re: Lead lubricates SPICA's?

[TJCallahan@domain.elided]

In AD v7n1284, andres wrote:

<<Having put 2000 miles on my 73 GTV with plain old unleaded, you might 
imagine my dismay at the lead substitute post...
Have i caused irrevocable harm? I was under the impression that the valve 
seats were already hardened by '73, but was unaware of the SPICA issue. 
Please advise...>>

I think the lead in fuel has little positive benefit for SPICA pumps and may 
be completely incidental to its operation. My '77 Alfetta GT, having run on 
unleaded from new, has a fine working SPICA pump (recently checked by Wes 
hisself even) AND a still working OE cat in the exhaust. No leaded fuel ever 
been through this puppy ...

I understand the SPICA pump to be lubed by the fuel flow itself (regardless 
of additives), thus the reason to refill your fuel tank when it hits "half" 
and not to let it go any lower (so you don't run out, even for a moment). 
Easiest preventative maintenance is to run on the top half of the tank.

I would venture that you've done no harm to the SPICA just by using unleaded. 
Hope this helps.

Tom
'77 Alfetta GT
'63 Spider
Seattle

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