Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site beesvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!utah-cs!beesvax!rb From: rb@beesvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Sources of Leaded gas Message-ID: <263@beesvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 27-Mar-84 12:56:59 EST Article-I.D.: beesvax.263 Posted: Tue Mar 27 12:56:59 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 28-Mar-84 01:54:13 EST References: <327@tesla.UUCP>, <584@ariel.UUCP> <259@beesvax.UUCP>, <262@opus.UUCP> Organization: Beehive International, SLC, UT Lines: 56 The following is an article printed in the March 22, 1984 issue of Old Cars Weekly. It is being printed without permission. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook since the EPA announced its intention to push for an end to production of leaded gasoline. According to the EPA, the effort is aimed at preventing people from using cheaper leaded gasoline in low lead era vechicles, a practice which is currntly illegal. What will this mean for old car hobbyists? We called Mr.John C Lane- Superintendent of Technical Information Services with Etlyl corp- to find out. Veteran readers know Mr. Lane as the author of nine OLD Cars Weekly articles about modern gasoline in old cars. He refered us to his article "Look For Leaded; Its Still Around" which discussed exhaust valve recession occurring in pre-1975 cars operated on lead free fuels. According to the article, this problem proceeds 10-20 times faster when lead free gas is used in the engines of such cars. It causes valve seat erosion, broken valve stems and cracked valve seats. The problem grew severe when test vechicles run at an average of 50 mph, were driven only 3,000 to 5,000 miles. As te title of this article indicates, leaded fuel was still around at the time it was first prblished. In fact the EPA phase down planned at that point allowed for an indefinite supply of leaded fuel. Not high octane leaded of course, but gas with enough lead to keep our cars from self distructing. Now the EPA has changed its mind and called for a further phase down; one that will elinimate leaded gasoline entirely. If this becomes law most old car hobbyists will not be able to run their cars more than a year. We dont think it is fair! The intent of the new program is to stop the abuse of current laws, but the effort will be to make inocent people suffer under a new and foolish one. Most old car hobbyists are not breaking the law thats in effect now, so why should they be punished? There is a simple alternative. Its one that will cost the old car collector some money, but at least protect his right to his hobby. Why not add a tax to leaded gasoline; one that will make its price equal to or slightly higher than unleaded fuel? No! we're not crazy and dont like the idea of paying more for gas! But, we like it more than the other alternative; not being able to use our cars at all. A higher tag on leaded gas may be a premimum we will have to pay to preserve the old car hobby. Some OLD CARS WEEKLY readers have asked how they can contact the EPA to express their opinions on this matter. We urge all hobbyists to do this by writing: Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street S.W. Washington DC 20460 The time has come to act----Its now or never! "