Techron Fuel

[kyngfish]

Hi,

Has anyone looked into different gasolines for your cars? I'm sure I can't prove it, but have a sneaking suspicion that I get worse gas mileage, the car runs hotter and burns more oil when I use Chevron with Techron, I'm wondering if I'm better off using normal 93 in my car and just dropping a bottle of Techron in it a few times a year.

Also, looking for a place around where I live with Ethanol free gasoline.

It's also possible I'm just paranoid.

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Hi,
Also, looking for a place around where I live with Ethanol free gasoline.

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

[moneymanager]

They have pills for this. Also counselling is available.

[MichiganMike]

Pretty much all gas is the same, other than the additive in the fuel (for instance Shell vs Chevron). The main gas in an area all comes from a Fuels Terminal with largeholding tanks, usually operated by a third party. The states each mandate fuel differently with ethanol percentage, etc. I would say Techron is pretty good in comparison to other fuels. The best thing you can do is stick to one supplier like Chevron so you don't mix different additives together from tank to tank. These changes can cause more harm than good. Sticking to one brand is the most helpful thing you can do, else just use a bottle of Techron as a good flush to reset once an awhile.

[Drisump]

Personally I try to run Chevron when I can, around here we are fotunate to have non ethanol 94 widely available. When returning home at the end of a long trip I try to be as close to empty as possible so I can fill with this fuel.....less tendency to pick up water and degrade as well as better octane. Cheers

[jwill911]

+1
For Chevron gas that's what I usually use. But here in California 91 octane is all that is available most places. You can search around and find higher octane and race fuel at some 76 stations. But my stock other than a Weltmeister performance chip 3.2 Carrera seems happy with 91.

jw

[Sunroof]

Ah yes, Chevron Techron.......lots of good stuff over the years on this board about that, but lets look at the fuel additive. Porsche put out a bulletin back in the 80's or maybe earlier that promoted the use of Techron to clear injectors, cylinders, etc. It cautioned that your oil be changed within 500-1000 miles after use since the additive does thin out the oil and could impact seals. You can smell it on your dipstick because it does not combust but weeps past the rings and makes it way to the oil pan. Okay, so just how good is this stuff as a concentrate? I used to brag that I sold my 1985.5 944 with 365,000 miles on it to my mechanic. The engine never was torn apart but I did have to replace a blown head gasket once! I attribute the long engine life to Chevron Techron. Before every oil change, I added a long neck 20 ounce bottle to 1/2 tank of gas and just drove. No need to go 120 mph+ or spin your wheels when the light turns green; just drive. some even use back to back doses to clear out everything. Cleans the injectors, cylinder walls and keeps the sludge down in the pan. Today, however, everyone including me has been switching to SEAFOAM, which is another petroleum distillate that pretty much does the same thing. So, rather then using Chevron gasoline all the time, just add a bottle of Techron now and then and you just might feel a difference.

Bob
1973.5T

No, I have no association with Chevron nor am I compensated for my endorsement. That goes for the Cooler Collar as well!

[BE911SC]

I use ethanol free Cenex super and throw in a bottle of Techron every few months. Runs like a Swiss watch. (I used the Pure Gas app to locate the Cenex station nearby.) In a pinch I have run Shell 93 (or is it 92?) and Chevron as well. I think the key is to not let your car sit for long periods with ethanol gas in the tank.

[kyngfish]

Hi Sunroof, can you expand on the impacts of Techron a little bit? I SWEAR that when I fill up with Chevron I consume more oil. Does that make any sense? The only reason I know this is that I'm OCD about oil. I check my oil at the exact same place every time, after a 40 minute commute. That way I feel like the circumstances are as close to the same as possible as my engine oil temp is usually pretty consistent after a 40 minute drive.

[Sunroof]

Looks like your driving an air cooled 911 and I assume checking your oil while the engine is warmed up and running? I cannot answer just why your consumption is different using Chevron gasoline. Would I would do is simply fuel up with another brand and see if the same thing happens.

Bob

[Scott S]

I am a fairly new Techron user. I bought a 77 hot rod with a 3.2. It had been driven very seldom in the 10 years prior to my ownership. The car had a slight tick when it arrived. Per the multiple threads on this site, I tried Techron. Within a day, the tick was completely gone, and the car ran noticeably better - really really well in fact. It has not skipped a beat since (knock on wood).

In the 3 years of my ownership I have done probably 5-6 treatments in conjunction with oil changes. Really pleased with the results.

[scarceller]

Here in New England we have a little secret, best fuel around is from Irving fuels. Canadian co. that refines it's own fuel and delivers it in private trucks for only that fuel. The stations even have 102 octane racing fuel at the pumps!

https://www.irvingoilcommercial.com/ProductsandServices/WholesaleFuels/Gasoline.aspx

This is the only 93 octane that ever goes into my 911.

[kyngfish]

Lol, but you just said Techron things out the oil and penetrates the seals, wouldn't that defacto increase your oil consumption?

[gtc]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Hi Sunroof, can you expand on the impacts of Techron a little bit? I SWEAR that when I fill up with Chevron I consume more oil. Does that make any sense? The only reason I know this is that I'm OCD about oil. I check my oil at the exact same place every time, after a 40 minute commute. That way I feel like the circumstances are as close to the same as possible as my engine oil temp is usually pretty consistent after a 40 minute drive.

Pretty easy to put this issue to rest.
Run through three tanks of Chevron fuel and see how much oil you're consuming over that 1200 or so mile interval. Then do the same with whatever other fuel you have available.
My bet is that there's no difference.

[gtc]

I call BS on the oil dilution theory. I've used plenty of techron fuel and additive over the last several hundred thousand miles, and never once seen any significant contamination in my oil analyses.

[kyngfish]

Right, so I've already started doing that. Right now I'm seeing 200 miles difference. Again, I check my oil at the exact same point in my trip every single time.

Now, ambient temperature, how hard I run the car, etc, all of these things make a difference. But I drive my car, EXACTLY the same route, twice a day, every day, so it's about as controlled as I can make it.

I'll keep monitoring and we'll see.

[scarceller]

Let's think about this for a minute. For a fuel to alter MPG and Temps that much it has to have a much slower flame speed, Higher octane fuels have slower flame speeds than lower octane. If the flame speed slows then the exhaust temps would go up. A exhaust temp sensor would give you some good data.

[Nick Triesch]

How in the heck would you know if an old 911 uses more or less oil?? I just keep a bottle in the trunk. If I drive 400 miles on a trip, it's time for more oil!!

[darrin]

Don't forget that a LOT more techtron is put into to your system when you add a bottle than you'd get when you simply fill up.

Kyngfish, what's your oil consumption currently looking like?

[kyngfish]

So I am between 700-800 per quart. I drive my car daily in Miami and it doesn't smoke.

The way I measure it, is I never fill past halfway on the dipstick, which is pretty much 1 quart as I understand it.

My commute is about 40 minutes, and about two blocks from my house there is a big, flat parking lot. The car at this point has run for about 35-40 minutes in a combination of stop and go traffic and highways. I measure it in the exact same spot every time.

The only thing I've changed since the last oil change is the gas. I've gone 500 miles and still have a quarter of oil on the dipstick, which says to me I should get to around 1000 miles for this quart.

I'm stupid OCD about this stuff. Maybe it's pointless. I'm sure Techron is great for your engine, it's been around for a long time, the question is, how much to they add, and it isn't fuel, so it does have to impact your engine somehow right?

Seems like a dumb discussion, but I'm just really curious.