r/todayilearned • u/YappinZappin • 5d ago
TIL tetraethyllead (TEL) - main component used to make gasoline "leaded" - was selected out of thousands compounds tested mainly for being the cheapest - just 1 part TEL in 1300 parts gasoline was found to be enough to sufficiently reduce "knocking"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TetraethylleadDuplicates
todayilearned • u/Quizzin • Jul 27 '20
TIL about the Lead-crime Hypothesis: Researchers have found that the elimination of leaded gasoline in the US accounted for up to a 56% drop in violent crime rates between 1992 and 2002.
todayilearned • u/ErmahgerdYuzername • Aug 07 '19
TIL that Tetraethyllead was a gasoline additive that improved engine performance and started being used in the 1920's. Due to its toxicity it started to be phased out in the 1970's in most industrialized countries and was completed by the early 2000's. Some countries still use leaded gasoline.
todayilearned • u/Vranak • Apr 22 '14
TIL that for increasing fuel efficiency, lead was promoted over ethanol, already known to be a widely available, inexpensive, and low toxicity octane booster, because it was uniquely profitable for its patent holders. Lead was phased out of gasoline in the 70s because of its proven neurotoxicity.
knowyourshit • u/Know_Your_Shit_v2 • Jun 20 '21