Sue,
1 & 2 are, IMHO, the best solution, but you say you can't afford them, so:
3 - never heard of this, unless you mean additives, which you don't, because
that's number 5!
4 - definitely don't! One independant survey I read showed that at least one of
these in-line things significantly increases (yes, increases!) valve-seat
recession!
5 - not sure of the price - I suspect that if you do high mileage it may add up
over time. But some of these are pretty good. I'd find several independant
surveys and use one which consistently comes out ok (can't recommend one, since
I haven't used them myself)
6 - apparently, some petrol stations have been selling LRP, and badging it as 4*
for some time - I don't know if I believe this or not. But the same applies as
for 5 - find some independant surveys and stick with those that consistently
come out with good results. The downside of this is that there are various
opinions about how many places this will be available at - you don't want to
have to drive 50 miles to fill up just because there isn't anywhere nearer that
sells LRP.
7 - as you say, this is what Kipping recommends, and he generally knows what
he's talking about. One thing to consider - the only thing you can damage by
doing this is the valve seats - so if you're thinking of replacing the valve
seats or the whole head at any point in the future, there's absolutely no harm
in putting unleaded in, waiting until the valve seats are sufficiently recessed
that they can't be adjusted correctly any more (which will be a long wait if you
believe Kipping) and then replacing them.
Hope that helps!
Dean
-------------
(PS did you say you're going to MoT? I may be there myself - not 100% yet)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 21:04:48 +0100
From: "Sue" <suzie_bear@hotmail.com>
Subject: The dreaded unleaded problem
Here in the UK we're coming up to our own Millennium bugbear, as of 1/1/00
there's to be no more leaded petrol at the pumps.
There are as many opinions as there are alternatives so I'm asking advice
from the oracle - the list!
I realise the main sure fire way is to convert the engine with an unleaded
head but I can almost see the bank manager shaking his head, the current
state of my finances rules that out for the foreseeable future.
As I understand it the options include the following:
1 - changing the head
2 - changing the valve seats
3 - putting a 'thing' in the petrol tank
4 - putting an in-line 'thing' in the fuel line
5 - putting additives in with the fuel each time
6 - using Lead replacement Petrol
7 - just putting in unleaded
My feelings on these options are:
1 & 2 - as stated before - I really can't afford it yet
3 & 4 - how can they possibly work?
5 & 6 - there are so many options & I undestand that once you choose one
type (potassium, sodium, manganese or phosphorus) you have stick with it. As
I've just read an article which stated that 'All work on the proposed
British Standards for Lead Replacement Petrol has been ceased' apparently
because no-one can decide which way to go, how should I be able to decide
which to use?
7 - According to Kippings catalogue 'the simplest way to convert your car to
run on unleaded fuel is to put it into the tank'.
So far I've always had good advice from Kippings and my intention is to do
the latter. I believe my engine to be original so it should have a decent
lead memory and I don't do great mileage or drive at high speed. Presumably
a few months into next year there should be better information as to which
options work the best.
Remember, I'm the 'mechanically ignorant' one so please be gentle with me
and my level of knowledge but I'd really appreciate hearing some other views
on this.
Sue
'68 MkIII
PS. I tried a tankful of unleaded out of curiosity a few months ago and I
didn't notice any difference in it's running or performance.
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