Lead substitute

[englishmauser]

Do you guys use lead substitute for your stock 230 engine? Or is it not necessary? Also it is hard to find gas around here without 10% ethanol blended in. Thanks.

[kwai]

The valve seats are hardened. You don't need to run a lead additive.

[kwai]

But the ethanol might destroy your fuel pump if you haven't rebuilt it already.

[englishmauser]

Previous owner installed a modern electric fuel pump, so I guess I'm good to go.That's cool that it has hardened valve seats. I thought maybe they didn't do that until leaded gas wasn't available.

[randyscycle]

The general rule of thumb is that any engine that has steel pressed in valve seats, or hardened valve seats won't have any issues with unleaded.

About the only issues I have seen personally with unleaded fuel were in stationary engines, industrial engines, and heavy equipment which was being used very hard for long periods of time. Then, valves pulled up in the seats. Lead was primarily added though for anti-knock properties. It did provide some lubrication to the valve components too.