Lead Additive

[Vspec]

Are there any benefits to adding lead to gasoline? Besides the damage to the enviroment and cat-converters my car buddies and I couldn't draw any pros or cons.

Basically, if you had no cats, and enviroment didn't suffer from it, what pros or cons does lead have on the vehicle itself.

Thoughts?

 

[Torino]

There is no environmental damage done by lead in gasoline. Check the science, datas and history. The elimination of lead in gasoline dictates that the WHOLE amount of crude oil pulled out of California (substantial) goes up in smoke. THATS pollution. I know, I know, the phrase "get the lead out" was very catchy. The benefit is higher octane nos. and valve seat lubrication. Further, Ethyl Corp. had developed a non-restrictive muffler (minimal back pressure) that removed what little lead was emitted and was recyclable allowing recovery of the lead. How do I know? Been there, done that and have a T-shirt to show for it. Thank your friendly EPA (Environmental POLICE Agency). Regards. John.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Torino
There is no environmental damage done by lead in gasoline. Check the science, datas and history. The elimination of lead in gasoline dictates that the WHOLE amount of crude oil pulled out of California (substantial) goes up in smoke. THATS pollution. I know, I know, the phrase "get the lead out" was very catchy. The benefit is higher octane nos. and valve seat lubrication. Further, Ethyl Corp. had developed a non-restrictive muffler (minimal back pressure) that removed what little lead was emitted and was recyclable allowing recovery of the lead. How do I know? Been there, done that and have a T-shirt to show for it. Thank your friendly EPA (Environmental POLICE Agency). Regards. John.


I'm not gonna put much to this other than to quote many sources of medical journals and writings on the globalwide basis RE: tetraethyl lead and it's effects on human being, especially children:

http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/leadtet/leadh.htm

http://www.runet.edu/~wkovarik/ethylwar/

http://www.runet.edu/~wkovarik/ethylwar/overview.html

http://www.runet.edu/~wkovarik/ethylwar/ethyl.myths.html


http://books.google.com/books?q=traethyl+lead&btnG=Search+Books

 

[Shannow]

Lead was never removed for lead's sake.

Removal of lead was necessary for the introduction of Catalytic Converters, as lead poisons them. I support that.

I was a pump jockey down here when lead free was being introduced.

The politicians, and pressure groups were pushing the lead issue, using the IQs of Sydney children in houses with lead paint, lead pipes, and lead solder as justification of lead removal, regardless of cats.

One interesting side effect not mentioned much is that all of the cat free older cars started emitting a lot more aromatics. At one point, the air in Sydney had 3 times the OH&S (8 hour) exposure levels of Benzene in the air...all day every day.

 

[Big Jim]

Lead deposits in engines are messy. Getting rid of lead IS one the the things that have promoted longer engine life.

Instead of having loads of valve failure with unleaded gas, valve problems have all but disappeared. It is hard to find a mechanic today that has ever performed a valve job.