Lead additives vs Lead substitutes

[Michael_]

What would you use and why?
I was reading misc opinions on the substitutes.
Some people seem to have experienced valve failure despite they used a substitute.

This is why i tend to use a real lead additive like this one:

But man, read those instructions on the can.
they scare me quite a bit.

Is it really that dangerous that you have to wear gloves and a mask and change "contaminated" clothes?
Or do they just have to print this on there because of laws and its not that dangerous?

I also dont know if its a good idea to wear a mask and gloves at the gas station.

 

[Jerry Hall]

I use lead additive in the airport fuel I buy as well as a stabilizer. Why, I really don't know because in the day my primary fuel was Amoco White premium 105 octane out of the pump. I never had valve issues and hardened seats were not even thought of then. Maybe I used enough leaded fuel when I couldn't get to my regular station, who knows.

 

[steve340]

Tetra Ethyl Lead is bad news as written on the label. Many years ago before they worked it out it killed the factory workers in the fuel plants. I believe it does build up in our brains.
There is no need to put that in most engines.

 

[dadsbee]

 

[33 IMP]

My engine should run fine on pump premium, but now that i have access to 100LL avgas, i sweeten the tank with a couple gallons of avgas per 8gal tankful. (fuel cell). Just a hedge against the watered down cat piss california calls premium gasoline. I will hav e to stop the avgas use temporarily if i get a uego hooked up, for tuning purposes.

 

[dadsbee]

I run about 25%.. 5 gallons AV100LL to 15 Gallons of 92 Premium UL. Jerry runs 50/50

 

[Jerry Hall]

I run about 25%.. 5 gallons AV100LL to 15 Gallons of 92 Premium UL. Jerry runs 50/50

And all I can get in no ethanol is 89 or 90 octane.

 

[Michael_]

I dont know what AV100LL is. Does this help with unhardened valves?

I just basically have to decide if i will try it with the lead substitute or go for a real lead additive as posted above.
Im just scared about possible health issues when using a real lead additive.

Tetra Ethyl Lead is bad news as written on the label. Many years ago before they worked it out it killed the factory workers in the fuel plants. I believe it does build up in our brains.
There is no need to put that in most engines.

So you would advice against carrying this in the trunk (maybe even next to food or drinks) and putting it in at the gas station without wearing protective clothes?

 

[steve340]

It won't kill in 5 seconds. However you obviously do need to be careful around it.
I would not get it on your hands or anywhere near food.
The problem with lead is it builds up in us. Exposure leads to lead poisoning as time goes on.
The AV110 is aviation fuel (airplane)that I understand is still leaded.
If you have hardened valve seats or aluminium heads as I said earlier you do not need the lead.
My point is if your engine does not need it why mess with it.
Why do you think you need to use it?

 

[dadsbee]

Michael.. does your engine have hardened valve seats from a recent rebuild?? If so you don't need lead. If it's an older original engine you do. 100LL has about 10x the lead in it that good old leaded premium use to have in it and why a mix not only gives you the lead needed but boosts the octane of the crap 90 to 92 octane we have today. If the stuff was gonna kill you I'd have been dead many moons ago, I use 100LL to clean parts as it has toulene in it.

 

[Jerry Hall]

If you think you need it, wear some gloves, and when it's done wash your hands. I'm 73 and haven't died of it yet. Just take some precautions and you will be fine.

 

[Michael_]

Well i think that the Engine in Question does NOT have hardened valves. Im not 100% sure but if it has not been rebuilt or upgraded (which is what i think) it definitely needs leaded gas.

I will look if i can find further information but if i cant find any proofs for hardened valves i think i will buy the lead additive and some good gloves.

 

[steve340]

I understand the hard seats are only really needed on the exhaust valve.
A guy I knew who was an experienced engine guy he said you would only have a problem if you ran the engine at higher revs.
They took the lead out of fuel here years ago and I have had a few cars that were not supposed to be compatible with unleaded fuel. Initially I was crapping my pants as I had no access to aviation fuel.
I ran those cars on unleaded and did not have one problem with valve recession. However they were not race cars just work or fun cars.
Those cars had solid lifters so I would have found out fairly quickly.