If you recently purchased an antique car at a local auto show, there’s a little bit of maintenance involved, including filling it with the right gas. Even if you only plan to drive the vehicle to subsequent vintage car shows, the fuel you use matters. Here’s what you should know about choosing fuel for your classic car.

How Does Unleaded Fuel Affect Antique Cars?

Most vintage vehicles run on leaded gas—or fuel with tetraethyl lead—to improve octane levels and create buffers between the hot exhaust valves and their seats. Unleaded gas—or fuel with ethanol—became the standard in the United States in 1978. While there are three blends available, gas with 10% ethanol (E10) is the most commonly used. Ethanol poses numerous problems for antique cars because it reduces gas mileage and has a degrading effect on the metal, rubber, and plastic components of older fuel systems. It also attracts moisture to create condensation in vintage fuel lines, tanks, and carburetor bowls, causing them to rust. Because E10 separates quickly, it can create even more problems in antique cars that sit in garages for long stretches in between uses.

What Are the Best Fuels for Vintage Cars?

Many antique car owners prefer ethanol-free fuels to keep their engines intact. While it’s not available at every gas station, there are many locations all over the country that offer gasoline for classic vehicles. Pure-gas.org provides a database of gas stations selling ethanol-free fuel and premium blends for antique cars. These fuels protect engines against corrosion, gunk, friction, and wear.

If you cannot find a station selling ethanol-free fuel near you, use gasoline with a high octane level. Many antique car engines are not equipped with knock sensors that prevent knocking when the auto part is stressed, such as from open throttle or low-rpm issues. High-octane gas helps avoid this engine issue, as does handling practices such as laying off the throttle when you hear knocking; this prevents serious problems such as blown piston holes. 

Find the right fuel for your antique car and show the vehicle off at the next Charlotte AutoFair event. The biannual car show in Mecklenburg County, NC, draws 150,000 people to each event. Secure your spot now by visiting their website today. Call (704) 841-1990 to speak with a representative, and keep up with the latest vintage car show news on Facebook.