This is straight from the Italian Cars list.
Thought it was interesting.
Ulix
__/__,__ ________/____,,_______
................... (_o____o_) ..... (___ O _________ O ___/ ..............
'67 Sprite '66 Caddy
From: David John Williams <babyhuey@csd.uwm.edu>
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 07:49:55 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Unleaded fuel
In the US, by law every car solf here for model year 1971 and later was
required to have hardened valve seats capable of running on unleaded
gasoline. Apparently, not all manufactures followed this rule, or had to
learn how to make hardened valve seats correctly.
However, it typically takes 70,000 miles or so before the older valve seats
are dammaged from the lack of lead. There are very few engines out there
that could go an additional 70,000 miles without a rebuilt. In short,
don't worry about the lead.
As for 'regular' gasoline in the US, don't even bother buying it. SAE did
en extensive amount of testing in 1987 on the effects of lead on soft valve
seats. Original leaded gasoline in the US contained 3grams of lead per
gallon. In the 1970's, this was reduced to 1.0gpg. In the 1980's this was
reduced to 0.1, then, 0.02 and finally to 0.01gpg. SAE found that it only
took 0.02gpg to maintain the older valve seats. It also found that 0.01
was effectively worthless; the difference between it was unleaded was
virtually the same. From what I have been told, low lead aviation gasoline
still contains 1.0 grams per gallon. If you can get you hands on this, put
a little in the tank to splash around if you are worried about the lead.
Also, the octane boost can't hurt, and if there is one thing that will
dammage an older engine quickly, it is a lack of octane, and not a lack of
lead.
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