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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 7 Sep 2008
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Leaded petrol in modern car
Does anybody know what happens if I put leaded petrol in a car that according to the manuel only shoul be filled with unleaded? Do I only destroy the catalysator or will the car totally stop running? By the way: do people still use leaded fuel in West-Africa, or did they stop[ using it there as well.

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Old 7 Sep 2008
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You destroy the cat and the vehicle then won't pass European exhaust emission checks.

Most of the vehicles in West Africa are either diesel or very old petrol engines. I didn't see any unleaded for sale.

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Old 7 Sep 2008
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See a past post ..

Arrr found it

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...vehicles-37341
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  #4  
Old 8 Sep 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gvdaa View Post
Does anybody know what happens if I put leaded petrol in a car that according to the manuel only shoul be filled with unleaded? Do I only destroy the catalysator or will the car totally stop running? By the way: do people still use leaded fuel in West-Africa, or did they stop[ using it there as well.

Thanks
As well as lead reacting with and destroying the catalytic converter, you also have to be careful not to use oil with older specifications which may be available there. The anti wear additives destroys the engine management sensors, hence all grades from SG onwards have progressivle less and less anti wear additives. The idea is to make modern vehicles more and more costly to maintain in order for governments to benefit from the tax on new vehicles as older ones become uneconomic to repair. This is also why the oil grade is a -MAXIMUM- rating that the oil is guaranteed not to meet. so that manufacturers can ensure you use an oil with insufficient additives to destroy the sensors and with any hopefully provide sufficient lubrication for the cams to last out the warranty.

Jaundiced? who me ??
Last edited by oldbmw; 8 Sep 2008 at 21:47. Reason: tripewriter malfunction
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Old 14 Sep 2008
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Unleaded in Ghana
According to our Petrol supplier all petrol sold in Ghana is unleaded. Have never gone into it in detail as so few of our vehicles are petrol. However my outboard is a modern Honda BF5 - supposed to only run unleaded, and in the two years I have had it the engine hasn't missed a beat. Obviously no CAT, but I know plenty people running modern petrol cars here in Ghana and have never heard any problems from them. In the UK/EU anyway I think ULP was introduced in mid 80's? Sucking it out of thin air, but I would say a majority % of petrol vehicles I have seen in Ghana/BF/Mali/CI date from between then and now. But I would recommend taking the CAT off, as it will be expensive to replace should you fill up with leaded petrol. It would be good if you could provide more details about the vehicle.
Gil
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Old 15 Sep 2008
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I am driving a Honda Accord 1994. I will sell it in Niger or Nigeria. So no need to take of the cat, I think. I've seen many modern petrol Accords in Niger and suppose there's no real problem, but wanted to be sure. Thanks to everybody
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