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New Use for an Old Favorite
AMSOIL Series 2000 Octane Boost Doubles as a Lead Substitute
AMSOIL Series 2000 Octane Boost has long been the product of choice for those who are looking to improve the performance of two-cycle and four-cycle gasoline fueled engines. And now there is another great reason to use it in older gasoline fueled engines. AMSOIL Octane Boost has been approved for use in those engines requiring lead fuel or a lead substitute.
When tetraethyl lead (TEL) was
eliminated as a motor fuel additive for highway use, the need to
replace some of its performance features, especially to protect
older vehicles, was hotly debated in the oil and auto industries.
Due to the elimination of TEL, a test protocol was developed by
the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) to
evaluate the effectiveness of lead substitutes in protecting
older engines against valve seat recession (VSR). These test
protocols were developed for the United Kingdom because the
population of older vehicles with “soft” valve seats is
much greater there than in the United States. Driving speeds,
which tend to be higher in the U.K., were also a reason the
protocols were developed.
When the temperature within an engine increases as a result of high speeds or loads, a phenomenon known as “microwelding” can occur. This condition is especially prevalent in older engines. VSR occurs when two surfaces (for example, the exhaust valve seat and the valve header) make contact and the temperatures of the surfaces are significantly elevated. Eventually, the metal surfaces will weld together. When the mechanical action of the camshaft separates the two metal surfaces, the softer metal (the valve seat in this example) is eroded. The ultimate result is loss of cylinder compression and eventual engine failure.
Tetraethyl lead effectively prevented valve seat recession because the lead oxide that formed during the combustion process served as a high temperature lubricant, preventing the potential destructive metal-to-metal contact between the valve and its seat. More recently, octane booster has been found to play a similar role. AMSOIL has used this technology in this area to provide formulations capable of protecting older vehicles against valve seat recession.
What type of vehicles will benefit from having a lead substitute added to the fuel mixture? Older car and truck engines, especially those used as collector automobiles, may require a lead substitute to prevent valve seat recession. In addition, there are many models of older off-road equipment such as dump trucks, tractors and tow vehicles that will benefit from a lead substitute.
Older four-cycle marine engines found on many large pleasure craft boats will also benefit from this added protection. For example, older Chris Craft boats are prime candidates for an AMSOIL Octane Boost treatment. These types of boats are typically in service for many years, due to the low amount of miles and hours of usage accumulated per year and the high value of the overall unit.
Older models of motor homes are also pleasure vehicles that may see low mileage usage for only part of each year. The high replacement cost of these units and their parts are another great incentive to try AMSOIL Octane Boost for its lead substitute benefits.
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