as the title suggests is there anything i shoul know about them sighns of weekness or other stuff, and also flashlube valve saver stuff should i use it runnin premium 96-98 octane

hi tom
I run both my datto's on premium unleaded.
But with the white one being the original motor and hasn't been reconditioned, I add flashlube everytime I fill up. As you need some sort of lead substitue to protect the valves from burning out etc.
But in the green datto, as it has been reconditioned, the valves and valve seats have been hardened, so therefore I dont need to use any additive in the petrol.
But occasionally I may add a few squirts just to lubricate things.

I saw your mates 120y sedan with the maroon front left guard today. I like the look of it.
anyway bye for now.

As far as i know the A-series heads run steel valve seats and so do not need lead replacement additives in the fuel. I never run any aditives in my 1200s and have not had a problem. I run 98 octane fuel as i run a higher compression ratio than standard but with a standard engine i've used normal unleaded with no problems.

uh, isn't that BRASS inserts?

if the have steel inserts they will need a valve recession preventative from memory.

A12 dont need flash lube
Id go as far as saying flash lube is almost a con
over the life of an engine there will be more damage done to A series valves a seats from improper tuning and valve bounce on over revs then anything else

maybe if you where driving an old holden or something but not Alloy headed jap stuff

generally (esp japanese stuff) - alloy heads = brass valve seats.

Hi Guys, I have had three engines rebuilt, and every time I have said to the engine reconditioner that I will be running unleaded fuel and each time he has said even though it is called"unleaded" it still has a percentage of lead in the fuel so as one reply has stated that the flashlube is a bit of a con I would agree, if you have a recon engine either Jap or Australian if tuned correctly I would have no problem running normal unleaded fuel.
And on the brass seat issue I dont know of any alloy head running a softer valve seat than the head.
Ade

Quote: According to the info that i have, the INLET valve seats were a Bronze Aluminium alloy, while the Exhausts [of A10 & 1200 engines] were cast iron. I don't have any info on the later engines.

If this is correct, then the exhausts on these engines will suffer valve seat recession when used without either Tetra Ethyl Lead in the fuel, [leaded fuel] or with a lead substitute. The inlets, of course, dont care what kind of fuel is used.

According to my 1200 coupe owners manual, a stock compression ratio engine will handle an octane rating as low as 90. From memory, "regular" grade fuel was 92 octane, so premium fuel is not required in a stocker. My 1200 ute ran just fine on regular.
EDIT. My 120Y [B210] owners manual says that 88 octane is OK with its 9 to 1 compression ratio which is the same as the 1200's