Hey guys i have a 1988 5.0l Ford Tbird and i wanted to put some fuel additives in but i didn't want to put anything with alcohol in there as i only put regular gas in there so its bound to have some already. If you have any suggestions of some fuel additives that you have tried or heard about please help me out, i don't want to cause any problems in my baby. :)
Alcohol just waters down gas. Most fuel additives are a mixture of alcohol and atf. With a roller rocker 302, there really is very little to worry about. I have 337k miles on my 86, I've put about 50k miles on it myself. I use nothing special and hardly ever change the oil.
Basic maintenence will go a long way.
Why do you want to put additives in the gas tank? Gas is usually good enough.
If you've got to add things to you gas, you should probably buy better gas. Modern (quality) fuels contain very advanced detergent packages. They do this both for fuel system health (includes intake valves), and for cleaner emissions (including catalyst health).
Buy good gas, give zero shags.
The only reasons I would add an additive to the fuel would be to stabilize it for storage or to clean the injectors on an EFI engine. As others have posted, the better pump fuels contain injector solvents that should keep them flowing properly however, if you want peace of mind that your injectors are not getting restricted from deposits, you can add a bottle of Chevron Techron every so often. This product is one of the better additives out there and is affordable. I have used it on marine engines that sit for prolonged periods between use.
Not all current fuel is that great. I run mid-grade in my jeep and when I moved here to "west" Texas, I had to start running an additive in the jeep. They have a "dirtier" gas here and I noticed a big difference in both mileage and performance loss. I have to add it every other tank or it runs py.
With my black T/C, I have to do the same otherwise I get an additional benefit of the death rattle.
I also should mention that I use higher name brand fuels not the tiny hole in the wall stations.
I have to run 93 octane, I have 11:1 compression and lots and lots of timing, otherwise I get the worst spark-knock you ever heard of. I don't tend to run into py gas.
I buy whatever is cheap, and I pay zero attention to brand or type of gas.
My dad's ex wife always bought fuel injector cleaner, the check engine light would turn on without it unless she filled up with chevron gas. Personally, I see that as a problem with the car, not the gas statiob. I've never had a car that specifically wanted a certain kind of gas or stabilizer or fuel injector cleaner ect.
When I was driving 100+ miles a day I used to log my gas mileage. I'd get 2-3 mpg worse with chevron gas and best gas mileage was flying j or 7-11.
I used the flying hook all the up north but the closest one to me now is 30+ miles from me. Always got good mileage with them.
I've run into a few places that had old gas and it stank bad when coming out the tailpipe.
Well sure sounds like your car didn't like Chevron...:hick:
When I had the 5.0 Stang I used Exxon as there was a locally owned station just up at corner... Fought a bucking issue at low speed that nothing helped... Well my neighbor and I took a 200+ mi road trip and when we arrived it was running great, no sign of buck, "ahhh John it just needed a good blowing out"(which was actually unlikely)... So we wouldn't have to get gas to head back, I filled up at first Exxon station I saw and that SOB bucked before I got halfway out of the station lot... Difference??? I filled it with Amoco before we left home, that was the difference... After that experience I've bought Exxon maybe twice when low, just enough to get me to another station... BTW that was 1996...
You might want to look at Archoil.com. They make several products- AR6200 Fuel Modifier, AR-6400-G Fuel System Cleaner. They also make a AR9100 Friction Modifier. I have been using their products for couple of years. Amazing results. Anyone out there have a F250, 350 with a 6.0? Check out the AR9100 and AR6200. I know this sounds like an add but I have used all sorts of additives in my trucks, street cars and hot rods- none compare. I use Mobil 1 with the AR9100 in my 87 Turbo Coupe with a 302 and the AR6200 in the fuel- I run premium. The AR9100 Friction Modifier is mixed at 1.2oz per quart of oil. You can also use it in your trans, gear boxes, power steering pump. For the guys with fuel injection use the AR6400-G Fuel System Cleaner. 5ml of the AR6200 treats 13gal of fuel. I use 15ml to treat 38gal of fuel in my 05 F350. Go to the site and check the reviews or look up Archoil Reviews.
Shell 93 octane works wonderfully in my Thunderbird.
Never really had a problem with bad gas. I live in a major metro area so gas doesn't sit in underground tanks long around here.....
I'm just sick of the ethonal. I have one ethonal free gas station I hit everyone in a while just for kicks. I get 1 or 2 mpg better, but performance feels the same. I used to advance my cars up to about 17* when I ran ethonal, but the mixture is pretty inconsistent around here so I keep it pretty close to 10* now.