Engines built to use leaded gas generally had higher compreesion ratios that made them more powerful. Unfortunately, the higher compression ratios need higher octane ratings to avoid detonation or "knock." These higher octane ratings in gasoline were achieved by adding tetra-ethyl lead to the gasoline. Lazy engine designers also started relying on the lubricating properties of the lead to reduce engine wear, so these older engines may be prone to rapid valve-seat wear even if you feed them high-octane unleaded.
I don't think there is a way to visually tell the difference between leaded and unleaded fuel. However, leaded gasoline has become "extinct" and it is more likely that you have unleaded gasoline in the can.
leaded gas has lead in it, unleaded does not Leaded petrol (or gas as you Americans quaintly call it) contained a chemical called Lead Tetraethyl to improve its performance. It was then discovered that the amount of lead given out by cars (or automobiles) was making city air dangerous to breathe and so its use has been forbidden. All petrol/gas is now unleaded and "green". Car engines have needed to be redesigned to allow them to burn the unleaded fuel.
Leaded fuel which has been banned for sale in the U.S. has a lead additive added during the refinery process.
leaded fuel contains lead which damages the engine while unleaded fuel contains negligible amount of lead.... on older engines the lead in the gasoline was to lubricate the valve stems in newer cars they have designed that requirement out
leaded fuel is economic compared to unleaded because more distance is covered with leaded than unleaded
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the reason unleaded is used today is because people got lead poisoning from leaded gasoline. theres not much difference environmental wise.
You'll damage the Catalytic Converter,thats it. The engine would be fine otherwise..
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