Lead additives

[Impalaguru]

Hi Everyone,
It seems that my old supplier for lead has dropped the product. Does anyone have a brand of real lead fuel additive they could reccomend? Any web addresses or phone#s would also be very helpful!
Ross

[Bungy]

This guy sells the good stuff. Jack Podell. (574) 232-6430 email: podellsfi@aol.com

[real61ss]

Ross,
You'll probably think this sounds crazy but try mixing 1 gt of K-1 kerosene to 5 gallons of 93 oc gas. Back in 1993, the Late Great Chevy Convention was here in Richmond Va. and Lamar Waldon put on a presentation about the 409 motors he builds. He suggested the K-1 thing and I've been doing it every since. It'll stop a motor from pinging in a heartbeat!!

[409z28]

Use Valvetect. Great stuff!!! go to valvetect.com,,, I use it in my 409 and Z28 no problems with valves or seats.

[bobs409]

Great post. We need to hammer this out a bit...

I've been mixing a little Marvel Mystery oil in with every other tankfull as recommended by the guy that put my 409 together. He said that should be enough to protect the valves. Anyone else using that or have thoughts on it?

This is the first I've ever heard of using Kerosene. It's cheap enough to do. Kerosene is one fuel that didn't go up! Anyone else using that? I don't feel like experimenting with my 409 so would need more on that first. :D

[MRHP]

I talked to Lamar for a while on the kerosene bit last year. He told me it contains toulene among other ingredients that gasoline had lost over the years. I tried the kerosene trick with the first build on my 474 and it didn't help spark knock :) at all. I also had tried 110 race fuel and that didn't work either. If I have to use a fuel additive, I would try the kerosene again.

[dq409]

Speaking of not going up in price,,,,, race fuel !! Same as last year at $5.50 gal,,,dq

[Impalaguru]

Thanks for the info, guys!! I am mainly after the lead for protective reasons. I drive my 409 everyday and I want to keep it running for many more years to come.

I think I remember someone posting somthing about the kerosene trick a while ago. I sure wish I knew about that with my last 409. It would ping fairly easily.

Did the tolulene in the fuel keep it from being prone to preignition?

Tommy, have you noticed any change in performance in your cars after you've driven them for a period of time? Do the cars act the same as if they had been run on straight gasoline? I'm very tempted to try the kerosene myself!

Ross

[real61ss]

Ross,
The kerosene is not going to hurt it. I used to run it in my old dualie truck cause it would ping terrible without it. I think I see an improvement in the cars when I run it. I use it in my 58 Corvette and that's a fuelie. The guy that I buy parts for the fuelie from advised me not to run it, said it might clog the injectors up. I think it does the opposite. Open a can of injector cleaner and smell it, then smell the kerosene, very simialar.
Tommy

[bobs409]

I noticed that alot of "Lead substitutes" don't contain lead (the substitute part) but list, "petroleum distillates." I guess that means OIL? They sure look and smell like oil to me.

I used to use CD-2 lead substitute (I think that was the name) way back when we first lost regular leaded gas. It looks like oil to me. Was $7.00 for a 32 ounce bottle and you would use an ounce or two at each fill up. (can't remember the exact measurement) It's still available but I think it was a crock! (but I could be wrong since I don't have my own labratory to test it) :D

[64ss409]

I am not sure that any of the additives actually contain tetra-ethyl lead any more. Anyway I have not seen an additve that has it. That was the additive used in the "good old gas". If it is available, you would definitaly not want to put it in a newer vehicle.

I had hard seats put in the 09 this time and reduced the comp ratio just a little, so don't worry about additives any more.

Ron

[Bungy]

Impalaguru, The product sold by Jack Podell contains tetraethyl. I think it's called Max Lead. This stuff will protect your valve seats guaranteed and depending on how much you add to a tank full, it could raise your octane as much as 10 points.

[jester]

Ross,
You'll probably think this sounds crazy but try mixing 1 gt of K-1 kerosene to 5 gallons of 93 oc gas. Back in 1993, the Late Great Chevy Convention was here in Richmond Va. and Lamar Waldon put on a presentation about the 409 motors he builds. He suggested the K-1 thing and I've been doing it every since. It'll stop a motor from pinging in a heartbeat!!
This sounds very strange to me. Does adding the K-1 to the fuel cause the motor to smoke?. I know that when I fuel my bike up, I need to be sure that the gas pump does not dispense diesel fuel. If the person before me pumped diesel then I get what remains in the hose which causes the bike to smoke way to much for my liking.
Any Ideas?

[real61ss]

Jester,
I have noticed the Corvette smoking some when it's cold. After the choke opens up it stops, I've never noticed it smoking as you are driving it.

[MRHP]

My 409 didn't smoke but the exhaust did smell a little different.

[dq409]

There is a guy that rebuilds and sells early Chevy fuel-injection systems that still sells tetra-ethyl lead in gal jugs that I see at the big swap meets.
I still have several gals left.
I know he works out of the mid south somewhere and might be able to dig up his info if I can find it.

They still produce tetra-ethyl lead for use in Av gas and other products.

You can use high lead Av-gas and get the lead protection you want.
Just mix even a small amout with your pump gas and you will be fine,,,, dq