# 'The World Has Finally Stopped Using Leaded Gasoline. Algeria Used The Last Stockpile' **URL:** \ **Category:** The Show\ **Created:** [August 31, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090 "2021-08-31T02:46:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/1 "2021-08-31T02:46:58Z")
The last gallon of leaded was sold in Algeria in July, NPR reports; they excerpt a bit from an old ‘Car Talk’ episode to help celebrate > **[The World Has Finally Stopped Using Leaded Gasoline. Algeria Used The Last...](https://www.npr.org/2021/08/30/1031429212/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockp)** > > A calamitous invention that poisoned air, water and soil for generations is no more, according to a report from the United Nations. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/2 "2021-08-31T03:42:13Z")
For cars, but not light aircraft, I think. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 6:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/3 "2021-08-31T06:06:24Z")
Still in light aircraft due to concerns about running with too low an octane rating. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/4 "2021-08-31T12:42:30Z")
I remember going to NASCAR races in the late 80’s when they were still using leaded fuel. The exhausts emitted a really distinctive sweet-ish smell. You don’t get that anymore. I’m sure it wasn’t good for you, but it really added to the sense of occasion for 10 year old me. ---
**Author:** ![tom418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/da6949/32.png) [@tom418](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tom418)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/5 "2021-08-31T14:46:33Z")
Correct. 100LL (“100 octane Low Lead”) is still used. Got $6.70 per gallon? That’s what I paid, for 63 gallons in my Piper Seneca last week, at KISP (Islip airport on Long Island.) It wasn’t always that way (Avgas costing twice as much as Mogas). It always cost more, but not over twice the price ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/6 "2021-08-31T16:28:30Z")
I think leaded gas is still available as a racing fuel too. > **[VP Vintage Leaded | VP Racing Fuels, Inc](https://vpracingfuels.com/product/vp-vintage-leaded/?c=217&)** > > For older vehicles that relied on lead for engine protection, VP Vintage is a leaded fuel with an octane rating of 103 (R+M/2) that contains no ethanol and offers extra... [https://petroleumservicecompany.com/racing-fuels/](https://petroleumservicecompany.com/racing-fuels/) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/7 "2021-08-31T19:24:12Z")
Most the larger racetracks have leaded race gas available from on site pumps with underground tanks. They also generally have unleaded high octane race gas as well. Some have race E85. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/8 "2021-09-01T03:12:52Z")
> [@wolyrobb](#): > > Still in light aircraft due to concerns about running with too low an octane rating. A gas station in town sells it, on the corner of Indian School & Juan Tabo - I thought it was mainly ethanol, which has an octane number of 108. > [@FoDaddy](#): > > The exhausts emitted a really distinctive sweet-ish smell. There are lead compounds that have a sweet taste. I remember a scandal when some company used a lead compound as an artificial sweetener, probably nearly a century ago. > [@jtsanders](#): > > I think leaded gas is still available as a racing fuel too. > [@Mustangman](#): > > Most the larger racetracks have leaded race gas available from on site pumps with underground tanks. They haven’t switched to nitromethane? hydrazine and liquid oxygen? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/9 "2021-09-01T13:29:41Z")
> [@texases](#): > > For cars, but not light aircraft, I think. That’s exactly the thought that made me roll my eyes at this story, which I read before they issued the correction. NPR usually does at least a little better with the details than this. I was kind of surprised they didn’t note that piston aircraft still use leaded gas. Especially since the first search result you see if you google “is leaded gas still used” is “Leaded gas was phased out 25 years ago. Why are these planes still using toxic fuel?” ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/10 "2021-09-01T14:31:36Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > Why are these planes still using toxic fuel A couple of reasons come to mind… Because the aviation industry is still flying lots of very old aircraft or newer aircraft using very old technology. The Lycoming O-360 4 cylinder was designed in 1952 and is still being produced and used today. And it is so highly regulated, it is very, very difficult and expensive to change anything, and maintain the market support, as Porsche found out with their short run turbo flat-6 aircraft engine project. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/11 "2021-09-01T14:32:10Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > They haven’t switched to nitromethane? hydrazine and liquid oxygen? No, they haven’t. 🙄 ---
**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:** [September 1, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/12 "2021-09-01T14:35:47Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > And it is so highly regulated, it is very, very difficult and expensive to change anything, We had a long discussion of this 11 years ago: > [@Help Ed Build His Plane](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-ed-build-his-plane/45961/1): > > This week on Car Talk, we heard from Ed in Pennsylvania. (You can hear the call [right here.](http://www.cartalk.com/Radio/player5/player.php?a=shortclip&id=local-cartalk-890365)) He's got to choose between two engines. Big deal, right? Except that this engine is going in a plane Ed is building. From scratch. No kidding. (Who screens these calls, anyway?) Should he go for the tried-and-true airplane engine, or save $10,000 and opt for a Subaru engine? And, is this really the right place to save a few bucks? What would you do, if having your engine stall might mean a cras… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/13 "2021-09-01T17:58:18Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > They haven’t switched to nitromethane? hydrazine and liquid oxygen? Actually, hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide is the preferred fuel and oxidizer combination. Kinda dangerous, though. When loading spacecraft and rockets with that stuff, they wear scape suits. Wanna die fast? Open a can of either, and breath deeply. The workers below are working with hydrazine. They want to live at least a few more hours. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/f/ff9dbea1446312069b2524cefa3c773a6f8de143.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/14 "2021-09-02T05:50:25Z")
What did Ed use? I remember reading about an early Durin that used a Volkswagen engine. ---
**Author:** ![hiker16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hiker16](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hiker16)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 11:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/15 "2021-09-02T11:33:04Z")
I remember the smell, as well-…from feeding a lawn mover in the early-mid 1980s… ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/16 "2021-09-02T13:22:36Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > as Porsche found out with their short run turbo flat-6 aircraft engine project. I hadn’t thought about that Mooney in years. Neat idea - you could brag to your friends that you had a Porsche and almost not be lying. 😉 Of course, if you can afford a new Mooney, you can afford a Porsche too. It’s nice to see diesel engines gaining popularity though. I remember some folks thought Diamond was nuts when they started using 'em, but they’re singing a different tune now. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/17 "2021-09-02T14:03:27Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > I remember some folks thought Diamond was nuts when they started using 'em THAT caused me to do a little research… Thanks! Pretty cool use of modern direct injection turbo diesel technology applied to light aircraft. High torque developed at low rpm with great fuel efficiency. And it runs on Jet-A or automotive diesel fuel. The only downside seems to be a bit more weight. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/18 "2021-09-03T18:43:11Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > Mooney One of my wife’s cousins owned a Mooney until he crashed in it. A fuel pump went out. He crashed into a field. He recovered from the crash but the plane did not. I got a ride in his Mooney and got to fly it for a while. After 10,000+ hours flying for the Air Force he felt qualified to handle a narrow wing aircraft like the Mooney. As a fueler captain and trans-Atlantic airline pilot, he’s a very conservative pilot. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/19 "2021-09-03T19:06:00Z")
Yeah, Mooney’s are definitely not for novices. We just had one go down a few towns over from me. Preliminary suspicion is the pilot went VFR in to IMC and got disoriented. A security camera caught the crash. Looked like the wings had folded up before impact, suggesting a crazy-high-g pullout attempt. Aviation is one of those pursuits that can bite hard if you’re not on the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Hugemoth\_144444](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@Hugemoth\_144444](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Hugemoth_144444)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090/20 "2021-09-04T19:21:22Z")
I have an ultralight aircraft that uses regular 87 octane gasoline. On a couple occasions I filled it up from the 100 LL self service pump at the local airport and noticed the exhaust pipe had whitish yellow deposits instead of the usual black. Hope someone can come up with a non leaded fuel that can work in these 1940s designed aircraft engines. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-world-has-finally-stopped-using-leaded-gasoline-algeria-used-the-last-stockpile/179090.md?page=2)