Mercedes Mullins
Classic car owners often face a dilemma when it comes to choosing the right fuel for their vehicles. Older cars were typically designed to run on leaded fuel, which has been phased out in many countries due to environmental concerns and the introduction of catalytic converters. As a result, classic car owners have had to explore alternative fuelling options, such as converting their cars to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) or modern engine systems. While some opt for lead substitutes or fuel additives, others choose to use pure petrol fuels with high octane levels, despite their limited availability. This decision involves considering factors such as engine protection, corrosion, and the potential need for adjustments to ignition firing.
Fuels for Old Lead Cars
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaded fuel ban | Came into effect in 1992 in California, and in 1996 in the rest of the US; phased out in the UK in the early 2000s |
| Ethanol | Added to unleaded fuel to make it more environmentally-friendly, but it is corrosive and can damage older cars |
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas is an alternative fuel option for classic cars, but it requires a fuel tank conversion |
| Lead substitute | Can be added to standard fuel to protect older engines; some argue it is unnecessary, but it may help reduce the risk of using unleaded fuel in an engine intended for leaded gasoline |
| Octane level | Pure petrol fuels with a high octane level are almost phased out in the UK, but older cars may rely on this type of fuel |
| Hardened valve seats | Cars manufactured after the 1970s typically have hardened valve seats that can withstand unleaded fuel; older cars may have "soft" valve seats that are prone to damage from unleaded fuel |
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What You'll Learn
Using leaded fuel in old cars
Since leaded fuel was banned in 2000, car owners with older vehicles have had to find alternatives to keep their cars running. Cars built for lead-based fuels are incompatible with modern unleaded variants. Lead was previously used to protect compounds in fuel valves, and without it, old engines can suffer damage and wear. Ignition firing may also be affected and may need to be reset and adjusted to work with modern fuel.
Pure petrol fuels with a high octane level have almost been phased out in the UK, with only a few suppliers now offering high-octane fuel. Old cars rely on this kind of fuel as they are not built for modern alternatives, which can be too abrasive in the fuel system. Modern fuel can also be too corrosive for older cars, as ethanol, which is added to modern fuel to make it more environmentally friendly, absorbs moisture, which can cause components to rust.
If you own a classic car built for leaded fuel, you can either convert it to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or convert to a modern engine system. However, these conversions can be expensive. A cheaper option is to use a standard fuel and add lead with an additive like Redex Lead Replacement. Lead substitutes are not essential for most vehicles, but they can help older engines prevent premature valve issues and will not do any harm.
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Unleaded fuel and valve seats
The use of unleaded fuel in older cars that were built for leaded fuel can cause valve seat recession. This is due to the lack of lubrication provided by lead, which can lead to valve seat damage and wear. Engines running on leaded gasoline used valve seats that were ground directly into the cast iron head, whereas unleaded fuels require the use of hardened valve seats or proper seats installed into the heads.
The switch to unleaded fuel in the 1970s caused an increase in flame front speed, which resulted in micro-welding in older-style motors with valve seats machined into the cast iron head. Hardened steel valve seats were introduced as a long-term solution to this problem. However, even with these upgrades, some older cars may still require leaded gasoline or a lead substitute to function properly.
Lead substitutes are available for older cars that may not have hardened valve seats. While not essential for most vehicles, lead substitutes can help prevent premature valve issues in older engines. Additionally, lead additives can be added to standard fuel to protect the valves in older cars.
Converting a classic car to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is another option for those willing to compromise the authenticity of their vehicle. LPG is becoming more popular in the UK due to its affordability and reduced CO2 emissions. However, it can be expensive to convert the fuel tank to accept this new fuel type. Ultimately, the decision to use unleaded fuel in an old lead car depends on various factors, including the age of the car, the availability of alternative fuels, and the owner's preferences for performance, cost, and environmental impact.
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Modern fuel alternatives
Since leaded fuels were scrapped in the early 2000s, owners of old cars have had to look for alternative fuel options. Lead was previously used to protect compounds in the fuel valves, and without it, old engines can suffer damage and wear. Modern unleaded variants are therefore not a good match for older cars.
One option is to convert your car to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). LPG is becoming more popular in the UK due to its affordability and reduced CO2 emissions. However, converting the fuel tank can be expensive. Another option is to convert to a modern engine system, so you can use standard fuel. Again, this can be costly, and some people prefer to keep their car in its original condition.
If you want to keep your classic car as it is, you can use a standard fuel and add lead to it with an additive like Redex Lead Replacement. This contains additives that lubricate and protect the fuel system, safeguarding it against the harmful effects of ethanol. Lead replacement should be used in every tank to maintain performance and protect vulnerable components like valve seals.
Another option is to use a lead substitute. This is a common additive among classic car drivers, and while it may not be essential, it can help prevent premature valve issues in older engines. Some machinists and engine rebuilders recommend adding hardened seats to the cylinder heads, which would remove the need for a lead substitute. However, this is not always necessary, especially if the car is not driven far or worked hard.
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Ethanol in modern fuel
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials collectively known as "biomass". It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. Ethanol is commonly made from biomass such as corn or sugarcane. In the United States, 94% of ethanol is produced from the starch in corn grain. The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is possible only if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose. Typically, gasoline contains E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), which reduces air pollution. Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
Ethanol was first used to power an engine in 1826, and in 1876, Nicolaus Otto, the inventor of the modern four-cycle internal combustion engine, used ethanol to power an early engine. Ethanol's use as a fuel continued, and it even fuelled Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908. The first ethanol blended with gasoline for use as an octane booster occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, and was in high demand during World War II due to fuel shortages. The world's top ethanol fuel producers in 2011 were the United States and Brazil, accounting for 87.1% of world production.
Ethanol is added to modern fuel to make it more environmentally friendly, but its corrosive properties mean it can damage older cars that aren't built to run on it. Ethanol absorbs moisture, which can condense in the fuel tank and cause components to rust, especially when the car is stored for long periods. This is why classic car owners often opt to use lead replacement additives in their fuel.
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Lead substitutes
In the 1920s, Tetraethyllead (TEL) was added to gasoline to reduce engine knock and help prevent valve-seat recession. TEL raised the octane levels of gasoline and reduced costs. However, in the 1970s, regulators began phasing out TEL due to its negative effects on human health, the environment, and automotive catalytic converters.
As a result, engineers started designing engines with unleaded gas in mind, using hardened valve seats that are more resilient to valve recession. However, this poses a problem for classic car engines built before the widespread use of hardened valve seats. Running modern fuels in these older engines can cause serious damage and affect ignition firing.
Classic car owners can also consider converting their vehicles to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), which is becoming more popular in the UK for its affordability and reduced CO2 emissions. However, converting the fuel tank can be expensive. Another option is to use a standard fuel and add a lead substitute additive, such as Redex Lead Replacement.
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Frequently asked questions
Cars built for lead-based fuels don't work well with modern unleaded variants. You can either convert your car to a modern engine system or use a standard fuel and add lead to it with an additive like Redex Lead Replacement.
Modern fuel contains ethanol, which is added to make it more environmentally friendly. However, its corrosive properties mean it can damage older cars. Ethanol is "hygroscopic", meaning it absorbs moisture, which can cause components to rust.
You can use pure petrol fuels with a high octane level, although these are becoming harder to find. You could also convert your car to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), which is more affordable and environmentally friendly, although it can be expensive to convert the fuel tank.
A lead substitute is a small amount of additive that is added to the gas tank when you fill up. It is not essential, but it can help prevent premature valve issues in older engines. It is a cheap and easy way to reduce any risk of using unleaded fuel in an engine intended for leaded gasoline.
