OK, could anybody tell me if there's a filling station that serves up petrol greater than 91 octane?

I seem to recal that there were a few "select" stations where you could get 93 octane at the pump, but I can't seem to remember the brand or location. Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

I know there is a Union 76 station on Woodside Rd (in Woodside??) that has 100 octane (thanks Matt ). They are pretty few and far between.

 

100 octane also on Highway 4 at the I5 junction.

 

oh yeah, right when you get into Stockton. I forgot about that one. Thanks, cooprd

 

Well, looks like I'll have to drive up the pennisula 25 miles or out to Stockton for some hot fuel... like I need another excuse to go motoring But I really can't believe that with all the high-end sports cars in the Bay Area that there aren't more stations that serve up the "good stuff"

 

Whats wrong with getting 91 octane and adding an octane boost to it? Seems like alot less trouble for the same result.

 

Someone (Dr Obnxs?) said that the station in Woodside (there's only one) has 100 octane gas.

 

from what I understand you would need a whole lot of octane boost to raise the level from 91. I'm not sure how many octane points a bottle would add to a tank. Depending on how high you want/need to go I guess you could use octane boost, you'd just need a bunch of it.

Or you could add a gallon of toluene to 12 gal of 91 octane to get you to around 97 octane. FWIW, I haven't actually done this I just heard it from Peter at M7.

 

Where in Sac is there 100 octane? Chainsaw, do you know where at in SAc?

As for the octane boost.. I have been a little skeptical about adding octane boost... I think it may be a waste of money!

 

There was an article in sport compact that compared and tested boosters. They averaged about 93 octane. I've used them before and there is a noticeable difference, but they turned my plugs and exhaust an orange/brown color. I don't know if it causes a problem (all the labels say they are safe for new cars), but I fill up twice a week and was starting to feel like a drug attict. Then I moved into the harder more expensive stuff, it was a slippery slope .

Although the boosters worked for me, I'm happy to say I've been off boosters for almost four months now. This thread is giving me back the itch.

 

I bought 100 octane at the 76 station on almaden expressway and capitol expressway. It's not on that exact corner but the next street over. but its definatly on almaden expressway by a goodwill store.

MiniBoost

 

See post #2.
And it's not in Woodside. It's a union 76 Station on Woodside Rd, about a mile east of 280 on the South side of the street. There is a sign on the corner saying something about "Race Gas Sold Here".
If you are in the North Bay, you can get Sunoco 96, 100 or 106 leaded at infineon Raceway. Just say you are going to Wine Country Motorsports,then drive up to the pump.
Jim

 

Cool, I can gas up mid-pennisual, drive to wine country for a case of vino and hit Infinion on the way home

 

at a gas station (US Gasoline) west of 280 on Foothill Rd....

FWIW.

Matt

 

I'm glad someone mentioned Infineon/Sears Point in Sonoma. I planned to. You can also get 100 and, sometimes, 110 octane at airports. Some of my motorcycle racing buddies routinely bought their gas at airports . Whether you buy the gas from a race track, an airport, or a motorcycle (race) shopes, make sure you buy UNleaded. Not all high octane fuels are unleaded. I raced motorcycles up until late 2004 using leaded 110 octane fuel.

Not exactly Bay Area, but you can also get high octane gas at the following tracks:

Thunderhill in Willows (northern direction)
Buttonwillom in Buttonwillow (southern direction)

 

Just to add to the mix (pun intended)

I found 92 octane at Beer, Bait and Convenience 829 Wilson Avenue, Vallejo.

ERC Racing Fuels - 610 East Lewelling Blvd, San Lorenzo, CA 94580
http://www.ercracingfuels.com/ercRul.htm
I've used their 104 octane. I buy it in a 35 gallon container, fill up at home.

and the Union 76 station that sells 100 octane on Woodside Road previously mentioned: their web site (has directions): http://www.kings76.com/racingfacts/

 

Can I ask a dumb question? Why do you want to put 100 octaine in your Mini?
It's my understanding that 100 octaine gas doesn't contain any extra power; all octaine does is slow down combustion to prevent pinging. Is your engine pinging?

Matt (Dr. O), can you comment?

 

The idea that higher octane gas won't give a boost to performance is true if the timing advance doesn't have a knock-sensor goverened timing advance, AND if the timing map isn't so aggressive that the knock sensor isn't causing the ECU to pull timing. If you have an agressive map, then the knock sensor will tell the ECU when it's detecting the onset of knock, and some algorithm inside the ECU will be used to determin ignition timing.

If you put higher octane gas in, you can get more timing advance, and more power.

But if the higher octane gas has a lower energy content (may be possible, but I don't know if it happens in any of the gasses out there), then you may get more advnce, and less power! Clear as mud, huh?

Anyway, I've noticed that my slightly modded car gets timing retard on the 91 pump gas. If I fill up with 100 (don't know how high an octane is really needed), I get much more advanced timing, snappier acceleration, and better gas milage!

Hope this helps.

Matt

 

Ditto what Matt said.
I know that on 91 my car ping slightly. On 100, no ping and it does pull harder.
Jim

 

I agree, my car feels the best after being at the drags and having 100 in the tank. The car feels so tuned and smooth.

 

Matt and Jim,
Both of you guys have your cars modified so I can see the case where 100 octane gas may make sense but for the rest of us with stock/mostly stock Minis, 91 octaine probably works just fine. Anything else is probably a waste of money.

I'm borrowing my neighbor's nice OBDII reader and I'm going to do some realtime statistics gathering on my stock Mini to see if 100 octaine gas has an effect on timing. I'll let you know what I find.

 

Check www.gasbuddy.com

 

MiniBoost -
Is this the station?
Almaden Racing Fuel
Address: 3010 Almaden Expy, San Jose, CA 95118
Phone:(408) 264-3661

Corner of Almaden and Foxworthy. (3/22/06 - Told a friend about this place and he had to check it out ... it's actually at the corner of Meridian and Foxworthy - 101 Octane - transfered from a 55gal drum to a 5-gal jerry can to your car - $5.99 per gallon)

T