Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Why lead used to be added to gasoline

Today I found out why lead used to be added to gasoline.

“Tetraethyl lead” was used in early model cars to help reduce engine knocking, boost octane ratings, and help with wear and tear on valve seats within the motor. Due to concerns over air pollution and health risks, this type of gas was slowly phased out starting in the late 1970′s and banned altogether in all on-road vehicles in the U.S. in 1995.

Read the rest here.

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