unleaded gas
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New User
Joined: Feb 2005
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unleaded gas
Ever since leaded gas became unavailable, I've been adding a lead substitute when filling my 1971 F-100 360. Mow I've read on this forum and others that this isn't necessary for 1971+ Ford trucks. What gives?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
Welcome to FTE!
Offically, Ford says vehicles 74 and up don't need lead. In all reality, if you aren't racing or hauling or running the engine hard, you don't need lead. The engine most likely will still outlast the body of the truck.
Offically, Ford says vehicles 74 and up don't need lead. In all reality, if you aren't racing or hauling or running the engine hard, you don't need lead. The engine most likely will still outlast the body of the truck.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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From: western KS
Originally Posted by Ford_Six
Welcome to FTE!
Offically, Ford says vehicles 74 and up don't need lead. In all reality, if you aren't racing or hauling or running the engine hard, you don't need lead. The engine most likely will still outlast the body of the truck.
Offically, Ford says vehicles 74 and up don't need lead. In all reality, if you aren't racing or hauling or running the engine hard, you don't need lead. The engine most likely will still outlast the body of the truck.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 936
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There was more than one reason for having lead in the fuel. Back in those days gas got it's octane from lead which is why gas had a lot higher octane ratings back then. Second, most vehicles didn't have hardened exhaust valve seats and without the lead in the gas the valves would pound in the seats and the valves would "grow in heighth" and/ or burn the faces due to ineffecient valve seal. The lead acted as a lubricant and a padding if you will for the exhaust valves. The remedy for this is when you have your engine and/or heads rebuilt to have hardened seats put in. I don't know if any of the lead substitute additives help but they probably don't hurt. My heads on my 401 C.I. (.060 over 390 FE) have hardened seats (supposedly anyway) but I still run lead substitues in my gas from time to time.
JC
JC
