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#17949 07/30/2003 8:06 PM | Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 54 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 54 | Just a quick question to see how the issue of gasoline is addressed in our older vehicles. Does everybody add lead to their gasoline at each fillup? I have an old **** 8N tractor and give it a shot of lead as a treat now and again, but most of the time just use unleaded, and have never had a problem. My sons and I are beginning restoration of a 61 Apache. Thanks for any input.
Not quite as lean
Not quite as mean, but
Still a Marine!
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#17950 07/31/2003 12:23 AM | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,842 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,842 | You'll find tons of discussions on this specific issue. I've been using Chevron Plus (87 oct) for almost 20 years. Never have had a problem. Hopefully more will step in to give their $.02 worth.
cmayna
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
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#17951 07/31/2003 1:14 AM | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | I think if it's been on lead for first part of it's life it's "coated" enuff to be ok for a long time - I've put over 30,000 miles on a 235 using unleaded and it's still fine [about 80,000 total now]
Bill | | |
#17952 07/31/2003 1:30 AM | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 Member | | Member Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 | Any old truck that has been stored in a field for any length of time usually has plenty of lead.
54 3100 with 235
62 flatbed dump C60 with 261
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#17953 07/31/2003 3:19 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | Absense of lead *may* cause exhasut valves to wear a bit faster than they would with lead. Not much, but some. Since it's a mechanical lifter (I presume) you are checking clearances anyway, so no problem. So you wind up doing a vavle job at 40K instead of 60K. BFD. New valves are better alloy than old ones, so after a valve job you're good to go.
Skip the lead, enjoy the ride!
George | | |
#17954 07/31/2003 4:44 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 198 Member | | Member Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 198 | Remember too that lead did not come into common use untill the 50's so you might find like the model T's they never where designed for it. | | |
#17955 08/02/2003 6:40 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | Lead - specifically tetraethyl lead - first began to be used as an additive in the late 1920s, in the US. It was originally a mix-your-own kind of deal, but after a while folks noticed that handling it as a concentrate was unhealthy. By the late 30s and 40s, TEL was commonly available in gasoline pretty much all over the US.
Cheers!
George | | |
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