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The end of ALL leaded gas is coming [2008]

200mph

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We all know leaded gasoline is not legal for use on US highways. Nevertheless, some owners have been using leaded racing gas or avgas in their older, high compression cars.

This week, under pressure from the EPA, Sunoco and NASCAR jointly announced a switch to unleaded fuel beginning in 2008. As a race fuel distributor, I expect that the phase-out of leaded race fuel availability will be effected sometime later that year.

Sooner, we will see the introduction of higher octane unleaded fuels that will be legal for the road, but expensive ($5 to $6 /gal).

It is possible but unlikely that leaded aviation fuel will get a temporary reprieve. Avgas is not beneficial for cars because its additive package is aimed at low RPM engines operating at high altitudes.

My suggestion to anyone rebuilding an engine from this point forward is to invest the time and effort to have the cylinder head modified for unleaded fuel usage. Pay 'em now... or pay 'em later.
Mike
 
[ QUOTE ]
We all know leaded gasoline is not legal for use on US highways. Nevertheless, some owners have been using leaded racing gas or avgas in their older, high compression cars.

This week, under pressure from the EPA, Sunoco and NASCAR jointly announced a switch to unleaded fuel beginning in 2008. As a race fuel distributor, I expect that the phase-out of leaded race fuel availability will be effected sometime later that year.

Sooner, we will see the introduction of higher octane unleaded fuels that will be legal for the road, but expensive ($5 to $6 /gal).

It is possible but unlikely that leaded aviation fuel will get a temporary reprieve. Avgas is not beneficial for cars because its additive package is aimed at low RPM engines operating at high altitudes.

My suggestion to anyone rebuilding an engine from this point forward is to invest the time and effort to have the cylinder head modified for unleaded fuel usage. Pay 'em now... or pay 'em later.
Mike

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice, and not too difficult for any well equipped shop. My Healey's head was done that way around 1985 (along with conmbustion chamber matching, some smoothing and minimal port work just enough to match the Weber's (then) new manifolds.
 
I stopped using 100LL several years ago, I got tired of sticking valves and the high cost. Both my airplanes run really well on Chevron 87 unleaded and a dollar fifty less a gallon to boot. My engines run smoother with lower head temps on unleaded car gas too. Skip /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Anthony, the little cans are actually a "lead substitute" aren't they?
If so, they will likely continue. Not sure how effective they are, though.
Mike
 
200mph,once in a while i add a can to a full tank of gas about 12 gals.to my 63 bj7,not super dooper results but it does take most of the slight pinging out of the engine,i just wanted to try it since a local gas station owner has a couple ah healeys and recomended the stuff,at first i thought he was pushing it to get rid of what he had,but no hes allways got it on hand,i didnt mind trying it since i plan to rebuild my engine anywho!i was just wondering if the "feds" were gunna regulate that too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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200mph,do you think this will be the end of those nifty little cans of lead additives as well? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif

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I use Millers VSP Plus which is a lead substitute and octane booster - seems to do it's stuff. However the plug colour is totally different if used - really confused me when I was setting my carbs before I got an exhaust gas analyser !!!!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

AWEM
 
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