The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline unleaded gas

Hi. I'm running a stock 235 in a 62 chev panel and plan to do some highway miles this season, hopefully a few thousand.
Should I run an additive of some sort in the gas to compensate for the lack of lead and if so what kind?.
If I don't what kind of damage might I expect?

I don't, never have, and have no regrets about not doing so.
I do try to buy ethanol free gas wherever possible. One reason is the trouble it can cause with rubber parts and the water it can bring into the system. Another is the fuel economy, it takes more ethanol than 100% gas to go the same mile, which means your uneducated carburetor needs to give the engine more fuel or it will run a little lean on ethanol blended fuel.

Leaded gasoline was needed for the higher octane levels that were needed for higher compression engines.

I have not had problems with 10% or less Ethanol blend gasoline, but I use a gas treatment in my old trucks' fuel tanks over the winter (when I do not drive my truck often).

All I've ever read about lead in fuels is it was for valve seat lubrication, different valve seat materials in newer designs are able to cope without the lead. Not a compression related need.

I too use standard 87 pump gas w/ethanol in my 235 since reviving it about a year and a half ago. Have driven about 8,000 miles to date, no issues.

Tetra-ethyl lead was produced by the Ethyl Corporation specifically as an octane booster, beginning sometime in the 1920's. Valve seat cushioning was simply an added side effect of the lead salts left over from the burning of the octane booster.

http://www.britannica.com/science/tetraethyl-lead

People who were yet unborn or filling their diapers when lead disappeared from automotive fuel probably shouldn't offer opinions about why it was there.
Jerry

Bottom line is (irrespective of the poopiness of one's diapers ), The worst unleaded ethanol-free gas you may find today will likely be better for your Stovebolt engine than what was available when your truck was new. Ethanol is harder on some soft carburetor parts and tends to dissolve the 50 years of Tetra-ethyl lead from the sides of your gas tank, plugging up everything down stream.
52 "Poopy Pants" Carl

I will soon be at an age where I might be needing those diapers again.
Better than lead in my pants.

"Refiners in the United States started adding lead compounds to gasoline in the 1920s in order to boost octane levels and improve engine performance by reducing engine ‘knock’ and allowing higher engine compression"

Thanks all, as per usual all plus more of my questions were answered and now I can drive into the blue horizon with confidance,---that and a brand new CAA membership, that's AAA south of the border

JOHN