Fuel system cleaner

[Graham Hay]

Hi,

does anyone have any advice on using fuel system cleaners (e.g. Redex Petrol System Cleaner) or recommendations of a specific product for a TR6 ?

Thanks

[Mike C]

BP Ultimate 98 petrol keeps my fuel system clean enough. I add Stabil for winter storage.

[Chris Hale]

 Never bothered using anything in 30 odd years of ownership 

Modern fuels are pretty good at keeping engines clean

[Steve-B]

+2

i only use fuel additive every 2-3 tanks and fill up with E5 which is more than sufficient for me.

[Mike C]

I don't use a cleaner but do use a lead replacement additive and have been since leaded fuels became unavailable.

These days I'm not sure if it is needed, there was a real panic 20-25 years ago when leaded fuels were being replaced and a lot of people decided to err on the side of caution.

[john.r.davies]

There was quite a panic, which really amused our American cousins who had lost the lead several years before, without a panic and without any evidence of disastrous valves seat damage!

"Lead memory" is a real effect, with so many  lead atoms pounded into the cast iron that they are good for at least 20,0000 miles.   Unless you do prolonged motorway speed mileage or completion.

Relax and drive!

John

[Steve-B]

3 hours ago, john.r.davies said:

“Lead memory" is a real effect, with so many  lead atoms pounded into the cast iron that they are good for at least 20,0000 miles.   Unless you do prolonged motorway speed mileage or completion.

I had a chat several years ago with our well known local Triumph mechanic John Yarnell of JY Classics on this very point.  His (& he says other mechanics) POV was exactly this John. When the gubbins were coated for 30-40-50 years with lead, engines got a good coating of it. Point being if we feel better adding additive do so but if you get caught short no worries, especially if on E5. 
Given my engine compressions are +/-10% of original when measured a month ago like I said earlier in this thread I add ‘em, but not all the time. 
 

YMMV: no guarantees 

[stuart]

17 hours ago, Steve-B said:

I had a chat several years ago with our well known local Triumph mechanic John Yarnell of JY Classics on this very point.  His (& he says other mechanics) POV was exactly this John. When the gubbins were coated for 30-40-50 years with lead, engines got a good coating of it. Point being if we feel better adding additive do so but if you get caught short no worries, especially if on E5. 
Given my engine compressions are +/-10% of original when measured a month ago like I said earlier in this thread I add ‘em, but not all the time. 
 

YMMV: no guarantees 

FWIW one of my customers always used to use a fuel additive to his TR5 and when it came for service I always used to find a coating of a copper colour on his plugs. I have no idea whether it made any difference or not to the running.

Stuart.

[DRD]

10 hours ago, stuart said:

FWIW one of my customers always used to use a fuel additive to his TR5 and when it came for service I always used to find a coating of a copper colour on his plugs. I have no idea whether it made any difference or not to the running.

Stuart.

That's probably the additive called Ferrocence.

Edited June 16 by DRD

[roy53]

21 hours ago, stuart said:

FWIW one of my customers always used to use a fuel additive to his TR5 and when it came for service I always used to find a coating of a copper colour on his plugs. I have no idea whether it made any difference or not to the running.

Stuart.

Ditto

when ever the plugs pulled and a copper sheen is a sign of additive. Usually Millers

Roy

[JohnC]

Really? Are we still believing the valve seat recession myth? Please, please would one of our US members come to the rescue (@Tom Fremont) ? Tributyllead was added to fuels as an octane booster. It had no secondary benefit related valve seat recession. None. It was removed from US gasoline long before removal in the UK (to avoid contamination catalytic converters), and with no hysteria about valve seat recession and the so-called lost lubricating properties of leaded petrol. Let’s remember that the US is a litigious society. If there were to be money to be made by accusing oil companies of damaging cars, or by accusing car companies of not anticipating unleaded, there would have been a court case.

By all means add lead-replacing additives, but you’re better off buying your group leader a pint at the pub next meeting!

JC