Mike, since you mention the "temptation" to put Avgas into your M5, and as an addendum to Paule's post on octane rating calculations, I understand that Avgas is rated using a different calculation method than autogas. If the same method was applied to Avgas, it would come up to over 130.
Add to this the fact that 100LL Avgas has lead, and is refined to be a much cleaner fuel, it would be unwise to run our cars on it.
True story: a certain unnamed California district attorney's office was conducting a secret surveillance operation on a major gas supplier operation. They were convinced that there was fraud going on because tanker trucks from a wide variety of companies, including independents, were pulling up to the supplier pumps and being filled from the same spigot. The DA thought he was on to a major fraud case against the supplier, which he revealed at a gathering I attended of California consumer fraud units. But lo and behold, it turns out that this is the way it is supposed to work; all gas is the same except that each supplier adds its own blend of additives. Thus, Shell gas is the same as BP except Shell has a slightly different mix of detergents added. So the trucks would use the same spigot but dial in the specific company to get the correct mixture prior to fill-up. Obviously, there was no fraud going on, but it also means the underlying gas is the same.
Once I learned this, I realized it doesn't really matter what you use.
It seems like I can't find 94 anymore in NY- did they put a stop to it? I just use 93 or greater. As to brands, I like Mobil, but I think its all the same- just like the tiger!
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Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
In the LA area I always stick with Chevron or Mobil, which also owns Exxon. Union 76 retail stations in California were sold a few years ago to Tosco, which is an independent company. A friend of mine was a local Mobil dealer and became an independent to increase profits. He said that he still has the same truck deliver his gas from Mobil. So some independents are probably ok, you never no for sure.
It seems like I can't find 94 anymore in NY- did they put a stop to it? I just use 93 or greater. As to brands, I like Mobil, but I think its all the same- just like the tiger!
When NY adopted the new smog laws, they got rid of MTBE from the gasoline. Unfortunately with the loss of MTBE, you also lose the 94 octance
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.... but it also means the underlying gas is the same.
Once I learned this, I realized it doesn't really matter what you use.
From what I've observed this is only partly true. As I mentioned in my post, "off brands" or "no-name" brands get their fuel from anybody who's refining it - the only difference is the additives. OTOH, the big brands (Chevron, 76, Shell to name a few) refine their own oil to their own standards, and of course add their own additives.
I challenge that you will never find a Shell tanker filling up at the Chevron refinery here in Concord, CA. That said, I have also read that the "base" gasoline produced at a Chevron refinery should not be substantially different to that produced by a Shell (or Arco, or 76, etc.) refinery.
From one "off brand" retailer's website here in the Bay Area:
Q.
Where does Rotten Robbie get their gas/diesel/oil ?
A.
The vast majority of the products we buy are refined in one of the 5 Bay Area refineries (Chevron-Texaco, Tesoro, Valero, Shell and Conoco-Phillips). We buy directly from these companies and from other sources who buy from or exchange product with these companies. Most of the crude oil refined in the SF Bay Area refineries comes from Alaska and California.
The additives are what count. However I prefer Chevron, yes it may be only the additives that make it substantially different, but I also like the fact that there is likely some other consistencies found in the Chevron gas I buy, since it is all produced at the same refinery (in contrast to that gas you could by from "Rotten Robbie" which comes from 1 of 5).
Interesting reading here, about "Top Tier" gasolines *recommended* by our own respected BMW make (among others like GM): http://www.toptiergas.com/ (click on "Why Top Tier").
In my area, one can purchase Sunoco 94 at the price
of $3.15 gallon. It's the best choice for our motor's.
I don't know where you are in Jersey, but, where I am on the Shore, the Sunoco 94 goes for closer to two bucks a gallon. And that's what I have always used.
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Tom
'00 Anthracite/Caramel/Burl Walnut
I don't know where you are in Jersey, but, where I am on the Shore, the Sunoco 94 goes for closer to two bucks a gallon. And that's what I have always used.
Just filled up the tank tonight at Sunoco with 94 octane fuel. It's priced at $2.10 per gallon. Sorry. geez... i gotta cut down on the Jack & Coke.
What was I thinking of......??????????
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