Gas Problems!

A couple days ago, I was really low on fuel and was forced to stop at Exxon, because there was no Texaco around. I always have put 92oct. Texaco Premium in the tank, but when I was forced to use another kind, my car ran like crap. Bucking HARD under any throttle, sputtering, stalling, I had to use my right foot to brake AND tap the gas to keep her from stalling out. Ran the codes, got some crazy nos. VAM, O2 sensor, TPS, and some Valve Cover gasket-related codes. Then yesterday, I filled up on some high oct. Texaco, and she ran fine, NO more problems. My pop said his only accepted Texaco as long as he owned it, kinda strange, how brand can completely alter driveability...

I use Exxon and have no problems. I mainly use Mobile because its closest, but also use Texaco and Sunoco, any premium with 92-93 octane, and it all seems to work. The only time I notice anything is if I put in 89 or below.

I think a lot depends upon the station. I've used the same brand and grade from different stations, and had problems with one and no problems with the other. I remember back from the days when I worked at a convenience store/gas station, the training we took stated that with the new detergents (and a lot of alcohol) in the gas, a little water can mess it up a lot.

On a different note, on one occasion, the gasoline vendor mixed the gasoline wrong, adding too much detergent. It clogged the injectors on a lot of cars that went to the stations served by that transporter. Many of the injectors were clogged to the point that the cars would no longer run. This is probably not what is happening to your car, but it shows that gas can vary a lot from station to station.

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Mike Walsted - NATO member
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe .

I know some people at the corp offices of a major gas/conv store chain here in the SE (who shall remain nameless).

Although illegal, I am told it is a common practice for a tanker driver to fill up the tanks with the wrong octane fuel. Say he shows up with 87 octane but the 87 octane tank is full, he may empty his tanker into the 93 octane tank instead...rather than making another stop.

So, what you see isn't always what you get...


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Dan Eaves
88TC 5spd, Crower 5.5" Sportsman Rods, Short Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Ported Head with Polished Combustion Chambers, Gutted & Polished Upper, Ported & Polished Lower, Polished T/B, Ported E6, SVO T3 .63AR Turbo, Bosch Bypass Valve, 3" DP w/No Cat, 2 1/2" DynoMax single cat back w/DynoMax Super Turbo Muffler, RR Cam, K&N in Fenderwell, Gillis Boost Valve, Centerforce I Clutch, Removed A/C, Polished Wheels, Polished Valve Cover, Polished Crank and W/P Pulleys, Walbro 255LPH HP Pump, Kirban Adj FPR, and the DAMN Heater Core is new too !

NATO MEMBER (Vice Chairman...if it's a vice...I deal with it)

[This message has been edited by Dan E (edited 03-25-2002).]

There's a big convenience store chain around here called Sheetz. For some reason they seem to have the lousiest gas. I ran a tankful in my 93 Cougar once and when it was cold, it idled so rough it felt like it had a dead cylinder or two! I couldn't believe gas would make that much of a difference, I attibuted it to being a coincidence. A few weeks later I filled up there again, same exact thing. Since then I know of 4 or 5 people who complained about their gas. So the brand really does seem to make a difference. I always use one of the major companies and haven't had any problems.. It seems to really like that 94 octane Sunoco, but I attribute that to the placebo effect. [Image: smile.gif]

Here in southeast Michigan we have to watch out for the independant station owners that like to add water to thier tanks, whenever they get really greedy and add too much water and alot of customers cars get screwed up and need a whole new fuel system repair.
They try to say that water seeps in from the ground,HA! If that was true the EPA would be shutting down stations left and right to have their tanks replaced because the gasoline would most likely be seeping out! Not water seeping in!
During the 9-11 tragedy, these greedy bastards(who "ironically" are Arabs)illegally raised gas prices up to $4,$5 and some stations over $6 a gallon.
Our (babe-a-licious) [Image: wink.gif] Attorney General, Jennifer Granholm(who is also running for Governor now), really cracked down on these assholes for taking advantage of a national tragadey.
I buy my gas at a large midwestern mega-store chain called Miejers,their gas is pure and their 93 octane lets me boost up to 18-19 lbs with no detonation at all!



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Jerry Rutten
88'Turbocoupe