Who uses Super Unleaded on your NA?
#16
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Originally posted by esanmiguel
So why does our Volvo 2.4 Turbo require premium gas then? Cause its Turbo?
So why does our Volvo 2.4 Turbo require premium gas then? Cause its Turbo?
#17
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If you have the ability to tune your car (such as with a turbo), then adding higher octane gas will help your power out because you can then tune it to use the higher octane rating.
#18
Race Car
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Originally posted by Carl Nall
I'll agree with esanmiguel that there's a subjective feel of improved performance with the higher octane. I usually run the lowest octane that eliminates pinging under load but in the 944 with a modified DME, exhaust and intake, I prefer to use premium to reduce the risk of detonation! It's only money, right?
Note that FR Wilk's site recommends running super for a while after chip installation... so presumably after a certain period the DME/AFM adjusts to optimize combustion with the lower octane.
I'll agree with esanmiguel that there's a subjective feel of improved performance with the higher octane. I usually run the lowest octane that eliminates pinging under load but in the 944 with a modified DME, exhaust and intake, I prefer to use premium to reduce the risk of detonation! It's only money, right?
Note that FR Wilk's site recommends running super for a while after chip installation... so presumably after a certain period the DME/AFM adjusts to optimize combustion with the lower octane.
FWIW, I use 93 octane myself, but my compression ratio is higher than stock and I prefer to err on the side of caution.
#19
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Originally posted by esanmiguel
So why does our Volvo 2.4 Turbo require premium gas then? Cause its Turbo?
So why does our Volvo 2.4 Turbo require premium gas then? Cause its Turbo?
Nothing less than Euro 98 octane in my 91 951.
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#20
Nordschleife Master
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Originally posted by esanmiguel
There is a difference. Fuel contains additives that clean your engine. Chevron's famous techron (which is a proven formula that will actually clean your fuel system) is added to their gas. You go to that Mom and Pop gas station and you won't get those additives. And some of those cheap gas contain methanol.
There is a difference. Fuel contains additives that clean your engine. Chevron's famous techron (which is a proven formula that will actually clean your fuel system) is added to their gas. You go to that Mom and Pop gas station and you won't get those additives. And some of those cheap gas contain methanol.
#21
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It all comes out of the same refineries. The refineries and gas companies live in an incestual relationship and buy and sell to all kinds of third parties who simply rebrand the gas. The oil refinery and oil platform business isnt exactly a business your average joe schmoe can start up with a few thousand dollars saved up in the bank so with limited options everybody gets it from the same wells.
This goes on in almost every sector of business though. Those K-Mart and Wal-Mart branded AA batteries you skip over at the store are actually built by Energizer and Eveready and so forth -- and in some cases are actually superior in terms of battery technology. Its been a long-kept secret in business that big companies will use their supplies they sell to third parties who ultimately rebrand them to do their market testing on new and improved products without having to do it under the big name brand corporate name. This way they can roll out new and better batteries to the public under a K-Mart brand, never advertise about it, receive trial feedback that indeed the batteries last longer, then sell 1/2 of that technology in the Energizers at twice the cost while all the Energizer technicians keep buying the K-Mart badged ones.
Same way with long distance phone industry. If AT&T is your provider, theres a 99.9% chance that in order to connect your phone call, you had to piggyback on Sprint or MCI fiber too to make it happen and when Sprint has a cut in the fiber, you think its an AT&T problem when your LD phone call doesnt work. And AT&T has to pay Sprint or MCI a charge to deliver that call off their fiber and who do you think ultimately pays back (and then some) AT&T for that charge for using another carriers backbone? You mista.
This goes on in almost every sector of business though. Those K-Mart and Wal-Mart branded AA batteries you skip over at the store are actually built by Energizer and Eveready and so forth -- and in some cases are actually superior in terms of battery technology. Its been a long-kept secret in business that big companies will use their supplies they sell to third parties who ultimately rebrand them to do their market testing on new and improved products without having to do it under the big name brand corporate name. This way they can roll out new and better batteries to the public under a K-Mart brand, never advertise about it, receive trial feedback that indeed the batteries last longer, then sell 1/2 of that technology in the Energizers at twice the cost while all the Energizer technicians keep buying the K-Mart badged ones.
Same way with long distance phone industry. If AT&T is your provider, theres a 99.9% chance that in order to connect your phone call, you had to piggyback on Sprint or MCI fiber too to make it happen and when Sprint has a cut in the fiber, you think its an AT&T problem when your LD phone call doesnt work. And AT&T has to pay Sprint or MCI a charge to deliver that call off their fiber and who do you think ultimately pays back (and then some) AT&T for that charge for using another carriers backbone? You mista.
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#22
Three Wheelin'
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Originally posted by esanmiguel
There is a difference. Fuel contains additives that clean your engine. Chevron's famous techron (which is a proven formula that will actually clean your fuel system) is added to their gas.
There is a difference. Fuel contains additives that clean your engine. Chevron's famous techron (which is a proven formula that will actually clean your fuel system) is added to their gas.
-Christian
#23
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All very true information about the gas stations...my Dad used to manage some fuel distribution - only a few people make gasoline and usually you are buying the same stuff. As for fuel additives, it is certainly not a marketing ploy. Additives do make a difference in the engine...you just have to decide how much you are willing to pay for those differences. You *may* not get some of the best additives if you go to an off brand station as they are usually using lower end gasoline. The best gas used to be Amoco Ultimate (performance and clean burn) however that may have changed with their merger with BP. Shell and Chevron were both a close second...so I figure any one of those three are ok. This was all from a fuel design engineer.
#27
Race Director
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In driving my 2001 VW GTI for 36k miles I recorded the gas milage and station from each fill-up.
Some of my Data
Engine 1.8L 20 Valve Turbo. Stock everything.
Requires 91 premium per MFG
Miles diven 36,273 miles of recorded data (0 Miles to 36k)
After 13k miles Az went from 92 at the pumps to 91. Fuels are special summer and winter blends mandated by EPA for years
This car saw 90% daily driver duty.
Total average fuel Mileage = 30.0 MPG
90 Fill-ups total
My top 3 Gas brands
Arco = 42 fills @ 29.9 MPG Avg
Costco = 19 fills @ 30.3 MPG Avg
Cheveron = 14 fills @ 29.3 MPG Avg
All other brands were 5 or less fills so not fair to avg out.
Notice there is little difference. The biggest change was increse of 29.5 mpg or so to about 30.5 between 12000- 16000 miles.
My guess is that this was due to engine break in. Most all of my Costco gas was purchased AFTER the 16k mark as one poped up close to me home.
I have similar sheet for my 84 944 that I have been daily driving. Unfortuatly I do not yet have enough data to make strong conclusions.
In my 84 I use 87 oct and it works fine.
I use 91 in my 944 turbo and regular pump 91 in my 944 spec car. I did put in 110 leaded in my race car once and noticed NO difference at all.
Some of my Data
Engine 1.8L 20 Valve Turbo. Stock everything.
Requires 91 premium per MFG
Miles diven 36,273 miles of recorded data (0 Miles to 36k)
After 13k miles Az went from 92 at the pumps to 91. Fuels are special summer and winter blends mandated by EPA for years
This car saw 90% daily driver duty.
Total average fuel Mileage = 30.0 MPG
90 Fill-ups total
My top 3 Gas brands
Arco = 42 fills @ 29.9 MPG Avg
Costco = 19 fills @ 30.3 MPG Avg
Cheveron = 14 fills @ 29.3 MPG Avg
All other brands were 5 or less fills so not fair to avg out.
Notice there is little difference. The biggest change was increse of 29.5 mpg or so to about 30.5 between 12000- 16000 miles.
My guess is that this was due to engine break in. Most all of my Costco gas was purchased AFTER the 16k mark as one poped up close to me home.
I have similar sheet for my 84 944 that I have been daily driving. Unfortuatly I do not yet have enough data to make strong conclusions.
In my 84 I use 87 oct and it works fine.
I use 91 in my 944 turbo and regular pump 91 in my 944 spec car. I did put in 110 leaded in my race car once and noticed NO difference at all.
#29
Three Wheelin'
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So who has heard of Toulene? You can buy it at paint stores and it was used by Formula 1
It is good for turbo motors..... I have a link about it around here somewhere. It is one of the best Knock/Detonation stoppers..
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#30
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I run Regular Unleaded in my NA. I ran a couple of tanks of High Octian and didn't see a difference. I agree Techron every 3000 miles and Regular Unleaded do the trick.