ok this has probably been asked before but i'll ask anyway. what do i have to do to get my kombi running on unleaded fuel without adding the additive? is it a matter of getting hardened valve seats put into the heads? the reason i ask is because it looks like i'll have to get my heads rebuilt in the near future would like to get it converted to unleaded if it aint to exey.:beer

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=42331&page=1#pid392691  check this thread, no need to change.
and another http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=41417&page=1#pid382216 

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by akean1 ]
and another :thumb http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=38983&page=1#pid354844 

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by akean1 ]

I took my Beetle to my mechanic on Friday last week because she's been running a bit ragged on idle and lacking a bit of power.... and I was told to stop putting the additive into my fuel tank! They don't need it. I filled up this morning without it, so will see how she goes! Apparently it can build up with a gel-like substance and cause probs in the carby, fuel filter, etc.

vw heads don't need the seats hardened, they are already hard! Therefore they can run on unleaded without any additive.

I've heard that the additive makes the heads run a bit cooler, which seems to me to be a good thing in an air-cooled motor with a reputation for valve troubles.

if it pings then use premium and retune it to that. That's all you have to worry about with unleaded and air cooled VW's.

I find it strange then that Stan Pobjoy still recommends Flashlube in the 1380 that he built for my '63 single cab.

Different people have different opinions

Personally i just use 95 Octane

Have been for a long time.

Others swear by Flashlube.
I think this is slightly different from Lead Replacement Petrol. (LRP). Flashlube is a upper head lubricant as opposed to thehard/spft valve seats.
I think it is unanimous the LRP is crap.

If you feel better using Flashlube then use it

well i think i'll just keep using that additive, might fork out that extra couple of cents for premium. I have tried a few different aproaches,travelled most of the way round australia without any additives at all on unleaded with no short term effects. and a little while back even tried using 2 stroke oil. the only reason i am a little concerned now is i got her compression tested the other day and the engine is not in great shape. it goes like this cylinder 1) 100% 2)70% 3)75% 4)70%. so can't help thinking something caused ecesive wear on the engine.
Then again could be all the km's we've done in hot conditions. or a bit of neglect on my part.

We have run our Beetle on 91 unleaded for two years with no additive and no change in motor running

The Bus was run for about 5 years on Optimax and no additive with no problems.

And well duh we just run it on 95 unleaded with the Suby motor now, but I know that;s different.

I have been running unleaded 95 since it came out but before then i was using optimax, and i have had no problems also adding an additive every 3rd or 4th fill. Does anyone else use unleaded 95 over optimax.

I mostly use Unleaded 95 in my Bug... was using Optimax, though every now and then I'll use it. I don't use any additives now.

been running it on premium for the last 10,000 miles on a rebuilt engine. no problems with valves.