Fuel Catalysts

[swisstoni]

Anyone have any experience or advice re. using these? They are supposed to allow un-converted engines to use unleaded fuel.
They look like a metal cage with silver balls inside and go in the fuel tank.

Reason I'm asking is I have an old Grey Fergie tractor that was built to take leaded fuel and this would be a handy if it worked.

[na]

is this April the 1st - a tale of something in the tank to turn petrol leaded - sounds like balls

[v8250]

These are the sort of devices that the real Swiss Toni would sell and must be "treated like making love to a beautiful woman", caressingly put inline ready for some high-octane juices and prepared for a thoroughly good full-leaded combustion!

Sadly, these things are bit of a gimmick. Put Millers VSPe in your tank and you'll be okay. Guessing as it's a tractor you won't be doing too many miles.

For more info see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_E0ZF2uIKs&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=G_r1SCuEZk...

[Riley Blue]

If they worked no one would be using additives or converting cylinder heads to enable unleaded to be used.

[LordBretSinclair]

Alternatively don't do anything.

My MGB has done 107,000 miles - the last 30,000 have been done on unleaded fuel with no mods to the original cylinder head. Someone once told me something about "lead memory" but I'm sure one of the more technical guys on here will explain in more detail

[v8250]

LBS is quite correct. Valve seats retain a lead 'memory' from running with years of leaded fuel impregnating the seat itself and therefore proctecting valve seat recession. Some engines have been known to run for many years on unleaded without any problems, just a slight retarding of the ignition. However, as time goes on and unleaded fuel recipes change to lower octane + higher combustion temperatures it's getting harder for leaded heads to continue without additive and octane booster. But more importantly what about Swiss Toni...??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBw-aEixWuo

Edited by v8250 on Thursday 8th November 20:13

[swisstoni]

Then maybe I'll just use Belgian chocolates and the smell of a pipe.

[v8250]

swisstoni said:

Then maybe I'll just use Belgian chocolates and the smell of a pipe.

That should keep her chugging along quite nicely. Toni, notice from your profile you're in Berkshire. Do you ever get along to the classic drive-in days at The Bull, Stanford Dingley? An old tractor would get a great reception there.

[na]

there have been tests on octane boosters available on the retailers shelves and almost all showed no increase in power and some actually reduced power

I do remember reading that the higher octane was for the higher compression

regular use of the car with a few good blow out runs will do the car more good than a lot of tank additives

don't know about tractors but I bet it's the same, no 'road tax' or MoT I'd be using it on the roads more

[DocJock]

I have no idea of their efficacy, but I seem to recall Subaru installed Broquets in the fuel tank of the P1...

[caziques]

How a cast iron cylinder head reacts to unleaded is partly down to the day it was made - but invariably once such a head has been work hardened (with use), it won't suffer problems.

Leaded stops the valve tearing bits off the seat and receding, hence if the gaps close up you need to do something, if they don't you don't.

There was a major change in the quality of valves in the late sixties (first US regulations) - prior to this valves often had problems even with lead.

The worst thing that happens with unleaded is exhaust valve problems - if/when this happens fit new exhaust valves and seats - nothing else needs doing.

[Rubin215]

I know the things you mean.

They are made using a formula that was used during the second world war when only low quality fuel was available. I think it was actually the RAF who used it first, so if it's good enough for aeroplanes...

As far as I have heard they do actually work, but are obviously not as good as genuine leaded fuel.

[fatboy b]

Riley Blue said:

If they worked no one would be using additives or converting cylinder heads to enable unleaded to be used.

^^^^^

What he said.

[grumpy52]

A very nice maestro vdp (if that is possible) that I owned a couple of years ago had that fitted.I don't know why as it was a 1.6 ltr and ran on unleaded as standard .It was also waxoyled and undersealed from new so the first and only prev owner was a belt and braces type (5 cambelt changes in 31k from new )
Had all the sales blurb for it and the letters from the M D of the company .
Snake oil came to mind when I read it .

[grumpy52]

edited for double post.

[woodytype S]

What happens if you dont do anything ?

[na]

woodytype S said:

What happens if you dont do anything ?

see caziques answer above

[swisstoni]

Thanks for responses. Some conflicting views! I think I'll stick to dosing with lead substitute although, as the engine in these things is basically a Standard Vanguard engine and mine was built in 1951 it's probably had enough lead to last it.

Re. Taking it to shows etc, I think the local pub for a laugh is more likely to be the limit of it and my abilities. When I bought it I was pretty surprised that it was road registered at all.

[woodytype S]

na said:

woodytype S said:

What happens if you dont do anything ?

see caziques answer above

As I recall when unleaded came to the pumps the Met.police used it in the cars.Cars started to drop valve heads after around 120,000 miles.So if one is doing that amount of miles I would not worry to much.