Leaded petrol

Who here uses leaded or an additive?

The P4 is quite happy on straight unleaded (after I changed the exhaust valves) but the cost of converting the P6 is prohibitive for the low mileage it is likely to cover. Am using valvoline at present, but thinking real lead would be better. Leaded petrol is still available at Brooksend, but £1.80/ litre, and having spoken to the chap in the garage I got the impression its days may be numbered.

The best alternative would seem to be Tetraboost, which for those who don't know is tetra-ethyl lead; added to unleaded it makes genuine 4-star. Minimum quantity is 8 bottles, which is sufficient for 200 gallons. Cost is £140 including VAT and delivery. I'll save you the arithmetic, it adds around fifteen pence a litre.

That is around two years supply for me. If anyone is interested in splitting a batch between two or three of us, let me know.

Would also be interested to hear any suggestions/recommendations/experience from those running cars that can't take unleaded.

Hi Andy,

I would be interested in getting some with you. I havent used any adatives before but looked into it as my mini is still 4 star and discovered this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350241925706&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am not sure it works but looks a good solution.

Tom

HYM50W wrote:

Hi Andy,

I would be interested in getting some with you. I havent used any adatives before but looked into it as my mini is still 4 star and discovered this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350241925706&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am not sure it works but looks a good solution.

Tom

Don't even go there Tom
A waste of money.

There is/has been a lot of discussion about lead replacements.
There are a lot of cons as well.

I have been using Redex fuel additive Lead Replacement, penny short of £6 a bottle. and good for 250ltr of petrol per bottle.
This was recommended by a garage, who I might add don't sell it.

As to the discussions on additives, some people don't bother and had no problems, even with high mileage taxi's, and we know how taxis get caned.
A lot depends on the make and engines, some engines will run with no problem of recession, and some engines are of softer metals.
It can also depend on what sort of mileage per year and how the car gets used

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8235&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9641

I now have a spare engine I intend to rebuild with the same Aquaplane mods I have on the one I'm using, After I have used the bottle of lead replacement I have I might not bother with any more and see how it goes, but at £6 per 250ltr it won't brake the bank.
PS I have seen the Redex LR in most garages.

PS just re-read my thread, I reffer to the ebay link in my opening lines.

I had also seen these fuel tank additions on ebay that are supposed to slowly add lead to the petrol in the tank. Are these all a total con then? I was suspicious and had been put of because I couldnt be bothered to disconnect the filler pipe from the tanks in each case to put it in.

All of my classics can run on unleaded without pinking but, as I found in my Land Rover, it does cause wear leading to a plume of smoke on start up eventully. I have been using redex lead replacement (cheapest) and also Shell additive with octane boost occasionaly and these are both good. Technically if your engine needs 98 ron fuel then the best thing is super unleaded plus additive I would think?

I forgot to mention RB
I have started using Super, with the Redex.
Since using the Super the car seems to run cooler, summer time will tell.
Something like a run to Blackpool will tell.

Roger

Tom,

I'm with Roger on the blocks that you put in the tank. Perceived wisdom is that they are a total con.

I am currently using Castrol Valvemaster Plus, which is one of the few still available that came out well in FBHVC tests when leaded petrol was initially discontinued. I have little doubt that it provides adequate protection to the valves, and adding it to 97 octane petrol I have not so far had any pinking. I also suspect that unless run for long periods at high power settings, most engines will cope with straight unleaded. Valvemaster did foul the spark plugs when I used to use it in the P4, but I suspect that was peculiar to that particular engine.

However, while the pros and cons of the various additives - or none - have been much debated, there can be no doubt that genuine tetra-ethyl lead works for both valve protection and octane enhancement. I doubt that my annual mileage in the P6 will be more than 2,000 (100 gallons), and my thinking is that £70 a year is a small price to pay to remove any doubt.

If you are still interested in splitting a batch, perhaps we can discuss the details at the next meet.

Andy