Running a leaded engine on unleaded?

[sat1983]

And doing this daily. Bad idea, I guess?

[cuprabob]

Depends on whether the valve seats need lead for lubrication or not

[B'stard Child]

Car/engine concerned?

[Carfiend]

The valve seats will need to be reworked so the engine runs properly on Unleaded.

[wackojacko]

Valve seats will eventually disolve and give you reduced compression until eventually it won't run at all.






Get an additive.

[Riley Blue]

B'stard Child said:

Car/engine concerned?

Please - difficult to give advice otherwise.

[sat1983]

wackojacko said:

Get an additive.

How often does this need adding?

[sat1983]

1976 Citroen HY van!

[60]

sat1983 said:

How often does this need adding?

You mix it in with evey tank, I'll try and find a link.

Edit: Here it is http://www.vintageandsportscarservices.co.uk/castr...

[B'stard Child]

sat1983 said:

1976 Citroen HY van!

Hmm simple engine flat twin air-cooled like 2CV?

Should be relatively easy to get hardened valve seats inserted

Not sure when europe went sans plomb

If it had been jap you'd have probably been OK at that age

[sat1983]

60 said:

You mix it in with evey tank, I'll try and find a link.

Edit: Here it is http://www.vintageandsportscarservices.co.uk/castr...

Cheers, so it's +£8 with every single tank?

[wackojacko]

sat1983 said:

wackojacko said:

Get an additive.

How often does this need adding?

To be mixed with every tank.


Similar to a 2 stroke that needs oil mixing in with every tank to lubricate the piston, where as the fuel additive works to basicly add 'lead' to the fuel to stop the unleaded fuel damaging parts of the head.

[B'stard Child]

sat1983 said:

60 said:

You mix it in with evey tank, I'll try and find a link.

Edit: Here it is http://www.vintageandsportscarservices.co.uk/castr...

Cheers, so it's +£8 with every single tank?

Oh please tell me you have a 250L tank in the HY.............

[sat1983]

B'stard Child said:

Oh please tell me you have a 250L tank in the HY.............

Oops. Sorry my mistake. Not quite so bad then! £8 for 4-5 tanks then.

[B'stard Child]

wackojacko said:

sat1983 said:

wackojacko said:

Get an additive.

How often does this need adding?

To be mixed with every tank.


Similar to a 2 stroke that needs oil mixing in with every tank to lubricate the piston, where as the fuel additive works to basicly add 'lead' to the fuel to stop the unleaded fuel damaging parts of the head.

Except it's a "lead" replacement

Before you go down this route - just look at what your expenditure will be over the time you plan to own the Van - then evaluate that against the cost of unleaded head conversion....

especially as a converted car may be more salable

[B'stard Child]

sat1983 said:

B'stard Child said:

Oh please tell me you have a 250L tank in the HY.............

Oops. Sorry my mistake. Not quite so bad then! £8 for 4-5 tanks then.

[sat1983]

B'stard Child said:

Head conversion....

Do most garage do this?

[B'stard Child]

sat1983 said:

B'stard Child said:

Evaluate that against the cost of unleaded head conversion....

Do most garage do this?

Most engine refurbishment shops can do it - have no idea where you are or what your mechanical skills are - the seat conversion is a specialist job the spanner work to get heads off and on again not quite so specialist

[sat1983]

B'stard Child said:

Most engine refurbishment shops can do it - have no idea where you are or what your mechanical skills are - the seat conversion is a specialist job the spanner work to get heads off and on again not quite so specialist

Very basic skills.

[B'stard Child]

sat1983 said:

B'stard Child said:

Most engine refurbishment shops can do it - have no idea where you are or what your mechanical skills are - the seat conversion is a specialist job the spanner work to get heads off and on again not quite so specialist

Very basic skills.

OK then it's something a garage should be able to do for you - just be aware that they will more than likely sub the conversion bit out and rake a bit of profit on the charges made by the engineering shop that does it.