Sorry if implied otherwise, I was marveling that you were able to keep the speed down so well.

One trip to San Francisco I got pulled over for speeding. The wife gave me some grief, we switched drivers, and then I was the one telling her to slow down. It's just too easy to speed on that long, flat, straight, boring stretch of road.

Back on topic. Just filled up at Costco and no where did it mention "Top Tier". However there were signs stating that Costco uses double the required detergents.

I also don't recall seeing Top Tier mentioned at our local Chevron.

I wonder if this is a "California uses it's own special gas" thing?

 

That much oil going out the back beer cans just doesn't sound right regardless of what MINI said. My old '63 XKE used oil like that and I just attributed that to the vagaries of a DOHC British lump (and nothing to do with Lucas). My '06 R52 uses nary a drop under normal conditions. Some escapes in the mountains when pulling high RMP in a low gear on a down hill grade which is expected. This summer's trip, 6400 miles with lots of mountain driving, I poured in one and a half quarts.

 

Here is something that was told to me by a tanker driver, is it THE truth I don't know. I worked on tractor trailers most of my career, and carry licenses to drive all of them including tankers. I was sent to a roadcall site to repair a truck as he was off loading, when I finished, I asked what differences between fuels was. I knew where he was picking up from, as he was an independent driver. He pulled out a bottle of colored liquid (dye), and said this. Apparently the fuels are mixed at the header and as it was delivered it had dye added. Now this was a long time ago when at Sunoco you had a dial on the pump to dial up regular all the way up to "blue" sonoco which we used on race day. Now I'm not saying it's is the way it really is, but a lot of stations are filled from the same head tank. Some major name stations do not have their company trucks fill their stations. Don't get me wrong there is still a difference between regular mid and premium.

 

I've been running Top Tier gas for years--without knowing it--until I got on their site last night. Mobil premium.

 

All Costco gas.

 

Interesting thread. Here I thought i was using good gas - Sunoco 93 octane. Seems they are not on the "top tier" list that I saw.

 

You are not alone. Many of the folks at our second did not know BMW recommends top tier fuels (GM does also). I knew the fuel existed, but never paid attention to it figuring it was just another way for big oil to squeeze a few more dollars profit from the consumers.

After getting educated and seeing the extra additives included in the fuel blends, it's foolish (IMO) not to spend a few cents per gallon more for the extra benefits. This is assuming the station owners always get top tier delivered to fill their tanks.

 

I use mostly Esso (Exxon) 91 gas but I dunno if the gas is bad or is it normal.

My exhaust are black and smells ammonia badly. I even heard backfires in normal mode.

I know all turbo cars espicaly S run rich but would it be cause by my gas!?

 

Could be the gas, or your catalytic converter could be slowly failling. Could be many things.

 

Car is 3 months old with 6k miles. I will check with the dealer if it seems im the only one..

 

Definite trip to dealership. Not normal to have car acting like that.