Aviation gasoline still contains lead. Older engines need lead in the fuel to extend the life of the valves. Lead does something magical to valve seats allowing better heat transfer from the hot valve to the cooler valve seat. Detroit did something to automobile engines to cope when lead was banned from motor gas. Aviation engine makers have not, as yet.
And leaded avgas is running short. Some places are charging $22 a gallon for it. So Cessna is now offering a diesel engine in their Skylane 182. Which works, but the price seems high. The standard Cessna 182 lists for $398,100 with full avionics. The diesel Cessna will cost $515,000 Which is a lot for an ordinary four place light plane that has been in production since 1956. I suppose the full avionics, auto pilot, and GPS run the bill up some, and you can probably wheel and deal and get some kind of discount, sort of like buying a new car where nobody pays sticker price, but still a lot of money.
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