The notion that lead was good for engines was always just propaganda. One of the main reasons engines last so much longer today than they once did is the lack o

The notion that lead was good for engines was always just propaganda. One of the main reasons engines last so much longer today than they once did is the lack of lead in the fuel. (Lubricants are better, too, but are also no longer damaged by lead contamination.) General Motors, in originally promoting leaded gasoline, was aware of this at the time. They did not see reduced engine lifetime as a problem to be solved.