2007-09-17 11:50:04 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Cars from the early 70's might require leaded gas. If you don't see a label saying "Unleaded Fuel Only" then it probably could run on leaded fuel.
In any case, you can't buy leaded gas in the US anymore.
However, if you have an older car, you can buy lead substitute to put in the tank when you fill up. I use lead additive for my 67 Chevelle.
2007-09-17 11:56:10 · answer #1 · answered by 2007_Shelby_GT500 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends. Most older, and some newer, High Performance cars require High Octane fuel. Back in the day, octane rating was raised by adding lead. Now, there are other ways to increase octane, but they are more expensive.
Modern cars have catalytic converters to reduce emmisions. Lead can damage the catalyst, in addtion to ruining a persons health.
The factor that makes cars require high octane is the compression ratio. By compressing the fuel air mixture to a higher pressure, you can get the fuel to burn more completely. A side affect of this is that the fuel/air gets heated more, and can pre ignite, causing "knocking". Raising the octane retards the ignition of the fuel.
Another side effect is that at higher pressure, the nitrogen in the air, which usualy does not react in low compression engines, starts to combine with oxygen to produce NO2, which is another serious polutant.
It DOES NOT, make the fuel itself more powerful. It helps High Performance engines run more smoothly. It will not improve the horsepower of an engine that does not require it.
2007-09-17 18:59:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not any of my cars. I have cars from the 50 s 60 s and the 70 s i use unleaded fuel.
2007-09-17 20:29:38 · answer #3 · answered by frankm1412@yahoo.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "lead" in leaded fuel was basically a lubricant for the valve seats. When they switched to un-leaded fuels in the mid-seventies, the cylinder heads were made with "hardened" valve seats. If you had your engine re-built, a good engine builder would replace the valve seats or just put "un-leaded" heads on your 70's engine.
2007-09-17 20:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by Char 1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember, too, that the 70s is when pollution controls were put in place, so pre-1974 vehicles won't have the emission control stuff that later vehicles have.
2007-09-17 18:58:18 · answer #5 · answered by equal_opposites 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, THEY RUN JUST FINE ON UNLEADED GAS.
I HAVE ONE AND IT RUNS JUST FINE.
2007-09-21 07:51:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋