Unleaded fuel

[Gary Covert]

I just completed rebuilding the head on my Case S. I'm concerned about burning unleaded now. I won't be using it much just to pull once in a while, but as expensive as the rebuild was I don't want to burn the valves. Is there some sort of additive I should add to the gas?

 

[farmerdon]

A bit of outboard motor oil helps some of the old engines and replaces the lead for lube. I have an old MF forklift and it clattered and banged away until I was reminded of the oil trick and now it just purrs. Some engines it doesn't seem to make any difference

 

[Anonymous-0]

When you had the rebuild done didn't they put in hard valve seats ? We've been running unleaded fuel since 1973 and noticed little difference in wear. Actually some were cleaner, no lead deposits on head pistons, maybe imagination.

 

[old]

I've never had any problem with unleaded gas in any of the old tractors. The lead was there to help stop ignition preignition or knock. One these low compression engine theres no problem
Hobby farm

 

[JDemaris]

What Old said is not completely true. It is a well-known, proven fact that unleaded fuel speeds up valve seat wear/recession IF the seats are original cast-in-head type. Most good rebuilds though - result in new hard seat-inserts installed.

The reality is - if new seats are in - you've got no problem. If you have the old soft seats - and you don't use the tractor much - still no problem. If, however, you've got the old seats - and - are going to use it as a full time farm-tractor - valve life will be substantially shortened.

 

[Gary Covert]

The shop didn't put in new seats as they had been replaced at one time. They were afraid if they had to do any mill work on seat area they might get into the water jacket. They ground the seats and the new valves seated good.

 

[Larry59]

You can by the lead additive at many auto parts stores. I have some here right now. But after talking to many Case old times in the service area's. They told me it was ok to use the unlead but use the next grade of fuel up.
My tractor has had no problem and starts and runs great with the unlead and it is a 58 model.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Larry, In my opinion you have a very expensive can of "snake oil". If you read the can I'd be very surprised if it contained any type of "lead", Lead was used strictly as an Anti-knock. Think back most of the older tractors were dual fuel, distillate or tractor fuel had no lead. Ethyl Corp. was formed by GM in the 20's, when the first HP race was going on. Gas was poorly refined and compression is what makes HP. As a side note, most of Europe was using ETHANOL as anti-knock. You would do as well with a quart of ATF or even drain oil.