Leaded Gasoline Disappears from American Gas Stations by Year-End

As the use of tetra-ethyl lead in gasoline is phased out in accordance with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the American Automobile Association is warning drivers of older cars to take special care to maintain their vehicles' performance. According to George Giek, managing director of AAA Automotive Services, drivers of vintage vehicles may need to use fuel additives or make mechanical modifications to prevent premature engine wear caused by the absence of lead as a lubricant.

Key Takeaways:

• Leaded gasoline will be banned from all gasoline in the US by December 31, 1995, in accordance with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
• Drivers of older cars may need to use fuel additives to prevent premature engine wear caused by the absence of lead as a lubricant.
• Regular use of lead supplements in fuel additives can help lubricate valve seats and guides, preventing engine wear.
• A long-term solution is to replace the engine's original valve seats with hardened steel inserts, which should be done by a qualified machine shop.
• The costs of replacement can vary widely depending on the vehicle involved.
• More than 90% of cars on the road today were designed to use unleaded fuel.

Statistics:

• The American Automobile Association has 113 motor clubs with over 1,000 offices providing services to nearly 38 million members in the US and Canada.
• Lead was removed from gasoline because it damaged emission-reducing catalytic converters that began appearing on cars in the early 1970s.
• Fuel additives are available at most auto parts stores to create the equivalent of low-lead gasoline.
• The transition to unleaded fuel has already occurred at most service stations, with over 90% of cars on the road designed to use unleaded fuel.

Sources:

• "Drivers Warned of Need to Switch* to Unleaded Fuel" (PRNewswire, December 21, 1995)
• American Automobile Association (website, 1995)
• Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (US government document, 1990)