Hello All,
Bottom Line Up Front: Mini of Sterling Service rep recommended that I buy regular unleaded (89) gasoline and see if my MPG experience increases.

I am in for my 1st annual service. Tried to get the cabin AC filter changed but they said that happens at the 2nd year.

I am getting the oil filter and oil changed. Requested Lube on the Covertible top mechanism since it squeals going down and coming back up. I also asked them to check fluids and look at the lower front end bushings. So they are going to look at the suspension, for my peace of mind more than anything. This last winter created pot holes like they were going out of style in DC.

As I was talking to the rep, I told him I was religious about using Shell gasoline and or Sunoco. He told me that I didn't need to worry so much about that. "avoid mobile, cause they use too much ethanol in the fuel mix" Not that it would ever happen, heaven forbid, but up to 20% ethanol could explode the engine . I replied, "well my parents in Texas were told to always use Top Tier Gasoline" (a few threads on this).

So he continues his confident explanation: "Sure, that's the midwest or out West where they get 'Real Gas', however, the east coast is all using this 10% ethanol mix so you might have noticed that some days your car performs well and others it's kind of sluggish". YES! Also, "The fuel seperates overtime, so it's going to happen before the fuel reaches you tank or after."

If it happens in the tank, you get those mysterious episodes of poor fuel consumption or poor MPG rating. Go figure. He says some don't notice it that much or at all. But if you try the 89 fuel rated gasoline and your MPG improves, that would indicate that the super unleaded you were using was not helping in the MPG department.

So, I am going to try this out. Anyone else noticed an improvement using the regular unleaded gasoline or the 89 rated gasoline in their preciously new MINIs? (again East Coast Folks)

I feel like I am about to give it tap water when it was used to imported bottled water.

Hope other east coasters have noticed the improvement. This certainly debunks the Top Tier necessity for us!

West and MidWest folks should probably stick to their Top Tier preferences though, as that gas doesn't always have the ethanol mix.

Looking forward to comments, Thanks - Will

 

 

I don't think so.

Stick with a good brand name gas. (MOBILE included) Use 91 octane up. Stay away from the independent no name stations and you will never have a problem.

 

I have been saying this same thing for tow years now. I tried 91 octane and got what i thought was okay mileage but when i used 87 octane the MPG went up and the cars actually runs better.

See some of my previous posts:

August 2009
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...31-post41.html

August 2009
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...66-post61.html

Can't seem to locate any of the older posts but i was saying this after the first month of ownership aback in May 2008

 

ronnie, I had problems with Shell and will never by Mobil as some of the additives they put in the gas are forbidden by MINI.

Also my car sputters and does not run well on the 91 octane from Shel or any other brand for that matter. It also get 3-4 miles a gallon less than when I run 87 Octane.

In fact my dealer also recommends that you run "REGULAR" gas rather than the so called High Octane gas (i.e. 91) as the additives that are used to increase the octane actually slow down the burn rate of the gasoline, thus reducing ping.

maybe of some interesting reading for those that think they understand gasoline.

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDo...ctaneFacts.pdf

http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/EXECDIV.../trans/b/b.htm

http://carnutgarage.com/index.php?op...d=22&Itemid=50

And with this last one there is a comment about cabon build up from using higher octane fuel than the engine needs.

http://www.epinions.com/content_2618204292

This could be what is causing the need for Sea Foam treaments, i.e. the use of high octane fuels causing carbon build up that then needs to be removed.

One note is that i have read and done the sea foam treatment and found very very very little smoke (an indication of the low amount of carbon build up) from my car. Except for some experimentation with 91 octane (12 tanks total) I have used 87 octane.

It seems to me that those that use the high octane fuels need to do the sea foam treatment more often and get much more smoke (an indication of high amounts of carbon build up) out of their cars.

So I see a possible two fold problem with using high octane fuels. 1 lower gas mileage and performance and carbon build up.

 

Schatzy62, Thank you for your posts as I've been kind of confused. I keep hearing that you can't use less than 91 (and that you should go to a top tier gas station) when the Owners' Manual says 91 is highly recommended but that 89 is o.k for the S and 87 is o.k. for the Cooper. I've run 2 full tanks of 91 and this time filled with the middle grade. Next I was going to try the 87 and see if I felt a difference. But I've been really nervous about trying 87 because of all the posts on NAM. Even though the manual says that the lower grade has no effect on engine life. Anyway, thanks for your reassuring words!

 

"Always follow the auto manufacturer’s octane recommendations in your owner’s manual."

1." From the owner's manual, determine the octane requirements for a personal or family vehicle. If the owner's manual is not available, telephone, write or visit a franchised dealer for that vehicle to determine the appropriate octane fuel for that vehicle."

My Manual says 91 up so that is what I use. Spark Knock is very bad and not worth taking a chance on trying to use 87 octane gas. It is probably OK if you never floor the car. If you hear any knock at all you need to add the high octane. My JCW runs great on Sam's club 93 octane and I have been averaging 34 MPG. 29 if I'm on the throttle a lot. Never a ping or knock. I try to get Chevron if I'm on the road. I stay away from no name gas pumps.

I'm just happy I don't purchase used cars

 

Years ago, I was reading a home repair forum and someone asked for advice from an expert for his problem. The first reply was, "On the Internet, everybody's an expert." That comment stuck with me.

That Epinions review was written by someone whose User ID is undergraduate and who has mostly submitted reviews of computer products.

 

Just my opinions, but around here 93 Octane is about 20 cents a gallon more then the 87 Octane, if you fill up twice a week,( I do 3 to 4 times a week) it costs about 5.20 extra, for a year that is about 270.00. NOT Alot of money when you consider how much we paid for these rides, the Mods most of us put in, and the cost of repairs.
For me, I never skimp on tires, ( I only keep a set for a year then they go bye bye) and on gas, My life rides on the tires, and the engines life is on the gas and Oil. Nothing but 93 go's in my car, and always a name brand even when I am far from home which is often. The old saying that use to be on TV for fram i believe said pay me alittle now or pay me ALOT more later, 5 bucks a week extra for 2 tanks of 93 Octane is cheap in my book. Expert or not, common sense rules i think here.

 

I am doing exactly that, I am following the Owners Manual. See a picture below.

Read your manual again I would say that it "recommends" 91 but very specifically states that as low as 87 can be used without harm to the engine. Just as my manual does as seen below. So I wish people would stop saying "My Manual Says 91 and up" I believe this is a is a false statement and needs to be regarded as that.

If in fact your manual does say it "MUST" be 91 and above, Please post a picture of it here so that we can see it. I have looked at manuals for MINI's from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and all the ones that I have seen state the same thing as seen below from my manual. If it does not state that you MUST use 91 or better please, please. please stop telling others here they should use it.

You also stated that you use Sam's Club 93. Well guess what, I do not see that on the list of Top Tier Gas (http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html). MINI also recommeds using "High Quality Brands" and IMHO Sam's Club is not a High Quality Brand.

Also of note is that gas blends are different for each area of the country depending on temperatures, local ordinances and other factors. So what you use in Daytona Beach Florida is much different than what I get up in Gardner Massachusetts, so in reality there is no real way to compare your experience to mine.

@rkw and NightFlyR use what you want think what you want but for me any old gas will do and we will just have to see what happens in 10 years with our current cars (if you guys keep them that long, mine will have over 200K) and see who's engine is still running and is the cleanest. I have had three other high performance cars and all that use 87 octane, all of the them have gone over 200K miles with one of those with over 400K and I currently also have a BMW that has 90K+ on it all on 87 octane. None of these cars have ever had any engine work done to them.

Now this can be debated all day but "I know what I am doing is the best for my car" and "it may not be right for anyone else's car".

What really displeases me though is those people that use the phrase "You Must Use 91 Octane" or something similar. As can be seen from the page in my Owners Manual that they "Recommend" but do not "mandate" the use of 91 octane.

And when and only when someone can prove to me with out a hint of doubt that 91 octane from a Top Tier station will save my car from total disaster will I change my ways. But the chances of that happening are something like 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 to 1.

 

I'll just add that I tried 87 on my '08 MCS for a month and noticed that I lost about 3 MPG as a result. That was when the car was new and prices were still rather high. I did the math and realized that it actually does NOT cost more to run on 93 (which is what the premium rating is around me). In fact, at current price levels (about $0.20/gal difference) it is actually more cost effective to use premium. I've used 93 ever since.

 

So confused

 

I believe the 91 octane requirement was a first gen thing. The manuals say 91 is required and say nothing about recommendation or about lower octane fuels:
"Required fuel: >Premium Unleaded Gasoline, min. 91 AKI. AKI = Anti Knock Index"
http://www.motoringfile.com/files/20...perCooperS.pdf

 

I used 91 all the time in my 08 GTI and 93 when I was driving long distances. For the Mini it will be the same. The price difference between 97 and 91 is only about 5-7 cents in my area at the most.

 

I want to add that I did try the 91 grade and went to Sunoco, Shell, Exxon, Bp and 7 Eleven. It seemed to not make that much of a difference but I believe it's because I mix up my driving. My commute is both conservative and spirited in different parts.

Point is, I got a service engine light and poor performance which led to a visit to the dealer. The result was a combination Seafoam treatment with Bp treatment. They did that twice over a two day period. I decided to go back to strictly 93 grade gas. That was around November. My service rep said I might need the same treatment again if the performance suffers and/or the service engine light comes back on.

 

Just curious,
Your in Northern VA and keep quoting 91 octane. All of the Premium Fuel I've seen is 93.

Also if what your doing works for you, go with it and be happy. No need to try and convert the rest of the world.

 

Hey! You stole my sig picture!

 

Not my intent at all, sorry for the confusion. Dealer rep told me to go done in grade to improve performance. I stopped doing that after the last service visit. I want to see if I can prolong/prevent having to do a seafoam treatment again as it might happen after warranty is out on the MINI.

I have switched back to using 93 Octane for the last 2 months. Seems to be fine. Average MPG is 29.5.

What's your average using 93?

 

I was totally confused reading all this...and I can not afford to buy the premium gas around me - it's so much more expensive here - the local gas stations have it nearly a dollar more, and I always was told using higher numbers to get better anything was only a myth...I am getting a 2011 clubman...but now I'm worried I'll ruin the car if I get just the basic stuff.

 

IMHO what my 2011 manuals intent is:

Use 91+ at all times when avaliable

IN AN EMERGENCY you can use a lower octane (I.E. only gas avaliable ) without damaging your engine.

I'll never put anything but 91+ in my MCS and I'd sure be willling to bet that at 50,000 miles , my engine will be in better condition that that of someone whos used 87.

 

Silver,

My 2011 clubman ran terrible when i accidently put REG89 in i called my advisor and he said did you fill up recently? i said yeah and he said look at your receipt. Sure enough it was Regular. i also had a drop of 3-4mpg when i did it.

Also, if your concerned about budget i would use Wawa gas. They constantly buy from Sonoco and BP depending on which is cheaper at the time of purchase. Wawa buys HUGE quantity's at a time and use there own storage facility's rather then contact the oil companies directly and get deliveries like the other gas stations which are not corporate owned so it cost's more to get the fuel.

I dont/cant buy from wawa because i cannot get 93 octane

 

So, I use 93 with no Ethanol.

 

Where and what gas station do you find that doesnt put ethanol in the fuel?

Every gas station here puts 10% ethanol in

 

Do you have a hard time finding a station that sells gas without Ethanol? It seems every time I find one, they end up switching to Ethanol mixes!

 

Check out this website: http://pure-gas.org

Its got lists of all publicly known ethanol free stations. The local station I use is a "mom and pop" type that is still a full service station! They've been in business all my life, and have always had no Ethanol. There are about 4 here in town without ethanol.