Necessary Additives vs. Unnecessary????

[dust-em340]

Fellow Enthusiasts; I have been out of the muscle car arena for quite some time and have a general concern about additives. When I last had a MOPAR muscle car all gas was leaded (please dont laugh). At a cruise last night the question was asked of me if I use a lead or octane additive in my 340. Just having bought the car this past October, I dont know the total mechanical history of my engine. The engine is very tight and has no leakage what-so-ever yet not knowing if it has hardened valve seats or not makes me ponder. Any input would be greatly appreciated........Don......

 

[AdamR]

I have never used any additives in any of my cars. I do spike the gas with a little 110 octane leaded race fuel once and a while but only because I like the smell. Not for the lead. :mrgreen:

 

[OUTLAW]

Sure hardened seats are the way to go , but I wouldn't tear it down to do them . It takes at least 40 -60,000 miles to see the effects of running with out the benifits of lead in the gas. So unless yours is a daily driver and you rack up lots of miles on it I wouldn't worry about it. Besides if you get the car addicted to octain boosters and your out away from home and dont have any, you end up doing more damage to your engine driving home with it pinging and rattleing than if you tune it up properly to run without it to begin with. It's kind of like having a "crack baby", everything is fine as long as you got a few rocks, but run out and all hell breaks loose .

 

[moper]

if you dont drive it like OUTLAW says, then you dont need tosweat the additives..In all cases, they are a band aid or crutch for a problem..As far as seats go, they are less of a problem if you are using the car for local running around.

 

[dust-em340]

Fellow Enthusiasts; Thank You for the words of wisdom, any and all advise is taken to heart. Slowly past lost knowledge will rekindle and future knoledge will multiply, hopefully the brain cells can handle it.

 

[bigdoggeorge]

Don't laugh! I've got a '69 Valiant with a 170 CID 6 that I'm restoring to original condition. It only has 44k original miles on it. Anyone know if it was designed for leaded or unleaded fuel. I don't have an owners manual at this time so can't look it up.

 

[383man]

I agree as we have not used any additives in our cars. The boys Dart runs 93 pump where ever he can get it. No hardened seats in it and I did not put them in my 906 heads going on my 63. Ron

 

[dgc333]

Don't laugh! I've got a '69 Valiant with a 170 CID 6 that I'm restoring to original condition. It only has 44k original miles on it. Anyone know if it was designed for leaded or unleaded fuel. I don't have an owners manual at this time so can't look it up.

Low-Lead started in 73 and No-Lead was a few yeas latter when catalytic convertors first started appearing. Prior to 73 all gas had lead in it.

 

[Joeychgo]

I like to use lucas treatment in both my engine and transmission, but thats it.