At 03:47 PM 3/3/2000 , John M. Moore wrote: >everyone using? Is it necessary to use 92 octane at $1.55, or is it ok to >use 87 octance at $1.35? Er...*If* one can believe the Vanagon operating manual (a dubious proposition, I guess, given all the discussion about what weight of oil to use), regular-grade gas is perfectly satisfactory for the V'gon. For a non-knock-sensing engine like ours, there is only one consideration strictly concerned with octane number: If the engine does not knock, you can use your present or a lower grade. If it knocks, you must use a higher grade (or fix the misadjusted timing, carbon deposits, whatever). There are other considerations not directly to do with octane: Are there enough high-volatiles for easy starting, is the vapor pressure low enough to avoid vapor lock when hot-soaking in hot weather, and is the detergent package sufficient to keep the injectors clean. None of these can be answered simply by reference to octane number, but in general the answers are yes, yes (the Vanagon fuel system is highly resistant to vapor lock, as all fuel in the engine compartment is pressurized even while engine is stopped, and cool fuel is constantly circulating through the system while the engine is running), maybe. Some years ago it was the case that lower-octane gas tended to have insufficient detergent for long-term use in fuel-injected engines, but now that these engines are common I believe this situation has been largely addressed. In any case, list members have generally found that regular use of Techron fuel-injector cleaner (once or twice per oil change) is useful. Volkswagen also has their own brand of injector cleaner which they of course recommend and which very likely costs the earth. david David Beierl - Providence, RI http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation" |
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