Hi all,
well, finally got to drive my mini a couple of times in the last couple of days for the first time in a year (besides mid-tour leave). I noticed that it was pinging quite a bit and was sluggish to start. My wife filled it with Shell super while I was gone and drove it once or twice a week. I'm wondering if the pinging is from the gas going a little stale or what else might have caused it. Suggestions and solutions would be much appreaciated.

 

another side note - been just about a year since it's first oil change but the obc still says 14,600 miles - I guess I need to go in and pay for an oil change correct?

 

If it's been a year, you should still be able to get the gratis oil change.

 

If youre going to park your car for that length of time you might think of putting sta-bil in the gas tank.
http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/

 

He said that his wife drove the car once or twice a week while he was gone, so it's not like it's been parked the whole time.

Personally I have had really good results from buying the Techron additive from WalMart. Chevron sells some of the best gas, and the stuff they sell in the store is supposed to be exactly the same as the additives that they put in their tanks. I have used it in my MCSCa on a few occasions, and it really seems to help with cleaning up, and getting things running better.

 

I use Chevron gas in mine and it usually is parked for the better part of 6 weeks at a time. I do have some friends come by and take her out at least once or twice while I am gone and have had no issues what so ever with the Chevron. I usually only try to leave about a quarter tank in her when I have her cleaned up and parked in the garage when I take off for work. If you are having some issues some Sta Bil or some other additive is not a bad idea at all.

 

Doubtful. The car is meant to be driven. If you don't drive it at least 10K/year, forget about the free 10K maintenaince (or a dead battery) but they will give you a free oil change.

When I tried Shell, it caused "cold start stumble"

 

BP anyone?

 

BP has nice stores , lol. For some reason I don't see them marketing their gas like chevron, shell, and exxon do. I usually stop at BP or Exxon. However, i'll stop almost anywhere as long as they have 93 octane.

but you said your wife drove teh car some....how many tanks of gas did she go through? or did she go through any at all?

 

I think she said she put 3-4 tanks in so it wasn't driven much. Good gas is hard to find in Lubbock - 90 and 91 octane passing for premium. Had the best look with Shell after having used Chevron for the last few years. On a good note, as I drive it, it seems to be getting a little better. Maybe when I get to Alabama the lower altitude and (hopefully) availability of higher octane with make this a moot issue.