Leaded Fuel

[geunther]

I am wondering if any of you run any leaded fuel from time to time? I realize that you cannot get it at regular (pun intended) fuel stations and I am not referring to "lead" substitute. However, there are places to get true "low lead" fuel or avgas.

The reason I ask is that I am running an un-rebuilt original engine. Obviously, it had access to leaded gas for the first 15 years of its life. My understanding is the valve seats do not necessarily need lead all of the time but occasional use will benefit the seats.

I did so in a 70 vette and never had any issues.

As a disclaimer, I am not talking about on-highway use.

[Steeveedee]

I haven't checked. But I run unleaded in my truck; that's all it has had for decades. But it was overhauled in ~ '86, and may have gotten upgrades to the valves and seats.

[geunther]

Makes sense. Should I ever remove the heads, I would upgrade. But currently little reason to do so. Engine runs great, no smoking or oil consumption. I had the pan off to replace main seal and I was surprised how clean it was.

[Steeveedee]

That is amazingly clean! My truck used to smoke on startup and burn a quart of oil about every 1k miles, but that stopped when I went to synthetic. I hear that's the opposite of what usually happens.