Fuel Additive Help
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=144322
Printed Date: 19 Jul 2025 at 7:50am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fuel Additive Help
Posted By: southwindson
Subject: Fuel Additive Help
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 9:20pm
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I wanted to ask from those with more knowledge than I do. When I was younger the majority of gas was lead based and I wanted to know if I needed to add a lead additive to my 1966 gas D17? If lead additive wasn't added to some vehicles it would damage the valve seats.. would this happen on some of the old tractors as well?
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Replies:
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 9:27pm
I've asked the same question over the years and never got a great feel one way or the other. Apparently a lot of tractors were overhauled with hardened valve seats, which may eliminate this problem. I had used a "lead additive" from time to time in my WD but honestly I gave up on it a few years ago. Kind we had about 15-20 years ago looked like used motor oil. I remember still being able to buy leaded gasoline into the very early 90s. The newer stuff looked like clear liquid. I don't use my tractor hard enough to worry too much I figure.
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Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 9:40am
Leaded gasoline was a WWII invention, so valve seats for earlier tractor engines were plenty hard, not needing the lubrication of the lead additive.
Gerald J.
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 12:44pm
If I did this right, here's a link to an entry in an encyclopedia about tetraethylead. https://www.britannica.com/science/tetraethyl-lead" rel="nofollow - https://www.britannica.com/science/tetraethyl-lead
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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 1:03pm
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All D-17 gassers had hard exhaust valve seats from the Factory.
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Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 3:12pm
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been running our D17 IV with no additives, no issues. regular gas.
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Posted By: DougS
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 4:17pm
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They started phasing out leaded automotive gasoline almost 50 years ago and I've never heard of a tractor having valve issues due to the lack of lead.
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Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 4:20pm
It's a lot more of an issue with engines that turn 5,000 rpm, and even then, the problem was overstated back then. It took years and years (decades?)for valves to erode even in the highest revving engines of the day.
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1951 B
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Posted By: southwindson
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 4:25pm
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Thanks, I appreciate all the input from everyone. I remember my family having a variation of tractors throughout the years and my grandpa running whatever fuel was the cheapest at the time from the COOP but didn't know for sure if anything was needed. I will run my Gasser AC D17 IV without worrying about it.
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Posted By: exSW
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 4:43pm
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Unleaded used to be considered cheap gas. Most tractors of the era were designed to run on the cheapest gas out there.
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Posted By: 45 turboa-
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2017 at 5:13pm
On the W series engine's over the years I have rebuilt a lot of them for customers never had an issue with unleaded gas. At one time we sold a lead subsitute I had a few farmers that used it on the D series engines the ones that were still being used hard in the field and no problems with them either as far as I see no need to add any thing.
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turbocharged
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Posted By: Tim (Cent.WI)
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2017 at 9:13am
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I used the Lead additive for a while when they phased out lead 25-30 years ago, but then quit doing it and have run all mine on unleaded for 25 years with no issues. I have everything from an unstyled WC to a 1969 180 gas
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