Lead Fuel Additive - Suggestions please
Discussion
Sorry if this topic has been done to death in this forum...
I have recently returned to the road a 1983 V8 Lamborghini Jalpa. Obviously 1983 is prior to the introduction of unleaded fuel, so I need to add something to each tank of fuel right.
Can anyone offer any experiences , good or bad on those that are available ?
A quick surf produces products from
Redex (2 different version ?)
Holts
STP
CarLube (??)
Redline
Time reading and replying appreciated
I have recently returned to the road a 1983 V8 Lamborghini Jalpa. Obviously 1983 is prior to the introduction of unleaded fuel, so I need to add something to each tank of fuel right.
Can anyone offer any experiences , good or bad on those that are available ?
A quick surf produces products from
Redex (2 different version ?)
Holts
STP
CarLube (??)
Redline
Time reading and replying appreciated
Wow! Probably my all-time favourite "potentially attainable" car. What colour is it? Photos for me also please.
As for your question, I used to put Miller VSP Plus into my 1984 Renault 5 Turbo 2 tank. It ran fine on that. The only down-side I noted, was a tendency for the plugs to fur up with an odd kind of sandy coloured residue, which I would often have to remove with a wire brush. Not too tricky in that car, but maybe less fun with your V8.
I may have been putting too much additive in though and I have since learned that it probably wasn't necessary at all being a French car since they usually already had hardened valve seats to compensate for the cr@ppy quality petrol found in many of their export markets.
As for your question, I used to put Miller VSP Plus into my 1984 Renault 5 Turbo 2 tank. It ran fine on that. The only down-side I noted, was a tendency for the plugs to fur up with an odd kind of sandy coloured residue, which I would often have to remove with a wire brush. Not too tricky in that car, but maybe less fun with your V8.
I may have been putting too much additive in though and I have since learned that it probably wasn't necessary at all being a French car since they usually already had hardened valve seats to compensate for the cr@ppy quality petrol found in many of their export markets.
williredale said:
Castrol Valvemaster is my snake oil of choice. I have no idea how effective it is but I keep buying it and putting it in!
Not sure that helps much...
As said, I’ve used it for many years (2L Capri, 2.8 Capri and in my current Volvo Amazon) and I’ve never had any problems with valve seat recession.Not sure that helps much...
Maybe I’ve got lucky or maybe it does work... but 15 quid every couple of months is a price I’m willing to pay for peace of mind. Of course, if I ever save up enough cash to go for a trick cylinder head for the Amazon then I’ll splash out a bit extra on hardened valve seats.
Total Garage just outside Coalville in Leicestershire circa 2004: I was carefully adding the correct amount to my tank before I went in to pay for my petrol. The lady at the counter gave me a weird look and said “why are you putting orange juice into your petrol tank?”
Bless ‘er!
TetraBOOST gets my vote. This is a proper tetraethyl lead additive not a lead replacement additive so you can create proper 4 and 5 star fuel and even racing fuel if you wish.
Never used any additive myself and only ever had a problem once on an a series engine, easy to fix and only a couple of hundred quid. I have done 5000 miles in my vitesse with no issues. I have run a few other cars with no issues as well. Lead memory will keep the head safe for many many miles. If I was buying additive it would soon cost more than a rebuilt head. Mind the cost is probably in a different league to a lambo.
Poison Tom 96 said:
Castrol Valvemaster. We use it in our Moggies and can feel a difference according to the old man.
My mate also uses it in his Rover P6.
If you or anyone else is using Valvemaster there wont be any difference to feel, if you use Valvemaster Plus I very much doubt you'd feel any difference as upping the octane rating by such a small amount won't affect power without other engine mods.My mate also uses it in his Rover P6.
To the OP Valvemaster Plus is my choice but I only use it to help avoid detonation in a high compression engine. You could always put a tank full of leaded petrol in every now and again and not bother with any lead additive.
If you use Valvemaster or Valvemaster Plus the the MGOC do a special deal on buying 5 or 6 bottles at a time.
For a reason I never quite 'got', I use Morris Superblend and fill up with Super Plus (one of my cars needed 97RON 4* in ye olde days); my last box of 12 bottles (probably enough for 40 full 10 gallon tanks off the top of my head) was £72 from a regional motor factor supplier (don't ask 
- but "sold trade price with no discount" probably sums it up) 3 years ago.
At least with Castrol Valvemaster Plus it goes further than the Morris stuff, and one can fill up with any old 95RON stuff if one owns a car that needs Super Plus (I do) - and, as another poster has said, it turns the plugs a nice "orangey sand" colour
...
Morris Superblend is fine for ye olde cars that can run 95RON or where Super Plus is available when needed (and that's never a 'given'
) - but a note to self, change product and try to find a trade supplier .
- but "sold trade price with no discount" probably sums it up) 3 years ago.At least with Castrol Valvemaster Plus it goes further than the Morris stuff, and one can fill up with any old 95RON stuff if one owns a car that needs Super Plus (I do) - and, as another poster has said, it turns the plugs a nice "orangey sand" colour
...Morris Superblend is fine for ye olde cars that can run 95RON or where Super Plus is available when needed (and that's never a 'given'
) - but a note to self, change product and try to find a trade supplier .Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff