Pump gas... which is the best octane?

I have used BP93 since I got the Mini a couple of months ago and then they put a new Sunoco in closer and I "believe" I could feel a difference in the 2. I read this post and have discovered there is a station 2 miles from me behind a Shell and a Pure Station near the turnpike that sells no ethanol pure gas. Went down there and they were great, they said all the hot rods and super bikes fill up there. So I am trying it :biggrin5: I still had a 1/4 tank and I am going to check it by hand and see what the scangauge comes up with to see how big an improvement I get after a tank or 2. It is more expensive by about a nickle to the 93 at Sunoco, came out to about $4.12 a gal. I am in Florida.
Tracy

 

I just filled up with Sunoco 93....

 

By looking at this, i realized I know nothing about gas. My car is on the boat and should be delivered to me next week. I have always used Chevron, is there any difference between Chevron and Shell? Which one should i use? Any help for this soon to be Mini user would help.

Thx.

 

Either is fine. They both produce gas with detergents. The octane (87/89/91 generally in CA) of the gas is most important. Use 91 (since you are in California like I am that is all you will find generally) or 93 where available (since you are in California like I am 91oct is all you will find generally) for best performance. IIRC This is "Strongly" recommended in the manual.

 

Thanks for the help!!

 

Increasing octane above 91/93 and carbon build up...

After reading about the carbon build up in the MCS 07 and others, would an octane boost help to prevent the build up? OR, is there a risk of engine damage on a stock engine?

Thanks for the info

 

No. Octane booster wont help. They are a direct injection engine. By witch the injectors don't spray on the intake runners and valves, so there is nothing cleaning the backs of the valves like you get in a regular fuel injected engine. Your best bet would be use 91 or 93 (whatever is available) and sea foam your intake once in a while.

 

These links are great. Lately I have been consulting the Ethanol Free site before filling up. There are very few stations around me sadly, but I have found one close and they have been getting all of my business. :cornut:

 

Looks like the only "pure gas" stations are in Northern CA. That Figures...
Great info though.

 

Just be careful with these unbranded fuels as they will not have any kind of additive package in them.

When I can I just get a half and half fill up so I can get the Chevron Techron.

 

Isn't that a good thing? :confused5:

 

r34king is correct. If you want to see more detail on what you can do and what DOES work check this thread: http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/cooper-s/6076-carbon-problem.html#axzz1qWQY2Og8

 

FYI in California at regular commercial stations (excluding a few specialty outlets requiring card-key access and a few racetracks), all gas is identical except for the additive package. The additive is mixed in at the station, so the fuel truck can come from any California-spec refinery.

For instance, a Chevron station could be refueled from a truck carrying gas from a Shell refinery, but then the Chevron additive package is mixed in as the fuel is pumped out of the truck. This info is from a Chevron refinery engineer I'm related to.

On the subject of altitude vs octane, for the non-turbocharged models (including the supercharged R53), octane requirement will go down somewhat with altitude. Not so much with the turbocharged models, which can maintain boost at near sea-level pressure because the turbo can spin faster at higher elevations.

 

all the additives are good for you:smile5: - they're there to help to keep crud from building up, among other things. That's why the manual recommends you use tier 1 gas only like Shell, Chevron.
It still doesn't prevent the carbon problem unfortunately.

 

Additives, like Techron, are a good thing. They keep things nice and clean and running smooth.

 

Gotcha. I still feel that unbranded ethanol-free is going to be better in the long run than Techron 10% ethanol.... Not sure it that is at all true, but it is my current mind-set lol.... I could be wrong in my case too, since an FJ has no exterior fuel filter...it is in the tank with the pump... Thus it may also be more beneficial to have the CLEANEST gas possible, regardless of ethanol content.

 

You can always add a can of Techron, or whatever, to your tank at fillup with the unbranded stuff.

 

I try and fill up in Michigan when I can, gas is pricey here currently $1.44 liter(roughly $5.45 gallon) I have recently paid $70 for a fill up.
I do have access to 94 Octane though.

 

OK, being frugal and all, can I mix the local 89 mid grade with the 93 high test?

 

Why mix, they sell 91 at the pump.