What is Unleaded 88 Gasoline?
Unleaded 88 gasoline refers to gasoline with an octane rating of 88 and does not contain lead as an anti-knock additive in the refining process. This type of gasoline only contains trace amounts of lead derived from crude oil, typically around one gram per liter of gasoline.
Why do people not use Unleaded 88 gasoline?
Although unleaded gasoline can effectively control harmful emissions from vehicle exhaust, such as reducing emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides, the octane rating of unleaded gasoline is generally slightly lower than that of leaded gasoline. This means that it may not provide sufficient knock resistance in certain situations, leading to unstable engine operation. Additionally, the use of unleaded gasoline requires vehicles to be equipped with specific catalytic converters and other related engine management systems, which may entail additional costs and technical adjustments.
Environmental and Health Considerations
The primary reason for using unleaded gasoline is environmental and health considerations. Lead is a toxic element that has severe effects on human health, especially for pregnant women and infants. Lead exposure can cause premature birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, and fetal developmental abnormalities. Therefore, to protect the environment and public health, many countries and regions are striving to promote the lead-freeization of gasoline. For example, the United States began taking steps to gradually achieve the lead-freeization of gasoline in 1965, while China implemented policies for the lead-freeization of gasoline in 1997.
Conclusion
In summary, although unleaded 88 gasoline has advantages in terms of environmental protection, the issues of lower octane rating, the need for special equipment, and people’s demand for gasoline stability in actual use make people tend to choose leaded gasoline or gasoline with higher octane ratings. With advances in technology and increased awareness of environmental protection, there may be more solutions in the future to address these issues and make unleaded gasoline more widespread.