Re: lead or no?

[Raldel@domain.elided]

    No doubt, lead was important in several respects. A little bit of lead 
acts in the manner of an octane booster. But most imortantly, it serves to 
help transfer heat energy from the valve to the valve seat as it aids in 
physical contact of the surfaces. Each time the valve closes, heat is 
transferred from valve to seat so with lead, less heat energy is stored in 
the valve. And heat is the reason so much work was done to determine the 
right material from which to make valves and valve seats. I dont know about 
lubrication from lead, I suspect it does provide some as gasoline is a poor 
lubricant, but the other factors it provided were important with old 
metalurgy. There is less valve failure with leaded fuel. 
    randy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------
In a message dated 10/10/2002 2:00:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Pottree@domain.elided writes:


>  also think the concept that the lead is needed to lubricate the valve 
> lifters, etc. is an old-wives tale left over from the days when people had 
> old wives.
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided