of a 250 superdream 1980 and if yes what damage will it do
2007-10-17 07:15:12 · 15 answers · asked by cfcrab m 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
not sure about G. B. but any motor vehicle sold in the U.S, after 1972 had to run on 87 octane unleaded instead of 92 octane regular or 100 octane premium.
this required a reduction in compression ratio to about 8.5 to 1 which caused a decrease in h.p. & a 20% increase in fuel consumption which made the oil companys happy but spelled the end of the muscle car era.
I would think anyting made in 1980 would be made for the world market & would run on anything that will flow through a hose.
2007-10-17 08:41:13 · answer #1 · answered by Who Dat ? 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Unleaded is not the same fuel as 4 star. 4 star wasn't dirty, lead was added deliberately as a lubricant. It's true that old engines needed this lubrication to prevent damage. Engine designers eventually removed this need by fitting hardened valve seats.
For UK cars, this happened very late, with 4 star still being sold in the 90s. For USA cars, in the 70s, new emissions laws meant that cars needed catalytic convertors, this, and health reasons, brought about the end of lead in petrol (Lead damages catalytic convertors). So leaded petrol was phased out from mid seventies.
The Japanese motorcycle industry made all their engines to suit a world market, and this meant being able to run in the USA unleaded fuel. This wasn't a big step, as the high revs of a motorcycle engine meant that they all had hardened valve seats anyway.
Those of us who are long term riders remember all the public announcements on unleaded petrol and were very smug because we knew that all Japanese motorcycles could run unleaded with no damage whatsoever.
Your 1980 superdream will be perfectly fine.
2007-10-17 07:59:16 · answer #2 · answered by M E 3 · 10⤊ 0⤋
Unlikely to do any harm whatsoever. All Japanese bikes from the late 1970s on were designed to run on unleaded anyway. If it's still running after 27 years, be proud of it!
2007-10-17 11:55:35 · answer #3 · answered by Darren R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should cause no damage at all.
Being in the States, I remember the change in the '70s.
Hondas had no problem, and it was specified for my '74.
Hardened valve seats were already in use. Even some slower spinning truck engines already had them. International Harvester, for example.
2007-10-17 11:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will most likely be OK, but just to be on the safe side a lead substitute additive is available at most motorists shops.
Add a little when you fill up (details on the bottle) and stop worrying.
2007-10-18 03:47:12 · answer #5 · answered by sunray 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unleaded will be fine, they've got hardened valve seats.
Unfortunately, it'll still be a Superdream.
2007-10-17 09:39:56 · answer #6 · answered by Steve C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they run on unleaded ran them on it since the day we could only buy unleaded in uk never had a problem with valves or had to adjust the carbs, they will run on any old rubish.
2007-10-17 08:15:52 · answer #7 · answered by quasar 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no damage whatsoever... if i remember, all jap bikes from (after)1976/78 were designed to run on unleaded gas...
its a dream, and if it starts, it'll run... you might have adjust the mixture 1/4 of a turn... but thats it...
2007-10-17 07:23:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Unlikely to damage it, if you want peace of mind you can get an additive to replace the lead. The lack of lead may cause pinking (premature detonation) in some engines.
2007-10-17 07:46:33 · answer #9 · answered by Tim D 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
no probs,it was designed to run unleaded
2007-10-19 05:25:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋