Alcohol in fuel, old style

[Tom Gaynor]

Reading the fuel cap of my 1938 Rudge, as one does when polishing, I realised that engraved on the cap was "For best results use: alcohol mixture ethyll fuel benzol mixture" which suggests that alcohol in fuel is scarcely new. The carb is a brass TT, bought by the factory (I have the purchase order signed "George Hack") in 1934.
On my way to work in the 1960's I now remember seeing billboard advertising "Cleveland Discol" and listing the advantages (cool running?) that petrol plus alcohol gives. Personally I've always preferred my alcohol separately...

 

[Albervin]

Tom, one advantage of adding a toddy to the petrol is it can assist in removing water in the tank. The Benzol (Toluol) is nasty stuff but I know some people who still use it. At one stage I was working in a printing ink factory and gallons of the stuff used to "vapourise".....(straight into petrol tanks).

 

[roy the mechanic]

pre-war fuel was not very good,that's why most engines of the period were typically around 6 or 7-1 compression. i'll bet the rudge is high compession and nearly a "dizzy" 8-1! the alcohol additive would help to avoid pinking+ valve "troubles".

 

[Alan J]

During the "Suez crisis" me dear old uncle Stan, got his old Austin 10 home he told me, by pouring a bottle of whisky into the fuel tank!!I hope it was not a single malt!

 

[davidd]

This alcohol must be bad stuff. I have done several samples and it has never measured no more than 5% here in the Northeast U.S. That is a lot of damage for such a small amount. Personally, I have not had any difficulties, but if I did, I would simply remove the alcohol. I know one member who does that for all of his small engines and tractors. It is not much help with the bikes unless you can manage home runs.

David