horsefly
New member
I have a JD300 built in the 60's. Should I be adding any lead substitutes to the gas? I'm unsure about the valves with the
unleaded stuff we get now days.
unleaded stuff we get now days.
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gasoline additives for older Deeres?
- Thread starter horsefly
- Start date
- Views: 5337
chris42
New member
I have a JD 1020 and have had it for YEARS. I recall in 1994 using it to backfill a foundation. I have never worried about using some kind of lead additive. I use regular gas from whoever has the best price at the time.
I talked to an engineer one time about lead and the old engines. He pointed out that lead wasn't common until maybe in the 60's for the higher performance engines. The engines that weren't designed for HP but for longevity were designed before lead was around. Tractor engines were built for bulletproof reliability. The old ones were not made for lead in the gas.
My 1020 has had several previous owners, the last before me being a landscaper/nursery. They were hard on it but it is still one of the most reliable machines I own. I thought at one time my cylinders and rings might be getting worn (not knowing if they had ever been replaced). Bought a kit with pistons, rings, cylinder sleeves, etc. for $650. Pulled the head and the old cylinder sleeves - wasted my money - they were fine, exceptional even.
These things will run, almost forever.
I talked to an engineer one time about lead and the old engines. He pointed out that lead wasn't common until maybe in the 60's for the higher performance engines. The engines that weren't designed for HP but for longevity were designed before lead was around. Tractor engines were built for bulletproof reliability. The old ones were not made for lead in the gas.
My 1020 has had several previous owners, the last before me being a landscaper/nursery. They were hard on it but it is still one of the most reliable machines I own. I thought at one time my cylinders and rings might be getting worn (not knowing if they had ever been replaced). Bought a kit with pistons, rings, cylinder sleeves, etc. for $650. Pulled the head and the old cylinder sleeves - wasted my money - they were fine, exceptional even.
These things will run, almost forever.
buickanddeere
Super Member
No need for witchcraft and sorcery. Just use clean fresh pump fuel.
Look around at the highway vehicles. On leaded fuel it was a notable event if a gasser engine wheezed in a cloud of smoke to 100,000miles. Odd too it's still the argument that die hard diesel fans use about engine life.
Now on unleaded fuel which burns without leaving lead deposits. Gasoline vehicles now reach 300,000 miles with monotonous regularity and still run decent. It's now the EPA legal diesels that are having trouble making it to 300,000miles without $$$ repairs.
Look around at the highway vehicles. On leaded fuel it was a notable event if a gasser engine wheezed in a cloud of smoke to 100,000miles. Odd too it's still the argument that die hard diesel fans use about engine life.
Now on unleaded fuel which burns without leaving lead deposits. Gasoline vehicles now reach 300,000 miles with monotonous regularity and still run decent. It's now the EPA legal diesels that are having trouble making it to 300,000miles without $$$ repairs.
kenord
Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2012
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- Spanaway Wa
- Tractor
- ford 420 industrial backhoe, 1930 cat 15 dizer,1948 Huber maintainer,1941 John Deere A,1955 TO35 MF
If you want to get away from ethanol.
Here is a website to ck.
pure-gas.org
a list of ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada .
A lot of airports are listed but not all avgas is high octane .
hope this helps some one.
Rich
Here is a website to ck.
pure-gas.org
a list of ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada .
A lot of airports are listed but not all avgas is high octane .
hope this helps some one.
Rich
The biggest thing with older engines running unleaded fuels is the exhaust seats. They are soft without the lead acting as a cushion they would pit and eventually start to leak. The harder the engines are used the more heat the quicker the damage happens. These same engines with hardened seats installed are OK for unleaded fuels.
buickanddeere
Super Member
I have not seen a rash of exhaust valve failures in the past 30 years. Automotive manufactures don't even bother with seat inserts. They just induction harden the parent metal in the head.
The last three JD's that I have done valve jobs on all had the same pitted seats some worse than others. The secret is the hardened seats to longevity with unleaded fuels. Now we are dealing with methanol.
