Seen in Exchagne and Mart:
Runs on unleaded, converted by means of fuel catalyst; pellets in petrol tank.
Fairies at the bottom of the garden? (Or fairies at bottom of garden...)
|
|
I seem to recall about 5 years ago that Practical Classics magazine ran a B series BL engine on a long term test using unleaded with these pellets (either in the tank or in a canister in the fuel line) and they basically ruined a cylinder head through exhaust valve seat recession within a very short mileage.
|
|
I've read about all sorts of stuff like this and have not yet come up with any convincing evidence that it works, and I have encountered resounding condemnation of such gizmos by those better informed than I am, not least in the Back Room itself. Someone fairly high up in one of the car clubs I belong to promotes and sells the Powerplus filters, which supposedly obviate the need for lead additives; he has never replied to my e-mail gently querying their validity. The expert consensus seems to be "snake oil". So, thus far, the only products that convince me are lead additives from such reputable sources as Castrol and Millers, and I run my old Capri with Castrol Valvemaster.
|
An engine designed for leaded fuel will often run quite happily on unleaded if sustained high revs are not used. I think this has led some to believ that these catalyst type devices do work. Even my local ford main dealer sells
total waste of money.
|
|
|
|
|
unless the head was modified to take unleaded all the additives in the world could not compensate.especially if hard revs are regularly used.but I think it kept garages happy in doing the conversions.in some cases was cheaper than buying a lead free car.
|
There is a much-publicised device called a "B*****t" which allegedly gives both valve protection and octane boost. I think the lead memory effect combined with gentle driving account for the apparent prevention of valve seat recession, and the small mileages covered by a lot of the older cars to which they are fitted.
As for the octane boost, I find it hard to believe. However it was apparently developed during the war so that Spitfires supplied to Russia could run on the lower octane fuel they used there. Perhaps they only did a small mileage though.
I have always found it very suspicious that a product developed to solve one problem (low octane) could so miraculously solve another (valve seat recession)
The concensus in old car clubs seems to be to use an additive like Millers or Valvemaster, or the new real lead Tetraboost.
|
Cliff, I absolutely agree with your comment regarding the total uselessness of so-called fuel catalysts.
Very elaborate tests of lead-replacement additives and fuel catalysts were carried out in 1998 by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) at the request of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) and with assistance from Rover. Rover's part was to supply a batch of 'A' series heads, these being prone to valve seat recession.
The additives that passed the tests can be recognised by the FBHVC's approval crest on the bottle. It's a waste of time looking for the crest of approval on catalysts because none of them have it.
|
|
|
|
