Octane Audit

[Dragcity]

Well, it finally hapened to me. My Marauder has NEVER had a ping. Put in 3/4 tank this morning before heading off to an out of town stint.

In the hills of the Finger Lakes Ping, Ping, Ping. Man, am I pissed. Silly me, I went to a different Sunoco Station for my fill of 93. I paid good money for crapoliine.

I guess I have to call Erie County Weights and Measures on them.

Is there a quick test we can use to measure octane.? If not, this is a GREAT business opportunity for you engineeer / Chemical Engineer types to capitalize on.

Easy drivin and a fillup of real 93 is in order. Either that or I have to back off my tune.

I just want to go in and punch the owner in the nose....

[Pat]

I take it this is not your regular station but one that is in the same city?

If so, go complain, maybe there are others that have experienced the same problem. If the operator is consciencious he may investigate (records, water in tank, etc). Maybe he'll give you a free fill up. Who knows, but when you get back from your trip, check him out.

[Breadfan]

I believe fuel quality in our area has dropped recently. I think others have noticed it as well. Makes you wonder what the oil companies are diluting the liquid gold with.

[Dragcity]

Yeah, same town, different station. I was looking for them on line last night. Having Wife call htem today.

I did a bit of research on determining octane, not an easy proceedure. Trial and error stuff. Too bad there isn't a litmus paper test.

[magindat]

Yeah, same town, different station. I was looking for them on line last night. Having Wife call htem today.

I did a bit of research on determining octane, not an easy proceedure. Trial and error stuff. Too bad there isn't a litmus paper test.

At one point I spent 2 days sxcouring the net looking for a simple answer to testing octane. No such. It's a procedure with a certain type of motor at certain RPM and temp, blah, blah, blah.

I have friend who owns a station and claims his gas 'tests' at 95 on delivery. The car runs like a ***** ape on his gas. It's a small independent who buys wholesale. I don't know what brand. I'll ask him how he knows or how they test his gas.

[fastcar]

Easy drivin and a fillup of real 93 is in order. Either that or I have to back off my tune.

I would immediately reload the stock tune and throw a gallon of Toluene or Xylene in the tank. You DO NOT want to spark knock these motors.

I made the mistake of trying to soft pedal Lidio's Race Gas tune to the track. Big Mistake. Even on grades at part throttle it pinged.

BTW you can make gas that test at about 100 Octane by for around $4.50 / gallon, with a 5 gallon drum of Xylene from a paint supply house. Mix 2.5 gallon with 6 gallons 93 unleaded. Xylene is 118 octane. That gives you a little better than 100 octane, and it's a LOT cheaper that Sunoco GT 100 (which is $10/gallon in the Boston area!)

Unfortunately, no litmus test on the gas. But calling the weights and measures police is a great idea:D

fastcar:burnout:

[Dragcity]

Just got off the phone with Erie County Bureau of Weights and Measures. They are all over it. I should get a call today or tomorrow. I'll post up the results.

I encourage everyone to call their local weights & measures department. How many people get ripped off daily?

Did everyone know that the gas At The Pump must be at it's stated rating ? There was a post about how fuel loses is octane over time. So, yeah, your pal is prolly getting really fresh gas and tunring it over quickly. I suspect it is delivered to most at a rating of 95. If the pump says 93, it better be 93 when dispensed.

Thanks a lot for the heads-up fastcar. I'll follow your directions, and re-tune to stock. I'll bet I can find a paint store here.

[PhastPhil]

Reminds me of a story. I used to work at a local Amoco Station. I was driving my 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT with a 351-C. I used to buy my gas at a Sunoco that sold Cam 2. One day, instead of my usual 20 mins early to work, I arrived 15 mins early. The woner of the station was there, and teased me about being "late". I explained that I had to stop for gas first, which was another town over. Boy was he shocked. He said, "But you work at a gas station!" I said, no offense, but my car prefers the Cam2. At that time, the Cam2 was still leaded, and my car ran much better on that. So, then I told the owner where I had to go to buy it. I suggested that he sell Cam2 at one of his stations whwere the hot rods like to cruise. I said the local station that sells Cam2 dilutes it down with something else. My boss said "You don't know that!" I said you're right, I don't. But my car does. I said, you can tell me whatever you want about what's in the fuel, and I wouldn't know the difference. But you can't lie to my car, it knows. If the fuel isn't any good, it won't run right. My boss laughed so hard at the thought that "my car knows". The following week, the station had an inspection by the big shots at corporate. I was told by me station manager, that in conversation with the big shots from Amoco, my boss mentioned our chat and my statement that "my car knows". About a month or so later, Amoco started using the slogan in their ad campaigns. They would tell customers to use Amoco because "your car knows".
I don't claim to be the one who came up with their ad slogan, but that is one heck of a coinky dink !

[ckadiddle]

The wife filled up the stang recently at a station I don't usually go to, she filled with 93 octane. Started having some rough running and stalled out at a stoplight. I interrogated her, found out where she bought and advised her to buy at either of the two stations I use frequently. Now the stang runs fine. Where you buy fuel does sometimes make a big difference.

[Breadfan]

The problem is I have been sticking to two stations I am comfortable with and been using for over a year and it feels like quality of the fuel has gone down. I don't know, but yeah, my car does.

Now that I think about it, there's a third Sunoco a few miles further down the road, it's slightly older, but has the three-handle pumps, i.e. dedicated line for 93. All the newer ones have the single pump for all three grades.

Sunoco has been taking over alot of stations around here, none offer anything above 93 octane though. :(

[TooManyFords]

Get yourself one of these:

http://www.shatox.com/products.html

John

[crouse]

Now that I think about it, there's a third Sunoco a few miles further down the road, it's slightly older, but has the three-handle pumps, i.e. dedicated line for 93. All the newer ones have the single pump for all three grades.



I started a thread a while back about the single handle vs multi-handle pumps. Let's say the hose on a single handle pump is 12' long and it's 3/4" inside diameter. That equals 63.6 cubic inches. There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon so that equals about 1/4 gallon of gas in the hose. So if the person that used the pump before you selected 87 octane, 1/4 gallon of 87 octane in 15 gallons of 92 or 93 octane shouldn't change the overall octane level at all.

[sailsmen]

Ever since Katrina my car knocks except on Chevron. Go figure.

The nearby Chevron station had a water contamination problem, must not have been on the premium.

[Dragcity]

I re-flashed to stock and no more ping. It sure shifts funny, especially with the 4.10s in...

[magindat]

Get yourself one of these:

http://www.shatox.com/products.html

John

I found a similar product. Hand held octane/cetane analyzer. http://www.zeltex.com/portable/zx-101c.html

http://www.zeltex.com/portable/101cbig.jpg


Asked for a quote for 10 to do a group buy.
Anyone wanna spend 8 grand?!

[FordNut]

I've seen posts at some of the stang forums complaining about their local stations switching over to winter blend. Could that be part of the issue?

[Dragcity]

I don't know why "winter blend" would make a knock difference. Still has to be 93 of better, right?

I did read something about soft and hard resistance to knock. Carbon based elements are hard, solvent are soft..??? And, because more solvent products go into winter blend, maybe there is some truth in that, I don't know.

In 65,000 miles, this is the first time. I can't wait to get the results from the bureau.

I passed on the Xylene additive. $14.50 per gallon. Didn't want to risk getting any on my paint, and am afraid of what it may or may not do to tank, lines, injectors and aluminum. Just don't know enough about it.

I wonder how much those testing units run. If they are in the right $$$ range, that would be a good thing to have in the glove box.

[magindat]

I wonder how much those testing units run. If they are in the right $$$ range, that would be a good thing to have in the glove box.

Look 2 posts up. $8000.00!!!

[Dragcity]

Oopsie! Didn't read past the pic.

I guess I'll just have our local Weights & Measures folks take care of it, and not go back ot that station again.

[Larry Staunton]

Try logging into toptiergas.com, click on retailers, and see which gasolines are recommended.

[FordNut]

I don't know why "winter blend" would make a knock difference. Still has to be 93 of better, right?


I don't know either, but discussions about bad gas, pinging, and winter blend come up every year about this time.

[Aren Jay]

Did you see the 10% discount if you buy 10 units.

7912.5 - 791.25 = $7121.25

Not cheap but better.

[magindat]

Did you see the 10% discount if you buy 10 units.

7912.5 - 791.25 = $7121.25

Not cheap but better.

COOL!!!! YOU pony up the 79K to do the Group Buy and 9 more of us will 'promise' to buy one!
:shake:

:stupid:

:lol:

[Dragcity]

I soke with weights & measures this morning and they unfortunatly did not get a correct sample. The station had a new delivery before the sample was taken.

The Deputy did share that this station was tested before and came out good. Says the guy goes through 18,000 gallons weekly, I'm sure not 93 though.. Also said the fella keeps impecable records.

Anyway, I will go back to my regular watering hole, and maybe back off timing a bit???

Thanks for all the input.

And count me out of that 'group buy'...