Why Was Lead Added to Gasoline in the Early Days of Automobiles?

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16 күн бұрын

Welcome back to our channel! In today’s video, we dive deep into the fascinating and controversial history of leaded gasoline. Discover why lead, a known toxic substance, was added to gasoline in the early days of automobiles and how it impacted the automotive industry and public health.
🌎 This story is a powerful reminder of the balance between technological advancement and ethical responsibility. As we explore the past, we also look to the future of the automotive industry and the importance of sustainable innovations.
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Пікірлер: 26

@dougadams9419 14 күн бұрын

"It was widely used as a fuel additive for much of the 20th century, first being mixed with gasoline beginning in the 1920s. This "leaded gasoline" had an increased octane rating that allowed engine compression to be raised substantially and in turn increased vehicle performance and fuel economy."

@brucekellett2269 15 күн бұрын

Avgas used in piston engine airplanes still contains tetra ethyl lead so if you think its gone you are wrong.

@davidgrisez 14 күн бұрын

There is Avgas and some blends of Racing Gasoline that still contain tetraethyl lead.

@rimmersbryggeri 13 күн бұрын

Only if they have iron blocks and soft valve seats? Airplanes are expensive though so are probably kept in service longer hence the need. Don't really see who would have wanted to use iron blocks in airplans for the last 80 years+ though.

@user-or4oj8bc1b 13 күн бұрын

Yep 100LL is used every day.

@jgordon7719 12 күн бұрын

It might be helpful to mention what replaced leaded gasoline. We still have high octane gas today, but it is unleaded

@dalemettee1147 14 күн бұрын

And yet there was another option. American Oil used a different aproach. Instead of lead, they used another metal, Nichol. They used to advertise that their gas was lead free. Yes it was but the metal they added was Nichol. The same affect but different additive.

@rimmersbryggeri 13 күн бұрын

It was proposed by sinclair oil but the only articles I can find that aren't a scientific paper or an advertisment are refences to it being banned. Assuming you mean nickel compounds.

@dougadams9419 14 күн бұрын

Robo voice can't pronounce "LEAD" as "LED" sometimes. 6:28 Robo voice said LEED for LEAD.

@calvinnickel9995 14 күн бұрын

That’s because the pronunciation and meaning of “lead” is contextual. Same with “read”.

@BillAnt 14 күн бұрын

It was used to dumb down the population. lol jk It allowed higher compression with less knocking. I remember in the 80's, gas station attendants always asked "lead or un-leaded gas?" Nowadays it's "electrons or super electrons?"

@Phil-D83 14 күн бұрын

Octane boost, but the "ethel" (aka. Lead) was highly toxic

@Stephan.Martin 14 күн бұрын

Look up Clair Patterson, he is the name why the EPA had to move

@davidkuhn3970 13 күн бұрын

I have a better question. Why do gas stations still say “ unleaded?”

@historyofsimplethings 13 күн бұрын

We will try to cover that in our next video!

@ytdweller23 13 күн бұрын

bc it's unleaded, what's up with u!

@davidkuhn3970 13 күн бұрын

@@ytdweller23 lt hasn’t had lead in it for almost 30 years. You can’t buy leaded gas for cars. Let’s list all the ingredients that aren’t in it.

@tads73 14 күн бұрын

One of those guys is also responsible for putting CFCs in consumer products.

@rimmersbryggeri 13 күн бұрын

Thomas midgeley. He also invented a a haness to help him get our of bed after contracting polio, he was killed by his own invention.

@gulfy09 12 күн бұрын

Yet they sell lead additive

@allangibson8494 14 күн бұрын

And the simple answer was Tetraethyl Lead could be patented and Ethanol couldn’t. Ethanol has the same effect on octane levels but had been banned by prohibition in the United States. During WW2 the Germans used methanol for the same effect in aero engines.

@calvinnickel9995 14 күн бұрын

Ethanol has a lot of problems that still aren’t solved… like stability during storage and its effect on rubber and seals. If you have a classic car or boat or RV or something that spends a lot of time sitting.. make sure you get gasoline with no ethanol in it.

@allangibson8494 13 күн бұрын

@@calvinnickel9995 Ethanol had no problems with rubber and seals in the 1920’s because that is an issue with synthetic rubber that hadn’t been invented yet. Natural rubber and ethanol get along fine. Copper alloys and ethanol are problematic but distilleries solved that a millennium ago (tin plating or just use iron pipes). Tetraethyl Lead killed manufacturing workers by the dozen (and mechanics too, particularly in aircraft during WW2).