X51 Power Kit option w Calif gas??
11-02-2002, 01:34 AM
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X51 Power Kit option w Calif gas??
Wonder if the x51 motor option would be effective with Calif's poor gas. If the computor is just going to retard the spark to compensate it could just be a waste. I would hate to invest $13k if I could just get more proformance by buying a can of octain boost. ??????
11-02-2002, 09:47 AM
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Gas is Gas
Here in CA we have 91
Just finished a 13 state road trip and what did I get, 91, except for a few BP/Amaco @92...in the midwest even got 10% ethanol...
In all cases the car ran fine and 25mpg ta boot
02C2
Here in CA we have 91
Just finished a 13 state road trip and what did I get, 91, except for a few BP/Amaco @92...in the midwest even got 10% ethanol...
In all cases the car ran fine and 25mpg ta boot
02C2
11-02-2002, 10:16 AM
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Porsche engines are tuned to run optimally on 93 octane pump gas regardless of the X51 option. As such, there will always be am ignition retardation.
11-02-2002, 10:21 AM
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I blend in 3-4 gallons of 104.5 octane unleaded to a tank of 91 fairly often. It makes a difference you can feel, and interestingly, hear at WOT. Stock 3.4L motor, by the way.
Not a gross difference, mind, but probably consistent with a recent R&T (or was it C&D?) article, where I recall they figured an M3 was losing about 8bhp to crappy octane.
So that is about $12-14 extra per tank, about what a good cigar costs. Be a bit wary of octane boosters, the ones that work do so only slightly and leave a lot of residue.
Not a gross difference, mind, but probably consistent with a recent R&T (or was it C&D?) article, where I recall they figured an M3 was losing about 8bhp to crappy octane.
So that is about $12-14 extra per tank, about what a good cigar costs. Be a bit wary of octane boosters, the ones that work do so only slightly and leave a lot of residue.
11-02-2002, 12:00 PM
#5
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[quote]Originally posted by KeithC2Turto:
<strong>Wonder if the x51 motor option would be effective with Calif's poor gas. If the computor is just going to retard the spark to compensate it could just be a waste. I would hate to invest $13k if I could just get more proformance by buying a can of octain boost. ??????</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you are worried about the low octane, the car will detune itself for 91-92 octane regardless of X51 status. If you are worried about wasting 13K, then don't get the X51 regardless of gas. For 13K (I thought it was $15K?), you only get 25 HP more than the std 320 HP, but still have the same torque. Porsche X51 sounds good, though.
<strong>Wonder if the x51 motor option would be effective with Calif's poor gas. If the computor is just going to retard the spark to compensate it could just be a waste. I would hate to invest $13k if I could just get more proformance by buying a can of octain boost. ??????</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you are worried about the low octane, the car will detune itself for 91-92 octane regardless of X51 status. If you are worried about wasting 13K, then don't get the X51 regardless of gas. For 13K (I thought it was $15K?), you only get 25 HP more than the std 320 HP, but still have the same torque. Porsche X51 sounds good, though.
11-02-2002, 12:07 PM
#6
Like Nick, I too blend my gas and I can definitely feel the difference. I am fortunate that there is a 76 Station a mile from my home that sells 100 octance racing fuel. Keith, I checked the <a href="http://www.76.com/cgi-bin/b2cpt01/scripts/mapQuery.jsp" target="_blank">76 Station Locator on their website</a> and there unfortunately does not appear to be any stations selling 100 octance gas within 20 miles of Sacramento. Nevertheless, you should review the list of all 76 stations in California selling 100 octance -- there might be one accessible to you. Otherwise, there might be some other station selling higher octance gas.
Good luck!
Craig (L.A.)
Good luck!
Craig (L.A.)
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11-04-2002, 12:06 AM
#8
Three Wheelin'
The car will adjust for lower octane (within reason). As for the X51, I love it and think it was worth every penny. Depending on how you drive it, it may or may not for you. If you track the car, its a definite, if you are a 'normal' (read tame) daily driver, not worth it.
