Lead Additive

[Charlie]

Have been seeing on google different people talking about using a lead additive to gasoline. Has anyone here used it and what were results and is it safe to use?

 

[QBuff02]

If you've got early heads from pre unleaded gas era (which I believe started to really hit mainstream in like 73-74) then using a lead additive is a good idea to help protect the exhaust valve seats and keep them from wearing out- take it from me, my 1972 049 Big oval heads had seen their better days, and there was literally nothing left of the exhaust seats that were cut into the heads when it was factory new-which is basically just a seat cut right into the cast of the combustion chamber. The exhaust valves had beat themselves in a few instances across both heads up to .175 deep into what should've been the exhaust seat. Basically junk! l had hardened exhaust seats cut into and installed in mine. Machine shop attributed it to modern fuels, and being improperly set up the last go around by previous owner. He said he does a lot of period correct stuff, where the customer just wants things cleaned up, freshened up and put back together, and he always recommends some type of lead additive where old heads are being ran on modern fuels without hardened seats, or tells them to run aviation fuel, the 100LL, so that there's enough there to protect the valve train components from premature wear otherwise it will destroy the valve seats. And I believe that todays stuff is a lead type substitute of sorts. But it's mostly for nostalgia stuff. most of our squares, I say MOST should never have a need for the stuff, unless you like the smell, like race fuel, then I say dump a few gallons of the good stuff in and give it the go pedal! Lol

 

[Cuba]

I've used it on old Model T & A's... as their system is a bit different, as they're more primitive. I'm talking 1908 through 1914s The lead raises the octane level, I believe, and less wear on internal engine parts.

On more recent vehicles, like 70s or newer, IDK how they'd be affected. It's not a true lead, just a substitute

 

[Charlie]

My truck has original engine. Checked filler neck and do not see signs that the fuel nozzle reducer has been removed so I believe unleaded gas was not used when new.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I say MOST should never have a need for the stuff, unless you like the smell, like race fuel, then I say dump a few gallons of the good stuff in and give it the go pedal! Lol

Ive been dying to dump AV gas in my 78 and do just that because of my love for the smell and curiousity of the improvement gain but mr. Wallet always says no.

 

[Snoots]

Ive been dying to dump AV gas in my 78 and do just that because of my love for the smell and curiousity of the improvement gain but mr. Wallet always says no.

It won't hurt to tell your wallet a time or two to Calm the F Down.

 

[78C10BigTen]

It won't hurt to tell your wallet a time or two to Calm the F Down.

I could only afford maybe 2 gal a time lol how far could 2 gal go? The local airport its like $7 a gal.

 

[73c20jim]

Putting higher octane gas than the engine requires has really no HP increase.

So I've been told.

 

[Old77]

This thread has been moved out of the “introduction” subforum and into a more appropriate subforum

 

[bucket]

I've heard from more than a couple older fellas, that on an original engine that had leaded gas run through it for 30+years, the additive isn't needed. Supposedly the exhaust seats become impregnated with lead after a while.

I used to run the additive on a couple cars, so did my dad. We don't use the stuff anymore and everything seems peachy still.

 

[shiftpro]

If you've got early heads from pre unleaded gas era (which I believe started to really hit mainstream in like 73-74) then using a lead additive is a good idea to help protect the exhaust valve seats and keep them from wearing out- take it from me, my 1972 049 Big oval heads had seen their better days, and there was literally nothing left of the exhaust seats that were cut into the heads when it was factory new-which is basically just a seat cut right into the cast of the combustion chamber. The exhaust valves had beat themselves in a few instances across both heads up to .175 deep into what should've been the exhaust seat. Basically junk! l had hardened exhaust seats cut into and installed in mine. Machine shop attributed it to modern fuels, and being improperly set up the last go around by previous owner. He said he does a lot of period correct stuff, where the customer just wants things cleaned up, freshened up and put back together, and he always recommends some type of lead additive where old heads are being ran on modern fuels without hardened seats, or tells them to run aviation fuel, the 100LL, so that there's enough there to protect the valve train components from premature wear otherwise it will destroy the valve seats. And I believe that todays stuff is a lead type substitute of sorts. But it's mostly for nostalgia stuff. most of our squares, I say MOST should never have a need for the stuff, unless you like the smell, like race fuel, then I say dump a few gallons of the good stuff in and give it the go pedal! Lol

I say *** it and run propane... 11.1 yeeha!

 

[QBuff02]

I've heard from more than a couple older fellas, that on an original engine that had leaded gas run through it for 30+years, the additive isn't needed. Supposedly the exhaust seats become impregnated with lead after a while.

I used to run the additive on a couple cars, so did my dad. We don't use the stuff anymore and everything seems peachy still.

This is technically true, but if you start taking things apart and cleaning them up and grinding the valves and valve seats then the need for a substitute of some kind becomes a necessity again as the engine guy explained it to me..

 

[DoubleDingo]

Ive been dying to dump AV gas in my 78 and do just that because of my love for the smell and curiousity of the improvement gain but mr. Wallet always says no.

DO IT! Before I moved from my home town I worked for the county and we maintained the little airport in my home town. I had to test the fuel each day so I carried a couple jars with me to use the leftover fuel in my lawnmower. It made that little 3.5 hp engine run like a top! Since it was a Chevron FastPay there, I would also put 5 gallons in my trucks tanks (had a '65 Chevy and a '79 GMC) and then top off with high octane pump gas. There is a noticeable difference when going down the road. The explosion in the cylinder is more of just that and not flash in the pan like pump gas, so the piston gets more of a push. Back then there was a lot of two-lane highway left in the area so you'd have to pass slower drivers, and it made passing them much easier. It also made sliding around turns on the dirt roads more fun.

 

[Cuba]

DO IT! Before I moved from my home town I worked for the county and we maintained the little airport in my home town. I had to test the fuel each day so I carried a couple jars with me to use the leftover fuel in my lawnmower. It made that little 3.5 hp engine run like a top! Since it was a Chevron FastPay there, I would also put 5 gallons in my trucks tanks (had a '65 Chevy and a '79 GMC) and then top off with high octane pump gas. There is a noticeable difference when going down the road. The explosion in the cylinder is more of just that and not flash in the pan like pump gas, so the piston gets more of a push. Back then there was a lot of two-lane highway left in the area so you'd have to pass slower drivers, and it made passing them much easier. It also made sliding around turns on the dirt roads more fun.

That sounds awesome! I'm sure cleans out the engine as well, maybe get rid of some deposits?

 

[78C10BigTen]

DO IT! Before I moved from my home town I worked for the county and we maintained the little airport in my home town. I had to test the fuel each day so I carried a couple jars with me to use the leftover fuel in my lawnmower. It made that little 3.5 hp engine run like a top! Since it was a Chevron FastPay there, I would also put 5 gallons in my trucks tanks (had a '65 Chevy and a '79 GMC) and then top off with high octane pump gas. There is a noticeable difference when going down the road. The explosion in the cylinder is more of just that and not flash in the pan like pump gas, so the piston gets more of a push. Back then there was a lot of two-lane highway left in the area so you'd have to pass slower drivers, and it made passing them much easier. It also made sliding around turns on the dirt roads more fun.

I do have to say it may be in my head but the E3's seem to make it run stronger. It dont sound as mellow it seems punchier... its hard to explain. Maybe some day soon ill pop in the local airport and grab a few gallons of AV, i have a friend that works there.