# Lead addative

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/lead-addative/20627>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 12, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lead-addative/20627 "2008-10-12T01:24:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![boulder8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@boulder8](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boulder8)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lead-addative/20627/1 "2008-10-12T01:24:16Z")

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I own a 1954 Willys Pick Up Truck with the Super Huricane straight six cylnder engine. Is it necessary to add a can of lead additive each time I fill up?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lead-addative/20627/2 "2008-10-12T01:58:47Z")

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Lead was used in gasoline to lubricate the valves and seats and as an octane enhancer. There are lead substitutes on the market that are supposed to take the place of real lead to protect the valves and seats. But if you don’t drive the vehicle that often or drive it that hard, a treatment of one of these lead substitutes a couple of times a year should be good enough.

Tester

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**Author:** ![admitted\_amateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@admitted\_amateur](https://community.cartalk.com/u/admitted_amateur)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lead-addative/20627/3 "2008-10-12T14:59:21Z")

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There was a thread on this recently where you can find more commentary:

[http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/1678610.page](http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/1678610.page)