Modern Vespa

Not a problem but a question for our American cousins just out of interest.

I've been told it's not uncommon to have high octane leaded fuel available near race tracks or offroad riding/driving areas in parts of the US. I find this hard to believe but had this pic sent to me from Idaho.
I suspect this bowser is actually within a circuit, can't imagine it's a regular service station.

In my 25 years of life I have not seen such thing here in Ohio.

It's in Ohio and bet you could find it right along with eth-free at regular fill-up stations.Yes it's available in different places.

when did they stop selling leaded here TCC 1995 or something?


there used to be heaps of 50s 60s and 70s cars on the road in the 90s but theyv mostly disappeared now



i remember having to put top end lube in my cars once they stopped selling leaded,,,,,,, now its even hard to find that additive eh

I am not that educated on gasoline. I use Shell V-Power.

We still use leaded fuel for airplanes.
100 low lead is available at almost all airports in the USA.
Expect to pay from $5/gallon to $10.
Average is $6.02 in N.C.
I believe it is supposed to be fazed out by 2023.

Why do they want get rid of it? I am close to an airport. Should I hord some?
Can someone explain to me what is going on please? I am interested.
I thought I was spoiling my scoot with the V-Power and Motul.

At least around here there are a few places that carry 100 octane plus. Not too hard to find.

Old cars had 'soft' metal valve guilds and needed the lead as a cushion. Without the lead the top ends didn't last real long. Those of us who remember the 'old' days can recall even with the lead engines would start using oil and be wore out by 100k. When we rebuild the engines we replace the valve guilds was modern hardened ones and don't have a need for the lead. On a high compression engine the higher octane prevents pinging but unfortunitly most of the high octane fuel today gets the rating from methonal or worse ethanol, and in turn requires much more per mile.

because lead is toxic

Wasn't leaded fuel used on a massive scale back in the day the cause of acid rain?

I can get all sorts of yummy fuels around my neck of the woods. 116 leaded, 100-120 vp and Sunoco, 100ll, but in always just run my scoot on 93 e0

The tetraethyllead used to increase octane is what is toxic. It is also damaging to catalytic converters. The addition of ethanol in todays fuel, i'm sure is to increase spending from the consumer. It degrades performance, damages parts and costs more than gasoline to produce. Personally i have my $ on hydrogen being the next best alternative to gasoline. We just have a paranoid government that believes every citizen is a terrorist. So we must continue to support the arab countries and our corn farmers. A 42 gallon barrel of crude oil produces approximately 10 gallons of diesel, 4 gallons of jet fuel, 19 gallons of gasoline, 7 gallons of other products, 3 gallons split between heavy fuel oil and liquified petroleum gases, and 2 gallons of heating oil. If oil is trading at $77/barrel. Just the cost of gasoline pays for it. The rest is profit for the oil companies.

Let's stick to technical properties of petroleum based fuels and leave the political commentary for other forums, lest someone receives a time-out. Meanwhile, re-read the posting guidelines, if you have not or have forgotten what is not welcome here on MV.

What about running airplane gas.... What are all those old airplanes running on?????

I know this thread isnt about "i need ultra high octane so I can get more power" ... I find it funny when Im reading threads like that either on scooter or car forums... as if running high octane in a car/scooter that doesnt need it is going to increase power ... it burns slower (but more controlled, thus why good for very high compression or crazy boost levels)

and dont worry about GA pilots. There are replacements for LL AVGAS that will be phased in like UL100 or Swiftgas.

In EPA AQMD monitored California: if there is a spill of leaded gasoline aqmd will go all bat Shit crazy. There can't even be >600 parts per million of lead flying around the air while a contractor disturbs an old wall. You gotta get that tested. I'd hate to think the cornucopia of crazyness if 5 gallons of Leaded gasoline spilled.

Sorry, i forget how flammable conversation can get when we mix gasoline and governments.

Guys.. there is no lead in it...

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/vp-110-spec.html

US NEPA outlawed it sometime ago.

You can buy this stuff at most airports...

Acid rain forms for SO2 ( sulfur dioxide).

Pretty much any mineral fuel (coal, oil) has sulfur in it.

Click on your own link. Says right there.

Lead: Yes

At airports... sorry if it was mentioned above.
I know of an airport that sells it for about $4.80 gal... not sure if they sell it to the street or in Vespa quantities.

My local airport sells 100LL philips 66 in as little as 5 gallons. Aviation fuel is unregulated so its taxed and streetable unlike say farm diesel.