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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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gasoline Octane

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Vette

12-23-2006 11:03:55




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I have a 1951 Farmall "M" that came straight off the farm with a three point hitch, wide front, and some very large weights on the rear. The tractor weighs just over 7-k putting me in the 7500 lb class. Pretty high for a stock "M", but it does extreamly well and I win quite often. I just run super unleaded pump gas but I know that when these tractors were built they ran on regular leaded gas. I have access to some "racing" fuel that is around 107 t0 114 octane. Was just wondering if anyone with simular tractors us this higher grade fuel and if it helps? I appreciate your comments. thanks, and have a Merry Christmas

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farmallhal

12-24-2006 14:32:16




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  
I remember my first exposure to the word "octane" was when we got our first hay baler in the early 1950's when I was around 10 years old. It had a Wisconsin V-4 gas engine (live PTO for the time) which had a decal near the fuel tank which stated to use 80 octane gasoline. I guess that was the standard octane for regular leaded gasoline of the period. Octane may have been measured in a different manner or on a different scale in those days so it might not be the same with today's rating. I think regular gasoline is just fine for these low compression and low RPM Farmall tractor engines. Hal

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Vette

12-24-2006 11:57:36




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  

Thanks for all of your input. Sounds to me that "if it isn,t broke, don,t fix it". Thanks again. Vette



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Bob M

12-23-2006 12:29:45




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  
Vette - Unless your M knocks noticably at max load/RPM on the fuel you're using now, switching to higher octane fuel will only empty your wallet faster!

Beyond that, higher octane fuel offers no advantage (nor disadvantage...) whatsoever. In fact, unless you've increased your M's compression ratio higher than about 8-1/2 or 9:1, you're M will develop the same power on 87 octane regular that you're getting now on "super unleaded".

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BDM

12-23-2006 12:07:42




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  
Higher octane ratings raise the temp point at which the fuel will ignite. Hence the higher the compression, the higher the chamber heat. There is really no advantage to using higher octane fuels if your engine doesn't require it. It can even hurt performance in cold weather as when starting(fuel density also plays into this, hence winter & summer gasoline).

If the compression ratio is stock or not far off, your wasting your money.

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John T

12-23-2006 12:02:07




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  
Vette, I am NOT any sort of fuel chemist or nuttin like that. Far as I know as long as the octane is high enough to prevent pre ignition (spark knock) thats as high as needed and useful. Typically when you use domed or high compression pistons or shaved heads etc to raise compression then you need to raise the octane to prevent preignition, but otherwise I dont think that higher octane (purposely harder to ignite) is gonna help all that much.

See what fuel experts or pullers say n believe them over me, however.

John T (NOT a fuel expert)

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old

12-23-2006 11:58:55




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to Vette, 12-23-2006 11:03:55  
Shoot these old tractor where made to run on the cheapest stuff sold back then and did well. So I would think useing the high price stuff wouldn't help you any unless you have raised the compression and di other work to the engine. If running stock I wouldn't put the high octane stuff in since you might even burn a hole in a piston or something worse

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Janicholson

12-24-2006 11:10:57




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 Re: gasoline Octane in reply to old, 12-23-2006 11:58:55  
Dear Old, I rarely disagree with you, but on this I will. High octane is cooler in the cylinders than low octane. Holes in pistons are from early ignition (either spark created, or hot spot origin) The fuel should be the least octane that will eliminate spark knock with the timing set correctly. JimN



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