BMW/MINI uses a fuel tester just like you would use for checking your pools chlorine content. Same concept.

I as an advisor never told anyone to use anything less than 91 octane and use chevron or shell gas stations as those where the top 2 companies in the US who had the best gas for these vehicles after extensive testing. chevron with techron fuel cleaner every 3k helps out alot too.

 

Mini Recomends 91 octane or better

 

Thanks everyone for the good info!

I will continue to use 91 octane in Hendrix, and 87 Octane in MAXI my 96 Impala SS as reccomended by the manufacturers!

I am now going to do a yearly Chevron Techron add to the MINI, just like the SS already receives!

FYI Putting a higher octane in the stock Impala SS also reduces gas mileage and decreases performance, as the engine computer knows ALL!!!!

 

I live in California and the octanes we have are 87 89 91. For you who live in the Northeast, mix 89 and 93...saves a few pennies

 

89 in a pinch won't be a disaster but, I wouldn't use on a steady diet. Mix 89 & 93 if you want, I just use 93.

 

Apparently I have dirty valves and need a fuel treatment. What would you guys recommend? Techron? How often?
Thanks!

 

I have always used Redline S1 fuel injection cleaner from when my 04 was new. Just add dose as shown on bottle for 10 gal. on each fill-up regardless of how many gallons it took. One bottle Redline S1 enough for 100 gallons gas.

Have been told by others, if this is the first time using in older system, add entire bottle to full tank the first time, then add smaller doses with each fill up.

I've used it it wife's CR-V for years and the MCS since new.

 

Lucas Oil fuel treatment works for me.

 

I've always liked Redline S1 as well, esp. since its supposed to be safe for multiple or frequent uses. I've heard good things about Seafoam also. One thing to keep in mind is that I've always heard it's a good idea to use these cleaners soon before an oil change (let the treated tank run down & then refill w/o treated fuel before changing oil) since they can potentially contaminate your oil after you use them (not badly, but enough that you wouldn't really want to go thousands of miles on the oil afterwards).

 

Thanks for the information. I just had the oil changed about 2000 miles ago. Himmm...

 

minis all require 91+ fuel cooper and s. the dme will retard spark if wrong fuel is used. milage and power ids efected also too tier fuel id recommended to keep injectors and valves clean this is inportant for touble free motoring

 

Thanks for the replies on fuel additives.

How about the fuel filter? I dont exactly know at what mileage the fuel filter needs to be replaced. Inspection II that I have done recently did not have it listed at that mileage (it was 60K). My car (03 MCS) has 72K now.
Thanks!

 

My thinking has always been since they only have a 13 gallon tank it really wont cost much more to put premium in...so why not!

Just my opinion. :P

 

No one's mentioned it but brand of gas is critical to insure you're getting the best additive package. Go to http://www.toptiergas.com to see what brands are "Top Tier." After 6 years of using the recommended 91 octane but off brand and COSTCO gas in my Volvo T5 turbo it ran like crap; rough start, jerky startups, and high rev miss. I switched to a Top Tier brand (QT) plus a bottle of Techtron and the car runs like a dream again. So of course we switched our MCS from Costco to QT.

 

OK, I have to chime in here. One thing to consider is if the manual specifically calls for 91 octane, and you are using 89 or 87, you may run into a situation where you get into possibly voiding your warranty. If 93 octane is .20 cents more a gallon than 89 or 87 octane, that is only $2.60 a tank full for crying out loud...IS IT REALLY WORTH THE GAMBLE?!

I think it is foolish to use anything less than the recommended 91 octane. If you are having problems affording the extra $2.60 a tank, pack a peanut butter sandwich for lunch to take to work once a week and you'll probably end up ahead!

This really is a no-brainer here folks.

 

Lawmann said it all! By the way, nice forum name!

An occaisional fill up of 89 won't hurt but is it worth it to save a buck or two?

I think what's most important is using one of the Top Tier fuels MINI/BMW recommends. I always had some cold start issues when I used Exxon. Now that I've switched to Shell I've had no issues.

Check out top tier fuel website:

http://www.toptiergas.com/deposit_control.html

 

10k miles a year/30mpg= 333 gal * $0.20 (approx price dif between 90 and 93) = $66 per year it costs to run 93 vs 90 per 10k.

Just using easy round numbers.


Also when buying brand X gas, it is only the detergent additives you are buying from said gas brand X. Since it is added at the tanker truck level (10,000 gal) since that is the only time that gas has a known volume from pipeline or tank farm.

If you wonder where your gas may actually be coming from, try this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...#United_States

 

fwiw, our 06 MCS here in San Diego only likes Shell 91 V Power. Starts poorly and feels sluggish with Mobil, Costco and Chevron.

We ran a bottle of Chevron with Technron fuel injection cleaner recently and it didn't seem to make a difference. Mileage is 25k. All stock.

 

I always use 93 becuase I figure I might as well for the difference between 91 and 93.
I want to try 105. The sunoco near me has it, and I just haven't brought myself to trying it yet.

 

No gain going to 105 octane. Keep in mind that the higher the octane rating, the harder it is for the gas to 'explode' -it's an additive/cracking mix that is designed to keep the fuel from igniting by compression alone, i.e. diesel fuel.
Higher compression engines require higher octane ratings to prevent compression ignition before the spark plug fires. The idea is to use an octane rating that matches engine design requirements for best power/fuel economy.

 

If you buy a 25k+ car, just put the gas it recommends, don't be a scrooge about it, geez

 

"Contains 10% ethanol"
in every fuel grade

I run regular, im stock, and im not predetonating. Unless you have nitrous, you can run regular. If you want to drive hard, and you are stock, you can still run regular. If you have a cold air intake, you can run regular. Does anyone know what makes 93 different from 87?

 

For an explanation of the difference, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

And to further confuse the issue, here's an excerpt from the same article.
(red highlighting mine)
"In most countries (including all of Europe and Australia) the "headline" octane that would be shown on the pump is the RON, but in the United States, Canada and some other countries the headline number is the average of the RON and the MON, sometimes called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), Road Octane Number (RdON), Pump Octane Number (PON), or (R+M)/2. Because of the 8 to 10 point difference noted above, this means that the octane in the United States will be about 4 to 5 points lower than the same fuel elsewhere: 87 octane fuel, the "regular" gasoline in the US and Canada, would be 91-92 in Europe. However most European pumps deliver 95 (RON) as "regular", equivalent to 90-91 US (R+M)/2, and even deliver 98 (RON) or 100 (RON).

I just run 91 all the time and call it good.

 

Gas stations have only have two types of gasoline in tanks. 87 and 93.

91 is a mix of the two.

 

I always run the highest grade (call it Premium, Ultimate, Super, etc) which is usually 93. No problems.