ronhatch Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi all, Has anybody used the fuel additive pellets that you add to the tank to allow use of non-leaded fuel http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-TR4-RUN-ON-NORMAL-95-UNLEADED-PETROL-INTANK-EASY-TO-FIT-AND-INSTALL-/271581537721?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276 they make great claims and I am trying to adopt a more trusting attitude in my mature years but old habits die hard ! Regards Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi Ron I think it is up there with snake oil and the cure for baldness, alrhought that may actually be possible if recent news reports are to be believed. But all joking aside, if they were any good, we'd all be using them. I use the Castrol additive without the ocraine booster without issue, although I'm going to have the value seats down over the winter. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ctc77965o Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Ron, These things have been around for 25 years but I still do not believe they work. I am a chemist, put simply Metals to not dissolve to any appreciable degree in organic liquids like petrol. So, the idea that these metal pellets somehow get into the fuel & protect the valve seats is complete nonsense. Tetraethyl Lead is a synthetic compound, not the result of bunging lead pipe in a jar of octane. I think it was called Broquet for many years...google "advertising standards broquet" for both sides of the story Remember that if you switch to unleaded after 30 years of leaded it will take many months for all the accumulated lead to be cleared, thats why people say that their engine is still fine after switching to the miracle solution...then after about 10K miles it's time for a valve job (and a chance to fit those hardened seats you always dreamed of). I am running a standard head on unleaded, I know I will eventually burn a valve, but so far i have 'pushed out' the head job by 3 years and might squeeze another 3 before the inevitable happens, no sign of vlave clearances closing up yet. My driving is mostly around town...I probably need sustained hi speed to promote the failure... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Ron, bullshit baffles brains. All of the variations on the pellet theme have one common feature - they are total ****, devoid of merit. Just my opinion, of course. Based on a not inconsiderable amount of research in the past. Cheers Alec. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Before I changed the valve seats for unleaded fuel I used a liquid lead substitute. Made by a mob calling it Valvemaster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 I'm with Jim Liquid additive Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Didn't they claim that it was developed so as to use low grade Russian fuel in Spitfires? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ronhatch Posted August 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi all, thanks for the replies, It looks like my innate cynicism is once again justified, it is the one that says it was developed for planes in the war . I was going to get the head done originally but thought I might avoid the expense and trouble. The search is still on for a miracle cure for all problems Regards Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
monty Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi Ron, I am using Redex fuel additive with Shell V power unleaded in my TR4 as not totally sure that the valve seats were hardened by the previous owner. May be overkill but wanted to be sure the seats will be ok. The Redex is easily & cheaply available on EBay & the relevant amount just needs to be used from the graduated bottle when refuelling. (I do not bother with it in the TR4A as I know the seats were done when the engine was rebuilt). Make sure you get the correct Redex item as they do several treatments for various things ( fuel cleaner, diesel additive etc). Cheers, Monty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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