I have a 1968 Ford F250 with a 360 in it. Is it recommended that I use a lead additive in the gasoline? Would it make a difference in the performance of the truck?


Thanks

 

NO! Leaded motor fuel was outlawed for use several years ago. You will find guys that have to run premium gas, + additives, & $7.00 per qt. boutique oil to be happy, but your truck will do fine without it.

I run the cheapest unleaded in my truck with no problems. I have 36,000 miles on rebuild.



John

 

fyi the only thing "premium" (high octane) (premium is a marketing term to make you think its better quality) all it does is resist detonation due to compression. meaning if you have a high compression ratio that will detonate the fuel before the spark plug can then you need high octane. gasoline is not stable and will detonate when you compress it to a certain amount. if you put regular gas in it and it does not knock or ping, you will suffer no difference in gas mileage or horsepower whatsoever so dont waste your money. high octane fuel is associated with high performance cars with high compression and for this reason everybodies brains are polluted from advertising that its better for an average engine. youll even hear people talk about how they went near a drag strip where they sell 110 octane and how they bought it and loved it when all their money did was go up in smoke and it was all in their head.

 

What will happen is the valves will wear a little faster than normal. you can buy at most speed shops tetraethyl lead- it is an additive (lead) that will lubricate the valves as needed for your engine. just an fyi- if you go for a smog test, run a tank of gas without the additive first.

 

Depends on your compression ratio. I have a 64 Pontiac with a 389. If I don't have the timing retarded as much as I can (and still get it to start), run lead additive, and a bottle of octane booster, it pings and pops like a popcorn popper.

The lead additive helps lubricate the valves in motors without hardened valves and seats.