I've had my MCS Camden for almost 2 months, ~2000km now but I've had a little problem with it. Every so often, when I turn on the car (I have comfort access BTW), it would immediately turn back off. It will sometimes take me up to 4-5 tries to get it starting. At first I thought I wasn't stepping on my brake or holding the start button long enough, but it doesn't seem like it.

I called my dealer and the guy told me to put in Shell 91 (92?) instead of Chevron 91(92?) that I always put in. I'm almost done my tank of Shell but it still happened once when the tank was half full. I called the dealer again and he said it'll take a couple of tanks for the shell gas to kick in?

Has anyone heard of this problem with Chevron gas before? It's quite a big problem for me as there is only 1 Shell in this area and they close pretty early and I've always been a chevron fan.

Any input would be great guys!

ps anyone know any products that would clean the dirty exhausts? I want my chrome back!

 

I have heard here that MINI techs say: "use top tier gas". Yet cannot expain exactly what that is. What I found was that "top tier" Gasoline is a detergent standard, which has voluntary participation and that several major automakers including Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen created in order to improve the quality of gasoline. Shell is considered "Top Tier."

MINI states to use high octane premium fuel. Means 91/93 octane. No where in the OM does it state to patronize one filling station over another. If it did, I am sure it would say to use only BP gas Which as far as I know, like Chevron, is also a Top Tier Brand of fuel.....

Filling stations here in the north east ( and I am sure it is the same everyplace else ) fill up their truck tankers from ONE HUGE supply depot, and all pull up to the same Billion gallon barrel.....the only basic difference is the additives in the fuel added afterwards and before it goes into your car, and how well the distributors maintain their in ground tanks, filters and pumps.

And while all Top Tier filling stations use various detergents, Shell uses what they call Nitrogen Enriched Fuel. Shell claims that nitrogen-enriched molecules chemically react with carbon deposits that have collected on the valves. These nitrogen-enriched molecules then clean the valves and permit maximum gasoline and air compression within the cylinder. So basically, it's just a different kind of detergent.

FYI, Mini dealers use Chevon's Techron additive for all the tune ups at the shop, in the same bottles you can purchase at the auto parts stores.

 

Does it happen when you try to start the car when the car is hot or cold?

 

Fully press the engine start button(if it starts then cuts). If it starts then runs then dies... Warranty my friend.

 

The engine starts, revs up to about ~2k? and then drops back down to 0 and turns off.

I don't think its not a cold start issue as it had happened to me after just a 10 minute run for groceries.

The service guy that I called said chevron has too much ethanol in their gas and shell would be better for minis/bmws.

Are they bs'ing me here? So are guys telling me to go back to chevron and bring it in service when it occurs again? The thing is its hard for them to reproduce the problem as it seems completely random.

 

There is a pretty extensive thread on this topic. I too am having an issue with my 2010 MCs. Haven't pursued it yet though. It is a warm start issue. When starting it warm, I usually tap the gas to keep it from stalling.

Starts and Dies

 

"shaggyPE" beat me to the punch while I was crafting my post. As he suggested, you'll want to read through this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-and-dies.html

Your problem sounds suspiciously like the one discussed therein. Ultimately, I believe the issue for this particular problem was a software glitch that many 2010 models were equipped with (no extra charge) at the factory. Your service department would need to correct it through an OBC re-flash.

As "-=gRay rAvEn=-" stated: Top Tier gasoline is Top Tier; they basically only vary their detergent additives. Chevron premium is just as acceptable as Shell premium; some have even opined better, because of Chevron's Techron additive. All other things being equal, it mainly boils down to brand preference, convenience, and price. Personally, I've used both Shell and Chevron in my vehicles, and find them essentially indistinguishable from one another.

E10 is still the maximum ethanol blend available for general consumption, and as "-=gRay rAvEn=-" also pointed out, all the stations in a given area get their fuel from the same mega-barrel. So if the Chevron stations in your area have "too much ethanol content," as your service guy asserts, then probably every other station/brand in your area has the same ethanol blend too...

Bottom line: disregard (at a minimum) your service rep's fuel-purchasing advice, continue to use your preferred Top Tier brand (in this case, Chevron), and insist that MINI correct the known problems with their vehicles without immediately playing the "bad fuel" card. Sadly, the "use different/better gasoline" line seems to be becoming a more and more common way for MINI service departments to deflect engine issues back onto the customer, and the only way to get them to stop it is to fight back with facts. In this case, your service rep. appears to be way off base...

 

Yeah, your service guy is bs'n you.
From what I've read on this forum, "Bad gas", is a scripted reply used by less than honest dealers, to avoid warranty work and get the customer to pay, Just take it as a warning and look for a better dealer, or an independent shop.

10% ethanol is required in my state for all gasolines, whatever the brand. We have no choice.

Dave

 

thanks guys! ill continue to put in chevron to see how it goes. ill be bringing it in for service next time it happens again. Ill keep you guys posted

 

Check the pumps at your Shell station. A guy in our local club purports he frequents a Shell station that is not selling the ethenol blended fuel. Not sure if this is the rule with most Shell stations or not.

One other thing to check for. When filling stations first change over to this mix, the ethanol breaks down any fuel that has shellacked itself to the walls of the tanks, pumps and filters and ends up being pumped into our cars reeking havok with our MINI's fuel filters and fuel pump system.......

 

Sounds like the problem my MCS had when I first got it.
If I tried to start it after shutting it off (waiting up to 20 mins) it would start, then the rmps would drop & the car would shut off. Like another person said, a shot of fuel would keep it running.
It had nothing to do with fuel/gas stations. I brought it back to the dealer & they had to re-program it. It works fine now.
Good luck, hope the info on the forum helps you out.

 

If memory serves, the additives are not put in the fuel after the tanker truck fills up. The additives are put in per each company at the refinery. The one located in Yorktown, VA has about twelve large multi-million gallon tanks outside. Some of them have the individual company's logo painted on. When the truck pulls up, he or she enters a numeric code, connects the hoses, and starts receiving fuel from that specific maker.

On another note, a friend of mine pointed out this site: http://pure-gas.org/. It lists those stations that are ethanol-free. If you know of one, please add to the list.

 

That's a possibility; but the fuel blend (ethanol content) provided by that refinery for that supply region would still be identical, no matter which brand you chose.