Motor Gasoline and Automotive Air Pollution

Until 1970, emission standards and car modifications needed to comply with state regulations had relatively little effect on gasoline quality. Then in 1970, Ford and GMC announced that all or nearly all their 1970 and later model cars would be designed to operate on unleaded gasoline of 91 Research octane number. This paper covers the production capabilities of the petroleum industry, the effect of leaded gasoline on emissions, consumer advantages and disadvantages of unleaded gasoline, gasoline volatility, and future gasoline quality.