Fuel for 1971 super beetle
20

Asked by Lblossom Nov 29, 2023 at 10:42 AM about the 1971 Volkswagen Beetle

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I just bought this car and of course the manual was written before ethanol and
the change in other gas formulations and ratings. Is it different in its fuel needs
from earlier models? Do I need to add a lead additive and should I use regular
or premium? It seems the regular may be higher now than it was in 1971. I may
well just have to use whatever ethanol free is available. The sound of the car is
so different from my Prius - but familiar in a long ago way when I rode with my
boyfriend in 1970 in his beetle.

2 Answers
307,225

Gene answered 4 months ago

If you can find ethanol free fuel that would be ideal. Yes you should run a lead substitute unless the engine has already been redone(hardened valve seats, valve guides and valves)to handle unleaded fuel. Regular unleaded fuel will work unless the engine has been modified with a big bore kit then midgrade is as low as you should go as far as octane rating. Hope this helps.

Mark helpful
202,335

Ed92626 answered 4 months ago

For engines of that vintage, you don't have to upgrade valves & seats. There are kits that replace the fuel line non-metallic parts that are susceptible to corrosion by alcohol/ethanol and if the engine runs now, I suspect that's already done. If this wasn't already done, you can do it. Then just run regular, 87 Octane or higher.

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