SURVEY: Your brand of gasoline

Working at a research facility for a major oil company I have been enlightened by the techniques employed to test fuels, as well as the results.

I would like to share some of the insight I have been afforded, but first I thought I would conduct a survey to get an idea of what true auto enthusiasts think about gasoline.

While I'm at it lets ask:

911 model, year
Climate: City or state, or country for the brotherhood abroad
Gasoline, brand & rating
Oil, brand & grade
Spark Plugs, brand & temp range
Oil filter

I'll let this go for a few days, and after it plays out, I'll let you know how gasoline is doped, who has the best quality gas, and how the testing is done. I'm just interested in the info and don't want to taint the results, but I do want to share things I have learned in the past year.

Don't know about the filters, plugs just curious. I don't work in the fuel technology department, but I do spend some time there, great bunch of car guys.

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GT911
GordonTaylor@ev1.net
'81 911 SC very very fun
'84 BMW 318i very very economical

Ok, this topic really fires me up!!! But first:

91 C2
Annapolis, MD - getting warmer - about 70 today!!!
Gas - experimenting with brands - 93 octane only.
Oil, Mobil 1 15W50
Bosch FR5DTC
Mahle oil filter
Religious oil, valve and other tune ups.

Ok, I usually like Amoco. Seems ok, but have hard times getting to Amoco stations, so usually settle for others. I've been using Shell lately, also seems ok. BUT!!! For years, I've sworn by Exxon... now I think I'd be better pouring a Kerosene and sugar mixture into the tank. Throttle response is noticeably dragging and the engine feels reluctant on Exxon. Switch back to Shell, and things seem better.

I've heard that Maryland is one of the few remaining "Oxygenating" states. As the sticker reads... "this gasoline has been oxygenated to reduce vehicle emmissions" blah blah blah. I prefer "The government still feels like injecting your fuel with additives to make it burn what we'll call 'cleaner' but at the same time jack up the price, lower your performance and decrease mileage to require you to use more of it so we can collect more tax from you and stick more money into our big oil political friends like Exxon/Mobil and Amoco/BP while convincing the masses that it is better for the environment." Around here we get about a 2 week window in spring and fall where temps are cool enough for that added "cold air" horsepower oomph before that F^@&!#g oxygenated gas takes twice as much away! Really chaps my a$$!!!

Whew! I feel better. Anyone else share this greivance???

Any insight is greatly, greatly appreciated Gordon.

Brian Smith
'91 C2 - waiting for non-diluted, summer gas.

911 Sunroof Coupe
1974 model
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA -Climate is moderate year round, little to no snow or ice, hot & humid during peak to late summer
Gasoline is Amoco 93 octane
Oil is Castrol 20w50
Plugs NGK-BP6ES
Oil filter Mahle

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Shakenbake (Chris Baker)
1974 911 Sunroof Coupe

Well we will keep it brief in the interest of a survey not a why type of question.

89 911 carerra

D/FW Texas, Hot and humid as hell 3-4 months of the year and mild the rest with almost no chance snow or ice.

Mobil Premium 93 octane/ RXP about additive about every 4th tank

Mobil 1 oil/ 15-50W

Bosch Platinum / don't know

Mahle

This is my story and I'm sticking to it. Is there a prize involved in this game?

Mike Miller
89 911

[This message has been edited by Mike Miller (edited 04-07-2001).]

80 SC

93 octane whatever (no alcohol or oxygentated)
NGK BP-7ES
20w50 Valvoline/Castrol
Mahle/ Mann (Mann actually looks and feels more like OEM 3k-4k.
San Antonio, TX (mostly hwy, very little stop and go)

[This message has been edited by larryboy (edited 04-06-2001).]

1979 911SC

N. California (Mild year around)

Chevron Fuel - 92 octane

Valvoline 20/50

Mahle filters

Bosh Plantinum Plugs

Hmm..let's see...haven't driven the car since 10/30/00, but here's what I was using.

'76 S
Honolulu, HI-usually mid 70s to mid 80s all year round
Chevron 89 octane, 92 when fuel prices were cheaper
Castrol GTX 10W-30
Bosche Platinum, not too sure which
Mahle oil filter



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Jeff
1976 911S

'76 930
Las Vegas, really hot
Union 76 50/50 mix (100 Octane/92 Octane)
Mobile 1 15W50
Bosch platinums
Mahle

'77 S
Lebanon, OR mild year around
Usually 92 octane from Fast Gas
Castrol GTX 20-50
Bosche Platnum
Mahle

Rick
1977 911S

I like the participation so far, going very well.

Like I said I'm constantly learning, and tonight I learned a term "Oxygenating". Monday morning I'll be in the fuels dept. to find out more, needless to say in TEXAS we drink our fuel straight.

There are about 50 vehicles in the testing program, some on the road, some on programed simulators, but the gas that is tested comes from all over the country.

Competitors complain that the testing isn't always done fairly. Some vehicles see more highways others see more red lights.

Many of the vehicles on the simulators have "split fuel systems". Take a 2001 Dodge Durango, 0 miles, pull the heads, photograph and weigh the intake valves, reassemble. Place an identical fuel tank in the back, as well as the rest of the fuel system. Feed brand X gas through one fuel rail on the left, and brand Y through the fuel rail on the right. Run a program that puts 10k on the clock, depending on the program it can take as little as a week. Pull the head photo and measure.

Pretty identical conditions, but NOT very identical results. Results will be upcoming.

1984 911 3.2Ltr
Vancouver Island,B.C. Canada
Humidity range 40%-100%
Winter temp 32'f-45'f Clouds/rain
Spring/Summer 45'f-80'f Mainly sunny
PetroCanada 94Octane
Pennzoil 20/50
Bosch plugs
factory filter

'93 964 transplant in a '76 Carrera 3.0 chassis
upstate NY/New England summer use
Sunoco 93/94/track gas when available
Mobil 1 15/50
Mahle of
Bosch wr5dtc

911S 1972
Seattle: cool, temperate
Chevron Premium 92
Kendall GT1
Bosch
Mahle

OK,
'77 911s/ '86 944
Sacramento, Ca.
union 76, 92octane with 2oz. of entech's energy release
the 944 gets any type of gas usually 87 octane
havoline syn. with 8oz. of energy release
bosch platnium
purolator oil filter

'83 911 SC
Western Washington (marine/rainforest climate)
Shevron Super (of course) 92
Valvoline Racing 20/50
Bosch plugs W5DC or something like that
Mahle

I'm interested in reviewing the test results. Is your test lab "independent?"

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'83 SC

1981 SC 3.0
Left Coast of Canada; temperate year round
Chevron Supreme 93
Mobil 1; 15w50
Bosch W5DC
Mahle OC54

What do I win??



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Doug
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
members.home.net/zielke/911SC.htm

[This message has been edited by Doug Zielke (edited 04-07-2001).]

84 3.2 Targa
20/50 Valvoline
Bosch Plat +4
Mahle Filter
40-105F
Unocal 92
Sometimes spring for $4 a gallon Unocal 100 Octane. Noticable difference from the standard premium gas. Is it my wallet imagining thinks?

911 model, year......86 Carrera
Climate: City or state, Marin County California, warm summers and mild winters
Gasoline, brand & rating...Union 76 87 octane
Oil, brand & grade...Mobil 1 0w30
Spark Plugs, brand & temp range...Autolite 64
Oil filter...Fram


Cheers,

Joe Garcia

Model: 74 911
Climate: San Diego, need I say more
Fuel: Citgo 92
Oil: 10W30
Filter: Porsche oem
Plugs: yes

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Dan S.
1974 911 Targa

I live in Atlanta, GA

85 3.2 Carrera
20/50 Valvoline Racing Oil year round
NGK-BP6ES plugs
Mahle Filter
Amoco or Chevron Premium only

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Adam Nitti
ajnitti@mindspring.com
www.adamnitti.com
'85 911 Carrera Coupe
PCA member, Peachstate region