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05-10-2008, 03:45 PM
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Registered User
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Is everyone using 91 octane?
I ran one tank of 87 octane gas (by mistake) through my 86 Grad with no noticeable effect. I do add a bit of Lucas Gas Treatment with each tank. Has anyone had any experience with running less than 91 octane gasoline? Will the computer reset for the lower grade? Am I causing some unseen damage by running 87 octane either4 sporadically or even constantly? Any advice would be MOST appreciated.
Dean
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05-10-2008, 04:04 PM
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Slacker
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Northern NY, USA
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I run 87 octane with no additives almost exclusively, with the only alteration being an occasional tank of 89 or 91. (we're talking once a season occasional)
Done it for a few years when on L-jet, still do it on SDS and ITB's.
No damage, no change in the way it runs, no nuthin other than saving a few bucks at the pump.
In reality you don't need the higher octanes until you get into higher compression ranges, and unless you've done something to increase yours, the stock compression will run just fine with the low grade stuff.
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05-10-2008, 04:16 PM
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Thanks for the reassurance
There is about a $.15 difference in 87 and 91 octane here, so it makes a difference when filling up. I will go with the 87 octane, but will continue to squirt some Lucas in each tank. I find that it keeps my injectors cleaner (perhaps my imagination, but please do not disillusion me).
Thanks for the response.
Dean
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05-10-2008, 04:24 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 16
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I always ran 87 octane in my 83 Spider. My 90 Spider with its higher compression engine pings complains (pings) if I don't run 91 octane.
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Darreld Ellis
90 Spider Graduate 43K miles -- new to me 8/07
83 Spider Veloce 151K miles -- sold 8/07
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05-10-2008, 04:34 PM
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My '82 runs fine on 87 octane. That's one of the benefits of having a low compression engine. However I have discovered that mine runs just a little better on Chevron.
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"Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
Larry the Cable Guy
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05-10-2008, 04:56 PM
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Location: Blackstone, MA
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by tulsalfa
I ran one tank of 87 octane gas (by mistake) through my 86 Grad with no noticeable effect. I do add a bit of Lucas Gas Treatment with each tank. Has anyone had any experience with running less than 91 octane gasoline? Will the computer reset for the lower grade? Am I causing some unseen damage by running 87 octane either4 sporadically or even constantly? Any advice would be MOST appreciated.
Dean
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Dave
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1987 Quad Spider
2006 Charger R/T x 2
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05-10-2008, 04:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tulsalfa
I will go with the 87 octane, but will continue to squirt some Lucas in each tank.
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I mean if you run 87 w/Lucas added in, is it really any cheaper than just running the 91 w/o additives to begin with? ($ .15 a gallon more for 91 over 87 = $1.83 'extra' spent for an empty tank tank fill up, vs how much for a bottle of Lucas? $3-$4?. That's not saving $, it's actually a loss, unless you spread that one bottle out over 3-4 tankfuls, and then it's not really that great a savings overall. Certainly not anything that works out to $.15 a gallon anyway)
Side note on a tangent:
For myself, I find it just slightly on the goofy side for people to add something to every tank every time as it's sorta not actually doing anything as contaminants and glaze/varnish do take a bit of time to build up. (as in every tank seems more than a bit of a waste to me)
1-2x times a season? Sure, why not, especially right before that last run before storage. But beyond that, if contaminants are building so fast that it's needed every tankful just to stay ahead of it, there's something far more wrong with the engine and/or fuel system than what a mere additive is ever going to cure.
Strictly my opinion on the matter though, and shouldn't mean one iota on how others wish to do thier thing. 
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05-10-2008, 05:35 PM
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Location: Mebane, NC
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Stock L-jet Spiders (82-89) are designed to run on "regular" octane gasoline. Some of the confusion about what octane to use stems from the fact that in Europe they use a slightly different method of rating gasoline's octane. 91 octane in Europe (RON) is equivilant to 87 octane in the USA (PON).
The computer in our Spiders cannot adjust for octane.
Using a higher octane than required is a waste of money. You will not get more power or better mileage. (cars that DO have the capability to adjust ignition timing based on engine knock/pinging MAY benefit from higher octane IF the computer advances the timing with the use of higher octane fuel)
From the 1984 Spider Owner's Manual:
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05-11-2008, 02:57 AM
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87 all the way for me with a few cap fulls of Marvel mystery oil
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Jeff
1986 Spider Quadrifoglio
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05-11-2008, 03:34 AM
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in the Library
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The 89 Spider gets regular (87 PON) as well.
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Jim
Series 1 Euro 1750 GTV
Series 2 US 1750 GTV
Series 3 Spider Veloce
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05-11-2008, 03:43 AM
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Location: Cascais,Portugal
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What should a 76 Euro carb model run on?
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1976 Alfa Romeo 2000 (Euro,RHD) 
2003 Alfa Romeo 147 
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05-11-2008, 04:06 AM
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in the Library
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The half dozen or so mid 1970s 2000 Euro owners manuals I just looked through all recommend the use of premium fuel (no octane listed).
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Jim
Series 1 Euro 1750 GTV
Series 2 US 1750 GTV
Series 3 Spider Veloce
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05-11-2008, 05:03 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tulsalfa
I ran one tank of 87 octane gas (by mistake) through my 86 Grad with no noticeable effect. I do add a bit of Lucas Gas Treatment with each tank. Has anyone had any experience with running less than 91 octane gasoline? Will the computer reset for the lower grade? Am I causing some unseen damage by running 87 octane either4 sporadically or even constantly? Any advice would be MOST appreciated.
Dean
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Until recently, and since I bought my 71 SPICA 1750 Spider, I ran 87 with no pinging or other issues. After reading some threads about using 91 or higher (claimed by some to boost mileage), I am trying a tank of generic 92 premium. I can't detect any improvement in mileage so far, but (unless it is my imagination), it seems to run just a tad smoother.
However, my main concern about running premium is that, since the overwhelming majority of vehicles on the road use 87 regular, I think that premium tends to degrade and become stale in the stations' tanks, while regular, which is replenished almost daily, will ensure that we always get a load of fresh gas every time we fill up. My .02 cents worth.
Val in FL
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05-11-2008, 05:11 AM
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Slacker
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Northern NY, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sp949
However, my main concern about running premium is that, since the overwhelming majority of vehicles on the road use 87 regular, I think that premium tends to degrade and become stale in the stations' tanks, while regular, which is replenished almost daily, will ensure that we always get a load of fresh gas every time we fill up.
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You currently using higher octane, which presumably hasn't been stirred up too much in the underground holding tanks, could explain the sensation of smoother running.
That or mayhaps your ignition timing isn't quite as close as it could be so that it runs proper on the 87 but is pretty good for the higher octane.
Just reachin' mind you.
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05-11-2008, 06:40 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Blackstone, MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tifosi
Or a lesser quality regular in general as the frequent station tank refills ensure that the crap that stirs up never settles, but instead gets mixed in and pumped into our gas tanks.
You currently using higher octane, which presumably hasn't been stirred up too much in the underground holding tanks, could explain the sensation of smoother running.
That or mayhaps your ignition timing isn't quite as close as it could be so that it runs proper on the 87 but is pretty good for the higher octane.
Just reachin' mind you.
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Butt Dyno [ARSE411] - $399.95 : KaleCoAuto, Hard to find automotive items!
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1987 Quad Spider
2006 Charger R/T x 2
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'84 manufacture - '85 MY Spider Graduate 
