Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:35:09 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: 87 Octane Gas
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
there is a myth that premium is 'better'.
It's primary property that is different is higher octane...or resistance to
knock.
it also 'burns differently' ....'slower' I have read ..
I can tell you this though ....
a good example..
I worked on a GW 2.3 that was running just so-so ...not that old an engine
either ..
two years maybe, so pretty fresh.
I did the usual...
got the throttle switch working ..
made sure the timing wasn't too advanced...
and replaced a pretty lazy oxygen sensor ..
and ..I recommended the woman switch from premium to regular or mid-grade.
after driving 300 miles home on the freeway ...she wrote that here van had
*never* run that good ..
she had to hold it back practically , from going over 70.
for many engines premium is not better.
if it doesn't ping under load ..
you can even lug it intentionally and give it too much throttle to see if
you can make it ping ..
if it doesn't ...you don't need higher octane fuel.
I do read that some people claim slightly better fuel milage on fuel that's
a step up from regular ..
that might be true ..
I'll try it some for a tank or two ..
but for 'normal' use ..
old VW's like these are happy on regular.
It was nice to see that site that lists 'pure' gasoline stations ..
no ethanol . There were a few in my area ....some of them card lock ones
which I don't use.
and I'm not sure it's ethanol free regular .
I've seen ethanol-less premium advertised...
Some non-ethanol regular would be nice !
----- Original Message -----
From: "PB" <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: 87 Octane Gas
> Somehow I've been under the impression that I had to use the higher octane
> gas. In fact 3 different mechanics told me that I shouldn't use 87
> octane.
> Having just now learned that octane is rated by a different method in
> Europe, it's nice to know that I can get the "cheaper" (????) gas. I'm
> glad I asked.
> Thanks!
> Patti
> *****************
>
> On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 11:50 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> Well, all I can say, my '91 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile with 2.1
>> waterboxer engine does not knock (or ping) on 87 (or even 85 out west)
>> octane fuel. It will not pull a grade in 4th gear, or sometimes even 3rd
>> gear, but the fuel octane does not make a difference there. It just
>> doesn't
>> have the oomph to maintain rpms under heavy load. I downshift. but it
>> doesn't ping, it just slows down.
>>
>> The guys at GoWesty are knowledgeable, and sell some good stuff, but I
>> call
>> bogus on this recommendation.
>>
>> mcneely
>>
>> ---- Hector Zapata <hlzapata@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> > http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=1054
>> >
>> > Hector
>> > 1990 Carat 'Ursula'
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 3:05 PM, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com>
>> wrote:
>> > >> Is there anyone who is using 87 Octane gas in their
>> > >> Vanagon? If so, has it caused any problems?
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > U.S. and European octane rating methods are different. Europe uses
>> > > RON
>> > > ratings; we use (R+M)/2 (otherwise known as AKI). Our 87-octane
>> Regular
>> > > would be labeled as approximately 91 octane in Germany, so it meets
>> > > VW
>> > > recommendations. I have never had any problems using it in any of my
>> > > Vanagons.
>> > >
>> > > - Ron Salmon
>> > > The Bus Depot, Inc.
>> > > www.busdepot.com
>> > > (215) 234-VWVW
>> > >
>> > > _____________________________________________
>> > > Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>> > >
>>
>> --
>> David McNeely
>>
