Lead Replacement Petrol: Difference between revisions
description/definition moved to first para + ref |
minor edit |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
'''Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP)''' is a fuel developed to provide an alternative to [[gasoline#Tetraethyl lead|leaded petrol]]. Leaded four star petrol was withdrawn from sale in 2000<ref>http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/LRP.html</ref> and LRP was introduced containing other metal salts (such as potassium or manganese). |
'''Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP)''' is a fuel developed to provide an alternative to [[gasoline#Tetraethyl lead|leaded petrol]]. Leaded four star petrol was withdrawn from sale in 2000<ref>http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/LRP.html</ref> and LRP was introduced containing other metal salts (such as potassium or manganese). |
||
Leaded gasolin was containing a substance known as [[tetraethyllead|tetraethyl lead]] or TEL), a compound of lead in liquid form originally added to petrol to increase its [[octane rating]]. A side effect of adding |
Leaded gasolin was containing a substance known as [[tetraethyllead|tetraethyl lead]] or TEL), a compound of lead in liquid form originally added to petrol to increase its [[octane rating]]. A side effect of adding TEL is that a layer of lead compounds forms on the valve faces of the engine, retarding wear. |
||
Lead is very toxic and lead compounds in exhaust gases escape into the atmosphere causing pollution. Impacts on human health are widely documented. This led to the introduction of lead-free petrol. |
Lead is very toxic and lead compounds in exhaust gases escape into the atmosphere causing pollution. Impacts on human health are widely documented. This led to the introduction of lead-free petrol. |
||
Revision as of 22:12, 7 December 2011
 |
Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP) is a fuel developed to provide an alternative to leaded petrol. Leaded four star petrol was withdrawn from sale in 2000[1] and LRP was introduced containing other metal salts (such as potassium or manganese).
Leaded gasolin was containing a substance known as tetraethyl lead or TEL), a compound of lead in liquid form originally added to petrol to increase its octane rating. A side effect of adding TEL is that a layer of lead compounds forms on the valve faces of the engine, retarding wear.
Lead is very toxic and lead compounds in exhaust gases escape into the atmosphere causing pollution. Impacts on human health are widely documented. This led to the introduction of lead-free petrol.
With normal lead-free petrol an adjustment to the engine's ignition timing solved pre-detonation problems (pinking or pinging) caused by the lower octane rating, but this did nothing to prevent accelerated valve wear. The use of lead in petrol had allowed the machining of valve seats directly in the cast iron or aluminium cylinder heads (or block of side-valve engines). Over time these seats would heat up, erode and even micro-weld the valve to the seat causing rapid damage.
Lead Replacement Petrol was introduced to address the issue of valve wear.