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From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: leaded vs. unleaded
Message-ID: <580@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Oct-84 18:31:24 EST
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.580
Posted: Tue Oct 30 18:31:24 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Oct-84 00:31:52 EST
References: <1263@drutx.UUCP>, <1194@hou4b.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 54

< Nami nami nami nami ... >

> Remember that many largish gasoline-fueled commercial vehicles (smaller
> trucks, esp) are still being built with leaded-gas engines.  This would
> probably keep the market alive for the stuff.
> -- 
> 
> 	from Mole End			Mark Terribile
> 		(scrape .. dig )	hou4b!mat
>     ,..      .,,       ,,,   ..,***_*.

Many imports are also running with leaded fuel.  Rabbits (except GTI)
used leaded fuel, and Audis still do.  The market may stay alive, but
the question is whether the government  is willing to provide fuel at
a reasonable price.

A 10-cent/gallon, or 2.5-cent/litre surcharge (making leaded fuel
slightly more expensive than unleaded) would be understandable;
however, I don't think I should have to pay an extra dollar a tankful
(I have a 40-litre gas tank) and get nothing in return.  Instead, let
us examine an alternate solution.  Here goes:

Problem: Leaded fuel is being used in cars designed for unleaded,
	because of lower cost.

Problem: Many cars require leaded fuel, with its lubricating properties.

Solution: Ban the leaded gas as it's known today, instead, allow
	manufacture of premium leaded fuel, with a 99-octane rating instead
	of the current 91 octanes.  Price this about 15 cents/gallon or
	4 cents/litre hugher than current leaded fuel.  This will make it more
	expensive than unleaded, discouraging illegal use.  It will, however,
	allow cars (both factory and home-tuned, where available (Off-road use
	only in California)) to use a higher compression ratio, achieving 
	greater volumetric efficiency, and thereby producing more performance
	per dollar, litre and gallon.  It would let us see true european high-
	performance and fuel economy engines with compression ratios in the
	10.0 to 11.0 range.

I for one am willing to pay extra for my fuel in order to get better
performance (OK, Ernie, take .080 off those heads...).  I would
resent, though, paying that extra dollar per tankful just because some
jerks are ruining their catalytic converters with leaded fuel.


Tom Haapanen		University of Waterloo		(519) 744-2468

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