Unleaded fuel in our old engines

[Nosparkplug]

Does anyone on here advocate using lead additives in their ethanol free gas? I have a source for leaded avgas that I am considering using since these these engines were designed when lead in gas was a good lubricant for the valve train. Opinions?

[Gary Dotson]

Unleaded gas causes no issues in low rpm antique tractor engines. The issue, back in the day, was exhaust valve seat recession but with the low rpm and very light valve spring pressure it’s not a problem. If you want to buy more expensive gas, get ethanol free gas.

[Gary S.]

When these engines were designed leaded gas was not the norm that did not come about until the mid 50's when compression ratio's were increased. In the 40's and 50's being sold to markets all over the US I'm sure some deep south owners were even running white gas. I live in a state when you just cannot even get non ethanol gas. They run just fine on alky.

[inairam]

I do use the stabil 360 marine ( blue not red) gas treatment because like Gary I can not get non-ethanol gas except at an airport.

[Don McCombs]

In addition to airports, non-ethanol gasoline can sometimes be found in areas with high boating activity.

[Nosparkplug]

I run ethanol free in my boat, lawn mower, weed eater, chain saw and tractor. Gary Dotson answered my question. I have a friend that works at an airport and due to FAA requirements they have an abundance of leaded gas that can’t be used so I can get some at no cost. The lead was what my question was directed at. I think I’ll use it because I believe the lead will be of benefit for the tractor. Gary S, lead was added to gasoline in the ‘20s.

[Waif]

Lead was the cheaper alternative to increase octane. Octane needed to be increased in higher compression engines to reduce or eliminate knock.
Thomas Midgely was a major factor in using lead. And he gets credit for popularizing CFC's. Quite the combo...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Midgley_Jr.

[Jim Becker]

TEL was first added to gas in the 1920s but was not heavily used until GM started building high compression engines ('40s and more so in the '50s). It was mostly used in "premium" gas, with comparatively little or even none in regular. A lot of us that post here are old enough to remember when gas was marketed as "regular" and "ethyl". Tractor gas, as supplied by feed stores etc. was notoriously low on octane, but tractors were fine with it.

When I was in college ('60s), one of my classmates had a VW. When he was particularly hard up, he would gas up at an Agway. He complained that even his VW didn't run well on Agway regular.

[tst]

Here in NY "Stewarts" is a chain C Store and they do offer non ethanol premium, not that I need it for tractors but is a big help in small engines such as lawn mowers etc as the carbs to not clog up

[Matt Kirsch]

I run ethanol free in my boat, lawn mower, weed eater, chain saw and tractor. Gary Dotson answered my question. I have a friend that works at an airport and due to FAA requirements they have an abundance of leaded gas that can’t be used so I can get some at no cost. The lead was what my question was directed at. I think I’ll use it because I believe the lead will be of benefit for the tractor. Gary S, lead was added to gasoline in the ‘20s.

Use it because it's free, not because of the lead

[Nosparkplug]

I will! I put some in my gas golf cart and you wouldn’t believe how much it quieted the valves on it.

[Nosparkplug]

Jim Becker, I was not in college in the sixties but I also remember regular and Ethyl.

[Urbish]

I've been running 87 octane regular unleaded gas (up to 10% ethanol) in my tractors for years without any issues whatsoever.

[Eugene]

I've been running 87 octane regular unleaded gas (up to 10% ethanol) in my tractors for years without any issues whatsoever.

Me too. Almost 25 years since I installed a short block in my Cub.
That Cub is probably due for a tune up.

[JimCub48]

I use non oxygenated gas , in the cub and all small engines, marine, boats , blowers, mowers, saws , ect , its a little more expensive , but has been problem free. Especially if it stays in the tank for any amount of time.