Pumping leaded fuel into an unleaded engine?

Question

I accidentally pumped leaded fuel into an unleaded engine,
what will happen to my vehicle?
would one tank full off leaded fuel jeopardize the engine system?
should it be serviced over fuel extract and replacement?
what should I do to my vehicle now?

I would like to add that, I do not have a habit of filling leaded fuel into my vehicle, other than its catalytic converter, and valves. I shall do nothing besides continue driving it and forbit myself from contacting leaded fuel with it?
thanks

People using Yahoo! answers must not be in the US ain't they?

I'm a Malaysian.

Answer 1

One tankful isn't likely to do too much damage, but your question begets another...

Leaded fuel for automobiles has been banned in the United States since 1992--where did you manage to "accidently" find some?

Answer 2

Fire Chief Fuels in Colorado Springs, Trick, Shell, BP, Phillips 66 , and at one time Union 76 all sell/sold racing gasoline with tetra ethyl lead. 1 tank will compromise your catalytic converters performance, and could have also done enough damage to restrict the exhaust flow from your engine. It can also damage Oxygen Sensors, NOX sensors, and other emissions sensors. Older catalytic converters was a tad more forgiving. Those with the pellets would clog up easier than the honey comb types, and after filling up 1 tank in a rural mountain town back in 1988 my car started to stink like rotten eggs. Two more tanks in Mexico, and the exhaust manifolds were glowing cherry red, when the car stopped running on the freeway. Lead won't do anything to clog any engine parts, but it can screw up sensors, and it definitely WILL damage the catalytic converter. Catalytic converters contain platinum, and palladium compounds, which bond with pollutants in the exhaust. Those compounds really love to bond with lead, and the lead will coat the catalyst & it won't do it's job anymore. After a while the catalyst matrix will completely clog with lead. Best advice: Dump or pump the gas tank out ASAP, and put in unleaded gas. Harbor Freight sells these neat little red pumps, for $ 8. Use on of those, and pump ALL the gas out at once, as the gas can damage the seals in the cheapie pumps. Your engine won't seize up, but the exhaust restriction can make it overheat, and that could make it seize up. Old engines meant to run on leaded gas, usually did not have hardened valve seats, so unleaded gas would damage the valve seats, which seal the cylinders during combustion.

Answer 3

Leaded gas is still available in specialized applications. For examples, many race tracks have 110 octane leaded race fuel available at the pump (along with other 100+ octane unleaded fuels).

Answer 4

The only thing that leaded fuel will hurt is the catalytic converter. Lead will coat the catalyst and stop it from functioning correctly. Use of leaded fuel over a long period can cause excessive exhaust restriction in the converter.

If you haven't used all the leaded fuel you should drain the tank. If you have used it all then there is nothing to do besides drive it. The lead from one tank probably wont have a long term affect on the converter.

Answer 5

It shouldnt be a problem for just that full tank of gas. combustion will still be the same. The new fuels have engine cleansing enhancers which will clean the deposits of the previous fill. Fuel like caltex with techron have this cleanser built in as well as shell..

Answer 6

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I asked this same question when I went to Mexico with my newToyota. Mexico had ONLY leaded gas at that time. Answer: One tankfull will not hurt your car that much, but your catalytic converter will start to get clogged up. The internal filter of the catalytic converter is a ceramic net, and coated with expensive chemicals to clean the exhaust. I replaced my catalytic converter with a "straight pipe" for 4 months while I drove around. (totally illegal in the US, but who cares in Mexico?) I noticed a loss of power, and more vibration at idle. 4 months later, I switched back to the CC and everything was OK after that.

Answer 7

i really dont think one tank of leaded gas is going to beat your car up too much. the buildup on the valves is over time, (say around 200 fillups or more) so one tank of gas is negotiable. i wouldnt get a tailpipe test while your still on that tank full of leaded gas cuz you might fail. one tank full of leaded should not hurt your engine, just dont make a habit of filling up on leaded gas .

Answer 8

It has been discovered that valves last longer, less build up in the Eng. less emissions, Longer Eng. life. Biggest thing to suffer from leaded fuel is the EGR Valve.

Answer 9

where did you get leaded feul from it hasnt benn for sale in the us since 1991

Answer 10

It's a big waste of money & over time can harm your emmissions.