To lead or no to lead

[unclekacee]

I have a 1946 stock Plymouth, and sometimes the valves "tick" when engine warms up(then lessens), I was wondering if in your experience adding "lead" to the un-leaded gas would help?

You guys/gals are the best..gonna drive my P-15 now.

Kacee

[Lou Earle]

lead will make no difference. My view is the same as Tim's I would rather hear the valves a bit rather than replace burned ones!! slight ticking at warm up is not at all unusual- and probably caused by valve clearance just a tad off to the safety side no ticking and vale setting is to close and get burned valves.

As to lead additive no need these engines already have hardened valve seats.

You can add some Marvel mystery oil to the gas - I do about every 3rd tank - a quart to a tank- I think it just helps keep thing - mainly the upper block lubed a bit and it does In my experience burn right thru and I think it lubes some.

Lou

[Plymouthy Adams]

Lou, I have a similar view on 2 cycle engines..I'd rather mix a bit extra oil and foul a plug before seizing a piston due to improper ratio...they say these newer oils are better and require less than the old dyas...no so sure I believe them..I have two new weed eaters here as gift from people who used the recommend mix..siezed first time...was able to get one back online without much effort ..the other was hosed...for the record..have not fouled a plug yet either..my original Homelite weedeater is now 19 years old...chansaw is 18

[Norm's Coupe]

Kacee,

Where have you been hiding? Haven't seen you post anything for a long time, even on the old board.

Like Tim and Lou mentioned, it's ok to hear a little ticking in these engines.

[Normspeed]

Sometimes a ticking when engine is cold can be small exhaust leaks at the manifold. They get louder under acceleration and go away when everything warms up and expands.