hi octane gas

[tomturkey]

Years ago we had two choices for gas at the pump, regular or Ethel. My stupid question for the day is, Was ethel alcohol added as an octane booster back in the 40's 50's and 60's? Is that why they called the one choice ethel?? gobble

 

[Scott 730]

Tetraethyl lead.

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

It boosted the octane rating while reducing knock.

Mike

 

[Pete in MD]

I seem to remember Regular and High-Test. If that's right maybe the difference was octane rating.

 

[Bob M]

Ethyl back then referred to tetraethyl lead - an octane booster added to gas to increase the octane rating - ie to create hi-test gas.

It has no relation whatsoever to ethyl alcohol blended with gasoline today.

 

[sotxbill]

Had a buddy that worked at a gas station. He was always out back pumping Ehel. Sally found out and dumped him. Si Boom

Back in the days of Enco and high test fuel Esso was being sold... Two bees decided to fly from Canada to Mexico. They fly all day and finally the first be looks down and says He has to drop down for fuel at the gas station. They both go down. The first bee pulls up to the pump and passes the hose to the second bee. The second bee says Whoa there fella, I'm not a regular bee, I'm a ESSO Bee! Si Bingady Boom

 

[jimlll]

Tetraethyl lead was an octane booster added to gasoline to allow higher compression ratios and mitigating detonation. High combustion temperatures resulted in detonation (knock) which is harmful to engines.
Exxons refinery in Baton Rouge enjoyed Ethyl. Corporation, a producer of tetraethyl lead, being across the street.

 

[tomturkey]

Thanks all for answering my question. I suppose I could have ask Siri but she does not live here. So I ask you. I also recall from the olden days, that the pumps had a sign saying the gas contained lead. I as a very young boy thought that lead was used to make fishing sinkers so never understood the sign. So you have solved that age old question also. Have a great day and get the lead out as they used to say to speed up the worker. gobble

 

[tomturkey]

Poor Ethel, all those gas station jokes . gobble

 

[Russ from MN]

In MN we now have high octane gas without lead or ethanol, that must be refined that way, like 100 LL avgas.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 17:21:40 04/26/23) I suppose I could have ask Siri but she does not live here.

In the olden days we would TYPE our questions in to a site called GOOGLE. Now these young lazy whippersnappers only have to say their question out loud... I tell ya, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

 

[Rich'sToys]

(quoted from post at 07:26:33 04/27/23)

(quoted from post at 17:21:40 04/26/23) I suppose I could have ask Siri but she does not live here.

In the olden days we would TYPE our questions in to a site called GOOGLE. Now these young lazy whippersnappers only have to say their question out loud... I tell ya, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

And not only that---that thing is listening to you all the time--even when you're not talking to it. Can you say, "Big Brother?"

 

[Scott 730]

(quoted from post at 23:36:30 04/26/23) In MN we now have high octane gas without lead or ethanol, that must be refined that way, like 100 LL avgas.

100LL has lead in it.

 

[Texasmark]

Not answering the question but related to lead in gasoline, engine deposits and things like burnt valves and short overhaul cycles were a constant problem. Rule of thumb in my neighborhood was valve job in 45k and total overhaul at 100........today its 250k OH (maybe) with valves hanging in there the whole time.

Flat head Ford V8s had bad valve problems and cracking between the valves and cylinder....but that was mostly due to routing of exhaust gasses in the V8 whereby the I4 and I6 didn't have that problem as the exhaust had a clear path to exit......so I have read. My mother had a '51 Ford V8 with the mentioned problems and I had a '36 project V8 Coupe as my first car.....cost me something like $60 in the late '50's.

I understand/think I remember that lead was a cheap way to get the octane boost. I think it Was AMOCO that had white premium fuel without the lead additive. I think the octane ratings were (R+M)/2 unlike todays having the resulting numbers different but not the usefulness......I think (Research measurements + Motor measurements)/2.....whatever that means.

 

[Blackhole49]

Others answered your question. Try zooming in on the face and sign below.

 

[paul]

You know, I like to use my tools.

I dont like it when they use me.

I see some of the new battery tools are coming with apps, they talk to your phone now. When all I want to do is
remove a nut?

Becoming an odd world we live in.

I wonder if they still print the book 1984. Oh yea, print, book, what are those things?

All in fun, just a passing conversation.

Paul

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 23:36:30 04/26/23) In MN we now have high octane gas without lead or ethanol, that must be refined that way, like 100 LL avgas.

he "LL" means Low Lead. It is in there, just not as much of it.

 

[buickanddeere]

100LL is supposed to be equivalent to 96 octane motor vehicle gasoline .