MF64VETTE

Does anyone with a 327/300 hp engine use a leaded fuel additive to prevent spark plug fouling? If so, where you you get it?

sixtyseven427

I don't use the additive (I blend race fuel and pump fuel) but one of the people that sells the lead additive Jack Podell. His e-mail is: podellsfi@aol.com and his phone # is 219 232-6430.

396 RAT

Thanks for the info, I do not have a close source for Race fuel, or AV gas.
A 55 gallon drum in the garage has not happened yet either, so I might give this a try. :cheers:
This is "real" Lead right? Not Lead substitute, as I have seen on the shelf.


[Modified by 396 RAT, 7:46 AM 5/16/2002]

Curtis

Never heard of using lead for that reason. I thought people used to use lead for old types of seals. I personally would never use lead anymore. We breath enough crap let alone adding lead to the mix.

Enjoy,
Curt

Dave's '67

Lead additive will by nature "foul" your plugs. It's not necessary anymore. Are you running a very high compression engine?

Dave

Kid_Again

hmmmmm......i'm not an expert on tel but i'm not sure i'd agree with what is said here - based on a fairly extensive set of posts a while ago which were authored by some folks who clearly know the ic engine...


..tel, added correctly, will not cause plugs to foul - i'd be interested in hearing an explanation for tel causing plugs to foul....(not being smart, just never heard of that before)..tel is added primarily as an octane booster, secondarily it lubricates the valves...since the engines were designed to run on lead, unless the engine has been rebuilt to run on conventional pump gas, it should be fueled with leaded gas....from some of the posts that i've seen from people that i trust, not using lead will cause detonation unless the timing is seriously modified - you don't have to hear detonation to have it cause damage..

...finally there's no need to worry about the environmental damage caused by classic cars running on leaded gasoline - the incremental damage is of vanishingly small insignificance and clearly of no practical consequence...


...in general, plugs foul because of too rich a mixture, too little spark a combination of both or really lousy tune ups

Curtis

<snip>
"tel is added primarily as an octane booster, secondarily it lubricates the valves...since the engines were designed to run on lead, unless the engine has been rebuilt to run on conventional pump gas, it should be fueled with leaded gas"

Who would build an engine in the last 10 or so years that would require lead? I guess if you are running a really old engine you may need such a thing. Other than that I see no reason for the stuff.

Enjoy,
Curt

396 RAT

There are a few left out there.
I own 2 that have orig valves & seats and are
both 11-1 w/solid lifters.
The 65 306hp (factory Cobra kit) 289 was rebuilt in 1971 @ 35,000, car now has 75,000.
The 396 was rebuilt in 1976, 20,000 miles ago (car has 80k total)
Both run very strong, and dont see any need for rebuilding
for quite some time. So this product might be perfect for
my application? So I'm looking into it. :yesnod:

Viet Nam Vett

Same here 396 Rat,
My 65 Dual Quad Cp. was freshed up about 4 years ago with a new cam and lifters and full roller rockers and springs. Since the Comp was way up their and strong we did not pull the heads. Since this was not a matching motor we left the cyl's & heads go as they were strong. But I have been runing a lead additive ever since I purchased the car. I was tought in auto school that one of the prime reasons you use lead was to keep the valve seat's and valves and guides lubed up as they rotated in their up and down motion. If the vale seats and vales are of a steel blend then no lead is required. I remember that grayish powder that you would see at the end of the tail pipe back in the day. That Powder was the unburned lead.When you had that nice color gray your mixture was set perfect. But I'm showing my age. Today you don't get that same color from these lead additive's, I guess because it's not as strong.

Anyway, No problems runing lead.

65Dual Quad Cp. 86 Vortec Blown Cp :seeya

Kid_Again

....i'm not really saying that someone would rebuild an engine with soft, old style seats - what i'm saying is there are a lot of heads out there that have not been fitted with hardened seats and car buyers will simply believe the story they are told that the engine has been "rebuilt to run on pump gas"....seems like documentation is not that important to many people....that, in a phrase, is the definition of a sucker.....

...when in doubt, run lead

Curtis

I guess I do a little checking before I go out and buy lead for my fuel. I don't need it, but if you know what you are doing like 396RAT, that is another story. He knows what he has and he is doing what he has to do. I know what I have and I don't need to waste money on an additive for nothing. My '55 Chevy didn't need lead either.

Enjoy,
Curt

67435animal

Spark plugs foul (fuel fouling) when your mixture is too rich. I'd tune the engine and the carb to correct this. Lead additive or not has nothing to do with your problem.

396 RAT

Here is some info I recieved answering the e-mail I sent.
Still would like more info on the product.
Will send e-mail #2.
Works out to about $6.50 per tank.
Anyone out there using this product?
Feed back?
I have used lead substitute, but could not tell any diff.
This sounds quite a bit different.:smash:

Mark,
You will have to use at least 1/2 quart per tank with 91, that will give you the equivalent of 98.5 leaded. because of your 91 premium situation, you may have to add a little more than 1/2 quart per tank. 1 case is $128 plus $25 shipping to your location, 2 cases or more are $119 ea plus $25 shipping per case. If you want you can send a check or money order to Jack Podell 106 Wakewa Ave South Bend IN 46617, if you want it sent COD UPS charges an additional $6 for the service.
Regards,
Jack
:smash:

hot1corvette1

I am running a mix of race fuel with pump gas. Works great. I know there are a number of available octane boosters. Is this Podell product an octane booster or is actually LEAD in the bottle???
Mark

67435animal

It is supposed to be real TEL. But, I have tried both TEL from Podell and the racing fuel mixture. Racing fuel is definitely superior if you can buy it. My 67 442 still pinged with TEL but loves the racing fuel mix. I have not tried TEL on the 435.

chitown65

I have been using Poddels additive, Tel, in my L78 for two years. I have no easy access to racing fuel so this seemed like a good alternative. The car runs strong, plenty of advance with no pinging and same set of AC45 plugs.

Just be careful with the Tel. It is dangerous stuff.

Chris

396 RAT

Thanks Cris,
Thats what I wanted to here!

clem zahrobsky

go to http://www.kemcooil.com for TEL. maybe you can get a group purchase. :chevy


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 9:53 AM 5/18/2002]

396 RAT

Thanks for the link, the mix rate seems higher than Poddels.
Also did not see pricing? Do you have any 1st hand knowlege
with these products?
(E-mail is fine, would like your honest opinion)
Thanks!

Guest

I have been using Stewart-Warner CD-2 Lead Substitute for a while now. I just keep a quart with me. Mixes at the ratio of 1 OZ per 10 gallons. If the heads come off the motor, then I will have the valve seats and guides hardened to be able to use un-leaded. I believe you question was more about octane booster on a big block.. Just my experience.