Gasoline Grade for 73 2.0, What kind of gas to buy Options

[warrenoliver]

Now that I have my 914, I have to seriously think about driving it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) It came with a 1/2 tank of gas (thanks Cap'n), and I will have to refill it eventually. It just occurred to me that around here we have mostly mixed gas - 10% methanol. Is that good, bad, or of no consequence? What grade of gas should I be buying for this thing. I being a cheap SOB usually buy whatever is cheapest, but for this one, I will buy what is best for it. So, what do you think? Is there any harm in running the 10% methanol/gas mix. Should I be looking for some stations that sell only 100% gasoline? What grade to buy? Is more expensive any better for the engine?
I did a search in the archives and didn't come up with much. I came across an old Pelican site that addresses the harmful effects of methanol on the rubber fittings, but the article may have been old. Is there any more current info out there?

Thanks for the help.


Warrenoliver

[IronHillRestorations]

This is America right? So if you pay more for the "good stuff" it's got to be better right? Not when it comes to fuel. Extra octane isn't always needed. Run the LOWEST octance you can without pinging.

The real poop on octane is additives. The higher the octane the more additives to make it burn SLOWER. Remember the higher the octane the SLOWER it burns. The more additives the more residue it leaves in the combustion chamber, and it results in more carbon build up. It can result in a endless cycle, you have to run high octane so it doesn't pre-ignite (ping) and the more high octane you run the more carbon build up you get.

Generally speaking it's all the same fuel, but with different additive packages to raise the octane rating.

If you purchase your fuel from a run down gas station with marginal old storage tanks, and minimal turn over, you could end up with a batch of contaminated fuel. So, get your fuel from a reputable source with regular turn over.

If you are worried about carbon deposits in the combustion chamber you can add Techron, or some of the BG Petroleum Products fuel additives that will help remove carbon build up in the combustion chamber and can allow you to use lower octane.

If you don't believe me you can do your own test. Take an eyedropper of regular low octane gasoline and put it on a plain white corell saucer and burn it (in an appropriate place with ventilation of course), then take an eyedropper of high octane gasoline and burn it. The low octane will burn cleaner and leave less residue, while the high octane will burn smoky and leave considerably more residue.