Running on leaded fuel

[kingkurt]

Hi guys

I am just planning my route across Mauritania in Africa in my little Saxo 1.1 and have now got definite information that there is no unleaded sold in this country, just leaded. I am taking 40 ltrs in cans and a full tank of 45ltrs but the journey will need roughly 100 ltrs so I will have to buy leaded fuel there.

I have been told that leaded will not kill the car just the cat and I intend to mix the leaded with the unleaded as I go.

Any other ideas ?

Cheers
Kurt

[Bedford126]

Hi guys

I am just planning my route across Mauritania in Africa in my little Saxo 1.1 and have now got definite information that there is no unleaded sold in this country, just leaded. I am taking 40 ltrs in cans and a full tank of 45ltrs but the journey will need roughly 100 ltrs so I will have to buy leaded fuel there.

I have been told that leaded will not kill the car just the cat and I intend to mix the leaded with the unleaded as I go.

Any other ideas ?

Cheers
Kurt

Get the cat replaced with a silencer then you wont have any problems.

You may also want to take some fuel system cleaner. and a spare fuel filter. The fuel over there is far from clean.

[doncarlyon]

Why on earth are you wanting to drive a 1.1 saxo across Africa?

[W343NNA]

am i wrong in thinking you can buy an addative that you can mix in with the leaded or is it an additive you can buy for unleaded fuel for classic cars may have got it mixed up

[Bedford126]

Why on earth are you wanting to drive a 1.1 saxo across Africa?

Why the hell not?

am i wrong in thinking you can buy an addative that you can mix in with the leaded or is it an additive you can buy for unleaded fuel for classic cars may have got it mixed up

Other way around mate.

[Ross]

Get the cat replaced with a silencer then you wont have any problems.

You may also want to take some fuel system cleaner. and a spare fuel filter. The fuel over there is far from clean.

Really sound advice here. Change the cat out so you don't ruin it as said. The fuel really can be patchy so again as said, take a spare filter. If you've the funds, it wouldn't hurt to carry a spare pump either - for the price of a second hand one (£15 or so) it's a sound investment :)

[Bedford126]

Really sound advice here. Change the cat out so you don't ruin it as said. The fuel really can be patchy so again as said, take a spare filter. If you've the funds, it wouldn't hurt to carry a spare pump either - for the price of a second hand one (£15 or so) it's a sound investment :)

Not sure if you can on a saxo but most people remove the internal filter from the pump so all filtrationis external. Just means you can change the filter if you have a blockage at the side of the road.

[christoph]

Why on earth are you wanting to drive a 1.1 saxo across Africa?

Because a standard one is pretty much a 4x4 anyway.

[kingkurt]

Thanks for all the advise but I dont think I have time to swap the cat as I go on Friday.

I know its all a bit of a rush but I only found out I had another 2 weeks travel time a few days ago so only decided to go through Mauritania to Senegal and DAKAR on Monday.

I have a spare pump and filter and will swap the filter for the trip back.

So....a small amount of leaded wont kill the car?

[axsaxoman]

you need to make time to remove the cat as it could melt and block up the exhaust completely

[MuZiZZle]

Doesn't viper know a quick way of doing it just using a kerb?

[kingkurt]

you need to make time to remove the cat as it could melt and block up the exhaust completely

Even with just using 20-30 litres of leaded?

[m4tt274]

the leaded fuel will kill the cat, car will be fine though. if your not planning on keeping the car and an MOT when your home i suppose it doesnt matter.
if its a phase 1 just swap the centre section for a phase 2 centre section, if phase 2, put phase one manifold and oil filter on? i think that will work, would with a VTR anyway

i would suggest even going as far as to put 2 in line fuel filters and changing them pretty often.

[Bedford126]

i would suggest even going as far as to put 2 in line fuel filters and changing them pretty often.

No need for the in line filters.

The cat deffo needs to be removed. If you don't you will quite literally melt it, clog it, blow a hole in it.

I suggested a silencer in there just because of the number of miles you are doing with a de-cat the drone will become tedious.

Most exhaust places will make you a de-cat with a silencer in a couple of hours and fit it may not be pretty but its well worth doing as you don't want to be stuck on the side of the road trying to find parts in africa.

[axsaxoman]

I find it hard to believe that there is acountry in the world where they still use leaded as no car maker has made cars for leaded use since 1992-that would mean every car in the country is either more than 20years old are diesel or have cats removed .

[kingkurt]

No need for the in line filters.

The cat deffo needs to be removed. If you don't you will quite literally melt it, clog it, blow a hole in it.

I suggested a silencer in there just because of the number of miles you are doing with a de-cat the drone will become tedious.

Most exhaust places will make you a de-cat with a silencer in a couple of hours and fit it may not be pretty but its well worth doing as you don't want to be stuck on the side of the road trying to find parts in africa.

Thanks for the advise

Just so I am straight when I phone around exhaust fitters. I need the cat removed and a silencer put in its place?


Everything else to remain the same and I can also use unleaded in it no problem?

cheers

[kingkurt]

I find it hard to believe that there is acountry in the world where they still use leaded as no car maker has made cars for leaded use since 1992-that would mean every car in the country is either more than 20years old are diesel or have cats removed .

Nearly all vehicles use diesel and there are only a few fuel stations in the entire country that sell petrol (leaded) in cans and bottles. I have been told this by all the overlanders I have spoke to so I dont want to take the risk

[Bedford126]

Nearly all vehicles use diesel and there are only a few fuel stations in the entire country that sell petrol (leaded) in cans and bottles. I have been told this by all the overlanders I have spoke to so I dont want to take the risk

Yeah mate your correct when my boss took his v8 Landrover he struggled to get petrol and when it did he said it had dirt in it and water floating on the top.

Yeah mate you want the cat removing and a silencer in its place. to keep the noise down.

And nope cars run fine on leaded petrol with no ill effects. It will be wise to flush the system out when you get home and to give it a good service but it will be fine other than that.

[kingkurt]

Yeah mate your correct when my boss took his v8 Landrover he struggled to get petrol and when it did he said it had dirt in it and water floating on the top.

Yeah mate you want the cat removing and a silencer in its place. to keep the noise down.

And nope cars run fine on leaded petrol with no ill effects. It will be wise to flush the system out when you get home and to give it a good service but it will be fine other than that.

I spoke to 3 exhaust places, one being my mechanics friends place and they all said the same thing - as the cat is on the front (between the block and the rad) and fits directly to the manifold it cant be done. Only thing would be to put an old style manifold on it first??

Bugger!

[Saxovch22]

Can't you just hollow the cat out ?

[doncarlyon]

Just decat it, wont be that loud on a standard system... just a bit raspy.

[Bedford126]

I spoke to 3 exhaust places, one being my mechanics friends place and they all said the same thing - as the cat is on the front (between the block and the rad) and fits directly to the manifold it cant be done. Only thing would be to put an old style manifold on it first??

Bugger!

yes it can be done.

Get a mk1 manifold and down pipe in that case.

[kingkurt]

Can't you just hollow the cat out ?

That did cross my mind, but i suppose it depends how thick the actual shell is

[Bedford126]

Easy to hollow out. but it will be loud.

[stevo67]

you need to make time to remove the cat as it could melt and block up the exhaust completely

Which correct me if i`m wrong could cause the engine to slip a tooth on the cambelt?(excess back pressure)

[kingkurt]

yes it can be done.

Get a mk1 manifold and down pipe in that case.

and a mk1 manifold will fit straight on ith the down pipe and the engine will run the same?

Maybe I will try a few breakers in the morning and take the parts with me and get them swapped over in Morocco because im leaving 5am Friday and dont have the time to get them swapped here.

[mlawlan69]

mk1 downpipe wont fit straight on unfortunately, you need to swap over the oil filter setup to a mk1 set up also.

you cannot drop.it in a garage tomorrow and get your laat min prep done also??

quite important id say!!!

[m4tt274]

people saying the decat will make it loud are fibbers, the cat silences alot, on a saxsport or supersprint etc the cat vs no cat difference is huge but the standard system silences so much you wont even notice. i ran a raceland (decat as ph2) and standard system for about 200 miles and it was as quiet as standard on a VTR

just get a standard phase 1 manifold on there and a phase one cartridge type oil filter. no big job really.

[kingkurt]

mk1 downpipe wont fit straight on unfortunately, you need to swap over the oil filter setup to a mk1 set up also.

you cannot drop.it in a garage tomorrow and get your laat min prep done also??

quite important id say!!!

This is turning into a nightmare

Whats the difference between a mk1 oil filter setup and the one thats on there - just the size/position? I just had a new one put on with brand new oil.
The one with the cat on it now looks just like the standard downpipe I will be getting?

Im planning on taking a manifold and downpipe I can pickup in the morning from a dealer and getting them swapped over at a garage in Morrocco that a few of my friends have used

[Prickle]

look for a mk1 1.1 and use the mani off that. I know my 98 (s reg) 1.1 had the cat underneath.

[Bedford126]

This is turning into a nightmare

Whats the difference between a mk1 oil filter setup and the one thats on there - just the size/position? I just had a new one put on with brand new oil.
The one with the cat on it now looks just like the standard downpipe I will be getting?

Im planning on taking a manifold and downpipe I can pickup in the morning from a dealer and getting them swapped over at a garage in Morrocco that a few of my friends have used

Unless they have a mk1 oil filter insert and a m10 blanking bolt they wont be able to help you.

Best bet for you is to take 2 mk2 cats one that's full and one that's got no core. But as said it will be loud I don't know who the cock is who said that it wont be loud because it deffo will. And just get them swapped over when u get there.

[kingkurt]

Unless they have a mk1 oil filter insert and a m10 blanking bolt they wont be able to help you.

Best bet for you is to take 2 mk2 cats one that's full and one that's got no core. But as said it will be loud I don't know who the cock is who said that it wont be loud because it deffo will. And just get them swapped over when u get there.

Thats exactly what I decided to do when I woke up this morning :y:

cheers everyone for the input

[m4tt274]

But as said it will be loud I don't know who the cock is who said that it wont be loud because it deffo will. And just get them swapped over when u get there.

have you ever ran a standard exhaust system without a cat?
it makes no noticable noise differance at all... :wacko:

[Bedford126]

Lol yeah ok mate. Driving across Africa with a hollowed out cat is going to be amazing with a really nice drone from the expansion of gasses in the hollowed out cat case.

[christoph]

Take it there no possibility of getting a cheap diesal saxo?

[m4tt274]

Lol yeah ok mate. Driving across Africa with a 1.1 saxois going to be amazing with little more than a blower and some windows to wind down.

i re prioritised your comment to suit the OP's situation. The car wont be noisy dont worry...

[Bedford126]

i re prioritised your comment to suit the OP's situation. The car wont be noisy dont worry...

Who the fuck are you to change my comment. Have you ever run a shelled out cat on a 1.1 system with the only silencers been the cat and the back box no centre box. Yes it will be loud and yes it will drone.

[axsaxoman]

If cat is on front pipe it must be a 3 plug ecu and have two lambda probes?
so yes 10minutes to knock out thwe internals ,but your ecu light will come on as the second probe will now sniff un-catted gas --except it or fit LAMBDA SLEEVE TO LOWER PROBE

[kmak577]

on a complete side note, take some pictures of that little beasty going across the desert. If mine fails its mot again i may just join you!

[Gandi699]

Which correct me if i`m wrong could cause the engine to slip a tooth on the cambelt?(excess back pressure)

Bit extreme, it'll just choke the engine up to the point where it'll probably stop running

[welshpug]

yep, a blocked cat will just stop the engine eventually.

[axsaxoman]

Which correct me if i`m wrong could cause the engine to slip a tooth on the cambelt?(excess back pressure)


No --it would just stop the engine it wouldn,t cause any more strain on the blet than normal

[kingkurt]

Hi all

Just thought I would let you know the outcome of my little Adventure

I took the car to a mechanic we heard of from a overlanding group in Sal'e near Rabat in Morocco and he helped me de-cat the car for about a fiver. (see picture)

We dropped the front pipe and scooped out the insides of the cat, it was a bit like a porcelain honeycomb and very easy to remove

We put it all together again (in the rain) started her up and .....she sounded exactly like she did before with no noticeable difference.

I do think she was a little bit more pokey afterwards but maybe that was just my imagination


When I got to Mauritania all they had was leaded fuel 'essence de san plomb' in just 2 garages I found in the whole country (everyone uses Gasoil or Diesel as we call it) The stuff stank but my little car just sucked it up and battled on. We ran on leaded fuel for a total of 5 days, 2 days southwards and 3 days returning back northward

I reached Dakar in Senegal and drove back again, returning a few days ago. The car is still running fine with no noticeable hiccups

It still ceases to amaze me what these little cars can do

Cheers

Kurtis


http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/decat_6.jpeg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/159_5911.jpg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/P1040431.jpg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/P1040336.jpg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/160_6078.jpg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu142/kingkurtz/AFRICA%20RALLY%202012/160_6065.jpg

[Prickle]

Beast.

[wadoryu]

Those cats are expensive o_0 would have been cheaper to find an aftermarket mani.

[m4tt274]

Hi all

.....she sounded exactly like she did before with no noticeable difference.



hahahaha to who ever said it would scream :homme:

[Gandi699]

Those cats are expensive o_0 would have been cheaper to find an aftermarket mani.

Mechanic man has probably sold the precious metals from the cat!

[jamie281093]

should jack that up, would be a right beast!!

[AXracing]

Looks like you had great fun :)