Unleaded vs leaded/additive gasoline?

I just had a thought as I was searching for parts for my rare Buick 198 V6.....what are folks doing about these older leaded gas engines vs only having unleaded gas available? Additives? Rebuilding heads to take unleaded to protect valves, etc? Running them until there is problems etc?

 

I'm running til I have a problem, then resolving it based on recommendations and advice I can get here.

Example: I know my carb is getting "eaten" by ethanol in some way like seals, so have a carb rebuild kit ready that has new ethanol safe rubber and gaskets (according to Mike @ http://www.carburetor-parts.com). When it's time, I'm ready...

Regards,
Tim

 

I run ethanol free premium and lead additive. The previous owner of 25 years ran additive, too. Not really the pain I thought it would be. For an everyday driver, it might be.

 

It seems that older low compression engines (used moderately) don't suffer the problems with unleaded that we once feared. I run my old jeeps without additives.

A high compression engine may need help with the low octane of modern fuel, to prevent knocking.

 

My Jeep's rubber fuel line lining is getting eaten up like there's no tomorrow. From reading around I assume its the ethanol.

Changed fuel filters twice in five years because they were filling it with little bits of lining. Make sure you're running mostly metal fuel lines perhaps.

 

You can tell your FLAPS you want the high quality, heavy-duty, SAE, ethanol-resistant, US-made rubber fuel line.

The hardware store stuff is dangerous, it can dump a whole tank of fuel on the barn floor when no one is around. Don't ask me how I know.

 

That's a good point I forgot to mention. Most of the fuel line is from the PO and not ethanol resistant. I've been limping it along until I felt like tearing the Jeep down.

Doesn't help that a FLAPS fuel filter failed wheeling and covered the drivers fender in gas. I wondered why my fuel gauge was moving so fast. :evil:

 

Moderate use, not towing, racing, etc...this is pretty much what the owner of a local machine shop I've used told me. I'm not using additives in my Jeep either. I don't really worry about it.

 

My personal opinion is that the relatively low spring and seat pressures are what let older industrial type engines like ours survive.

 

I know that feeling. Had to let my Jeep sit for two years while on an assignment overseas. My SO started it every few days and let her warm up (the Jeep) but it didn't get a real drive. Home on leave and I spend too much time cleaning the carb out and driving her hard to get things blown out. By the second hour on the road at speed she sounds and runs much smoother (the Jeep). Had sta-bil additives but it's not really good to let sit.

Home for good now so not a problem.

Regards,
Tim

 

I have several antique vehicles, some of which sit for long periods between uses. I have come to believe the issues with modern fuel are associated much more with newer equipment - the alloys used and the more complex systems make them much more vulnerable than the earlier machines to phase separation, crud and corrosion, etc. For instance the aluminum Tecumseh carb bowls found on small equipment routinely are eaten through by water produced in ethanol fuel.

In any case, I have had zero 'stale fuel" problems with the antiques, even after the fuel sits a year or two. This includes my F-head Jeeps.

On the other hand, with modern cars, newer small engines, and etc, I am a big advocate for regular doses of Seafoam.

 

I run exclusively antique vehicles and have not had had an issue with fuel ever on any engine, but I also only run premium fuel. Gas mileage is better with premium, as I learned a long time ago on a trip with a Nova I had. We filled up at a station (back when full service was on it's last breath) and all they had was premium, but we were told of this AFTER they filled the car up. We made the trip and drove all weekend around on that tank. When time came to leave for home, we re-fueled with regular. Before we got home, we needed fuel again. BIG difference in mileage between primo and regular, but it was a highway trip, city driving may not be as much of a difference.

Yes, my vehicles sit between uses too, although I do try to at least start them and get them up to operating temp at most on 6 month intervals.

IMO the "valve seat recession" issue is another load of BS, much like 99 percent of the stuff we are told since childhood!

 

Thanks all....yeah I am not concerned with old gas as this will be a daily driver. I was wondering about the valve issue with lead vs unleaded in these older engines.