Ever notice how, when you go to fill your car up with gas, the fuel is always labeled unleaded? Funny enough, that’s something that never really comes into regular conversation. But apparently, leaded fuel does exist, it’s just pretty uncommon (and actually super unsafe to use).
A Reddit user who goes by stephenkostos happened to come across a gas station that was offering leaded fuel, specifically for racecars. Like any Reddit user would do, he took a picture and posted it to the site . More specifically, it ended up gaining popularity on the Mildly Interesting sub.
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The Picture Almost Looks Normal… Apart From The Leaded Fuel.
From The Picture, Though, It’s Clear That The User Went Unleaded.
The picture shows the gas pump, which is taken at Circle K. The button for regular, unleaded fuel is pressed, showing the price per gallon. Next to it on the right are the usual plus and premium options, but on the left is something a little less conventional: an option labeled “racing fuel” and “leaded.”
Commenters Had A Lot Of Questions About The Pic.
Some wondered where in the world this was taken. According to OP, the Circle K he stopped at was in Streator, Illinois. According to other commenters, there are racetracks reasonably close to that town, so it makes sense that there would be gas stations that offer leaded fuel.
Other Users Wondered What Leaded Fuel Was Good For In The First Place.
After all, gas station always labels fuel as “unleaded,” but you rarely if ever see actual leaded fuel anywhere.
The quick answer is that lead increases vehicle octane, but because it’s so bad for people and the environment, it was banned for use in commercial vehicles.
Some Users Discuss The Person Who Invented Leaded Fuel.
Thomas Midgley Jr. was an inventor responsible for both leaded fuel and chemicals under the CFC umbrella. The former is pretty toxic to humans and led to lead poisoning in a lot of people. The latter, which has long since been banned from use, is responsible for the hole in the ozone layer. Basically, this dude is responsible for some of the most harmful chemicals the world has ever had to deal with.
And what’s worse, as the Reddit comments discuss, he accidentally strangled himself to death as a result of using another one of his inventions. After being disabled from contracting polio, he made pulleys to get himself out of bed. He one day got tangled in them.
It’s pretty wild how a simple picture of a gas station pump can lead to such an internet rabbit hole.
