Sometimes I hear older people use these terms, and I have seen these terms in old magazines. ETHYL sounds like a old woman's name, like ETHEL or something, HIGH TEST sounds more mysterious.
So, does anybody know how, when or why these terms for Premium fuel (or Petrol) came into usage and have you ever heard them still used today?
2007-01-01 03:59:31 · 3 answers · asked by Middy S 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"Ethyl" came from the addition of Tetra Ethyl Lead as an anti-knock compound. This was called "leaded gas" of just "ethyl" The lead caused air pollution, and lead compounds were barred from gasolene years ago.
"High Test" came from the test performed on gasolene to determine its octane rating. Fuel that tested above 90 octane rating had a "High Test" and was sold as a premium, higher priced fuel. There were two pumps at stations - Regular and High Test. This still goes on - most stations have three grades of gasolene with three different octane ratings, with the higher ones selling for about $0.10 or $0.20 more per gallon. Since there are two higher ones now, I suppose the term "high test" just fell out of use since it wouldn't be clear which one it was.
2007-01-01 13:57:55 · answer #1 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ethyl is the chemical term for gasoline... high test i think means that when tested it performed the best... ethyl has and will always be used in laboratories as it is the proper name
2007-01-01 04:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by nikki 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
what they used to call "high test" or "ethyll" gasoline actually contained ethyl-alchohol to boost octane.
2007-01-01 05:29:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋