# How soon will it be before they "down-size" a Gallon of Gasoline?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [June 26, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869 "2022-06-26T01:57:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/207 "2025-11-17T12:23:53Z")

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> [@Nevada\_545](#):
>
> Managers fail to recognize bad practices, here a technician is replacing a fuel pump that is accessed below the rear seat cushion in a luxury car with leather sea

That looks like an empty golf bag lying on the floor to me. Personally, I remove anything of value that could get damaged from my vehicle when I take it in for service.

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**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/208 "2025-11-17T13:25:18Z")

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WooHoo!!! Over 200!! Moving onto 300!! Doing my part!

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**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/209 "2025-11-17T14:30:48Z")

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> [@MikeInNH](#):
>
> That looks like an empty golf bag lying on the floor to me. Personally, I remove anything of value that could get damaged from my vehicle when I take it in for service.

That is the back seat buttered (fabric) side down…

And every mechanic thanks you for removing items out of the way, nothing worse than trying to find a missing wheel lock key in the trunk when it is full of junk/golf bag or whatever, or trying to put the jack and spare back with stuff all in the trunk… lol

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/210 "2025-11-17T15:12:34Z")

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Wheel weights are not buckshot. I find it hard to believe that there are many people checking shoulders for wheel weights.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/211 "2025-11-17T15:32:42Z")

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> [@davesmopar](#):
>
> That is the back seat buttered (fabric) side down…

Oh Yea. I always have golf on my mind. 😁

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/212 "2025-11-17T16:12:16Z")

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> [@jtsanders](#):
>
> I find it hard to believe that there are many people checking shoulders for wheel weights.

I could be incorrect in this recollection, but I do seem to recall one forum member who stated that they do this.  
George, perhaps?  
“RT”, perhaps?

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/214 "2025-11-17T17:18:49Z")

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The person lives in Silicon valley and drives a pretty old Corolla from the 1990s 😜

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**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/215 "2025-11-17T17:27:52Z")

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> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#):
>
> I wasn’t aware of copper toxicity.
> 
> At least there is an effort afoot, both in the public and private sectors, to tackle the two elephants in the room: Lead & Mercury.

If you’re involved in the manufacture of any electronic or electro-mechanical assemblies and plan to market them worldwide, you’re probably already familiar with two directives aimed at reducing or eliminating hazardous materials; RoHS and REACH.

The RoHS 10 include: **Lead** , **Mercury** , **Cadmium** , **Hexavalent Chromium** , **Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)** , **Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)** , **Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)** , **Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)** , **Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)** , and **Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)**

REACH directive covers 250 entries for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and can encompass more than 140,000 substances (and growing) in its entirety.

Around these parts, there is high sensitivity to lead pollution making its way into the environment. As such, lead weights for fishing and lead shot for shotgun shells used in hunting waterfowl are forbidden. Loons and other waterfowl tend to consume the lead when foraging and die from lead poisoning…

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**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/216 "2025-11-17T17:52:07Z")

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> [@TwinTurbo](#):
>
> As such, lead weights for fishing and lead shot for shotgun shells used in hunting waterfowl are forbidden. Loons and other waterfowl tend to consume the lead when foraging and die from lead poisoning…

Copper from brake linings washes into storm drains and then waterways due to the constant rainfall. Salmon and other fish then absorb the copper…

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**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/217 "2025-11-17T18:15:56Z")

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Another route for copper pollution is anti-fouling bottom paint used on marine boats to prevent algae and barnacle growth. Its whole purpose is meant to slough off copper ions to make the surface poisonous to marine life.

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**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/218 "2025-11-17T20:11:07Z")

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> [@TwinTurbo](#):
>
> The RoHS 10 include: **Lead** , **Mercury** , **Cadmium** , **Hexavalent Chromium** , **Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)** , **Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)** , **Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)** , **Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)** , **Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)** , and **Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)**
> 
> REACH directive covers 250 entries for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and can encompass more than 140,000 substances (and growing) in its entirety.

Yikes!!

No wonder we have so many chronically ill people today, and not just over 60 years of age. And more kids in special ed, and so on.

The following has been chalked up to “coincidence”, but I think there is an obvious correlation, see what you think:

“Lead Toxicity and Violent Criminal Behavior”

(Graph: Mother Jones, Article: Forbes Magazine)

Similar rise and fall patterns occurred around the same time, in other countries as well.

 ![IMG_0002](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/3/a31939f68145c35709fce9e87e128a368833b6b5.gif)

> **[How Lead Caused America's Violent Crime Epidemic](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/01/03/how-lead-caused-americas-violent-crime-epidemic/)**
>
> In the mid-20th century, America experienced an epidemic of violent crime. The culprit? Lead.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/219 "2025-11-17T21:26:22Z")

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> [@VDCdriver](#):
>
> I do seem to recall one forum

> [@db4690](#):
>
> The person lives in Silicon valley

I did not say no one, is said not many. I know that George said he did that, and IIRC the wheel weights were just some of the booty he went looking for.

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**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/220 "2025-11-18T01:17:34Z")

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> [@asemaster](#):
>
> Copper from brake linings washes into storm drains and then waterways due to the constant rainfall. Salmon and other fish then absorb the copper…

If only there was some kind of brake that contained most of the brake dust……one more win for drum brakes on automobiles. I know semis dont have the same containment but maybe they should.

Im glad people are finally waking up to how nasty disc brakes really are!

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**Author:** ![LoudThunder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/loudthunder/32/27769_2.png) [@LoudThunder](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LoudThunder)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/221 "2025-11-18T02:04:14Z")

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> [@Old-Days-Rick](#):
>
> If only there was some kind of brake that contained most of the brake dust……

Who remembers the old Brake Drum Lathes and Brake Shoe Grinders. They were used to resurface the brake drums to make a smooth, true surface for the best braking, while brake shoe grinders arc’d the brake shoes to match the exact curve of the drum.

At the Ford Dealership I worked at hey expected us to do this with all new brake jobs so the customers did not had to come back so soon to have their brakes adjusted. The air was filled with dust from the shoes and our best “filtrations devices” was a wet bandana.

 ![brake](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/e/8edd8c9ec5f1f13fb96fef0d6e443b171797678d.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/222 "2025-11-18T02:07:46Z")

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> [@Old-Days-Rick](#):
>
> one more win for drum brakes

What nonsense. Dust freely leaves drum brakes.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/223 "2025-11-18T03:46:44Z")

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> [@Old-Days-Rick](#):
>
> If only there was some kind of brake that contained most of the brake dust……one more win for drum brakes on automobiles.

When cleaning the brakes in the repair shop, the brake dust will go down the sewer drain.

In the early 1980’s we were told that shops would be required to use vacuum cleaning machines that mount on the vehicle axle/brake backing plate to remove brake dust before repairs. I never saw one in person.

In repair shops we were advised to rinse brake parts with water to control dust, the water goes down the drain. The brake dust that falls on the floor will get cleaned up by the janitor, the dirty water goes down the drain.

SafteyKlean offered a portable wash tank to clean brake shoes/backing plates, I rarely saw those being used.

In recent years I have witnessed techs using compressed air to remove brake dust from brake calipers and brake shoes. After being told brake dust is a health hazard, they laugh.

I don’t believe this problem will get “fixed” during my lifetime.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/224 "2025-11-18T04:41:45Z")

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> [@Old-Days-Rick](#):
>
> If only there was some kind of brake that contained most of the brake dust……one more win for drum brakes on automobiles. I know semis dont have the same containment but maybe they should.

If they are removing the copper from brake linings then what does it matter if the “non-copper impregnated” dust stays in the drum or not?

And what do you think happens to the brake dust that accumulates in the drum? Since the drums require periodic cleaning, the drum will be taken out back and rinsed out with a garden hose, or the dust dumped on the floor or in a drain pan and washed away, or blown away with an air hose and settle on the ground where the next rain washes into the storm drain, or…

> [@Nevada\_545](#):
>
> SafteyKlean offered a portable wash tank to clean brake shoes/backing plates, I rarely saw those being used.

25 years ago I used one on an almost daily basis. It made a good rolling work cart when you put the lid on upside down. As far as controlling brake dust, I found that a spray bottle with Dawn dish soap is quite effective.

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**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/225 "2025-11-18T13:20:00Z")

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> [@Old-Days-Rick](#):
>
> Im glad people are finally waking up to how nasty disc brakes really are!

Maybe you’re not old enough to recall but drum brake shoe pads used to contain asbestos. When they found out it was hazardous to humans, they phased it out.

The same thing is now happening with disc brake pads but with copper.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/226 "2025-11-18T14:41:46Z")

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> [@TwinTurbo](#):
>
> Maybe you’re not old enough to recall but drum brake shoe pads used to contain asbestos

Yup!  
I used to cringe when my old mechanic (back in the '70s) used compressed air to clean the brake mechanism. Even though he allowed me into the shop while he was working, if he was doing a brake job, I learned to excuse myself for a few minutes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-soon-will-it-be-before-they-down-size-a-gallon-of-gasoline/184869/227 "2025-11-18T14:52:50Z")

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> [@VDCdriver](#):
>
> I used to cringe when my old mechanic (back in the '70s) used compressed air to clean the brake mechanism.

I’m lucky. I was that mechanic in the ‘70s, cloud of dust, fortunately I didn’t come down with asbestosis. And it’s not a sure thing that asbestos is not in pads/shoes, even today, if they’re imported. Lots more info here:

[Do Modern Car Brakes Have Asbestos In Them? Here’s What You Need To Know](https://www.slashgear.com/1885204/brake-pads-asbestos/)

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