octane on Farmall H

Anonymous-0 · Jun 27, 2011

what octane should you run on a 49 farmall H?

old · Jun 27, 2011

Would you believe these old tractor where made to run on the worse and cheapest gas a farmer could find. So buy the cheap stuff if you can find any that is cheap that is. Some where even made to run on Fuel oil like what was used in the past top heat homes

paul · Jun 27, 2011

Yup, they were built for 'distillate' grade, which was a cheap poor gas. Low compression when new, likely lower after a few decades, so octane (pinging) isn't an issue on them!

--->Paul

David G · Jun 27, 2011

87 will be fine.

Athol Carr · Jun 27, 2011

1930s tractors used 60 octane. When the high compression heads came out for IH tractors with the cold manifolds in the early 1940s the high octane gasoline was 70 octane.

rustyfarmall · Jun 28, 2011

I'm running 105 octane. E85. Don't really need that much, but the ethanol is less costly and I'm supporting the corn growers instead of the terrorists.

John T · Jun 28, 2011

Unless its been drastically modified with high compression RUN 87 OCTANE.... Those old tractors have relatively LOW compression and certainly DO NOT require purposely more difficult to initiate high octane fuel in order to prevent pre ignition spark knock. Heck they could run on distillate or drip fuel which is extremely low octane if they were equipped with hot manifolds and dual fuel capable carbs.

If an engine has high compression THEN HIGH OCTANE IS REQUIRED to prevent pre ignition spark knock as it doesnt initiate quite so easy/fast but in that low compression engine you certainly DO NOT NEED OR WANT purposely designed hard to initiate high octane gas.

Thats my story n Ima stickin to it....but its your tractor and you can run 105 if you like

John T

Anonymous-0 · Jun 28, 2011

the compression in all for cylinders is 120

Goose · Jun 28, 2011

I just run 89 octane E10 in my H like I do in most everything else.

Those old gals are survivors.

rustyfarmall · Jun 28, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:45:36 06/28/11) I just run 89 octane E10 in my H like I do in most everything else.

Those old gals are survivors.

I've been using the E10 for probably 30 years with no problems, but decided to try the E85 just to find out how the ol' girl liked it, and I found out that she likes it just fine. E85 is now my fuel of choice.

OliverGuy · Jun 28, 2011

Just the cheap stuff. I do put racing fuel in my hot M. Seems to start easier and pull the plow better. Probably not worth it though? Definitely smells like I"m burning racing fuel, can"t hide it too easy.

souNdguy · Jun 28, 2011

since the higher the octane, the harder it is to ignite..

low is best.

soundguy

buickanddeere · Jun 29, 2011

There is some dispute over what was 70 octane then, 87 octane now and how they would compare today.

rustyfarmall · Jun 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:00:33 06/29/11) There is some dispute over what was 70 octane then, 87 octane now and how they would compare today.

That is true! There are 2 different methods of determing octane rating and before any real comparisons can be made, we need to know which method was being used 60 to 70 years ago.

As an example, the E85 fuel is rated at 105 octane by one method, and 98 octane by the other method.

Maybe someone else can shed some more light on this subject?

octane on Farmall H

Anonymous-0

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old

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paul

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David G

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Athol Carr

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John T

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