What grade gas do you use?, In your teener Options

[KENNY]

For the past 13 years I use premium . Never had a problem whit my car .

[914Bryan]

I run 91 octane with a little Marvel in tank. The premium gas is to avoid any possibility of pinging and the Marvel is to keep the valves clean. I have heard that the premium fuel does not contain any methonal in it and some lower grades do. I am not an expert with this, but that is what I have seen labeled on the pumps. With old fuel systems I think methonal in any amount is taboo. Just my opinion.

[iamchappy]

93 nothing less for the turbo teener

[rnellums]

Back in 2007 when this thread last came up I was running 91. Now I'm still running 91.

[euro911]

I've read that newer computer-controlled FI engine management systems may take up to three tanks of fuel to fully adjust to optimum settings, not sure about early 70's technology?

I use to run 87 in both of our [stock] 914s, but run mid-grade in the recently built 2056 (9:1 CR).

I agree, you can run a low grade but avoid pre-detonation, and watch your temperature readings. If you change the grade of fuel, be prepared to readjust your timing (and jetting if running carbs) to account for the difference.

[Ian Stott]

I don't want to use the ethanol enhanced fuel so I use high test which is around 91 octane where I live, the regular 87 octane does have the ethanol and I really want to stay away from that stuff. The extra few cents per litre is worth it to me, just for piece of mind, I want to go for a trouble free drive, not worry about what's in the tank. I find a lot of the older mechanics all use 91 octane, they feel it is the better way to go, sometimes experience is a good indicator even though they may not have graphs and computer printouts to back up what they are saying.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

[brant]

I believe with current US emissions (especially california)
all grades of gas should now have ethanol

if I am wrong then good for you
but I know in Colorado this is true and all grades of gasoline have ethanol.

I thought this was the federal standard in the currently required, subsidized, energy and fuel plan that Mr. Bush left for us when he signed it into law in 2007.

So the question really is about what grade of fuel your motor and octane require
I don't believe there is any way to avoid the ethanol (not methanol as one poster mentions)

[JamesM]

You have to search to find it but if you are lucky you can still get ethanol free gas.

I run 92 Sunoco (etahanol free) when i feel like driving to the other side of the valley to get it. If I don't (or cant) get all the way over there to get it ill run 87,88 or 89 depending on what the station has.

[brant]

You have to search to find it but if you are lucky you can still get ethanol free gas.

I run 92 Sunoco (etahanol free) when i feel like driving to the other side of the valley to get it. If I don't (or cant) get all the way over there to get it ill run 87,88 or 89 depending on what the station has.

and I would guess that one station that you use for ethanol free, probably has a label right on that pump that states it is not legal for highway use.
I think they are selling it as an "offroad use" fuel

if I could get it, I would do the same.
maybe with the draught someone in washington will realize they need to repeal this law. Although I doubt the corn growers would feel that way.

[jsayre914]

I am running 91 in my 2056, I also use mystery oil in every other fillup.

Runs like a champ
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[914Bryan]

I believe with current US emissions (especially california)
all grades of gas should now have ethanol

if I am wrong then good for you
but I know in Colorado this is true and all grades of gasoline have ethanol.

I thought this was the federal standard in the currently required, subsidized, energy and fuel plan that Mr. Bush left for us when he signed it into law in 2007.

So the question really is about what grade of fuel your motor and octane require
I don't believe there is any way to avoid the ethanol (not methanol as one poster mentions)

Ahhh! My bad, meant ethanol....Hanging out at the drags too much! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[euro911]

Ahhh! My bad, meant ethanol....Hanging out at the drags too much! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

... and sniffing too much methane? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[Ian Stott]

The 91octane pump (high test) says on it "ethanol free", the 87 octane pump (regular) says it contains 10 or 15% ethanol, I'm not sure which as I don't use it, maybe it's the law in Canada that they have to post the info. I used to run the refuelling section at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood in Nova Scotia and have had a few courses re. fuel, not just gasoline. I agree you only need to run the octane required for your engine not to knock/ping, but I have been running the 91 since the ethanol thing and like I said in a previous post, all those old mechanics that actually tear engines apart are running the 91. I know if I use a corner store gas bar of no name gas it isn't the same as Shell Gold, so that is what I use in all my vehicles.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

[Jeffs9146]

I voted for 91 but I am running an 83sc 6 and from what I have read they bumped up the HP to 204 with all the smog/exhaust stuff! I have since removed all that and added headers. The specs on the later 80 to 83 sc's said to use 91!

[eyesright]

You can buy a fuel tester on line, but I bought mine from the local Briggs and Stratton parts shop for $8. I test the fuel now and then when I buy gas for the lawn mower. The pump sticker says "contains up to 10% ethanol" but I haven't found any alcohol content here in OK for a couple of years and lately the stickers have disappeared at many stations. A few of the Fina -- now Alon -- stations here have a pump for 100% regular and another for 10% ethanol regular.

And I just bought 3 testers for Christmas gifts for fellow enthusiasts. And you can make one with a test tube from your kid's chemistry set.

Anyway, my 914 and '86 911 run fine on regular. And I like MMO a couple of times a year. It smells better than the other stuff, but its all "petroleum distillates" which I think usually means fuel oil, jet fuel, diesel, kerosene, etc.

[jersey914]

Premium........it's a freaking Porsche.....Come on people

BTW, I run Marine stabilizer in every tank too......Ethanol is not our friend

['73-914kid]

Premium........it's a freaking Porsche.....Come on people

BTW, I run Marine stabilizer in every tank too......Ethanol is not our friend

Just because it's a Porsche, doesn't justify running expensive gas. If it doesn't ping on 87, run 87. the quality of gas does not improve as the octane increases, unless there's an increase in ethanol content as the octane goes down.

Plus, 914's have vw engines... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) No need to spend extra for wasted octane...

[zymurgist]

2.0 D-jet, 87 octane

[billh1963]

I've tried everything from regular to super unleaded. I never noticed a difference. Just use regular now

[Ductech]

I drive a conversion in a conversion that's wrapped up like a Taco Bell double decker turbo death burrito...

So premium is required. Know your overal pressures your dealing with. High comp will require it. Most stock type 4's properly tuned could run happy on regular forever.i imagine when you consider the compression ratio and quality of gas at the time of manufacture. But as I've made an ass of myself before.. I could be totally off.