The wonders of tetra-ethyl lead

[Tochatihu]

Back in the day, it was the essential gasoline performance additive. But it turned out to be incompatible with catalytic converters and (to some extent) human brain development. Well you can't have it all.

Anyway, the only reason this might be of interest to the hypermilers at CleanMPG is I stumbled upon a web site with vintage ads (from National Geographic!) extolling the virtues. The one I link below seems to have some real significance to the sport. Take a peak and see it you agree:

http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/courses/geog.../Ethyl2-33.jpg

I really think the top half could be a fine home page for this web site - just one reporter's opinion.

DAS

[Chuck]

Last week, I was Googling archives and found something that will suprize many here. Detroit and the Oil Industry had a big fight over catalytic converts and the subsquent need of unleaded gas (as just a trace of lead would ruin the catalytic converter). Instrumental was GM supporting catayltic converters and implicitly - unleaded gas. Times have changed.

[hobbit]

"Gee, Pop" ... now isn't *that* some of the most d@mning
testimony to how we've been marketed to for over half a
century??!
.
"Gee, Pop, that's the twenty-seventh gas station we've passed
without stopping -- I gotta GO!!"
.
_H*

[Tochatihu]

Delta Flyer, if you can withstand a *long* article that sort of ties all this together:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000320/kitman

The Nation magazine does not reside in the political 'center', but the research has a ring of authenticity to it.

Those intrigues are sadly depressing. Gee, Pop made me smile.

DAS

[jcp123]

The lead was also a lubricant and helped the valve seats, which were rather soft, survive, too. It cost an awful lot of money making people add hardened valve seats whenever they got a head job.