gas variety.
01-29-11, 04:48 PM
#16
That is very true about the bad gas. I got some bad gas once from a really nice gas station in Tulsa. On the way back to Oklahoma City, I got SEVEN miles per gallon, maybe even less than that. It was horrible
!
01-29-11, 06:00 PM
#17
Octane has always given the wrong impression to most people. Higher octane does not always mean higher performance. Octane controls the burn rate of the gas. Higher octane actually slows the burn rate thus reduces pre ignition or knock. It's a fine line to walk but you actually want to burn the lowest octane (faster burn rate) without detonation or knock. Cars with knock sensors will retard the timing when it senses knock and that basically will reduce performance. I've found it's probably best to go by the manufacturer's recommendations because most cars now days have knock sensors. As long as you don't get any knock and want to save $$$s and don't mind reduced performance burn the low stuff. Knock is your enemy as is running lean. They generally go hand in hand.
I usually run 91 since its the highest octane in my neck of the woods, but I have been known to run 87 from time to time, and the car seems to run the same except for the obvious difference in gas mileage.
01-29-11, 10:30 PM
#20
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Gas is probably one of the single most important details some people forget about.
I am in texas, so it will probably be different than what you have, but I tested Shell, Chevron, Texaco thoroughly before I decided. A lot is also the particular station, as a lot of places tend to get bad gas sometimes, this cannot be predicted.
There used to be a place near me that had Ethanol-free gas, if you can find it, go as high an octane as you can, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold for your motor.
When my station lost its ethanol-free, I tested some more and decided to go with a local Chevron that recorded the least amount of knock(KR), pulled timing, in the data logging I did with a handheld.
Once per month, I put 2 to 1 Race gas(109 octane unleaded) to pump(93). I felt that this helped clear out the crap from the gas I had been using.
Bottom line is, if you cant get a detailed log of how your car is responding through the use of a handheld or a dyno, it's really hard to pick the right one, because the butt dyno is very unreliable.
Use the highest octane available from a reputable, busy station,(check local forums and see what the people in your area use in their cars) and if you dont mind the coin, mix some race gas(unleaded of course) in there once a month or so for good measure.
luckily, I don't have to worry about that anymore as I have made the switch to E85.
I am in texas, so it will probably be different than what you have, but I tested Shell, Chevron, Texaco thoroughly before I decided. A lot is also the particular station, as a lot of places tend to get bad gas sometimes, this cannot be predicted.
There used to be a place near me that had Ethanol-free gas, if you can find it, go as high an octane as you can, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold for your motor.
When my station lost its ethanol-free, I tested some more and decided to go with a local Chevron that recorded the least amount of knock(KR), pulled timing, in the data logging I did with a handheld.
Once per month, I put 2 to 1 Race gas(109 octane unleaded) to pump(93). I felt that this helped clear out the crap from the gas I had been using.
Bottom line is, if you cant get a detailed log of how your car is responding through the use of a handheld or a dyno, it's really hard to pick the right one, because the butt dyno is very unreliable.
Use the highest octane available from a reputable, busy station,(check local forums and see what the people in your area use in their cars) and if you dont mind the coin, mix some race gas(unleaded of course) in there once a month or so for good measure.
luckily, I don't have to worry about that anymore as I have made the switch to E85.
Last edited by xiaolong; 01-29-11 at 10:50 PM.
01-30-11, 08:00 AM
#23
Gas is probably one of the single most important details some people forget about.
I am in texas, so it will probably be different than what you have, but I tested Shell, Chevron, Texaco thoroughly before I decided. A lot is also the particular station, as a lot of places tend to get bad gas sometimes, this cannot be predicted.
There used to be a place near me that had Ethanol-free gas, if you can find it, go as high an octane as you can, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold for your motor.
When my station lost its ethanol-free, I tested some more and decided to go with a local Chevron that recorded the least amount of knock(KR), pulled timing, in the data logging I did with a handheld.
Once per month, I put 2 to 1 Race gas(109 octane unleaded) to pump(93). I felt that this helped clear out the crap from the gas I had been using.
Bottom line is, if you cant get a detailed log of how your car is responding through the use of a handheld or a dyno, it's really hard to pick the right one, because the butt dyno is very unreliable.
Use the highest octane available from a reputable, busy station,(check local forums and see what the people in your area use in their cars) and if you dont mind the coin, mix some race gas(unleaded of course) in there once a month or so for good measure.
luckily, I don't have to worry about that anymore as I have made the switch to E85.
I am in texas, so it will probably be different than what you have, but I tested Shell, Chevron, Texaco thoroughly before I decided. A lot is also the particular station, as a lot of places tend to get bad gas sometimes, this cannot be predicted.
There used to be a place near me that had Ethanol-free gas, if you can find it, go as high an octane as you can, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold for your motor.
When my station lost its ethanol-free, I tested some more and decided to go with a local Chevron that recorded the least amount of knock(KR), pulled timing, in the data logging I did with a handheld.
Once per month, I put 2 to 1 Race gas(109 octane unleaded) to pump(93). I felt that this helped clear out the crap from the gas I had been using.
Bottom line is, if you cant get a detailed log of how your car is responding through the use of a handheld or a dyno, it's really hard to pick the right one, because the butt dyno is very unreliable.
Use the highest octane available from a reputable, busy station,(check local forums and see what the people in your area use in their cars) and if you dont mind the coin, mix some race gas(unleaded of course) in there once a month or so for good measure.
luckily, I don't have to worry about that anymore as I have made the switch to E85.
01-30-11, 09:11 AM
#24
All my cars always have 93, on ocassion i goto the airport and snag some avgas cause its fairly cheap compaired to 93 pump down here, and i have never had a problem outa either fuel
01-30-11, 09:29 AM
#26
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Outside of city limits is where I got the ethanol-free, these arent as regulated I dont think, but they have since gone to 10%.
And yes, ethanol robs older motors of power, causes gas mileage to DECREASE, and will in time cause some damage to things like fuel pump.
It never made complete sense to me to use it, it's better for the environment, but it takes MORE to go the same distance with 10% than with ethanol-free.
My SRT averaged about 15 WITH 10% ethanol, and NO LIE, I averaged almost 18 with Ethanol-Free, plus my car ran STRONG, was responsive in 100* weather, a very obvious difference.
01-30-11, 09:58 AM
#27
'93 sunoco full tank $45-55 lasts me between 2-3 weeks, 15-17miles daily driven
You get what you pay for...
If my dash says use premium, why would I use regular?
If we were back in the '90s and our cars(sc) were new to us, those who do not use premium will be voiding their warranty. If it says premium there must be a reason for it.
You get what you pay for...
If my dash says use premium, why would I use regular?
If we were back in the '90s and our cars(sc) were new to us, those who do not use premium will be voiding their warranty. If it says premium there must be a reason for it.
01-30-11, 10:10 AM
#28
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I know all cars are different, but I used to drive a GS-R when I was in high school. Those are premium fuel only as well, and being the dumb high school teenager that I was, I ignored that and used regular unleaded for the two years I had it. It eventually ruined my valves and I had to rebuild the motor. I won't go cheap on gas after that experience.
02-01-11, 10:16 PM
#29
xiaolong is right.
93 octane in wisconsin is of a higher quality than 93 here in chicagoland. Something about a state rule that they have to declare on gas pumps the alcohol content of gas. Low and mid grade both have %'s, but 93 does not. I got damn near 34mpg coming back from the dells with a fully tuned up, BFI and new wheels and TT brake setup.
I've done 100 octane on more than a few occasions. More soot out the back (as opposed to NO SOOT on 93) and does feel like more grunt down below and a bit more of a pull above 4.5k
93 octane in wisconsin is of a higher quality than 93 here in chicagoland. Something about a state rule that they have to declare on gas pumps the alcohol content of gas. Low and mid grade both have %'s, but 93 does not. I got damn near 34mpg coming back from the dells with a fully tuned up, BFI and new wheels and TT brake setup.
I've done 100 octane on more than a few occasions. More soot out the back (as opposed to NO SOOT on 93) and does feel like more grunt down below and a bit more of a pull above 4.5k
