So does a change in gasoline matter after all?

[firebirdrumble00]

Lon I'm not trying to prove my knowledge, and i'm sorry if you took what I asked the wrong way. Just never heard of anyone breaking down the timing on a care just weird the way you put it. And most older cars have a timing of 7-9 degrees before top dead center, anyone with basic ignition knowledge will know that.

But yeah no one pissed in my wheaties but this message board's purpose is kind of defeated when people post half assed info with out thinking and then others get miss informed.

[RUC]

At one point I talked to one of the chemical engineering professors in my college and he told me that octane was only a substitute for lead in gasoline, which was origionally used to prevent knocking. I personally dont notice a difference when adding octane boosters. I do notice a difference when using different gas stations though. I think every car is different but my car seems to prefer chevron. One time I filled up at diamond shamrock and my fuel pump went out (probably a coincidence though).
Anyways, I seem to remember a post about this a while back, and someone did some research about where gas comes from, and it makes a little difference. You guys might try looking it up.

[BradC]

You have the FastChip right? It advances the timing so if you don't use 91 you will have timing retard which equal less power.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by BradC:
You have the FastChip right? It advances the timing so if you don't use 91 you will have timing retard which equal less power.

witch means your wasting your monye on the chip caz the PCM is counter acting the chip beause of knock lol

[ddolak]

My father-in-law is an executive for BP (British Petroleum) and BP owns Amoco and Arco (western US peeps know Arco). He fills up every one of his cars with 87 (lowest they have here in So. Cal.) The way they make different grades of gas is they usually make two octanes, like a 85, or 87 and a higher one 91, 92, 03 , or 94. Then they mix different amounts of the two types together in different combinations to make the 88, 89, 90, etc. Based on the research they have done, unless you are driving an exotic car or race car the benefits of using higher octanes is negligable. For every day drivers, 87 octane is just fine. Oil companies LOVE people who buy the more expensive gas cause they make much more money per gallon, and it costs almost exactly the same to make as the lower octanes.

BTW, gas companies trade gas like stocks. Say Arco has a refinery in Carson, Cali. and Mobil does not, Mobil will buy gas from Arco, add their own additives, and sell it in the region. Likewise where Arco doesn't have refineries and Mobil does. Arco buys from Mobil, adds additives and sells it in the region. They have a barter system so more than likely, whatever company has a refinery nearby is the gas you are buying, no matter if it says BP, Shell, Chevron, 76, etc.

BTW, Arco gas in So. Cal. is known as the cheapest around and there is a myth that it is watered down. However, this is a MYTH. Arco does NOT accept credit cards for gas, only cash and debit cards, therefore they don't have to pay a % to the credit card companies per transaction. Therefore gas at Arco can cost 5-10 cents less per gallon than other gas stations. They simply pass that savings on to the customer.

Any more questions about gas, how its made, traded, and used, please feel free to ask.

BTW, I run 87 in my 2001 3.8 Camaro.

[95Batmobile]

Well, I don't know about the majority of cars, but I filled up last night with 87 octane and I my car is making this weird noise it always used to make on 87... now either it decided to stop last week for no reason or the 91 octane stopped it.
I am going to put premium in from now on because that noise is not very comforting.
Even though premium is $2.36 a gallon right now :(

[98Silver6]

my car had 93 since it was new.
I dont think i will switch back to 90-

[ka50]

Running 87 Mobil or Exxon.

[Pig General]

Well, my car still runs happily on 87 gas, even after 160k miles. My aunt (she owned the car for the first 9 years of its life.) fed it 87 octane the entire time as well. Ill try 94 next time I go to fill up. I'm kinda afraid the car will die of a stroke from tasting real gas, after surviving on 87 forever.