Hi all

Here on the north part of the east coast, we're having some gas issues due to some rather abusive weather. Long gas lines, gas shortages, etc, etc.

Every station i've seen only has 87 octane.
I had half a tank of 93 as of this morning, and not wanting to cause any issues, I put in a few gallons of 87 to maximize my time with 91 or higher octane.

my questions:
1) how bad is it if i have to resort to 87-89 ish octane for a few days/weeks/~10-50 miles?
2) does "octane booster" do anything other than cost money?
3) has anyone seen 91 or 93 octane in the new hyde park area of long island?

thanks!

 

93 is available here in NJ -- its a bit of a drive for you though. As for Octane Booster, I have used it - but am not sure if it does what it is supposed ot do...I think its okay as a short term fix.

When I was driving across the country there were certain states where I could only get 90 - that was the highest grade available, so I bought some Octane Booster (STP) to add into the tank. I now carry 2 bottles of Octane Booster as a safety precaution...if you do go the route of 87 + Octane boost - take it easy on the car until that tank is all the way through.

Some will say that the car will retard the timing to avoid detonation anyhow..but again I don't know -- I am also running a 15% pulley.

Good luck...glad to hear some of you got power back the other day despite the fact that LIPA is inept.

 

When i used a tank of 89 (pretune, pre pulley) my car ran ok...a bit less zip, but ok. If you can get 89 or 87, with some octane boost, double dose to stay about 89, you should be fine imo...87...i would be afraid of burning a valve....the cooler weather is a good thing, but if you must, drive very gently, anf if you stay off boost at lower rpms, you might be ok.
Guessing you myst be down around jersey/nyc?!

 

Long island area.

So octane booster: Does it actually do anything w/r/t octane, or no?

I've been driving really gently, mostly to save fuel though.

It looks like the lines might be dwindling or gone, but even with no lines, if we don't get some 93 in the tanks out here, it won't make a difference...

 

Eric, good to hear that you faired mostly well otherwise, down here in MD we were much less affected but have been watching the recovery efforts daily, quite a sad event.
Anyhow, as long as you dont plan on racing or flooring the throttle often or for long, you will have no issues, if the engine is an acceptable state of tune and mechanical condition otherwise. You can add some octane booster as well if you feel that would give you some peace of mind, but isnt absolutely required. And Kahn, I completely agree w/ your LIPA and FEMA assessment, after Katrina, a national embarassment.

 

Octane boost is one of two chemicals ...one is MMT, it will make you spark plugs turn a redish color, but is ok....others are a petroleum distillate, but important thing is (read the can) the CAN is usually good for ONLY 1 or 2 point increase on good gas...so you can guess it will do the same for 87 or 89...
Imo it is a good thing to keep a can stashed in the boot (espically on a gen1 s where mid-level octane is required, or post tune, when 92-93 is now needed) incase you get a tank of fuel that seems subpar....
Cooler temps should help reduve the need for octane a bit...heck some shops were actually telling gen1 s owners to run 89 at one point to help with cold am start issues....i always thought the cost of a valve was too much, so never did it.

 

I have no idea about the octane booster, that's what i'm wondering about...
on a scale from blue windshield sprayer nozzle LEDs to synthetic oil, where does it sit, in terms of actual effectiveness?

The response of the local utilities has been pitiful.

 

I have one of the first R52 convertibles (as the signature shows)

 

Lol
It does work, but it is not like an instant cure...
per gallon, just buying better octane fuel is cheapee...if you can get it, but it is a bit of a band-aid.
If it saves you from doing $1500 of dammage, a $5 bottle is worth it.
Just rember...octane boost is different than fuel injector cleaner....fuel injector cleaner usually DECRESEES octane...it is usually a detergent packaged with a bit of light number 1 diesel fuel.....both do help lube/clean injectors in small amounts, but does decrese octane.

 

If you can get 89, i bet you will be fine...sligtly low, but drive nice....if you MUST USE 87, IMO, add a couple bottles of octane boost. Stay safe.

 

I found a local station that has 93 and no lines, i'm going to go investigate...

 

Come on guys, read labels. 1 can of octane booster will raise 12 gals of gas by 0.1 octane point. Do if you had 87, it will now be 87.1

Here's what I would do.

If you have a tune, (accessport, dimsport...) remove it for the duration of the gas problem. A tune aggressively maps fuel, boost pressure, and timing advance. All of which really like the highest octane fuel you can find. The consequences of low octane fuel, is the possibility of detonation of KNOCK. Unchecked, or ignored, KNOCK will really damage an engine, especially a relatively high compression turbo motor.

(yes we have knock sensors, but there is only so much the ecu can adjust.)

Drive gently, don't lug the engine, no rev it to the limiter. Just drive like a sane person. Yes, I know it's hard, but you can do it. You should be fine.

 

*gen1 car = no alta acrss port, and very few folks have the tune tools to swap tunes.... i do, but i know i am in the minority. You might want to reread the bottle of octane boost...maybe it was just cleaner with boost, but most seem to be 1 full point in a 12 or 15 gallon tank of 87....for the mmt based stuff anyway.

 

All modern cars have knock sensors. Even my 1992 saab 900 turbo... If the ECU detects knock from low octane gas then it will retard timing and/or cut boost. Nothing will be damaged. If you shift at low RPM's and don't drive hard it may not knock at all. Low octane gas won't hurt anything, the computer will compensate just fine.

 

All the R52 can do is retard timing...the boost isnt ECU controlled being supercharged and all. Thats why its a good idea to not drive hard

 

I don't have the sup anyway.

Also, i found 93, so it's moot. I got 5 or so gals into the tank, so i'm hovering around 91. Another 2 gallons down and i'll put in more and definitely be okay.

thanks!

 

I don't think there is any drawback whatsoever to using regular if you keep your foot out of it. The high octane is needed only in high-load situations. Even if you push the engine hard enough to ping on regular, the knock sensors should prevent engine damage.

Fill the car up with whatever you can find and drive. Get premium when it becomes readily available. Life's too short to over-worry stuff like this.

- Mark