So I was googling about the Avengers, and as it's leaded fuel something came up about putting "Lead balls" in the gas tank to alleviate the need of putting lead in when you fuel up. Has anyone done/heard of this?
I heard about it years ago, people using lead fishing sinkers and the likes.
I don't think it actually works. I think it is more an old wives tale because it doesn't put anywhere enough lead in to the petrol.
But you will have to use some kind of lead substitute. You used to be able to buy Valvemaster at the service station but I don't know if they still sell it.
Penrite do one that is good called Valve Shield http://www.classicgroup.net.nz/product_pcid_288.html (http://www.classicgroup.net.nz/product_pcid_288.html)
It is around $20 per bottle but it does 500 litres of fuel, so over 10 full tanks, only around $2 per full tank.
You need a lead substitute to stop what they call valve seat recession. Back in the day the lead was used as a lubricant so without it the the valves would wear out.
If you want a long term fix then rebuild the your engine with hardened valve seats and then you won't need to run any substitute. I have hardened valve seats in both my Avengers and my Charger so I don't need to worry about additives, it depends how long you are going to have the car and if you are going to rebuild the engine, most people just run the additives.
They're tin based..Fuelstar used to be a major brand that fitted in the petrol line. The ball ones are on Trademe.. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/other-accessories/auction-1546029455.htm?rsqid=0f1afc33d7a140cd999041b8326afd03 (https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/other-accessories/auction-1546029455.htm?rsqid=0f1afc33d7a140cd999041b8326afd03)
Rebuilding isn't on the cards anytime soon.. Just seen it come up a lot when googling for things to do with the Avenger. And it definitely interested me.. But without proof of it being a no thrills way of doing things, I may just go with the valve shield as it seems the most cost effective way to do things. In saying that if anyone else has any info on it i'd be interested to know
My Dad put a fuelstar onto his 1978 Avenger when the switch in petrol came along. I was skeptical however I had to take the head in this week as the old girl had lost compression. She was on the verge of loosing the exhaust and intake seats but once it was all stripped and machined it turned out it was just plain tuckered out. The car has 155,000 kms on it and the machinist said overall it was in good condition. There were no signs of valve recession - all it needed was a good valve grind its away again.
I'll put the lack of recession down to the Fuelstar. I'll put the need for a valve grind down to 155,000 kms of good motoring.
i have run the Morey's upper cylinder lubricant set up years ago on Hunters to avoid valve recession and had good results. The most noticeable one was evening out the rough idle those 1725 engines were renown for.
Cheers Brett