Germanys_Finest - 17-11-2006 at 22:38
I was reorganizing my garage and found 5 x 15 gallon drums of VP racing fuel. It says it contains MTBE and tetraethyl lead on the labels. These were
here when I purchased the place and have no idea what to do with this stuff besides take it down to hazardous waste disposal, hate to waste chems.
With the price of gas being so high it would be great if I could use this in place of gas.
[Edited on 18-11-2006 by Germanys_Finest]
I just found an MSDS for this (U 4 racing fuel) it contains:
Benzene 10%
Toluene 10%
Ethylbenzene 10%
Styrene 10%
1,3-Butadiene 5%
Isoprene 10%
n-Hexane 2%
Pentane/Pentadiene 10%
Cyclopentadiene 10%
Lead 10%
That leaves the MTBE concentration being 3%
[Edited on 18-11-2006 by Germanys_Finest]
leu - 17-11-2006 at 23:39
You can use it as fuel for gasoline engines that don't have catalytic converters 
Germanys_Finest - 18-11-2006 at 00:04
Now I need to find out how to remove my catalytic converter. This stuff won't be going to waste.
Mr. Wizard - 18-11-2006 at 00:11
It's not that simple. The Pb in the fuel will contaminate the exhaust system and even ruin the converter if hooked up later. You may have computerized
fuel controls on your engine that won't 'understand' what is happening with the fuel mixture. Sell the fuel and buy some regular gasoline fuel with
the money. Check out a local race track or put an ad in the newspaper. Don't ruin your engine.
AllanD - 27-11-2006 at 14:18
I wouldn't lose sleep over it contaminating the exhaust system,
however on any modern engine (post 1979) the metallic lead will contaminate the Exhaust Gas Oxygen sensor.
Though I must add that oxygen sensors can also be cleaned
by the rather simple method of heating them with a propane flame until they glow and holding them at that temp for 5min or so.
you can usually get away with 45min to an hour of function from
an exhaust gas oxygen sensor before leaded fuel creates any detectable issues.
List the fuel on ebay "local pickup only" someone will buy it.
AllanD
not_important - 27-11-2006 at 20:19
I suspect that the best bet is to sell it, as already said. You could scrub the tetraethyl lead out, but that's a lot of work and I'm not sure you'd
have a fuel that's a good balance for a standard auttomotive engine.
baconaut - 28-11-2006 at 11:37
If you live somewhere in northern california I'd like to have some of that. I have a car that runs best on leaded fuel and I'd like to see what it
could do.
Fleaker - 29-11-2006 at 21:12
I'll buy it all.