Buying Led Additive Off-the-shelf

[junkofdavid2]

Hi,

While leaded gasoline causes more pollution than unleaded gasoline, the lead is actually important for the engine to be lubricated properly... or else this can cause engine damage. Right?

Therefore, I think it's a good idea for me to use leaded gasoline (or add lead additive to the tank) at least once in a while to "re-lubricate" the engine... maybe once for every 2 or 3 tankfulls of gas.

Where would they sell this type of additive in Bangkok?

.

[sapi]

use leade gas is important for old automotive...before 1990s when the material of the valve need more heat/friction protection.

after 1990s, automotive manufacture changed the material to make it more durable to heat/friction, using leaded gas will cause plugging problem. (correct me if i'm wrong)

never seen leaded gas being sold in thailand.....i said never seen, maybe there is but not commercial for sure

edit:

some mod for you if more lubrication is what you want, buy motorcycle 2-stroke engine oil, mix in the proportion of 25ml/l, it will help your engine for sure.

[TVmonitor]

Lead was used to control the octane of fuel - any lub qualities were a side benefit - modern fuels get round this - I would think that it is quite unecessary to add any lead component to your fuel - it may have a detrimental effect.

[oldexplorer]

TEL (Tetra-ethyl Lead) was used for many years in 4 stroke automotive engines to prevent or reduce knock or pinking - where the fuel mixture detonates too early (before the spark occurs at the top of the compression stroke). It cannot be described as a lubricant. The piston is lubricated by a very thin film of engine oil which coats surface irregularities on the cylinder wall - this thin film of oil is replenished by oil mist which enters the bore from the crankcase and from the small end bush/bearing inside the piston.

Excessive pinking tends to cause an overly high exhaust gas temperature - this can cause the exhaust valve seats to become pitted/eroded because the gas temperature exceeds the design limits of the metal recipe used in older cylinder heads. In older engines where the exhaust seat is not hardened, the pitting may cause a reduction in cylinder compression.

Some modern additives are very effective, but others are little better than snake oil. It is important to find an independent strip-down test of an additive before relying on it to protect your exhaust valves. Check out the website of the FBHVC in the UK - there is some info on these additives.

Fuel Additive Testing

Products with the FBHVC endorsement continue to be tested on a regular basis to ensure that the chemical composition remains the same as was originally bench-tested. A list of the eight additives carrying the Federation endorsement, and contact details, can be found - see below. Leaded petrol

Petrol retailers state that sales of 4 star (BS4040) fuel are much lower than expected and likely to cease unless sales improve.

Even though true leaded petrol is more expensive than treated, unleaded fuel; in the limited quantities used by classic cars, it is probably cheaper than valve replacement.

FUEL ADDITIVES endorsed by THE FBHVC

As well as contact details, the active ingredient in each of the products is also listed.

Millers VSP-Plus, (Manganese)

 Millers Oils Ltd, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 3DE Tel: 01484-713201.

Nitrox 4-lead Substitute & Octane Improver, (Manganese);

Nitrox 4-star Lead Treatment (Potassium)

Tetrosyl Automotive, Bevis Green, Walmersley, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 6RE Tel: 0161-764-5981.

Red Line Lead Substitute (Sodium)

Delta Oil Ltd, Main Street, Sewstern, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG33 5RF. Tel: 01476-861195.

Superblend Zero Lead 2000 (Potassium)

Superblend Lubricants Ltd, Unit 2, Feldspar Close, The Warrens Industrial Park, Enderby, Leicester, LE9 5SD. Tel: 0116-286-1001.

Castrol Valvemaster (Phosphorous);

Castrol Valvemaster Plus (Phosphorous).

Castrol Classic Oils, Wakefield House, Cambridge, CB4 5QZ.

Tel: 01954-231668.

GTA Power Plus Formula 2000 (Potassium).

GT Autochemilube Ltd, Waters Lane, Middleton Cheney, Banbury Oxfordshire, 0X17 2NA. Tel:01295-712255.

Tetraboost, which contains tetra-ethyl lead, has been passed by the FBHVC as satisfactory for use in unconverted

engines. If used carefully and in the dose recommended, it restores unleaded petrol to the BS4040 standard.

Tetraboost,17 West Hill, LONDON SW18 1RB Tel: 020 8870 9933. Fax: 020 8870 7172

[VocalNeal]

Where would they sell this type of additive in Bangkok?

.

Any LPG station but it is not cheap about 500baht for 500ml. One is called Flash Lube. The other?

If you go to an LPG installer they will fit a drip feeder to your engine if you want for about 1500 baht including one bottle of Flash Lube.. One bottle every 5000 to 10,000 kms depending on adjustment.

[aussiebebe]

I've never seen leaded fuel or additives for sale in Thailand - can anyone confirm that Thailand has phased out the use of leaded fuel? Wikipedia suggests that Thailand did so in 1999 but does anyone have any information about whether this was a gradual phase-out or is now complete?

There is a good article at http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000320/kitman/single called 'The Secret History of Lead' which make fascinating reading and states;

World Bank was moved--at a 1996 UN conference in Turkey, where leaded gas still accounts for 82 percent of the market--to call for a complete global phaseout. The bank calculated that the United States had saved more than $10 for every $1 it invested in its conversion to unleaded, by reducing health costs, saving on engine maintenance and improving fuel efficiency with modern engine technologies. Further claiming that no-lead fuel may increase engine life by as much as 150 percent, the bank called for an immediate five-year phaseout.

I think that the OP's belief that leaded fuel 'lubricates' engines may be a myth perpetuated by TEL interest groups, or the World Bank may just have been desperate to raise private investment. Either way, it's a good article.

[Camelot]

Thailand banned leaded petrol at the beginning of 1996.

Here's another solution to your problem:

Try adding 60 millilitres of F2-21 additive for one full tank of gasoline 95 (do not under any circumstances use gasohol). And the following refuelling will require only 20 millilitres of F2-21 for each tank. Department stores should carry F2-21 which costs about Bt200-300 a bottle.

Those two cycles should set you right for at least a year.

[rakman]

I've never seen leaded fuel or additives for sale in Thailand - can anyone confirm that Thailand has phased out the use of leaded fuel? Wikipedia suggests that Thailand did so in 1999 but does anyone have any information about whether this was a gradual phase-out or is now complete?

There is a good article at http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000320/kitman/single called 'The Secret History of Lead' which make fascinating reading and states;

World Bank was moved--at a 1996 UN conference in Turkey, where leaded gas still accounts for 82 percent of the market--to call for a complete global phaseout. The bank calculated that the United States had saved more than $10 for every $1 it invested in its conversion to unleaded, by reducing health costs, saving on engine maintenance and improving fuel efficiency with modern engine technologies. Further claiming that no-lead fuel may increase engine life by as much as 150 percent, the bank called for an immediate five-year phaseout.

I think that the OP's belief that leaded fuel 'lubricates' engines may be a myth perpetuated by TEL interest groups, or the World Bank may just have been desperate to raise private investment. Either way, it's a good article.

TEL's use, other than an octane booster, was to lubricate the exhaust valve seats. Post TEL engines (with catalytic converters, don't use TEL, it will poison the catalyst rendering them useless) have hardened valve seats. Unless one was using a pre-TEL engine at 80-90% max power all the time, the non-valve lubrication effects of unleaded gas are non-existent. The benefit as stated above, is incredibly longer engine life, provided oil changes are done on schedule for conditions of use and air filters maintained properly. I haven't heard the definitive reason unleaded fuels increase engine life, but it may be the lack of oil contamination. Don't worry about additives. Not worth the money.