Any advice on choice of fuel additives?
Discussion
Did a search on "additives" and didn't find much so I guess most people on Piston heads drive modern cars but I've just added a 1958 classic to the stable and I must confess I'm somewhat confused by the choice of fuel additives available! Anyone here run these older cars and have any advice on the stuff? In particular there seems to be something called Tetra-boost that claims to make "real" real leaded fuel as opposed to the Castrol and Millers additives which put phosphorus on the valve seats, apparently... 
! See told you I was confused. Any thoughts or advice appreciated thanks 
Rich...
! See told you I was confused. Any thoughts or advice appreciated thanks Rich...I've no idea how this works. http://www.broquet.co.uk/ But the CSMA (Civil Service Motoring..association I think)magazine used to be full of 70yo bearded people writeing in hailing it as the best thing ever for converting old cars to UL fuel.....
Edited by Munter on Friday 26th October 14:37
1) What's the classic and does it actually NEED an additive? Some engines do (A-series is shocking for this), others don't (Triumph 4/6 eat their seats very slowly - save the cost of the additive and you will have more than enough for a recon. unleaded head by the time it gets too bad).
2) Castrol ValveMaster is generally the one offered by club shops.
2) Castrol ValveMaster is generally the one offered by club shops.
Wow, thanks that's yet another product I need to research! Must confess on first look it looks like lumps of lead in a bag 
I'm sure there's more to it than that 
TetraBoost seems to be the favourite so far, boosts octane and can be mixed with proper 4 star leaded, which fortunatly I can get locally in Marlow
Rich...
I'm sure there's more to it than that TetraBoost seems to be the favourite so far, boosts octane and can be mixed with proper 4 star leaded, which fortunatly I can get locally in Marlow
Rich...Really would not bother.
Do not even consider the stupid tin pellet / fuel line add in cons.
The pour in additives are a waste of time imo, unless you can come across some tetraethyl lead, in which case be very carefull it is highly toxic.
Engines which really don't have issues running on unleaded are all porsche engines, A series, B series, C series, RV8, triumph 1500,Fiat, lancia and alfa twinks. I've run a and b series engines for probably 100k each easily over the years, doing a variety of work from fast motorway, country roads, motorsport even towing, and never suffered recession on original seats.
Do not even consider the stupid tin pellet / fuel line add in cons.
The pour in additives are a waste of time imo, unless you can come across some tetraethyl lead, in which case be very carefull it is highly toxic.
Engines which really don't have issues running on unleaded are all porsche engines, A series, B series, C series, RV8, triumph 1500,Fiat, lancia and alfa twinks. I've run a and b series engines for probably 100k each easily over the years, doing a variety of work from fast motorway, country roads, motorsport even towing, and never suffered recession on original seats.
I bought one of the 'pellets in a bag' thingies when 4 star originally bit the dust. Although I was sceptical at first my Honda CRX did 100K miles with one of these things in the tank and never missed a beat.
I was under the impression that the Honda engine would implode if I didn't use 4 star ..... or was it just hype?
I was under the impression that the Honda engine would implode if I didn't use 4 star ..... or was it just hype?
Don't think any of them will cause a problem, just saying they aren't necessary. Certainly the pellets in the bag don't work. Total snake oil.
The other thing to remember with a lot of classics, e.g. a series or b series, is the mileage needed to get recession (And bear in mind I never have over silly mileage) is very high, the cost of either additives or hardened seats is high. And second hand cylinder heads are cheap. If you do get recession you can still get hardened seats fitted.
The other thing to remember with a lot of classics, e.g. a series or b series, is the mileage needed to get recession (And bear in mind I never have over silly mileage) is very high, the cost of either additives or hardened seats is high. And second hand cylinder heads are cheap. If you do get recession you can still get hardened seats fitted.
Tetra-boost is genuine real TEL and is as good as proper leaded petrol because that's what it turns it into. Only disadvantage is you can't buy one or two bottles at a time, you can only buy it in £120 lots.
Other such additives use different valve seat protecting substances. Of these manganese is about the best followed by potassium and phosphorus. Check the bottle because it usually says somewhere what's in it.
Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are a total con, a steaming pile of shite, complete rip off, impossible for them to do what they claim, have been hit by Trading Standards on more than one occasion but still come back with their claims worded in a more weaselly way to wriggle round the judgement. Don't have anything to do with these
ing con artists. They will do no good at all, and when your engine is damaged because their piece of shit product doesn't do what it says it will, I doubt you'll have much joy getting them to pay for the rebuild...
My rant inspired by how dishonest and shite Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are
Other such additives use different valve seat protecting substances. Of these manganese is about the best followed by potassium and phosphorus. Check the bottle because it usually says somewhere what's in it.
Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are a total con, a steaming pile of shite, complete rip off, impossible for them to do what they claim, have been hit by Trading Standards on more than one occasion but still come back with their claims worded in a more weaselly way to wriggle round the judgement. Don't have anything to do with these
ing con artists. They will do no good at all, and when your engine is damaged because their piece of shit product doesn't do what it says it will, I doubt you'll have much joy getting them to pay for the rebuild...My rant inspired by how dishonest and shite Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are
Thanks Pigeon, that's what I sort of understood from reading their web-site. I'm trying to do the sums but somewhere on the site they reckon it works out to about £1.40 ltr which they also say is comparable or cheaper than buying 4 star leaded (which I can get in Marlow) - The only thing is using a box of 8 bottles but I'll try to convince my bother, who runs a Healey 3000, to split a box. 
Rich...
Rich...Pigeon said:
Tetra-boost is genuine real TEL and is as good as proper leaded petrol because that's what it turns it into. Only disadvantage is you can't buy one or two bottles at a time, you can only buy it in £120 lots.
Other such additives use different valve seat protecting substances. Of these manganese is about the best followed by potassium and phosphorus. Check the bottle because it usually says somewhere what's in it.
Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are a total con, a steaming pile of shite, complete rip off, impossible for them to do what they claim, have been hit by Trading Standards on more than one occasion but still come back with their claims worded in a more weaselly way to wriggle round the judgement. Don't have anything to do with theseing con artists. They will do no good at all, and when your engine is damaged because their piece of shit product doesn't do what it says it will, I doubt you'll have much joy getting them to pay for the rebuild...
My rant inspired by how dishonest and shite Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are
Ah. I'd always wondered how it worked. So now I know...it doesnt! Other such additives use different valve seat protecting substances. Of these manganese is about the best followed by potassium and phosphorus. Check the bottle because it usually says somewhere what's in it.
Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are a total con, a steaming pile of shite, complete rip off, impossible for them to do what they claim, have been hit by Trading Standards on more than one occasion but still come back with their claims worded in a more weaselly way to wriggle round the judgement. Don't have anything to do with these
ing con artists. They will do no good at all, and when your engine is damaged because their piece of shit product doesn't do what it says it will, I doubt you'll have much joy getting them to pay for the rebuild...My rant inspired by how dishonest and shite Fuel Cat, Broquet et al are
RazMan said:
I bought one of the 'pellets in a bag' thingies when 4 star originally bit the dust. Although I was sceptical at first my Honda CRX did 100K miles with one of these things in the tank and never missed a beat.
I was under the impression that the Honda engine would implode if I didn't use 4 star ..... or was it just hype?
Your Crx is an unleaded motor as all Honda car engines have been since 1982 official(engines before this dont mind either,not approved by Honda though)I was under the impression that the Honda engine would implode if I didn't use 4 star ..... or was it just hype?
you dident even have to retard by 4degrees as Honda recommended(proper engines,no pinking),remember the Japanese home market used unleaded waaaaaaaaay before we did.Edited by That Daddy on Saturday 27th October 00:27
You should really ask this question on here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Practicle classics mag and http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/ did some tests when leaded first disappeared and came to the conclusion that the pellets don't work.
They also found that as there are a few different additive options (phosphur or sodium or etc) some of them don't mix very well. Look at the FBHVC web-site for their recs.
I used the castrol valvemaster which was easy to buy and reasonably priced.
Practicle classics mag and http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/ did some tests when leaded first disappeared and came to the conclusion that the pellets don't work.
They also found that as there are a few different additive options (phosphur or sodium or etc) some of them don't mix very well. Look at the FBHVC web-site for their recs.
I used the castrol valvemaster which was easy to buy and reasonably priced.
AlpineAndy said:
You should really ask this question on here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Ah ha, thanks Andy, I didn't even realise there was a forum called Yesterday's Heros! Shows how much I look... 
If it's for the Aston... http://www.aston.co.uk/newsletter_index/php/action...
Ok, I would go with TEL/EDB all the time. Tetraboost is the stuff. However, the place that makes TEL is up north somewhere and speaking to them might be an idea. They ship it all over the world. I've lost their information, but you can buy it cheap.
Personally, I find reacting ethyl chloride with a sodium/lead alloy easier. You also need dibromoethane to scavenge up the lead afterwards, otherwise it chokes everything up with filth.
From what I remember, if you are leading fuel, you gain the maximum octane response from using 4% (which is a lot) you can further augment this with Methyl Aniline (nasty stuff). Again, don't get it on your hands and don't drink it.
What you are looking for is something to stop your valve seats eroding. I'd use anything. What I'm looking for is something to give me as much octane as possible and do the above.
Tetraboost is rather expensive. More expensive than is justified. Getting the stuff direct from the supplier is the way to go. I'll root through my nonsense and see if I can dredge up the name.
Personally, I find reacting ethyl chloride with a sodium/lead alloy easier.
You also need dibromoethane to scavenge up the lead afterwards, otherwise it chokes everything up with filth.From what I remember, if you are leading fuel, you gain the maximum octane response from using 4% (which is a lot) you can further augment this with Methyl Aniline (nasty stuff). Again, don't get it on your hands and don't drink it.
What you are looking for is something to stop your valve seats eroding. I'd use anything. What I'm looking for is something to give me as much octane as possible and do the above.
Tetraboost is rather expensive. More expensive than is justified. Getting the stuff direct from the supplier is the way to go. I'll root through my nonsense and see if I can dredge up the name.
Edited by love machine on Monday 29th October 16:03
If you follow the http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/fuel/index.htm link (towards the bottom of the page) it gives you the links to the suppliers (tetraboost - south west london).
Valvemaster 'plus' is also an octane booster.
Valvemaster 'plus' is also an octane booster.
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