Ray, Robert, Sergio,
A quick net search revealed several articles on the question of lead
free gas and the effect of it's use on older cars.
An article on the effect on Rolls Royce engines (a good article):
http://www.rroc.org.au/info/unleaded.html
An article on Triumphs:
http://www.vtr.org/maintain/valve-seats.html
A few summary points from the two articles:
1. The original concern about valve recession with the use of unleaded
fuel came from some tests run by auto makers who took brand new engines
and ran them full thottle/under load at 4000 to 4500 rpm for 40 hours.
They then disassembled the engines and measured valve recession of
.00015 inches.
(note: to the best of my knowledge, I have never heard from anyone
reporting that they had *personal* experience with valve recession due
to unleaded gas, as far as I can tell the concern all relates back to
these tests run in the early 1970's)
2. Aluminum heads with "high quality inserts" do not suffer from this
problem.
-Roger
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