• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Jeremy Walton
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Book Review – Classic Engines, Modern Fuel

Author/Source: Kieron Fennelly

28th April 2020

For Your Bookshelf – Classic Engines, Modern Fuel – The Problems, the Solutions

…Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly.

Title: Classic Engines, Modern Fuel – The Problems, the Solutions

Author: Paul Ireland

Published by: Veloce Publishing www.veloce.co.uk

152 pages; softback

Price: £15.99

ISBN: 978-1-787115-90-3

The author investigates a subject which vexes many classic car owners, namely the hot-start problem. The boiling point of modern petrol is considerably reduced by the addition of ethanol and classic carburettors often cannot supply fuel fast enough to overcome evaporation for a hot engine to fire. There is it seems no definitive solution to the hot-start problem though the author offers several suggestions from using higher octane fuels to adapting engine compartment cooling. None of this is theoretical, the author, a physicist and MG enthusiast, has run a TD since the 1970s. When first unleaded, then later ethanol-blended fuels caused the MG to run badly, he became interested in the wider question of fuelling and combustion. With help from Manchester University he was able to conduct a series of experiments and this book is the compilation of a series of articles on the results of his investigations.

Besides extensive research into the behaviour of a variety of petrol blends, there are also chapters on the workings of carburettors, especially SU carburettors which your reviewer knew, but had forgotten, stands for ‘Skinner’s Union’.

VERDICT

A fascinating and eminently readable reference book, and a model of clarity well supported by illustrations and diagrams. Such a practical work will inevitably be much thumbed in the garage and it really should have a proper hard-cover rather than a paperback format.  

Save Post as PDF

Categories: Bookshelf, Classics Information, Technical

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us

Recent Posts

A summer of fun at Beaulieu

Lakeland Motor Museum kicks off the start of The Club Triumph Coast 2 Coast Run

The Motor Ombudsman marks nearly one million contacts as ADR Regulations reach a decade of service

INEOS Grenadier ups its game with portal axle collaboration

New Chief Executive Officer for The British Motor Museum

Legacy of Austin pedal cars honoured with Blue Plaque at original factory site in Bargoed

Kia EV3 GT Line S – Road Test

National Motor Museum to take Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales for the World Land Speed Record centenary

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Tags

The Motor Ombudsman EV Estate car Beaulieu all-electric saloon crossover Seven seater SUV British Motor Museum Compact SUV luxury SUV 4x4 National Motor Museum MPV plug-in hybrid five door hatchback Hybrid Suzuki hatchback Coupé road test PHEV Electric SUV estate City car large SUV First Impressions Kia Tyres

All Tags ››

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Please share our website

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Copyright © 2025 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive