Unleaded petrol

[TONYELF]

I have made enquiries on the Riley club forum and have received the following reply. any comments?

Hi Tony,

Yes - I've heard that it does happen to engines which haven't been converted to run on unleaded - but some engines are more prone to suffering than others.
I've also heard (reliably) that if you keep the mileage and speed low then the problem is not as serious, but will eventually occur. Athlough some engines which do high mileages and high revs (i.e motorway travel) suffer quite quickly.
I have run my standard 1.5 on unleaded for over a year now without any problems - however with an engine rebuild due in a few years I will convert it to unleaded

As I understand it, you have three alternatives:-
1) Run on unleaded, but add some form of additive.
2) convert the cylinder head to run on unleaded (approx 200+ pounds)
3) find somewere that still sells leaded! - there are a few places left! (see links page on RMC website)

Good luck! hope this helps,

Noddy

[liam_italian]

Basically it's the lead in leaded pertrol that protects exhaust valves, without it the valve's heat up to much and distort!

And a cylinder head conversions wont cost ya that much, someone on the mini forum does it very cheap!

[TONYELF]

Thanks for that Liam.I started this thread when Dean asked me if I'd heard of anyone having problems as he had no comments in reply to his thread.
Is it a come on, or can we get away without additives?
any other comments readers?

[Gr4H4m]

Tony I have 3/4 left of a bottle of Castrol Valve Master if you want it.... as the new head has been converted for unleaded

[TONYELF]

Cheers Gr4h4m,Much appreciated. Used to use redex years ago when I worked part-time on the pumps (one old penny per shot) many customers swore on it to keep engines sweet with no complaints about performance then.

[K333th]

I could ask around in work as i work for a major chemical manufacturer who still make the lead for leaded petrol and also make fuel additives if you tell me what the prob is?

[liam_italian]

Use additive mate, but that wont work forever!

[KAYE (Mrs Jones)]

Hi all. Mavis is a 1983 auto and runs on unleaded fine (touch wood) no problems so far :)

[Gr4H4m]

mmm I'm not sure mine has only run for a short period of time before I have switched it to the new head..... Ill will have to see how it runs, I have noticed that it blew a little bit of smoke on start-up which is a sign?? Hence why I started to use the castrol stuff.

I did wonder how much of the stuff went in the tank and how much just lined it... I found myself trying different techniques to pour it in so it hit the liquid then filled-up with fuel to make sure it mixed in..... The only problem is you need to guess the ammount of fuel in Litres you are putting in before you put it in... if you know what I mean as you need to out the correct ammount of Valve Master in first...

Years ago my uncle had a 2.9 L Ford that was leaded, when the Uk swapped we fitted an in-line lead filter that the fuel washed over and added the lead. It worked great and he must of done about 130K on it with no problems......

[Deano]

I still have not found any evidence that using unleaded burns the valve`s out i still thing its all a big con