Do lead replacement additives work?
Do lead replacement additives work?
In normal or moderately hard road use the valve seat protection afforded by these additives is perfectly satisfactory, and engine life will be just as good as with leaded petrol. Take care, as mixing and dose-rates can be quite difficult to get right in small amounts.
Do classic cars need leaded gas?
Leaded gasoline has been gone since 1990, and that’s a good thing, but old cars were designed with it in mind. Lead was originally added to gasoline in the 1920s, as a cheap-and-easy way to raise octane levels to reduce engine knock.
Can old cars run on unleaded?
Depending on the engine’s design, it may have needed leaded fuel for one or both purposes. However, some pre-1986 vehicles will operate satisfactorily on Unleaded (ULP) or Premium Unleaded (PULP). To find out if your car is one of these consult the list or the vehicle’s manufacturer.
Does lead Substitute increase octane?
Incidentally, lead also is used to boost octane or anti-knock quality to gasoline. Powershield does not boost octane. So, if your old engine needs a high-octane fuel, you might consider using an unleaded premium gas with a lead substitute.
What gas is best for old cars?
Standard Low-Ethanol Fuels While high-octane fuel is preferred for classics, they can run perfectly well on lower octane petrol, especially if the ignition is adjusted to counteract the change in combustion rate.
Is premium gas bad for old cars?
Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.
Which is the best lead additive for gasoline?
New engine valve seats have been hardened to avoid this problem, but older model engines were designed for leaded fuels. These vehicles need a quality lead substitute. PFS Lead Plus is a gasoline additive that also creates an oxide which coats the valves and seats and provides the protection that you need to avoid premature valve recession.
Why are unleaded additives bad for classic cars?
Trouble is, carrying out the former has given many classic car owners a false sense of security – worse still some enthusiasts still had their modified engines expensively fail on them. Why? Lead or dead?
When to use lead substitute in an engine?
I would recommend using an additive since Ford did not have hardened valve seats in all of their engines until around the mid-1970s. The exception would be if the valve seats were replaced with hardened ones when the car was restored or at some point before.
Do you need lead additive to boost octane?
No. Lead additive is a myth anyway. If you don’t need the octane, your car isn’t going to miss the lead. The whole thing about cushioning the valve seats and stuff like that is an old mechanic’s tale. Lead was added to boost octane in the 1950s and everyone kind of assumed that their cars needed it.