Why Fuel Price Rises Have Led To Heartburn
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday September 16, 1993
YOU love your lime-green Holden Torana - four on the floor, bucket seats(you draw the line at mag wheels) and four cylinders (so it's not a gas-guzzler).
With the recent fuss about petrol price increases, let alone the effect on everyone's health, you're worried about the car's dependence on lead.
Environmental considerations aside, the cost of running your car since the price rise will be about $150 a year, according to Tony Selmes, executive director of the Motor Traders' Association.
If your concern about leaded petrol does extend beyond the hip pocket to the environment, then you may be thinking about trying to use unleaded petrol
Despite the confusing talk of gadgets and cheap conversions, there are limited options for owners of leaded-petrol cars to consider. You may:
* See whether the car can run without alteration on unleaded petrol;
* Convert the engine to accept unleaded petrol;
* Buy a new car;
* Buy a second-hand car made after 1986;
* Use leaded petrol and petrol-saving techniques;
* Rely on public transport.
There are 130 car models that run on leaded petrol that can use unleaded fuel without modification. They were generally manufactured in the 1980s. The list of these cars may be obtained from your local service station or from the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories in Canberra.
Peter Portelli, manager of Portapug Peugeot Specialists, believes that the list is incomplete, that there are other cars which can use unleaded petrol after retuning. These have particular engine components that are made of aluminium alloy rather than cast iron, which requires the lubrication of lead
He said that certain manufacturers would not want to put their cars on the list: "They probably wouldn't let the information out because they mightn't sell as many new cars."
Selmes said that the frequently mentioned "easy and cheap" engine modification (forabout $200) was primarily limited to Japanese vehicles which were originally made for unleaded petrol.
They had to be re-tuned for leaded petrol when exported to Australia because at the time unleaded fuel was unavailable. The cost related to retuning the car so it could again use unleaded petrol.
Ralph Goss, of the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers, warned against assuming that a Japanese car would take unleaded fuel.
"There's no way of knowing that unless you get the information from the manufacturer," he said. "The components within the engine (must be) designed for unleaded petrol."
"By de-tuning (the car) you are moving away from the manuafacturer's specifications and you're going to use more fuel.
"By tampering with the specifications there is no way you can meet the(minimum) emissions requirements."
The components within the engine (must be) designed for unleaded petrol.
Peter Caldwell, chief engineer of the NRMA, advised strongly against detuning cars because of safety and exhaust emissions.
Catalytic converters sound like a good option - their primary function is to heat excess fuel to an extreme temperature which burns away exhaust emissions.
But, Goss said: "Catalytic converters are essentially designed to run on unleaded fuel. If you run leaded petrol, the lead poisons the system."
A catalytic converter might be fitted only if the engine were designed originally to accommodate it. "It's not a retro-fit situation," he said.
If your car, like the lime-green Torana, does not fit into any of the categories mentioned so far, the only other choice is to recondition your engine. This requires the opening of the engine block and, often, the expensive removal of the engine from the car.
Bill Joris, executive director of the Service Station Association, said that you may then insert aluminium alloy valve seats that will not be damaged, even though they do not have the lubrication of the lead.
Alternatively, you may add a second head gasket that reduces the compression ratio and does not require high-octane (leaded) fuel.
These are expensive propositions, often complicated by the state of wear and tear in the engine, he said. They are worthwhile only if the car has sentimental value - the procedure costs much more than you would save by using unleaded fuel.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, host of the Science Talkback Show on the ABC's JJJ, and a four-wheel- drive enthusiast, disagreed. "Anybody who is half way confident can take the head (of the engine) off," he said. You may buy harder valves from K-Mart, he added, and the machining of the head could be done by a reconditioner for a total cost of about $300.
But Caldwell warned: "It must be done carefully. It must not have the effect of increasing emissions. The standard service bloke won't be able to do that."
Greg Iacono, a mechanic at an inner-city service station, said: "Often the expense (of reconditioning your engine) will work out to be the same as a reconditioned later-model motor."
"It's difficult with cars of that age to find the right parts."
He said that if the bottom end of the engine is worn and the top end (the head) is replaced, then it may increase any other problems the car might have, such as burning oil.
Iacono said the cost of reconditioning varied with different models but the minimum was about $1,500.
Another option for reducing your petrol bill is to use your car more efficiently.
The NRMA's advice regarding petrol saving techniques includes:
* Drive off straight away, but accelerate gently. This will warm your car up faster than idling before you drive off.
* When cruising, 70-90kmph is a good speed for minimum fuel consumption. Once you go over 100kmph your fuel use increases substantially.
* Use the highest gear that the engine will run on.
* Drive smoothly and anticipate changes so that you are not continually breaking rapidly.
* Never rest your foot on the brake or clutch pedals.
* Maintain your car regularly.
© 1993 Sydney Morning Herald
