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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by vlo145 on Mon Aug 17 06:50 CST 2015
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last visit: Fri Oct 3 06:12 CST 2014

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Ok its been quite a while since i posted about this... My opinion after using it for long time is if you have extra weight in your car, & or live in hilly place (i have both) it's my advice to use lead additive in every tank esp if your engine is running a lil off with no other obvious cause, have to keep adjusting valves due to valve sink. My 72 B20 wagon full of junk has been running very well with no valve sink for long time now because i use lead additive. Normal use of your car probably wont need lead additive, but you may want to use it anyways if your towing or heavy load...

my 2 cents worth.

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by B20Paul. on Sun Aug 23 12:24 CST 2015
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last visit: Mon Oct 20 10:54 CST 2014

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New don't need a lead subtitute when driving around town sensibly. You do need it driving hard on the highway or up hill. It's about how hot and for how long the exhaust valves get.

Lead replacements are usually based on potassium, but they are inclined to fowl the plugs.

I would only use it just before a trip with a fuel up & not around town.

--
69 142S Overdrive + 69 164S Manual

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by vlo145 on Sun Aug 23 15:53 CST 2015
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last visit: Fri Oct 3 06:12 CST 2014

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Ive had these NGK plugs in for long time, well over a year, no fowling. One thing is very clear on the bottle & what ive read in other places that your suppose to use it every tankful... cant remember details tho. thx :)

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by Phil S. on Fri Aug 21 15:02 CST 2015
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 13:18 CST 2014

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Here's my take on this issue...

If the engine was run on leaded gas after its last valve grind (whether at the factory or as part of an older rebuild), you will very likely have no problems with valve recession. I have a high-mile B20 that I'm sure the head has never been off of, and it has no problems with that. I've also worked with many dozens of old B18/20 heads, and have rarely (if ever?) seen recession.

In cases where a valve job was done after leaded gas went away, you generally will have no problems if the engine is driven relatively gently. It's only on engines that are run fairly hard, with sustained high loads/RPMs that recession becomes a problem, and once it starts it can get worse quickly.

I don't suppose lead substitute (which cannot legally be actual lead) hurts anything except to your wallet, but I don't know how effective it is either. Even if it is, what does it cost over time? My machine shop charges $80 U.S. to install exhaust seat inserts (they're not needed on the intake seats), which is a permanent fix -- how much lead substitute would that buy?

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by someone claiming to be CB on Fri Aug 21 19:28 CST 2015 [RELATED]

By my calculations...the lead I have injested in my formative years...born in 51...from exhaust, plumbing to my house(solder), and paint, which as a youth, I scraped, sanded, and painted--which early on got me covered with same....degraded my IQ to the extent that----I was once a potential peer to Stephen Hawking.

Ya SAVE those Valves

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by B20Paul. on Sun Aug 23 12:33 CST 2015
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last visit: Mon Oct 20 10:54 CST 2014

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Do you remember when Mayor Ruddy Guiliani claimed he reduced violent crime in NYC?

--
69 142S Overdrive + 69 164S Manual

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by SRS164 on Tue Aug 18 13:16 CST 2015
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last visit: Fri Oct 17 13:40 CST 2014

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Curious to know if anyone has any possible negatives regarding using lead additive. Or is the general consensus that this stuff can only benefit an engine that was designed to run on leaded gas without any downside?

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by 142 guy on Thu Aug 20 19:50 CST 2015
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last visit: Wed Oct 22 20:18 CST 2014

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There are negative health effects for humans exposed to the exhaust gasses and the person adding it to the tank if they don't take the proper precautions. Aside for the health effects, the lead in gasoline forms metallic salts during the combustion process which results in deposits on the spark plugs and combustion chamber. One of the reasons that modern cars can go 90,000 km between sparkplug replacements is that the plugs are not being fouled by lead deposits. Lead in the gas pretty much guarantees that plug replacement is going to be a yearly event.

The lead will prevent or reduce the recession of the exhaust valve. This problem can be addressed if the head is off for maintenance by adding inserts into the exhaust valve seats.

I am wondering if the original poster is referring to octane boosting compounds rather than lead additives. Octane boosters are fairly easy to find (a can of toluene from the paint store is a very effective octane booster). In Canada, I think you might have to go to a specialty gasoline supplier to get tetra ethyl lead if it is available at all on a retail basis.

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by kittysgreyvolvo on Fri Aug 21 13:24 CST 2015
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last visit: Sat Oct 18 15:23 CST 2014

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I thought lead in any form was outlawed. That additives for engines formulated to use the poisonous and dangerous leaded gas formulations had been, at essence, outlawed globally. With a few exceptions like Italy, I think. I'm not sure.

I see you're in MA-state, US, so, um, I'm very certain the U.S. EPA says NO to any lead in any fuel or anything called a lead additive, as these do not contain lead in the U.S. In short, doing so is illegal.

I believe what you' reusing is a lead additive substitute, at least in the U.S.

Oop, I guess you can get tetraethyl lead for your older engine.

Tetraethyl lead is an environmental nightmare.

Can the valves in B2o rotate? I thought these were fixed position.

You'd have to pull the head, and have new (or used?) hardened valves and valve seats installed, and grinded (lapping compound), if needed, to seal and seat the valves to the valve seats.

The same issue treated in Ford V-8 built in the leaded gas era.
http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vintage-mustang-forum/379719-best-lead-substitute-fuel-additive.html

Higher octane can help. Also, relieving the load in your 1972 Volvo 145 S (carb) or E Bosch D jetronic injection) or ???. I think there may be some benefit in advancing the ignition timing a bit, or futzing with the dwell, or, well, I dunno.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraethyllead

See Alternative antiknock agents entry.

See also the links listing under "Fuel additives".

I'm quite certain TEL is outlawed all across North America, per the wikipedia article. TEL is just nasty.

Hope that helps.

Back to work, finding work.

cheers,

unemployed "violated citizen" dud
--
The Volvo 164: The Mightiest of All Volvo Automobiles in Perpetuity

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Lead fuel additive update 72 B20 140-160

posted by vlo145 on Sun Aug 23 16:20 CST 2015
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last visit: Fri Oct 3 06:12 CST 2014

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All i know is my car runs perfectly with it, & a slightly rough without it (we spend lotsa time messing with e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g to smooth it out to no avail). been using gunk lead substitute (key word substitute) which has petroleum distillates 68476-34-6 / 64742-81-10. made in N.C. USA. sold in most parts stores & by the case on ebay for bout $39 delivered. Many other brands of this are also sold in USA. Ive had same NGK plugs for well over a year, no issues. I wont be lighting the load (its a lot cheaper than $100 month for storage), so ill be repairing whatever as i go. I was told long ago that you would need the rare 1974 or 75? head only for the seat upgrade, my understanding it very expensive to do that you will most likely still have to run lead substitute anyways... cant remember all the details sorry. where are you located? maybe ill have you work on my car lol

T

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