I never really considered the use of unleaded gasoline in older cars. Will modern unleaded gas damage the motor? Specifically I'm talkin' about a 1960 144 cu in straight six. I have heard of needing additives.
My Grandfather used Amoco in everything he had. Farm trucks, tractors, all of it. Since the 40's. He called Amoco "white gas" never had any lead in it. No problems with it. Recently, I have seen quite a few older cars with fuel line problems. The ethanol content is the problem. Turning rubber fuel lines into mush.
I've been adding a container (15 oz) of STP Oil Treatment with every oil change. Cheap insurance against engine wear. It has zinc (ZDDP) anti-wear agents in it.
Here in W. Texas, we can still get real gasoline at most of the Shell stations...don't know about your area. As for the additive, use it in the Buick but don't worry about the Comet so much. They're low compression and pretty tough anyway.
The problem is in the cylinder head (not the cam or lower end) however if your older engine was originally ran on leaded gas for any considerable period, you have some residual protection (primarily the exhaust seat)from the old lead buildup. The lead component provided a factor of lubricity as well as the anti-knock. If you are worried, there is a lead subs***ute called CD-2 added to the gas (never used it though) intended for older engines w/o hardened exhaust seats. It comes w/ a disclaimer for off-road only
I just ran this question past the engine machinist we are currently using and he said he is not a fan of installing hardened valve seats in older motors. He said they can work loose and that on a car you drive only occasionally, like most of our cars, the valves won't cause enough damage to the seats to worry about. Since he builds some very expensive race motors (there was a $ 27,000 bbc sitting on a stand in his shop when I was there last week) I trust his opinion. He says hardened seats have become a way for machine shops to sell you something more. I think you will be fine, and there are lots of us doing exactly what you are to keep you company. Don
Personally I would use additive until you really need hardened seats and decent matching valves, a lot cheaper and easier. At least you don't have to pull the engine down in the mean time.
Worked for E**on Research for many years...no problem at all, unless you have high engine loads, or unusuallly high engine temps (i.e. turbo motor).
I have run the piss out of non-hardened valve seat engines with no-lead gas for a total of probably 400K miles and not a problem was to be had. This includes 351 Fords and a variety of SBC products. Bob
I've encountered a few cases of receding valve seats, usually its from high engine load (like in a truck hauling a lot of weight). As mentioned, don't worry about it unless it causes a problem. As for the fuel lines being eaten up by the alcohol in oxygenated gasoline, that's a problem, but only if you don't drive the car regularly. If the car is gonna sit for a while (more than a month or two), drain all the fuel out of it or try one of the stabilizer additives.
All gas is unleaded now, you will be fine. Common consensus is the lead deposits from when the car was run with leaded gas will keep it fine.
i'm with the majority in thinking that hardened seats on a stock daily driver are unnecessary. Ford used the best they could afford even on those "economy" cars; eliminate yet another weak spot and potential warranty issue by not having to do periodic valve jobs and keep the customer satisfied. people weren't so adamant about buying good gas as they were about saving a nickle, so chances are it's been run on some pretty sketchy stuff by now!
it was never the absence of lead that bothered me. it was the addition of my whiskey to the gas that i didnt like.lol ive replaced more things in my fuel systems on these damn cars in the last few yrs than i did in the first 30 yrs of workin on them. ive found a gas station in the next town over that sells 100% gasoline(no booze lol) but i would have to fill it up to make it worth my while.and with a few cars runnin that could be a easy 600$.
Boy you should have been around in 1974 when they dropped the lead from regular. I can't imagine what it would have been like if we had the internet back then. The panic was unbelievable. All our HiPo cars were doomed to extinction!!!! The end was near!!! It never bothered me and I've never seen any signs of a problem. Valves were burning before they removed the lead so many of the problems attributed to no lead were just a coincidence. I made a lot of money removing catalytic converters and running true dual exhaust on all those Ford and Chevy P/Us Then a few years later I was selling inserts for the fuel tank filler necks to get them through Md. state inspection again. It was all "Chicken Little"...the sky never fell and that was 35 years ago.
They introduced unleaded around that time, but we could still buy leaded regular until the mid-late 80s in most areas.
Yeah, I remember most everyone had one of those little gas nozzle adapters so you could put cheaper unleaded in your 'newer' (post -74) cars with the restrictors in the filler neck.
I agree with Don. I've talked to alot of wise engine builders and alot of them think that most people tend to worry too much. Most people will never have a problem. If it helps you to sleep at night then run some additive. The few people who have had a problem tend to let everyone know about it. Bad news travels alot faster than good news. Wally
Almost 50K miles on my 283 in the '58 Apache since rebulding it and not a single problem. Some people look for things to lose sleep over.
Oil is totally different from the fuel question. LOL, the Buick Nailhead needs it even less than the majority of old engines. High nickel content in the heads and block as well as low spring pressure. And never ever ttry and put hardened seats in one, probably going to ruin the heads if you try.
The Jalopy Journal
