Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers Subject: RE: Re: No Leaded Gas -- Now What? Message-ID: <261@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 19:31:16 EST Article-I.D.: ttidcc.261 Posted: Thu Mar 7 19:31:16 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 04:57:32 EST Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA. Lines: 36 Xref: watmath net.auto:6008 net.consumers:1951 >From: dsn@tove.UUCP (Dana S. Nau) >Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers >Subject: Re: No Leaded Gas -- Now What? >Message-ID: <147@tove.UUCP> > >RELAX! As I understand it, the only purpose of putting lead into gas is to >raise the octane rating--and one can do that without using lead. I think >EPA is to be commended for taking this step. > >If you fill your car with unleaded gas having an octane rating at least as >high as the leaded gas it normally takes, I believe it will run without any >problems whatsoever. WRONG!! (Now that I have your attention ...) Sorry, but this is not entirely correct. Engines designed to run on leaded gas generally depend on the presence of lead to provide a cushioning effect between the valves and valve-seats. Engines designed for unleaded gas have case-hardened valve seats instead. Running an engine designed for leaded gas on unleaded can seriously damage its valves (i.e.: you'll have to replace them -- not a trivial expense). I expect there's shortly going to be a market for gasoline additives to substitute for the missing lead in cars that require it. -- ============================================================================== The Polymath (Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp TTI If thy CRT offend thee, pluck 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. it out and cast it from thee. Santa Monica, California 90405 (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {vortex,philabs}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe