240 General: - Unleaded - 95 or 98 in '88 GLT?

jibberjabber · Nov 26th, 2012, 22:18

Hi
I've just joined the world of 240 ownership with the purchase of an '88 GLT manual Estate with 126,000 miles of experience. I'm looking forward to spending many hours looking under the hood/lying underneath/scratching my head etc.
Currently though I'm confused at conflicting fuel info - the manual states this engine can't run on Unleaded but other owners I have spoken to say 'no problem'.
Can anyone clarify whether I should be running 95, 98 or converting in some way?
Thank you
BK

jetronic63 · Nov 26th, 2012, 22:26

97 and unleaded is fine IIRC, mine pinks unless I run it on super unleaded.

minesa240x3 · Nov 26th, 2012, 22:28

Hi there first a big welcome to all things volvo.Now as far as I know all 240's can run on unleaded with no problems.I assume your car has the mechanical injection system?
If it has a carburettor then more knowledgeable folks will be along to tell you how to adjust the timing to stop pinking and how the needle may need changing in the carburettor.

Another oxfordshire member I can see a mini meeting coming up sooner or later.

wooble · Nov 26th, 2012, 22:33

I always ran my GLT on super unleaded as the manual recommended 98 octane. Unleaded itself is not a problem, you won't suffer from valve seat recession or any such maladies. I think the manual is a bit confusing because in the 80s super unleaded was very rare, you just bought 4-star if you needed high-octane petrol.

jibberjabber · Nov 26th, 2012, 22:41

Thanks guys for your quick replies - very reassuring to know you're all out there somewhere! I think I'll splash out on a few fills of 98 and see how we get on.
Re. an Oxfordshire meet-up, I'm sure it would be fun to have a beer sometime and get my head around what I've really let myself in for...

jmz · Nov 26th, 2012, 23:20

A very good question indeed... and one asked by myself when I got my first 240:
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=111383

Some interesting points covered in that thread.

OK ....show us your brick then!

Paul240480 · Nov 27th, 2012, 20:54

Hi JJ, that must be a good find with such a low mileage ..... Pics please

My 'Tank' is a B200e and the manual states leaded. It has been run on 95 Ron U/L by the previous owner from mid 90's. She told me that she had ahead gasket job done where two were fitted on top of each other. This is said not to be needed, and I have no record of it being done in a very extensive history file.

I bought Tank in 2003 and have run with 95 Ron . I used supermarket fuel in UK and occasionally Q8 . Here in France he gets only Supermarket stuff, Carrefour or Super U. I've owned him for 58,000 miles and all is very well.

Hope this info is useful.

Antz · Nov 27th, 2012, 21:01

I ran my 1990 GL on practically anything that was cheap for 3 years and it was alright. My 1988 GLT got one tank of unleaded to drive it home and its sat in the workshop since

I'd use 95ron personally, V Power is for more performance based vehicles that need it to run right in my opinion but it wouldnt do it any harm to run it on V Power etc

volvo always · Nov 28th, 2012, 12:06

On my 1989 240GLT and on my 1986 740 GLE when I had it I ran both on unleaded 95 with no issues. About 30,000 miles in the 240 and 40,000 miles in the 740 with B230K carb engine.

James

Michael J · Nov 28th, 2012, 15:22

B230K is intended to run on unleaded.

Nov 26th, 2012, 22:18	#1
jibberjabber New Member Last Online: Dec 18th, 2012 15:29 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Oxford	Unleaded - 95 or 98 in '88 GLT? Hi I've just joined the world of 240 ownership with the purchase of an '88 GLT manual Estate with 126,000 miles of experience. I'm looking forward to spending many hours looking under the hood/lying underneath/scratching my head etc. Currently though I'm confused at conflicting fuel info - the manual states this engine can't run on Unleaded but other owners I have spoken to say 'no problem'. Can anyone clarify whether I should be running 95, 98 or converting in some way? Thank you BK

Nov 26th, 2012, 22:26	#2
jetronic63 Member Last Online: Today 17:41 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bournemouth View Photos By: jetronic63	97 and unleaded is fine IIRC, mine pinks unless I run it on super unleaded. __________________ Volvo 360 GL ~ Volvo 244 GLE ~ Volvo 240 GLT ~ Volvo 760 Turbo ~ Volvo 760 GLE ~ Volvo 780 Turbo 16v

Nov 26th, 2012, 22:33	#4
wooble Stay gold baby! Last Online: Jul 24th, 2022 16:15 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bristol	I always ran my GLT on super unleaded as the manual recommended 98 octane. Unleaded itself is not a problem, you won't suffer from valve seat recession or any such maladies. I think the manual is a bit confusing because in the 80s super unleaded was very rare, you just bought 4-star if you needed high-octane petrol. __________________ Click to see 240 parts I want to give you money for!

Nov 26th, 2012, 23:20	#6
jmz Senior Member Last Online: May 2nd, 2019 13:47 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Czestochowa, Slaskie, Poland	A very good question indeed... A very good question indeed... and one asked by myself when I got my first 240: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=111383 Some interesting points covered in that thread. OK ....show us your brick then!

Nov 27th, 2012, 20:54	#7
Paul240480 Ovlovnut Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 08:58 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nivillac View Photos By: Paul240480	Hi JJ, that must be a good find with such a low mileage ..... Pics please My 'Tank' is a B200e and the manual states leaded. It has been run on 95 Ron U/L by the previous owner from mid 90's. She told me that she had ahead gasket job done where two were fitted on top of each other. This is said not to be needed, and I have no record of it being done in a very extensive history file. I bought Tank in 2003 and have run with 95 Ron . I used supermarket fuel in UK and occasionally Q8 . Here in France he gets only Supermarket stuff, Carrefour or Super U. I've owned him for 58,000 miles and all is very well. Hope this info is useful. __________________ 2004 V70 2.4SE Auto 'The Welshmobile’ 2002 Laika Ecovip 400i ( Motorhome on an Iveco 2.8TD) http://www.gitessouthbrittany.com/ http://moncopainmonchien.jimdo.com/

Nov 26th, 2012, 22:28	#3
minesa240x3 loyalty Last Online: Jul 28th, 2022 19:16 Join Date: May 2006 Location: faraway View Photos By: minesa240x3	Hi there first a big welcome to all things volvo.Now as far as I know all 240's can run on unleaded with no problems.I assume your car has the mechanical injection system? If it has a carburettor then more knowledgeable folks will be along to tell you how to adjust the timing to stop pinking and how the needle may need changing in the carburettor. Another oxfordshire member I can see a mini meeting coming up sooner or later.

Nov 26th, 2012, 22:41	#5
jibberjabber New Member Last Online: Dec 18th, 2012 15:29 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Oxford	Thanks guys for your quick replies - very reassuring to know you're all out there somewhere! I think I'll splash out on a few fills of 98 and see how we get on. Re. an Oxfordshire meet-up, I'm sure it would be fun to have a beer sometime and get my head around what I've really let myself in for...

Nov 27th, 2012, 21:01	#8
Antz No I'm not the redhead Last Online: Nov 25th, 2022 09:49 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Yorkshire Coast	I ran my 1990 GL on practically anything that was cheap for 3 years and it was alright. My 1988 GLT got one tank of unleaded to drive it home and its sat in the workshop since I'd use 95ron personally, V Power is for more performance based vehicles that need it to run right in my opinion but it wouldnt do it any harm to run it on V Power etc __________________ 1988 Volvo 240 GLT T5 Swap a T5 motor into your RWD Volvo:The Guide

Nov 28th, 2012, 12:06	#9
volvo always Premier Member Last Online: Today 11:36 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midlands.	On my 1989 240GLT and on my 1986 740 GLE when I had it I ran both on unleaded 95 with no issues. About 30,000 miles in the 240 and 40,000 miles in the 740 with B230K carb engine. James

Nov 28th, 2012, 15:22	#10
Michael J Master Member Last Online: Jan 21st, 2018 16:48 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nottingham	B230K is intended to run on unleaded. __________________ rollin' rollin' rollin'

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