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What type of gas should I use?


MikeS

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Well, I just got my 29 Chrysler running for the first time yesterday. It has been sitting for a while until I bought it. Runs like new but I am not sure what type of gas to use. It has the original straight 6 in it and about 60,000 miles. Should I use the lead additive??

Any Suggestion??

Thanks Guys....

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Guest DeSoto Frank

If it makes you feel more comfortable, mix a couple ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil in with the gas (follow directions on the can); don't overdo, or carbon will accumulate in the combustion chambers.

You really don't need to worry about unleaded shortening valve life (exhaust) unless you're really running the car hard for extended periods of time (like hours of cruising on the interstate @ speeds above 50 mph). For around town driving, straight no-lead should be fine....Chrysler had the hardest exhaust valves and seats of the day....

I would be more concerned about the possibility of getting alcohol-blended fuels which may attack rubber parts in your fuel system, if you get such "kick-a-poo joy juice" in your state.

Have run no-lead in my '48 Chrysler (over 20,000 miles) and '41 De Soto (10,000 miles) with no serious effects on the valves.

Frank McMullen

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I've got 477,000 miles on my daily driver (1930 Pontiac) I always used the lowest grade gas I could buy. I have never had any problems with my valves or seats. As an earlier poster said they didn't have leaded gas when our cars were built. A couple of times I have used the gas with alcohol added because it was all that was available. The only thing I noticed was the varnish coating came off my cork carb float. Another foot note. Up here in Canada I get a yellow deposit on my spark plugs after about 5000 miles if I have been using Shell gas.

Happy hobbying

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  • 2 weeks later...

I beg to differ, not on the need for lead addative in a 1929 car, but on the availability of gasoline containing tetraethyl lead in 1929.

Tetraethyl lead was developed by Charles Kettering in about 1924 and came into general use, but not too extensively, within a few years. Gasoline containing tetraethyl lead was at that time referred to as anti-knock gasoline. Its purpose was to prevent premature detonation in engines of the time.

The octane rating of gasoline in that era was rather low as was the compression ratio of the engines of the time. Today's gasolines are so far superior in octane rating compared to those of the '20s & early '30s that detonation in early engines shouldn't happen today. Hence, no need for the lead.

I do understand that some later engines need the lead as a lubricant for the valves, but that was not the case in the era we are discussing.

The source of the above information is based on research done by me in 1984. At that time I was AACA VP of Technical Matters and lead was being phased out of gasoline. Somebody had to ask the questions of the EPA and automotive engineers in order to provide the information to the AACA membership.

That was back in a simpler time when the VP of Technical Matters and/or the Board had more time to address member's concerns as they were not so involved in other more grandiose projects. Gee, I wish that someone would put that effort into researching and reporting knowledgably on the newly approved fire extinguisher. The only thing we seem to be told is what the manufacturer says and that "race car drivers like it." Oh well. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

hvs

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So was I, Wayne. Apparently there isn't much interest on the part of some folks who should be interested. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Judy just looked over my shoulder at this and said that one good car fire involving this extinguisher should answer the questions. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> It won't be one of ours. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

hvs

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