Gas performance/additives?

[WCN621]

Frustrated with the quality of unleaded gas and am looking for recommended additives or possibly a fully unleaded gas source in Pittsburgh. My 84 911 3.2 has a terrible start up and initial drive when cold. Once warm, car is fine. Notice it even more when it’s been more than a week between drives. Had tune up in May. Suggestions? Thanks.

[pampadori]

i doubt you'll find improvement in cold drivability with fuel additives.
I'd look at your idle air control and mixture when cold. You can get a good cold idle with old piss-quality fuel.

[kach22i]

Where do you typically buy your gas?

I've found Shell with nitrogen additives to be a game changer. More power, smoother running and better MPG.

Also a local car guy recommended Star-Tron with enzymes over Stabil-360 for ethanol treatment.

https://www.autozone.com/fuel-and-engine-cleaners-additives/fuel-additive-and-cleaner/star-tron-enzyme-fuel-treatment-8oz/974763_0_0?spps.s=4371&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:PER:7170000006052802 9&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-rj9BRCAARIsANB_4ACEJkDAkEmTV3rR_13YdBO7tn3QsBa_mWC AUGUlLsXkzrX67KHtlHoaAvjTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use Seafoam before every oil change.

EDIT-1:

What year car?

Brake booster?

I found a brake booster vaccum leak in the hose under the car in the middle, where firewall, engine and transmission all sort of meet up. Large hose, metal connector below, runs to top of engine to intake manifold for vac pressure.

You would not think of your brakes affecting the engine, but there is a connection none the less.

Seasonal fuel/air mixture adjustment was the norm before finding this weak connection.

[WCN621]

BP or Sunoco: gas
1984 3.2 911

Thanks for the suggestion for air leaks and Video. Will start investigating this weekend.

[rokemester]

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Gasoline, premium of course. One of the more additive gasoline containing fuels out there. Shell is my backup plan. Nice thing about KSG is both premium and regular are additized.
Great fuel for your daily driver as well.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by rokemester

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Gasoline, premium of course. ....

I do not care what they sell today, they screwed me over so I swore them off.

Costco got themselves a nice exemption years ago claiming they were not a gas station so didn't have to provide any additives to their gasoline. So many people had their cars ruined that the federal government forced them to use additives. They covered this up really well, very hard to find information on the Internet - that they cleansed.

2011
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/costco-gas.1572645/

Ive heard that it is, that it is not good, and that it is, literally, just straight up gas, meaning no additives such as Shell's V-Power or Chevron's Techron.

They are all the same except the proprietary addictive package. Costco has none so that's why it's cheaper.

So they use additives today, and you trust them after what they did?

Once bitten twice shy.

[bobb169]

Used Costco gas for to many years I don't remember how many in all my vehicles.....no ill effects.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by bobb169

Used Costco gas for to many years I don't remember how many in all my vehicles.....no ill effects.

No immediate ill effects for me, just didn't know what I was missing until I put some Shell in it, then an immediate performance improvement.

Like a frog slowly heated water you might say.

From what I've read there is no such thing as Costco gas, every few weeks a different supplier.

2016
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/costco-gas.69569/

1. Costco does use several kinds of gas according to the load. I was privy to information by a Costco employee and he pulled out his clipboard and told me the last load was from Exxon, but he said they use, Chevron, Shell and Exxon for the most part, not much else.

Costco is fine in my wife's Chevy Cruze, but it's never going in my Porsche again.

Life is to short for mediocrity.

Read post #4 (2016)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/897373-costco-gas-issues-burnt-valves.html#post8944447

Originally Posted by Iciclehead

Having been in the downstream retailing industry and speaking from experience.....there is a difference between the gas that Shell delivers to Costco versus what they deliver to their own branded station.

The base feedstock is the same, it comes with a very basic additive package, and chances are that is what you get when you go to Costco. The different grades/formulations are held inside a different compartment in the truck so even though a Shell truck delivers it, almost certainly it is not the same product as you buy at a branded station.

The additives are injected at the depot and yes, they do make a difference to engine life, engine deposits and so forth.

Personally, I NEVER buy gas from anything but one of the majors (Shell, Exxon, Chevron etc) as their additive packages are pretty close to equivalent and likely as good as you can get for your engine.

Third parties....who knows.

Dennis

T

2015
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/877397-gas-quality-question.html

Originally Posted by rusnak

Costco only now was deemed to be a major oil company, based on their sales.

Until now, there were zero detergents and no additives. Just the cheapest gas available.

But since their volume makes them an oil company, they must fire in the additives, at least in California. But, rather than buying it already mixed into the gas, they are mixing it on site at each Costco store.

Would I buy Costco gas?

Not if there was any other gas available. Especially if you have a nice car.

Gas is NOT THE SAME, across brands.

The quotes from the Pelican Parts forum are only 4-5 years old, apparently Costco wasn't able to purge our forum.

Costco said they had the best gas back in 2009 too I bet, no unnecessary detergents just pure gas. Now it's their claim of 5X's more detergents than required, that sounds just as bad.

Do the Shell dare, try just one tank full and if you cannot tell a difference never go back - they are the most expensive anyway, and you just want cheap, right?

[pmax]

A bottle of Techron Fuel system cleaner can't hurt but could help if you suspect it's a bad fuel issue.

See if it makes a difference.

[Danimal16]

I found that this helped a great deal on my 71 with PMO's. Recommended by the power boat folks. I have been using it for years.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Tron-Enzyme-Fuel-Treatment/dp/B0014419UQ

[TheKneebiter]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

I found that this helped a great deal on my 71 with PMO's. Recommended by the power boat folks. I have been using it for years.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Tron-Enzyme-Fuel-Treatment/dp/B0014419UQ

I use this stuff and highly recommend it.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Straight up 110 octane as the last fuel used in PMO's does well for storage I've heard too.

[proporsche]

when i lived in LA ..i used to get toluene one gallon per half a tank ..that was fun..It is used for racing- or paint thinner.....My 911 is euro model so the min ic 98 octane..
the car loved it;-)

Ivan

[Blacklogdeer]

Octane Supreme. Has Lead in it and you can raise the Octane level to what you need..

[Reiver]

ACES 4

ACES IV Gasoline Formula « BND Automotive

I've been using it in a high compression single plugged flat six for years now.....

[Charles Freeborn]

I only run "clear gas" in mine. https://www.pure-gas.org

[Ctopher]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

I only run "clear gas" in mine. https://www.pure-gas.org

What is “clear gas”?

[BuddaLun]

Originally Posted by Ctopher

What is “clear gas”?

Ethanol free.

[Larmo63]

Marvel Mystery Oil.

I use it per their instructions.

My longtime 356 mechanic swears by it and he doesn't do gimmicks.

[PCA7GGR]

“.... last load was from Exxon, but he said they use, Chevron, Shell and Exxon for the most part...”

I read somewhere that Costco, at least in the Republic of California, while from different brands, is Tier 1 gas. If in the area, I don’t hesitate to fill up at the local Costco. Good gas and cheaper price than most station in the Bay Area.