Are we paying more for poorer quality gas ?

[slowrev]

Thanks Skypup, Although that is more information than my po little brain could absorb
Ben

 

[SkyPup]

No problem. Most of the time I cannot tell the difference between Chevron 93 octane or BP 93 octane compared to the 98 octane full race fuels, except during the summertime when it is exceeding hot out and the engines are more prone to detonation. During the winter time though, the retail 93 octane does not detonate.

My Austrian KTM 640cc single cylinder 4-stroke bikes have 13.5:1 compression and do 9,000rpms, while my Austrian Rotax RM1-DD2 125cc 2-stroke karts are 12:1 compression and do 14,000 rpms.

Here's me at the start of Grand Regional's race two weeks ago when I qualified for the Nationals:

 

[slowrev]

My subie seems to like the Shell 93 octane the best.

 

[SkyPup]

Both Rotax and KTM state to use "Only Synthetic Motor Oils" in their race engines too!

 

[slowrev]

LOL, I knew you would get the synthetic thing in here somehow Skypup
Ben

 

[slowrev]

btw I just read another post about getting poorer quality gas over on the Yesterdaystractors board.....It is not just me.

 

[SkyPup]

haha, both KTM's and Rotax's warranties require the use of only full synthetic motor oil, not some cheap imitation from Wally World.....

BTW, maybe all this bad gasoline has to do with the fact that they also took 97% of the sulfur out of the gasoline too.

Now with both gasoline and diesel fuel having 97% less of the required sulfur lubricant demanded by professional diesel mechanics and savvy petrol hot rodders, all the motor vehicles in North America, Europe, and Asia are doomed. The only place they still use high sulfur is Africa......

 

[cp1969]

My subie gets better mileage, more power, etc with 93, it always has. It is tuned per specs and still meets new engine compression specs.
I get at least 80 more miles per tankful of 93 vs 89 and no knocks. Repeated testing over 10 yrs has proven this.

The only explanation for this that I can come up with is that your engine must be retarding the timing via knock sensors when you run 89 octane. The reason I say that is because fuel energy is measured by-the-pound, and a gallon of 93 weighs less than a gallon of 89, so there is actually less BTUs to propel your Suburban down the road when you use 93 but yet you get better mileage.

 

[cp1969]

Also, at least here in the Boston area, you can only get 2 types of fuel at the terminal, 87 octane and 93 octane. The mid-levels of pump gas are blended right at the pump. The difference you see in the types of 93 octane gas could well be in the additive package (or lack there of) that is being used by that particular brand.

I think that is true nearly everywhere. Around here, only the high-fallootin' stations mix mid-grade at the pump. The others get theirs mixed when it's loaded on the tanker. Around here, in '95, laws were passed which established a minimum level of additives that had to be in all gas. Prior to that, some stations just sold plain, raw gas--nothing at all in the way of additives. The aftermarket fuel injector cleaner business was brisk, catering to the poor schmuck who tried to save a couple pennies on gas. Hauling the stuff, we knew who to avoid.

 

[RobJ]

what's a subie?

I've never thought the price of the super was worth 1 mpg better. at sea level all our cars run fine on the cheapest gas around.