Re: Modern Fluids??

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/8/1 10:37:07

With the exception of AMOCO premium and perhaps a few others, all gasoline contained tetraethyl lead until perhaps 20 years ago. Also gas in that era had the octane rating determined by the "motor" method, whereas today it's done by an average of the motor and "research" method. Without going into the differences, regular unleaded (87 octane) is more than adequate for your car. As far as the tetraethyl lead goes, if you're going to make a regular habit of agressive, high speed driving, you might consider buying the lead and adding (here in the US it's legal for you to do that, it's just not legal for a gasoline retailer to dispense it into an automobile).

If the time comes for an engine rebuild and you are still intending to drive regularly at high speeds, you might want to consider modern metalurgy exhaust valves and hardened seat inserts.

As far as engine wear goes, the prior engine condition and your maintenance and driving habits are the most significant factors. Of course you should drop the oil pan, clean it and the inlet screen of the pump, and as the engine has been idle for so long, make your first few oil changes at relatively frequent intervals.