Lead was legislated out of pump fuel decades ago, but there’s still a place that you’ll find it: at the track. Adding lead to gasoline is an easy, inexpensive way to increase octane, something craved by high-compression, fast-spinning engines–especially those from the days before fuel injection.
But when faced with all of the choices, which race fuel is right for you? Zachary J. Santner, technical specialist at Sunoco Race Fuels, notes that three products will cover most road racers requiring a leaded, high-octane product.
110 Octane: Sunoco’s Standard, a 110-octane fuel, has basically been around since the ’70s. Think of it as an entry-level race fuel, Santner says, “that can satisfy a pretty sporty performance build.” Define sporty? He figures roughly below these three parameters: a 13:1 compression ratio, a 4-inch piston bore and a 7000 rpm red line.
112 Octane: “Supreme is for when people are pushing things a little bit further,” Santner says of Sunoco’s 112-octane leaded race fuel. “Supreme is a little lighter and has less aromatic hydrocarbons, so it burns a little quicker.” How can you tell a fuel’s weight? Check out its specific gravity. Faster burning and increased octane make it better suited to a more aggressive setup–figure engine speeds north of 7000 rpm, compression ratios up to about 15:1, or piston bores past 4 inches.
116 Octane: High-revving, high-compression, big-block engines–picture something extreme, like a big-block Corvette, 427 Cobra or Ford GT40–need a lot of octane plus a lightweight fuel that will provide a fast flame front across those large-diameter pistons. A 116-octane fuel like Sunoco’s Maximal is designed for these situations, Santner explains.
What About too Much Octane? Too much octane won’t hurt anything or cause power losses, Santner says, noting that if you’re debating between 110- and 112-octane fuels, the 112 might be the answer since it would allow more ignition timing. “When you get to the higher end of Standard being the right fuel for you, you might want to look at Supreme,” he says. The prices for 5-gallon pails are close, too: about $65 for Standard and $68 for Supreme. Figure about $85 for 5 gallons of the 116-octane fuel. And, we should note, prices drop when purchased by the drum or at a pump.
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Comments
No car needs leaded fuel. If Formula One can run their engines without lead, so can everyone else. The insistence of some racers on continuing to burn leaded fuel is a huge middle-finger salute to the rest of the world, and only reinforces the impression that auto enthusiasts are obnoxious selfish jerks. If sanctioning bodies had any integrity, they would ban leaded fuel... but they all exist for either the convenience of competitors or for profit, and neither comes with any expectation of responsibility.
dougie
HalfDork
4/17/21 11:37 p.m.
Brian_13 said:
No car needs leaded fuel. If Formula One can run their engines without lead, so can everyone else. The insistence of some racers on continuing to burn leaded fuel is a huge middle-finger salute to the rest of the world, and only reinforces the impression that auto enthusiasts are obnoxious selfish jerks. If sanctioning bodies had any integrity, they would ban leaded fuel... but they all exist for either the convenience of competitors or for profit, and neither comes with any expectation of responsibility.
When you can assure me that Russia, China, and Korean, etc. go unleaded only I'm totally on board. Until then you'll see my middle figure.....
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