Kerosene instead of Lead Substitute

[HarleyBob]

I have a vintage Cub that I have used Lead Substitute
in unleaded gas for the past 12 years. I just had engine
rebuilt and the mechanic, who owns and has operated Cubs for decades, says to add Kerosene instead of lead substitute
to gas. Anyone else have experience with that?

 

[Egon]

Not sure but think maybe the lead was used as a lubricant for the valve guides and perhaps as a detonation impedant. Allowed you to use lower octane fuel for higher compresion ratios. What kerosene will do is questionable.

Egon

 

[HarleyBob]

I also posted on Fuel and Oil discussion board here and
was linked to a technical discussion of lead vs. unlead on vintage engines, in case you are interested..check there.

 

[MJB]

I have not used kerosene as a lead substitute but I have used 2-cycle oil. In my old Case I add 1 quart of water cooled 2-cycle oil to 20 gallons of gas for an 80:1 mixture. The lead in gasoline was mainly used to lubricate and cool the valves. My Case had a couple of stuck valves when I bought it. I sent the head out for a valve job and have run the two cycle oil without trouble ever since. I have heard of others using diesel fuel or ATF instead of 2-cycle oil. The kerosene might work also, although its lubricating properties are not as good as diesel, ATF, or 2-cycle oil. Hope this helps.

 

[HarleyBob]

Kerosene and diesel are close, kerosene a little cleaner.
I have been told the "lead substitute" sold is just kerosene.
Anyone else heard this?

 

[5030]

Tetraethyl Lead was added to gasoline beacuse engines from that era had no valve seats. Early tractors have cast iron heads like the auto's of the 60's and earlier. Engines that are designed to run on unleaded gasoline have valve seats with hardened steel inserts shrunk in. Cast heads can be machined and fitted with shrunk in seats and will run unleaded with no harmful effects. that's what Harley Davison owners who had shovel heads and pan heads had to do. Either that or carry a bottle of instead-o-lead with them.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You guys are getting the hardened seats when you do a valve job, aren't you? Save all the money you waste on the additives, and just do a good valve job with seats when needed - you'll be many dollars ahead over the long haul.

--->Paul

 

[momark]

I've had a '63 Ford 4000 for about five yrs. Is there any easy way to determine if it already had the hardened valve seats installed during a previous valve job?

Thanks, mark

 

[momark]

I've had a '63 Ford 4000 for about five yrs. Is there any easy way to determine if it already had the hardened valve seats installed during a previous valve job?

Thanks, mark

 

[Soundguy]

Most ford ( 9n-2n-8n) left the factory with hard valves seats... ( the war time models may not have had hardened intake seats.. but that was just right around 42.. from there and on you should be good to go..).

And i wouldn't worry about putting anything in the gas as a lubricator... Like 'lead substitue'.. you are just lining the pockets of the retail outlets. I know some people add diesel to prevent spark knock ( preignition).. and that was what tetraethyl lead was really for anyway.. octane modifier... fords were using lo 70's octan gas and did fine.. lowest you can find nowadays this side of the border is about 87.. so you are good to go.

I fyou feel like you have to add something to the gas.. drop in a couple ounces of marvel myster oil per tank ( won't do much ).

Soundguy
Soundguy