Gas?, what kind to use. Options

[oldschool]

So what kind of gas should I be putting in my car?

1973 1.7 bone stock car with fi

[McMark]

Regular.

[DanT]

+1 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I use it in my 2.0L too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[oldschool]

Regular.

dude your fast thanks ,now i'm in sunny cal so what about makers. you acro shell etc...

[Cap'n Krusty]

Chevron and Mobil have the best fuel system cleaners. Shell has traditionally high in sulfur (not good for Bosch injectors), but I think that's in the past since the smoggies really got down and serious. I don't like ARCO for a number of reasons, some philosophical, some because of their additive package. A former big weenie at ARCO was on the Air Resources Board and suckered the state into using MBTE, that wonderful additive that poisons our water systems and happened to be under an ARCO patent. We're gonna be paying for that for about a thousand years ..................

The Cap'n

[oldschool]

Chevron and Mobil have the best fuel system cleaners. Shell has traditionally high in sulfur (not good for Bosch injectors), but I think that's in the past since the smoggies really got down and serious. I don't like ARCO for a number of reasons, some philosophical, some because of their additive package. A former big weenie at ARCO was on the Air Resources Board and suckered the state into using MBTE, that wonderful additive that poisons our water systems and happened to be under an ARCO patent. We're gonna be paying for that for about a thousand years ..................

The Cap'n

Thanks cap, but 87 is ok?

[McMark]

The octane in fuel is increased to prevent pinging/knocking. Your bone stock, low-compression 1.7 doesn't get anywhere remotely close to pinging, so higher octane in literally throwing money out your tailpipe.

Premium fuel is NOT 'the good stuff'.

[oldschool]

The octane in fuel is increased to prevent pinging/knocking. Your bone stock, low-compression 1.7 doesn't get anywhere remotely close to pinging, so higher octane in literally throwing money out your tailpipe.

Premium fuel is NOT 'the good stuff'.

that's what I like to hear (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Tom_T]

Chevron and Mobil have the best fuel system cleaners. Shell has traditionally high in sulfur (not good for Bosch injectors), but I think that's in the past since the smoggies really got down and serious. I don't like ARCO for a number of reasons, some philosophical, some because of their additive package. A former big weenie at ARCO was on the Air Resources Board and suckered the state into using MBTE, that wonderful additive that poisons our water systems and happened to be under an ARCO patent. We're gonna be paying for that for about a thousand years ..................

The Cap'n

MBTE also "eats" the rubber in lines & grommets/gaskets/seals exposed to it. I used to have to re-gasket the top of our 88 Westy fuel tank every 2-5 years while they used it here in CA! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I mostly use ARCO in the 88 VW Westy (bone stock 2.1 L EFI waterboxer) & 85 BMW 325e (also stock EFI I-6) -both on 87 Regular - no fuel related problems to date in 206k & 176k mi respectively since new.

My 73 914-2.0 says 91 RON, so I guess I'll use Premium in it when she's running again, but 8.0:1 doesn't seem that high.

However, I don't know if the fuel additives they sell to add per tank do any good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[veltror]

When I was in the US the first time I filled up i saw this 87 Octane ethanol crap, i serriously doubted you could even make a Molotov out of that stuff, then I discoveed Phillips racing gas (petrol), fantastic...

[Gint]

To answer the original question, 87 octane regular gas is perfectly fine for a stock 1.7 914.

91 RON is not the same as 91 AKI. You guys that think your stock 914 needs premium fuel in the US simply because the sticker on your car says 91 RON, really need to read about gasoline octane ratings, past and present, US and Europe. DOn't take my word for it. Just keep wasting your money.

Difference between RON and AKI

Because of the 8 to 10 point difference noted above, the octane rating shown in the United States is 4 to 5 points lower than the rating shown elsewhere in the world for the same fuel. See the table in the following section for a comparison.

Not to nit-pick, but it's MTBE and not MBTE isn't it?

[914itis]

What if youre running dual webber would that change the ball game? Or Still use 87.

[Cap'n Krusty]

Chevron and Mobil have the best fuel system cleaners. Shell has traditionally high in sulfur (not good for Bosch injectors), but I think that's in the past since the smoggies really got down and serious. I don't like ARCO for a number of reasons, some philosophical, some because of their additive package. A former big weenie at ARCO was on the Air Resources Board and suckered the state into using MBTE, that wonderful additive that poisons our water systems and happened to be under an ARCO patent. We're gonna be paying for that for about a thousand years ..................

The Cap'n

Thanks cap, but 87 is ok?

Yup.

The Cap'n

[Cap'n Krusty]

What if youre running dual webber would that change the ball game? Or Still use 87.

Since you're already getting poor fuel mileage with Weber carburetors (note the spelling of 'Weber'), unless you've raised the compression you should be fine with 87 octane. Or maybe you like throwing money away and increasing the amount of unburned fuel leaving your tailpipe.

The Cap'n

[r_towle]

I was introduced to Tektron FI cleaner by a 38 year master mechanic that swears by it. I tried all the others,,,nothing does what this magic juice does.
Since then, I run everything on regular and use Tektron about once every three months.
The only exception is my bmw which I put in two tektrons and a tank of premium octane every three months..then I do an old fashions carb blowout session on a few onramps...that motor is a bit different than the rest.
My Volvo has 270k miles, bmw has 220k miles, eurovan has 180k and 914 has 140k....they all run fine.
I also use old fashioned dino oil from Walmart on all of them...never had a problem. I shop for oil based upon weight and price.

I have read all the oil reports and given my personal experience with over 100 cars...and my long life motors (I change my oil at least twice per year...honest) I am happy with the money I have saved by not being drawn into the synthetic oil and premium fuel camp.

Rich
Rich

[Cap'n Krusty]

I was introduced to Tektron FI cleaner by a 38 year master mechanic that swears by it. I tried all the others,,,nothing does what this magic juice does.
Since then, I run everything on regular and use Tektron about once every three months.
The only exception is my bmw which I put in two tektrons and a tank of premium octane every three months..then I do an old fashions carb blowout session on a few onramps...that motor is a bit different than the rest.
My Volvo has 270k miles, bmw has 220k miles, eurovan has 180k and 914 has 140k....they all run fine.
I also use old fashioned dino oil from Walmart on all of them...never had a problem. I shop for oil based upon weight and price.

I have read all the oil reports and given my personal experience with over 100 cars...and my long life motors (I change my oil at least twice per year...honest) I am happy with the money I have saved by not being drawn into the synthetic oil and premium fuel camp.

Rich
Rich

Techron (correct spelling) comes free with every gallon of Chevron and Mobil gasoline. ...............................

The Cap'n

[r_towle]

Techron is a patented fuel additive developed by the Chevron Products Company, usually consisting of gasoline mixed with 400 ppm of polyetheramine.[1] With the introduction of Techron, Chevron gasolines became designated as meeting Top Tier standards for fuel cleanliness. Chevron gasolines with Techron were some of the first gasolines to be named as a “Top Tier Detergent Gasoline”.[2] “Top Tier Detergent Gasoline(s)” are agreed to lead to better performance in engines by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Audi.[2] Chevron with Techron also exceeds the TOP TIER standards in all three grades of gasoline.[3] Both Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have issued factory service bulletins advising the use of concentrated Chevron Techron in repair procedures for vehicles with certain mechanical problems. Techron is available at Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex stations in all three grades of gasoline.[4] Techron is also available as a packaged concentrate, for use with lower quality gasoline ("under-additized").

No idea where to get Chevron Gas around here...
Mobile...not sure its in that fuel...could be or not.
I found adding it once in a while does the trick...then I use chaper fuel the rest of the time, and that was the point...

Rich

[oldschool]

Very cool, thanks for all the help.....I know very lil about gas....pump gas that is. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[McMark]

What if youre running dual webber would that change the ball game? Or Still use 87.

To expand upon the Cap'n and my earlier post...

Octane is a detonation/pining prevention. Detonation/pinging are related to engine compression which is set when the motor is built and doesn't change (slight simplification). Nothing you bolt on (carbs, FI, exhaust, chrome engine tin, etc) is going to change the compression ratio, except a turbo or supercharger.

[brp986s]

I don't like ARCO for a number of reasons, some philosophical, some because of their additive package. A former big weenie at ARCO was on the Air Resources Board and suckered the state into using MBTE, that wonderful additive that poisons our water systems and happened to be under an ARCO patent. We're gonna be paying for that for about a thousand years ..................

The Cap'n

MTBE (not MBTE) poisoned the water because the tanks leaked. The tanks shouldn't leak. MTBE was only a small percentage of gas, which is not exactly mothers milk in its own right, having the known carcinogen benzene, among others. Wells in the LA area continue to be closed due to other solvents that are worse. To the extent that MTBE renders gas more soluble in water is also true of its replacement, ethanol, which has its own bogus rationale and cast of sordid weenies.