Local airport has 100 octane gas, would it be harmful to run?
 

So, as the title suggests, the local airport has 100 octane Low Lead aviation fuel for about 4.80 a gallon. I'm curious if it would be harmful to run in this engine. I've run the gas before in my dirtbikes with no ill effects whatsoever, but I'm assuming with three extra cylinders it would be a different story.

The engines used in all the Cessna's are all horizontally opposed 4 cylinder engines, so they are somewhat a close cousin to the engines in these cars. I know it says unleaded fuel only but I've never quite understood why and if it would be harmful to run a low lead gasoline in the car. Any help would be appreciated, and if this thread needs to be moved please do so mods.

Why would you want to?

you'd have to remove the cats to run leaded fuel!

Because racecar :burnrubber:

(Sorry, had to :lol:)

Lead contaminates and reduces the effectiveness of the catalytic converters, it also coats the O2 sensor rendering it useless in a much shorter time period.

Long story short, long term drawback probably not worth short term gains

Most Cessnas run horizontally opposed engines, yes. However, they run carbureted, low compression (~7:1), air-cooled horizontally opposed six cylinder engines that have a design dating back to about the 1940s. Your engine has very little commonality with the aviation engines aside from which directions the pistons travel.

Oh, and definitely don't run leaded gas. You can find race gas some places if you really have a hankering to run high octane. You won't gain anything from it though unless you have made other modifications as well.

I think I should state again that I'm not necessarily saying that I'm going to start pouring the blue stuff into my tank, I was just simply curious. Just trying to understand all the mechanics better! :thumbsup:

Higher octane won't improve anything over what the engine is designed to run on.
A higher compression ratio may warrant it, but the lead is not a good idea.

Wasn't speeding officer, only flying really low.

No, don't use it. Check with your local Sonocos as they are somewhat likely to carry race gas. However, I think you wont notice much other than the nice smell.

Here's the VP race fuel distro for Oregon. http://repowell.net/vp-racing-fuel.html

Lead will damage the catalytic converters($$$$). It's part of the reason lead was banned from Gasoline in the 70's.

Either look for unleaded race gasoline or E85. Don't forget the ECU tune.

Lol.

If you are in Portland there is a gas station off of MLK up by PIR that sells pure 93 octane (no ethanol) and 107 octane sonoco race fuels.