Additive, four star or nothing?

Post by **MarkyB** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:51 pm

As you live near a garage that sells 4 star why not just fill it up with that once in a while?
It is only prolonged high speed driving that is likely to damage the valve seats and the lead is said to deposit on the valve seats protecting them for an unspecified amount of time.
I haven't put any additive into my car and it's been fine.
My concern is for when I replace the head in the near future with one that's had the valve seats cut.
I'm going to seek out a one of the garages that still do 4 star then run a tank or two through it and see how things go.

Post by **alanworland** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:53 pm

simona1, has the tetra boost got a wilkinsons part number? This is the stuff to use as it makes proper leaded fuel, I would love to get my hands on a bottle as opposed to a carton of it!
We no longer have 4 star around here at the moment, but I have a bottle of valvemaster at the ready!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:18 pm

" 4 star " Doesn't have any lead in it now anyway! ONLY way to get lead in the fuel is to add Tetraboost. Needless to say - it MUST NOT be used on a car with a catalyst.

Post by **alanworland** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:28 pm

No, we did have 'proper 4 star' it vanished about 9 months ago it was being distributed by a company named 'Thrust' as I remember and was about 50% dearer than unleaded.
I believe its usage was so small my garage can no longer get hold of it.

Post by **mike.perry** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:49 pm

I believe aviation fuel is leaded

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:16 pm

Probably - but where to get hold of it!!

Post by **dalebrignall** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:30 pm

avgas is 100low lead and blue in colour.and airfields are finding it hard to get supplies.and you cant buy it for your car.

Post by **RDV461** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:00 pm

I have been using Castrol Valve master since owning my Mog. It has run fine since I started using the stuff back in the mid 1990's. I recently found that my local Sainsbury petrol Station had some 4 star LRP and have put about 10 litres of that through the car now. It does seem to run very well on the LRP but the problem is that the supplies are almost gone. Sainsbury did not know when they would have more in and the tanks were dry within a few days

Post by **katiekat** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:47 pm

Has anyone else tried tetraboost from Wilkinson's?

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:11 pm

nope

i use castrol valve master when i remember to put it in

Post by **eastona** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:13 pm

I do about 15000 a year in mine, and in the 35000 miles I've done I've been a bit sporadic about using valvemaster, more often than not I forget for a good few thousand miles, and it costs money, so it often gets a low priority

. I think it was run with valvemaster before I bought it.

After about 10000 I had a burnt valve and new cylinder head gasket, but just put in a new valve and recut new seats for all the exhaust valves. I'm not sure if it was unleaded related, but it was a 20 odd quid fix and I was happy

especially as it failed outside my house (I'm not normally that lucky!) since then, no problem, touch wood, fingers crossed, etc etc.

I think you've had conflicting advice because there seems to be no right answer or consistent experience! I do drive mine quite hard, and it regularly gets a good 100 odd mile thrash down the motorway, or 50 mile B road "Hannu Mikola special" to work, and it "seems" to be OK.

If you want peace of mind and have the cash, put tetrawotsit or valvemaster in, or get an unleaded head, but there are plenty who have done neither and had years of trouble free motoring. Of course, if you drive it gently it should be kinder!

Good luck with your new car, get it taxed, then have fun!

Andrew

Post by **alainmoran** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:08 pm

http://tetraboost.com/info/distributors/

Post by **katiekat** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:59 am

I'm going to have a look in wilkinson's tomorrow. If they don't have any I'll get valvemaster from Halford's.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:15 am

Back to good old Hellfrauds again ! If you can buy it there - you can get it for less almost anywhere else - unless you can wangle an employee discount card of course.

Post by **katiekat** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:25 pm

It's £5.95 at ESM an £10.99 at Halfords so when you add VAT and delivery for the ESM one then they'll probably cost about the same I guess.

I get your point though they are the most expensive motor supply shop around. There is a small motor parts shop in Sunderland that's very reasonable but it's really difficult to park there as it's in town and constantly patrolled by traffic wardens and police.

I sometimes feel a bit intimidated going into these small car part shops, being a woman. You sometimes get funny looks and the men serving grin and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

I guess I go to Halfords because it's easier but I do try and avoid them if I can!

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:30 pm

i have a small local autoparts, and again parking is a problem

halfords i can park easily

Post by **alanworland** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:34 pm

Katiekat, just go into the shop and tell them you want a fuel additive to prevent valve seat recession - that'll take the grins off their faces!

Post by **katiekat** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:49 pm

Thanks Alan, I'll do that!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:13 pm

katiekat,
If you know you're going to use plenty of it, it used to be possible to get it mail order from Castrol (a box of 6) - the price was definately better than the Halfords one...
I've not bought any for over a year, as my pickup is garaged ~600 miles away and my other minors are awaiting some DIY. So my info about mail order may now be out of date.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:47 pm

I'll say it again - in case the point has been forgotten - you don't need ANY additive ! Just run the car and stop worrying about it!