are), then is was intended to run unleaded fuel.

Answer 7

BEFORE 1972 NO UNLEADED UNLESS VALVE SEAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED.
IF YOUR NOT SURE USE A LEAD SUBSTITUTE WHEN YOU ADD PETROL THEN YOU WILL BE SAFE FRON ANY ENGINE DAMAGE FROM UNLEADED PETROL.

Answer 8

no you would have to have the heads modified with stronger sills etc you can run it with an additive short term but you are better getting the heads done

Answer 9

oh wow.. i had one of these years ago. it was purple..great cars.. and yes all fords run on unleaded.

Answer 10

yes, but you'll have to use the expensive unleaded. but I could be wrong