Hot Rod Farmer: Diesel Fuel Additives…Snake Oil or Savior????
April 17, 2019Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:29 — 84.4MB)
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Home » Hot Rod Farmer: Diesel Fuel Additives…Snake Oil or Savior????
Hi Ray,
I really enjoy your podcast and have learned a lot. I have an old but
reliable 1964 JD 1010 tractor. Should I be using a lead additive in the
gas? What does the lead additive do?
Thank you!
Mike
Hello and thanks for listening to my show.
There are many different opinions on lead additives for modern gas with older engines. I like to look at the facts. Here they are:
Go to California or any other state where cars do not rust and you will see older original cars and trucks being used daily with modern gasoline, no additives and no reliability issues. There is no difference between a tractor or car engine in this respect.
The lead was a lubricant for the valve guides and to protect the valve seats and was also an inexpensive means to raise octane. Some machinist feel that if the cylinder head has not been rebuilt there is enough microscopic deposits on the valves to not require an additive. They also believe that if the head was rebuilt it requires it.
If you work the tractor as intended you may want to use a lead additive every once in a while but I really do not feel it is necessary even if the head was rebuilt. Some like to do it as insurance but we ran a Ford 9N for many years and never put a lead additive in it and had no problems. I would refrain from using any ethanol content higher than E-10 though since E has little lubricity.
If it is just a casual use or show machine it would not require the lead but if it makes you feel better… do it… you will not hurt anything.
If you have any more questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Thanks for listening an please check out the website too.
Have a blessed day,
Ray