Unleaded Gas

[GMC_Dude]

I've heard a lot of different perspectives about unleaded gas and valves. The one that seems to make the most sense to me is the one that if your valves are broken in well on leaded gas, switching to unleaded is no big deal. However if you have fresh valves you better have leaded gas or hardened valve seats. I've been using unleaded gas only for the last 12 years and 30,000 miles with no issues. Am I living on borrowed time?

Darrell Hein
250 Inline 6

Thanks

[raycow]

Speaking only for myself, I have never had any problem with these engines on unleaded fuel following a valve grind. As a qualification though, I have not needed to subject any of them to prolonged full-throttle operation.

The above applies only to the earlier engines that had a detachable intake manifold. I have indeed heard stories of problems with the later ones that had integral manifolds, but I have never owned one of those.

Ray

[Vernski]

When I had my engine re-done they put the new seats in. My re-builder said I should use the zinc additive in the oil for the flat tappets wear on the camshaft lobs so I've been using Ams-oil syn. w/zinc with no problems. And no problems with the new style seats. It is a 230 engine, somewhere I was reading about the alcohol in the fuel could cause problems as they keep putting more in the fuel in the future even in newer vehicles. Always something to look out for these days...Vernski

[BarryGMC]

The ethanol is hard on the fuel systems. Find a source for ethanol free fuel and run it if you can, Barry

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by BarryGMC

The ethanol is hard on the fuel systems. Find a source for ethanol free fuel and run it if you can, Barry

Thanks for the tip Barry, I will have to look around the area maybe Co-op has it for the farmers...Vernski

[BarryGMC]

Hi Vernski. Betts fuel here in spokane has ethanol free fuel. Its near Freya and riverside. I get all my fuel for the old stuff there. Barry