Will Leaded Race Gas Hurt My Car?
 

I just got off the phone with my local speed shop to see if I could get some race gas. They have 114 octane, but it's leaded!
They told me that it doesn't have much lead in it and it won't hurt anything except it will clog up your cats. I don't have cats, so that's no problem.
Any of you run leaded race gas in your 7's?

Leaded gas will positive effects due to having a higher octane and also since it contains lead, it has lubricating properties, henceforth the apex seals will get better lubrication. As far as any negative effects, the only 2 that I know of will be that the catalytic converters will get clogged(doesn't matter if you have a midpipe), and also it will decrease the lifespan of the oxygen(O2) sensor considerably, that's about it.

Do you have a lot of mods that require the higher octane? Isn't it true that cars don't benefit from higher octane unless they need it? How would you know if you need or can benefit from higher octane?

The only reason I want to run it, is to avoid detonation at higher boost levels. I'm planning on upping my boost to 15 PSI for my next race.

I found some unleaded 107 octane race gas. Went out and tested with it last night. A very noticable improvement!
I will find out this Sunday. Going to the track.
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Any engine with forced induction, weather it be turbo or supercharger will gain HP from higher octane, it allows more advance to be run at the same boost levels or the same timing with higher boost. it is more resistant to detonation so higher boost can be run with the same safety margin retained

Unless you plan on running crazy boost (24+ psi) there's really no reason to run leaded 117 octane. You would have to have your ignition turned up quite a bit to benefit from it. If you don't turn up the ignition (which you have to be real careful with) you're just gonna foul your plugs.

Best bet is to try and find something with a rating around 107 octane. I'm running 18 psi on 93 pump gas ( good pump gas). Even at 18 psi, if I run 110 leaded fuel it'll foul the plugs.

I ran VP C16 which is 116 octane and leaded when I ran my 11.1.

The plugs fouled a bit easier but the car ran heaps better and with a greater safety margin than running 23psi and pup fuel.

To be safe, you should run it.

Leaded fuel will give you more power, but if you do not advance your ignition you will not see the gains. A company called Millenium makes a 110 unleaded that is availible, you can try that (I have never used it). Race gas is easy to get ahold of, pick your manufacturer and then contact them for the nearest dealer. My dealer delivers to my doorstep, so I don't even need a truck to pick it up.

Don't forget that O2 sensors will last around 20-50 hours on leaded fuel.

I heard that you could buy a gallon of jet fuel (high oct.)from an airport and put it in your tank, finish filling it with pump gas and the oct. will be raised higher for hella cheaper....never tried it though.

Mixing fuel is a cheap way of increasing octane, just don't be dumb and buy some unknown avation fuel. A lot of people run 3 gallons of 100 with there pump fuel when they go to the track for some extra protection.

Rev. Jay
http://ricemobile.net/

Be careful. There's a big diffrence between avgas and jet fuel. Avgas is high octane gasoline, I dunno if it's leaded anymore but it's usually pretty cheap because it's not taxed for road use. (Therefore it's illegal to use it in a street car)

Jet fuel is kerosene, or diesel fuel, I forget which but they're very similar to each other anyway. Gasoline cars will not run on kerosene. (People regularly dum excess kerosene from a camping trip in their tanks when it's almost empty - doesn't work!)

at Rockingham dragway here in NC they have a sunoco 112 unleaded. I usually dump a few gallons of that in when I go there. I think its about $4.50/gal there though.

don't use jet fuel......trust me u don't want to go that route. my best friend works as liquid fuels specialist for the air force and he states that jet fuel in actuality is a lot like diesel w/ similar burning characteristics. so now you have been warned.. :bash: aviation gas differs and unless you know what you're buying....i'd stick w/ 107race gas..

it depends, one airplane fuel is like high-octane gas, and one is like diesel. I forget which is which, I *THINK* propellor engine fuel is like high-octane gas, and that Jet fuel is like diesel. Matter of fact I'm pretty sure of it now, because jet fuel is hard to get burning, I think jet fuel is like the diesel, and prop fuel is more like high-octane gas, but DON'T quote me on that.

WTF are you talking about?! I'm currently stationed on a military base where I work directly with jet-fuel 5 days a week. Jet fuel is a combination of gasoline and kerosene and it is about as flammable as any other type of fuel. So much so in fact that using it in your typical internal combustion engine will more than likely burn up your bearings and seals. All the engines that I no of (in the military) that is high and low bypass turbofan, turboprop, turbine, whatever, run on the same grade of jet fuel; JP8. In the future please don't mislead people. Anyone who has been through intial aircraft maintenance training would be able to tell that you are talking out of your ass... (Yes I realize how old this is but it had to be done.)

Let ye with 5 posts come in and start throwing crap around...

Dude, read my post "I *think* this is the case"... get your panties out of your arse and take a deep breath.

JP8 is a high grade like-desiel. It has a higher flash point than JP4 which is why we use it in the military now. DO NOT USE JET FUELS IN YOUR CAR. Avgas is high octane(usally leaded) gas. It can be safe but not recommended as much as simple race gas. And thats because with that you know what you are getting exactlly. And yes I work with JP8 every day with my job as a BlackHawk Crewchief here in Bosnia.

Aviation gas I believe is rated on a different scale from automotive gas anyhow, so a higher number might not mean anything.

Let those who speak with knowledge speak and those who have none listen. I don't come in here and try to explain rotarys to anybody (hence the 5 post) but after viewing a few of you're other post, I couldn't let this one slide. All I ask is that you don't mislead people and give them a false sense that they have learned something when you really don't know what you are talking about. I'm not angry just very concerned that some one might get the misconception that jet fuel is simply "high octane" race fuel: a potentially hazardous misunderstanding.

Just because you work on a military base doesn't mean you know anything about fuels, and this is obvious.
You can compare activation energy of combustion (the energy required to start a chemical reaction) to the energy produced during an exothermic chemcial reaction; there is no correlation.
So comparing flammability to (burning up bearins and seals) is completely irrelevant, and thus your posts are completely moot.
In fact, not only is your point incorrect, but the person whom you blasted WAS correct in his very basic post: it is easier to set fire to iso-octane (gasoline) than it is to set fire to jet fuel, mostly due to iso-octanes ability to readily evaporate.
Your "I learned about fire hazards in basic training" education should keep to itself when discussing kinetics, a subject of which you completely lack any knowledge in.

He stated in his post that av-gas is high octane gasoline, and jet fuel is chemically similar to diesel fuel, which is completely correct. The only one here spreading misinformation is you, so knock off on subjects you know dick-all about.
Welcome to the forum. Sorry you had to get such a quick lesson on why you shouldn't spew off on subjects in which your are inscient.

Where did I say jet fuel is simply high octane race fuel? Go back and read it before you go off on me...

There are a few types of Avgas.

87, 100, and 100LL (low lead). I believe the colors are red, green, and blue. I do believe the number stands for octane rating, but I'm not sure either. Just don't use red :)

Aviation gas as far as i know is rated in motor octane. The 100LL is blue in color.