Who is still using lead substitutes?

[68gmsee]

If you are, what brand are you all using? I have a buddy who said he is having trouble finding it.

I haven't used any on my trucks since a machinist told me he had an old truck and never used lead substitutes. He said he drove the truck daily and had done so for years. Then he told me to wait until I started having problems and then bring the heads in. Made sense to me...

[rscam]

In the early 70's when they took lead out they put hardened valve seats in the heads. I know alot of people that drove cars many years that don't have hardened seats. Your machinist is correct. Hardened seats are not overly expensive. He knew that it would take a while to give you a problem and the the seats are not that expensive. I would drive it.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

The only substitute for leaded fuel is hardened valve seats. "lead" subsitutes do not have the lubricating or cushioning effects of tetra-ethyl lead because they contain no tetra-ethyl lead. Nothing else works like lead does in that capacity.

Tell your friend to run it till it needs a rebuild, then have the machine shop add valve seats.