2007-05-04 14:52:19 · 9 answers · asked by Jimbo 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Lead's primary purpose is as an upper cylinder lubricant. Many additives are still available for this purpose that don't actually contain lead. Marvel Mystery Oil is just one product that can be used for this. It's not the valves themselves, but the valve seats that benefited most from this lubrication. When it comes time for a valve job on your engine, simply have your valve seats upgraded to those made of stellite. If you've allready had a valve job done, any seats replaced would have the newer material seats installed as routine. The lack of lead in your fuel will not cause any detrimental effects on your internals and valve/seat lifespan will not be noticeably shortened. Keep the original heads!! Verify this info w/your local machine shop, & good luck.
2007-05-04 16:01:08 · answer #1 · answered by DAVID W R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No need for additive. Lead was used to lubricate the exhaust valve seats back in the day, but since the early early `60`s they have been putting in hardened valve seats in engines, so you dont need the lead. You also do not need super unless you have some kind of high compression/built motor (10.5:1 compression for example)
anyway, theres enough leftover lead residue on your exhaust seats to last the life of the heads anyway.
2007-05-04 19:57:47 · answer #2 · answered by mdcbert 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only real problem you may have is your valves. Unleaded engines have harder valves. You could probably find a halfway cheap set of early 80's heads at a swap meet or on ebay. Other than that the timing just needs to be set so it doesn't "ping". The valves should last quite some time without doing a thing.
2007-05-04 15:15:54 · answer #3 · answered by eightup23 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just use unleaded fuel, I had a 1970 Ford and it ran fine on unleaded, with no problems
2007-05-04 14:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Gordon S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I add "lead substitute" in every tank of "super" gas in my '65 MG, I get it off the shelf of my local auto parts retailer.
2007-05-04 15:15:45 · answer #5 · answered by wheeler 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was told to use premium unleaded for my '69 vehicle.
2007-05-04 15:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by afk 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lead was used more to increase octane than lube valves.
You don't NEED any aditives.
2007-05-04 15:00:24 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
regular unleaded is fine...it won't hurt anything...but...if you can go without buying gas for awhile...it might just help us all....oil companies are screwing us bad
2007-05-04 15:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by Kenneth S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
avgas 100LL, but regular unleaded would work fine
2007-05-04 15:13:38 · answer #9 · answered by Ian D 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋