IPSC

I have always been told not to do it but no one has ever been able to expalin why, what does the "lead" do in the gas?

IPSC

Tom

Damages the catalytic converter and O2 sensor, leaves deposits on spark plugs and probably elsewhere. Finally it spews a toxic residue out the exhaust that is environmentally bad.

Manning

I think it was a octane booster. Running it will, from what I have read, kill your O2 sensor and catalytic converter.

GOSANE

It increases octane. It will kill an O2 sensor but it takes a while. Guys that run leaded on the street usually change out their sensor about once a year or more. Unless you need the high octane there should be no reason to run this kind of ga$$.

There is a race gas leaded pump less than a mile from my home.

jason952

above is true, don't do it

VWaddict

It's not lead alone,, it's Tetra-Ethyl Lead:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetra-ethyl_lead

Keith

M758

Biggest danger is buring a hole in your wallet.

I ran 110 leaded in my 944 spec car once. Kind of cool in that it turned my exhaust pipe white on the inside. I fell no differce in power in the car. Next tank was with good old 91 Unleaded pump gas.

inactiveuser92616

it smells different when it leaves the exhaust, I can tell when a car is running leaded by the smell.

peterr

True but lets not encourage huffing of leaded vapours.

There is no good reason to run leaded gas in a modern car. Even if your goal is just a big octane boost and you want to play with toxic stuff just go to the paint store and buy a couple of gallons of toluene and toss it in your tank.

JimV8

Leaded gas immediately kills the cat permanently like dead.

333pg333

You're still voting for Bush???

Epic2112

The lead was an octane booster, but also a lubricant. Old cars, the ones made while leaded gas was the in thing, had valve seats and other things that were softer than what's in cars today. The lead would get between the valve and the seat and cushion the impact. It would also help seal a little bit, and coat the cylinder walls to lubricate. The lead was never dissolved, it was just fine particles in the fuel.