Now that I have my 914, I have to seriously think about driving it It came with a 1/2 tank of gas (thanks Cap'n), and I will have to refill it eventually. It just occurred to me that around here we have mostly mixed gas - 10% methanol. Is that good, bad, or of no consequence? What grade of gas should I be buying for this thing. I being a cheap SOB usually buy whatever is cheapest, but for this one, I will buy what is best for it. So, what do you think? Is there any harm in running the 10% methanol/gas mix. Should I be looking for some stations that sell only 100% gasoline? What grade to buy? Is more expensive any better for the engine?
I did a search in the archives and didn't come up with much. I came across an old Pelican site that addresses the harmful effects of methanol on the rubber fittings, but the article may have been old. Is there any more current info out there?

Thanks for the help.


Warrenoliver

Whatever grade of unleaded that keeps it from pinging. I could run mid-grade (89) in my /4 with no problem.

My 74 2.0 came with & still has a sticker up front on the wheel well that says minimum octane 91. Check your drivers manual for that info. I read the same thing about the effects of Meth on rubber & just stay away. My 2 cents.

Meth rots teeth and brains, not rubber

IIRC there's a difference... 91 roz/ron is not the same as 91 octane on the American gas pump sticker.

At any rate, I've never run anything but the cheapest regular. No pinging, no problems.

If it pings then double check the timing. If not advanced, then your compression ratio may dictate that you should bump up the octane.

Well, this is what I have noticed with my motor. I have more power with 87 than I did with 89 and 91 was a plain dog. 2.0L US piston .037 deck on 2.0L heads.

if it don't ping on 87 go with that. U.S. pistoned 2.0L engines don't have much compression.

You could just wait for the Capt. to tell you what he ran. as I am sure he'll be around soon.

I probably get away with lesser octane because of my big cam affecting dynamic compression.

The Cap'n says to run the mid grade.

You'll probably be able to find a lot of reading material by doing a search for "octane" as it's been discussed quite a bit in the past.

91 Roz/Ron = 87 'murrican octane, so 'regular' should work fine. I run mine a bit more advanced, so usually get mid grade to avoid pinging.

I figure i only fill the tank a dozen times a year, so i put in the good stuff.

I am running OEM Mahle Euro pistons, 8.5 to 1. My Dad used to fill her up w/ Gulf leaded 98, exclusively.

It rots teeth? Seriously, I had no idea it was so evil. Methanol, on the other hand , is not good for rubber. Is it not stored in either glass, metal or plastic?

here is what one year of ARCO premium looks like

I was advised to use fuel with techtron additive

the above pic is CA gas that has a bunch of additives to make the exhaust output "cleaner"

Seriously?

Yes, for her first 4.5 years she ran Gulf, leaded 98.

This is America right? So if you pay more for the "good stuff" it's got to be better right? Not when it comes to fuel. Extra octane isn't always needed. Run the LOWEST octance you can without pinging.

The real poop on octane is additives. The higher the octane the more additives to make it burn SLOWER. Remember the higher the octane the SLOWER it burns. The more additives the more residue it leaves in the combustion chamber, and it results in more carbon build up. It can result in a endless cycle, you have to run high octane so it doesn't pre-ignite (ping) and the more high octane you run the more carbon build up you get.

Generally speaking it's all the same fuel, but with different additive packages to raise the octane rating.

If you purchase your fuel from a run down gas station with marginal old storage tanks, and minimal turn over, you could end up with a batch of contaminated fuel. So, get your fuel from a reputable source with regular turn over.

If you are worried about carbon deposits in the combustion chamber you can add Techron, or some of the BG Petroleum Products fuel additives that will help remove carbon build up in the combustion chamber and can allow you to use lower octane.

If you don't believe me you can do your own test. Take an eyedropper of regular low octane gasoline and put it on a plain white corell saucer and burn it (in an appropriate place with ventilation of course), then take an eyedropper of high octane gasoline and burn it. The low octane will burn cleaner and leave less residue, while the high octane will burn smoky and leave considerably more residue.

Once upon a time we had leaded 100 octane straight from the pump. You pulled in and said "fill it with ethyl" (tetra ethyl lead). That was real premium. Air was a bit dirtier then.

I use Chevron premium in everything with fuel injection. I am probably wasting some money, but I have had more than one mechanic tell me it was the thing to do. One Mercedes specialist said he had more than once "fixed" a poor running car by draining the tank and filling with Chevron premium. When gas was $1.50 for regular, premium cost $1.70. Now when regular is $2.50, premium is still only $.20 more. I figure the price of premium gas is going down!

edit: In spite of what I say above, Perry is probably right.

Meth mouth...Do meth for a few years and you won't have a tooth in your head.


Back on topic I've used 10% methanol for 5 years in the teen and almost 20yrs in high CR bugs with no issues. All premo gas here has methanol

I run the shit out of my car and always fill up with the cheapest stuff, 87 octane. Never a problem.