TVR Cerbera - Super Unleaded Future

UPDATE III - 6th April - Mileage now 11,842. 2,631 elapsed. I have noticed that the fuel consumption has apparently dropped. I shall revert to Super for the next couple of fills to see if it was a coincidence.

UPDATE II - Mileage now 1,600. For Performance Technique type days & jaunts to the South of France, I would still recommend 98 RON Super Unleaded.

UPDATE - I've now done 1,000 miles on 95 & the engine is still in one piece !.

Began using 95 RON as an experiment today. As I type, I've only done 5 miles but everything seems OK.

I received the following from the factory. I have reproduced it as it was received so that I do not lose the jist. Bear in mind that I, nor TVR Engineering Ltd. take no responsibility whatsoever, however caused, for any damage that you may incur to your vehicle should you try anything mentioned on this, or any page on this site.

What are the ramifications of using 95 RON in the Cerbera.

Is it dependant on the ECU version? Mine's 273.

What about removing the cats? Will the lambda sensors report a fault code

Will the ECU need reprogramming?

Sorry Its taken so long, but I've only Just seen John.

RON 95 - No problem.

All ECU's OK.

Leave Lambda sensors on and wired for removing cats & should have no problem.

As this fuel is essential to so many of us TVR enthusiasts I am a little concerned as to it's future.

It was originally introduced as a stop gap measure to allow 4 star users the chance to do their bit for the environment before catalytic converters became the norm.

I recently spoke to someone at Shell who, whilst not committing himself, implied that within 2 to 3 years supplies may dry up.

Indeed, many fuel stations in the North East of England have begun to drop it from their forecourts.

At the biggest Shell garage in Hartlepool the manager told me that it represented only 1/20th of the weekly sales.

Also, all Shell stations, certainly in the North East had, for a time, taken the Super Unleaded price off the pole sign and replaced it with the word HERE.

I am compiling a list whereby you will be able to contact the various companies directly to voice your concerns.

I was interested in your section on super unleaded petrol, living in North Wales, an area that's not exactly blessed in the filling station department. I decided to undertake, a quick straw poll of the local outlets to make sure I'll still have something to run the Cerbera on in 5 months time.

Findings were:-

Shell - 0 Pumps out of 8 "Sorry mate just stopped doing it last week. Not enough trade"

Esso - 2 Pumps out of 12 "Don't get much call for it, but no plans to stop stocking yet"

Tesco - 2 Pumps out of 12 "Oh, I don't know. I only work here."

Things seem safe enough for the next 12 months, but after that a retuned, unleaded TVR (or bin the cats and use 4*) could be on the cards.

The problem, however, is that if lead is removed from petrol what is going to be used in its place so that the octane level can be maintained? It was decided that benzene was the "best" alternative. Benzene is a known carcinogen (produces cancer) and Dr. Warren said that unleaded petrol now appears to be so dangerous that under no circumstances should it be used in any car not fitted with a catalytic converter. It should not be used in your motor mower, chainsaw, whipper snipper or outboard motor and it should never be used to wash parts. Also, avoid getting unleaded petrol on your hands and avoid the fumes when refuelling. As the catalytic converter does not work until it reaches 400 degrees centigrade, avoid breathing the fumes from the exhaust of a cold engine.

The full article can be found on http://www.strathcona.vic.edu.au/~jtaylor/petrol.htm