polecat Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 For a 1978 honda should I be running it on unleaded fuel or should I be adding something to componsate for the lack of lead ?I am a little concerned as it seems to get quiet hot and a guy said it is cos I am using the wrong fuel (unleaded)Can anybody clear this up for me Many Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Depends if you have hardened valve seats or not! Not sure if they have or not to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argentum40 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 never heard of anyone havin probs with older bikes and using unleaded fuel... i use unleaded as it is and no problems... mind you it is a 2 stroke and they of course dont have valves... a lad along my block rides an 81 suzuki and has no problems with unleaded either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsterMunch Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Most Jap bikes from the early 70's, and most certainly Hondas, were manufactured to run on unleaded fuel. In this respect, the Japanese were far in advance of europe. Your 'guy' clearly doesn't know what he's talking about, if your bike is running ok, then it's not overheating, just doing what most air cooled engines do, getting warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I had a Honda CD175 in 1975 which ran on unleaded no problems....so I think you are OK. Normally lead was only added to fuel for high compression engines to stop pre-ignition (pinking). As above, the Jap bikes from the early 70's were tuned to run on unleaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megawatt Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 What Bob said. Only need leaded fuel in high comp engines and ones without hardened valve seats or where valves seal directly in cylinder head and not in a steel insert that has been fitted to an alloy head. Older car engines need additives or Octane boosters because of the valve and sometimes fuel pump problems. Some modified high compression road bikes need octane booster added to unleaded to prevent pre ignition. An old Honda 250 will not need leaded fuel. Check your ignition timing??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 My 1970 CB250 Honda would run perfectly well on unleaded so the manual said, thing was so few garages had the stuff. Always ran it on 2*. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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