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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
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