hi again

do i need to convert my x flow 1600 to unleaded or will it run fine
or can you buy additives

how much will it cost me in the long run

thanks

Only doing a few miles? Then no problem, and yes you can buy additives.

Swap it for a zetec, cheaper than an unleaded head conversion and a performance boost as well.

Tesco petrol stations sell bottles of Redex lead additive for 91p per bottle, that's enough to do 250 litres of fuel (or 50-ish gallons).

Dunno how much it'd be to remove the head and have new valve seals fitted, but I reckon you'd need to do a shed-load of miles before it becomes cheaper than adding stuff to your tank

As with everything it all depends?
How many miles will you be doing in it?
If you run without eventually you will burn away the valve seats, I put 3000 miles on an engine with no signs of wear! The conversion is also the fix.
It will run fine on unleaded, might need timing altering slightly, you can use an addative, some also raise the octane. Addatives aren't cheap though.
IMO low mileage leave it and maybe use an addative if you're worried, high miles run it till it starts showing wear then get it converted.

Doh all typing at the same time!

[Edited on 26/8/09 by a4gom]

I converted. Didn't like the hassle of those little lead master bottles plus it is nasty poisonous stuff.

is it worth it financially, most probably not.

Also depends how many miles the engine has done already. If it's done a few the valve seats will be well soaked with lead and it will take quite a long time for that to run out before you'll even start getting valve seat recession.

I'd run it without until it has an issue (which will be a v long time unless you're doing mega miles) then get the valves done and maybe have a little fettling done to the head at the same time for good measure (and a little bit more power)....

If you are doing 10000 mile a year , then it may be worth it - I never bothered , as it takes something like 30000 miles to cause significant wear .
Much easier to run it till it's a bit worn , then just fit bigger valves (to go with the wild cam you are gonna want by then )

I had mine done - but mainly because the head was having new valve guides fitted anyway, so it seemed like a good idea.

thanks for the help again guys and gals

i have taken the head off to clean and lap the valves in
so that would get rid of all the lead that was left
to be safe i will use an additive in the fuel but it wont be mega miles so it will be cheap enough.


another quick question while i am here
how do you remove the carbon from the valves and pistons
also do i need to remove the pistons to be able to do that


thanks again

[Edited on 26/8/09 by greed1]