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[doog]

how much of a performance hit did the 3000cc catera take due to the Americas using mainly shite grade petrol and how well did the engines cope with the low grade fuel?


Doug

[Kevin Wood]

Catera engines are lower compression in the first place so they take a hit before you consider the petrol.

Kevin

[doog]

Catera engines are lower compression in the first place so they take a hit before you consider the petrol.

Kevin

really
i didnt know that
ok so my next question would be why are they lower compression engines?
Doug

[Kevin Wood]

Catera engines are lower compression in the first place so they take a hit before you consider the petrol.

Kevin

really
i didnt know that
ok so my next question would be why are they lower compression engines?
Doug

Because the fuel's rubbish in the US.

Low octane fuel requires less compression to avoid knock. Downside is you get less power and economy. Emission requirements may have come into it too.

Kevin

[mkaminski100]

I’m sure they have same engines (3.0 and 3.2) , but didn’t know about the compression. Is it done by thicker head gasket?
As far as I remember they still use 91 octane petrol…

[Kevin Wood]

This came up recently. IIRC dished pistons are used.

You have to be careful comnparing octane ratings since the US use ROM+MON/2 and we use RON. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

It means the US petrol is not as bad as it seems. However, by way of a practical example, a mate of mine tried to drive across the US in a Cosworth YB Turbo powered car and I have pictures of him rebuilding a cylinder head in a hotel room as a testimony to the quality of US petrol. Apparently toothbrush holders are very handy for holding the valves. I can picture him now phoning reception and asking if they have one that can hold 16.

 

Kevin

[mkaminski100]

I know that you cant just bring Harley from USA but it needs a carburetor kit (and other mods). As V6 flywheels are the same everywhere (and probably designed for bloody USA market to keep revs around 420) I would think they used thicker head gasket. I just wonder about all other cars with same engines used in Europe and USA. WV sells a lot of their Europe cars, Ford will start sale of Fiesta and focus  and GM Astra, Corsa. Same thing with Japanese cars.
Kev, can you post this photo here?

[Kevin Wood]

Well, I'm guessing most if not all Cateras would have been auto, and the torque converter is the majority of the flywheel mass in that case, so I'm not sure we can blame them for that,

I will see if I can find the photo.

Kevin

[Lazydocker]

They have to limit the power as American kids can drive big cars at a young age

Oh.... And they can't cope with the power over there

[size=8]All meant in jest as I have no idea really[/size]