lead additive to prolong the life of my car?

[Clifford Pope]

My previous 2000, an early Mk1, was very prone to pinking, which was only effectively cured by adding Millers VSP. It only needed half a bottle though, not the full dose.

My present Mk1 has the 2500 engine, which engine I have read is pink-proof. It did show a slight tendency, cured by retarding the ignition 2 degrees.

I'm sure all the arguments about VSE are correct - it's unlikely/minimal, and saving up for an unleaded head would make better sense - but the alcohol argument sounds more worrying.
Does additive protect the fuel system as well, or only parts at risk in the combustion process?

[johnnydog]

Incidentally, in the Triumphs that I have used the VSPe, I have never had any form of pinking, either under load or towing, and the ignition has always been set to the book, never retarded at all. The cars are two Mk1 2000's and a 2500S. My PI's have not been on the road since the introduction of unleaded, so it will interesting to see how they perform with the additive. Also interesting to see what recommissioning in the fuel department will be necessary.....

[johnnydog]

In answer to your query Clifford, my understanding is that ethanol attacks metal components in the fuel system, the tank , fuel lines, and the soft metal components such as jets and needles etc. Many modern vehicles now have plastic tanks and fuel lines, and the components in the fuel system are designed to withstand the effects of ethanol. This is why manufactures recommend draining fuel out of seasonal items such as lawn mowers and hedge trimmers etc, as modern fuel goes 'off' within several months, and the ethanol can do its worst! If you have the time to search there is a very good clip on YouTube where a very basic experiment is carried using a clear glass ashtray with unleaded fuel in it, using a small fan to blow air across the fuel thereby accelerating the ageing process. You'll be surprised how within a matter of minutes, the fuel changes it's appearance becoming cloudy and develops sediment in the bottom of the ashtray. And we all know where this sediment could end up......
So this now leads on to the subject of whether the use of a fuel stabiliser should be added to a car or lawnmower during long periods of inactivity......
I'm not an expert on these matters, it's just a result of intensive research and my conclusions and opinions as a result of this research!
John

[KellyTurner1990]

I have looked into some of the testing which they do on some of these products and which have passed the testing and have found this

"Which additive came out best?

THERE'S very little in it, though Millers is the only choice if you need an octane boost. It works out at about 8p per litre of treated petrol; Superblend (which produced the best results in the Federation tests) is 5p, Redline and Valvemaster just 3p. Even better results may be obtained by using a greater concentration; for example, Redline asked for its test to be at its standard recommended dosage, even though the bottle recommends a double dose for high speed/load motoring. Do not mix additives or exceed the recommended dose: excessive concentrations might cause deposits that make valves stick open and damage the engine."

Ive looked at prices myself to go with this and for myself and think that the valvemaster plus may be my best option as it doesn't increase the running costs by tooooo much but should do a better job than the redex I am using.

The reason I am concerned is that I do alot of miles and just want to protect my car as much as i can afford to really.

Thanks all for your help. Any advise on the castrol valvemaster plus?

[KellyTurner1990]

I have looked into some of the testing which they do on some of these products and which have passed the testing and have found this

"Which additive came out best?

THERE'S very little in it, though Millers is the only choice if you need an octane boost. It works out at about 8p per litre of treated petrol; Superblend (which produced the best results in the Federation tests) is 5p, Redline and Valvemaster just 3p. Even better results may be obtained by using a greater concentration; for example, Redline asked for its test to be at its standard recommended dosage, even though the bottle recommends a double dose for high speed/load motoring. Do not mix additives or exceed the recommended dose: excessive concentrations might cause deposits that make valves stick open and damage the engine."

Ive looked at prices myself to go with this and for myself and think that the valvemaster plus may be my best option as it doesn't increase the running costs by tooooo much but should do a better job than the redex I am using.

The reason I am concerned is that I do alot of miles and just want to protect my car as much as i can afford to really.

Thanks all for your help. Any advise on the castrol valvemaster plus?

[Alan Chatterton]

When I did use it, I used super blend as it produced the best results on the fbhvc tests.

[tony]

Some years ago I fitted a "Flashlube" kit to my TC. It's a bottle with a metering valve on top and connected to the inlet manifold by drilling a couple of holes and running vacuum hoses, One for each carb. Flashlube supply the liquid that goes into the bottle. Originally made for LPG conversions apparently.
I honestly don't know if it does any good or not but I've had no noticable valve seat recession and am still using it. I run on super which is 98 octane over here.
It's an Aussie product so Andy Thompson may have some knowledge of this.
Tony.

[quentin]

I use Castrol Valvemaster in my 1975 2500TC. I don't know much about the technology, but my 'spanner man' advised me not to use it on every fill of the tank, he suggested every 2 or 3 fills.
Not much help I know, but another little piece of the jigsaw perhaps.
Quentin

[Clifford Pope]

In answer to your query Clifford, my understanding is that ethanol attacks metal components in the fuel system, the tank , fuel lines, and the soft metal components such as jets and needles etc.

I seems to me in summary there are 3 possible areas of concern:

1) valve seat recession from lack of lead
2) possible need for octane boost
3) alcohol attack on cold components in the fuel system

VSP seems clearly to be effective for (1) and (2), and VSPe is claimed to be effective additionally for (3). But has this been tested and proved?

Is the advice still to do nothing, wait and see, and save up for a new fuel tank and carburettor components when they leak or start failing?

Is VSPe claimed to inhibit the "aging process" in stored petrol, or is that a different process and nothing to do with ethanol?

[Mike Stevens]

I don't think that ethanol will affect the tank itself. I believe it can have an effect on brass and copper components (Tank outlet, bits in the pump, needle valves etc!). However, at the 5% level which we're supposed to have I understand that there should not be an issue. I don't know if that's the case with 10%.

I have to admit to trying one of those tin pellet things which was put into the tank on our 1st PI. This was back in the 80's when unleaded petrol first came out. We ran that car like that for over 30k miles on unleaded (and no other additives) with no detrimental effects. In hindsight, I suspect that it was with no effects at all!

My thoughts on the unleaded debate is that the proper solution is to have the head fitted with hardened exhaust seats and valves. My way of using unleaded is to just use the car as-is (with no additives). So far I've not had any valve recession problems but if I do, the fix is to have the head fitted with hardened exhaust seats and valves. Note this is the same as the 'proper' solution! So I'm just carrying on and will fix the head if a problem arrives. I suspect that it won't.

Pre-ignition can be a bigger issue with unleaded as the SIT (Self Igniton Temperature) is lower than for leaded (I believe) and it is rumoured that unleaded burns hotter too. My solution is to back off the advance if it's an issue, but to be honest it hasn't been so far. Anyway, I tend to set the timing so that it doesn't pink rather than just the book figure. After all, we can't get the fuel that was around then!

The ethanol problem still needs resolving and if the VSPe additive helps, then that might be the way forward....

Just my 4p worth!

Cheers,
Mike.