Leaded or not Pagoda - How do I know

[Dave Hannon]

I have just got a 1964 Pagoda 230SL on Apro.  The previous owner does not know if it runs on leaded or unleaded.  Is there any obvious way of knowing.

 

[69Coupe]

Leaded or not Pagoda

Unfortunately there isn't an obvious way !

The car WILL run with unleaded if you use it but whether it will eventually lead to valve seat reccesion is still up for debate. Some people say that an unleaded head conversion is the only way to go, others state that the material used on the valve seats is harder than anything you'll replace them with !

I have a 1964 230SL which I have used unleaded in for the last 12,000 miles. I will be doing some other engine work on it next week and will be checking the valve seats closely for reccesion. I will report my findings here and rectify as neccesary.

T&D Heany in Northern Ireland offer some type of kit which can be fitted externally and appears to be the best thing to do at about STg£ 200 roughly. Unfortunately you wont know whether your head has already been damahed by unleaded without taking it off !

I would recommend checking the compressions and doing a leak down test before buying one of these cars as its a good insight into the state of the engines internals.

Good luck !

Ben

 

[Andy]

Leaded or not Pagoda

Hi

There is no point in debating whether to run on unleaded or not. Since really unleaded fuel is the only fuel available. It would be wise if possible to add octane improver or some sort of additive to the fuel. But at the end of the day. You can only use what is available. So that is unleaded. You can use the red stuff but that is unleaded with a few additives in anyway.

These engines arn't fragile. They will take a bit of stick. If you burn out a valve its more than likely a weak valve anyway. So sooner or  later would of failed.

Don't get yourself in a teather, just enjoy the vehicle and put what ever fuel you can get in. If you can get a good additive thats recommended by classic car magazines or the like then great. But its not the end of the world.

In my humble opinion.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com