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Octane help


youngmanvr4
04-05-2004, 11:23 AM
If you have read any of my other threads you should know by know when i get my GST/GSX i'll be modding it (turbo, intake, exhaust, ect).I read on another thread that when modded like this only to use 92 and up octane.Oh yea...the "for all of you who want to turbo a GS, RS" or whatever to thread says by RST...thats where i got it from.But anyways...what octane should i use?One thing i might add is i leave in Kansas (10 miles south of Ne) and i'm in Cali right now (going home this weekend) and from what i remember in Ks we only have 91 octane and it has corn in it (also called Ethanol).So i dont know if that will make it worse or what when modding like this...but the one good thing about ethanol is that with corn in it and Ne being a corn state it makes the high octane (91) sometimes a lower price then normal gas (87) because of helping the earth and the stuff we grow in the heartland.If i still need a higher octane then 91 is there a octane booster of some sort?Something that i can use to bump it up a octane or 2?Any help on this would be great.

Also...i would like to know what effects ethanol is going to have, and if its good or bad...or just doesn't really matter?

spyderturbo007
04-05-2004, 12:00 PM
The higher the octane the better. I live in Pa and run 93 all of the time. The dealer recommends "premium” but I don't know that they specify an octane. The problem with running a lower octane fuel is that the lower the octane the more prone the fuel is to pre-ignition which equals knock. When the ECU senses an unusual amount of knock it retards the timing until the knock returns to "normal levels", thereby robbing you of power. When it reaches the point where it can no longer retard the timing it starts stealing boost. :22yikes: I don't know that you will have a problem with 91 octane (if you read at the sticker on the pump is shows 91 as minimum octane) so I would guess you would be ok. I know you can buy octane boosters from you local auto parts store but I have no experience with them, nor do I know of the long term side effects. Hope this helps!

Found this at vfaq.com

"No concrete drawbacks or benefits have surfaced despite the heated debate that surrounds these products, making them appear similar to highly publicized 'magic products'"

"Even the manufacturers are starting to admit how little effect their products have. Most rate the effectiveness in "points" - a misleading marketing euphemism for increments of 0.1 octane. Prestone states that their octane booster only tends to increase the octane of a tank of gasoline by 5 "points", or 0.50 octane. This makes 92 octane gasoline a whopping 92.5 octane - hardly a stellar improvement."

MiTsUsPyDeR97
04-05-2004, 12:37 PM
I read somwhere but I can't remember where that the minimum requirement would be 91 octane. So that KS gas would be sufficient.

JoeWagon
04-05-2004, 05:32 PM
You aren't going to want to buy octane booster every time you buy gas. If you only have 91, you will be fine using it, so don't worry.

1stGenRocks
04-05-2004, 06:34 PM
my 2 cents

since the ecu adjust your fuel trim constantly its best to try and use the same octane all the time then the ecu knows whats in the tank and can respond better

youngmanvr4
04-06-2004, 01:38 AM
Just so i understand what you guys are saying is i only have 91 octane gas in Ks so if that the highest we have thats what i use...and dont worry about octane booster?I just dont remumber what we have back at home.LOL...i think there are place's where they sell 92 octane...but i'm not sure.

Igovert500
04-06-2004, 02:24 AM
Yeah thats correct. I have a vr4, and thats safe on 91. I would have to agree with everyone else, Unless you plan on boosting to higher levels, 91 will do fine.

And if you do choose to go higher, you can always do propane or alky injection to prevent knock, if 91 is the best you can find.

EclipseRST
04-06-2004, 03:43 AM
octane booster blows balls! worthless to spend money on!!! 91 is just fine just dont beat the shit out of your car everyday! i tend to run 93 up to 3/4 tank then top it off with some 118 race gas everyother time i fill up! i buy the race gas by 55 gallon drums... it only costs me $2.18 @ gallon :p so i can afford to run it! plus i use it in my dirt bikes for race too!

Rooikat
04-06-2004, 09:24 PM
$2.18? Where do you get it in drums? I've never looked at the price for 110 they have here at the pump, but premium is around $2.00-$2.10 here in MI, so buying it in drums wouldn't be too bad I don't think.

EclipseRST
04-06-2004, 09:28 PM
i get it from a local place here... if i get it by the drum its only $2.18, if i were to buy it separately i would be almost $4.00 a gallon!

JoeWagon
04-06-2004, 11:39 PM
How much is a 55 gallon drum? I might have to invest.

youngmanvr4
04-07-2004, 01:16 AM
It should be 119.90 plus tax...if i could get a deal like that then i may want to buy some.

FDTT
04-07-2004, 01:23 AM
Hook it up Nate, i want some fuel, maby you and I can go halfers on a barrel. I think the WRX would enjoy that fun juice :D

youngmanvr4
04-07-2004, 01:33 AM
Right on dude!

EclipseRST
04-07-2004, 01:43 AM
its 119 like dude said but i usually give the guy a 12 pack too cause he cut the price so much! that makes him happy!

youngmanvr4
04-07-2004, 01:49 AM
Do you think he would do the same deal with me?

Or...you could buy it for me...i'll pay for shipping and i'll put in a 20 just for helping me out.

EclipseRST
04-07-2004, 01:59 AM
maybe... but how the hell would i ship it, it flammable as shit! and if i can ship it, ya know how much its going to cost! you would be better off just finding somewhere around your area that sells it and strike them up for a deal on a 55 gallon drum!

youngmanvr4
04-07-2004, 02:10 AM
I dont know a place lol...i guess trying to find a place would work too lol.

JoeWagon
04-07-2004, 05:30 PM
I meant how much is the drum! I'm going to buy one.

BoostedSpyder
04-07-2004, 08:40 PM
so do you need a pump like a keg pump thing or do you just hang the smoke off your lips and pop the top and get a cup and a funnel????

i would run race gas everyday for $2.18. that would save me .35/gallon, and i would get there soooo much faster!!!

ya, just fed-ex me a drum and i'll pay pal you some dough... just don't tell them it is gas, tell them it's k-y jelly!!!

youngmanvr4
04-08-2004, 01:58 AM
Yea...that what i meant.:)

ashah000
04-08-2004, 09:18 AM
What kind of places would sell this?

At least gas prices are dropping a bit for now.

Import2nr99
04-08-2004, 02:11 PM
I don't know how far you are from any dragstrips, but I know the strip by me has it. plus most gas stations around the tracks will have it. I don't know any places around here except the one by the track that has it. I never tried it.. I'll have to look into runnin some of that! and if all works out.. I'll fill up a 55 gallon drum. I've got about 25 of them in my field outside (paintball barriers)

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