Fuel/Octane

[r_beaudette]

Greetings!

I bought an '87 GN last October with 38K original miles, completely stock- ZERO mods. The only thing I have done is replace stock the air filter with 8" K&N and put in a Jay Carter chip.

I installed a boost gauge and noticed that I can make approximately 17 psig of boost, but I think the computer starts to retard timing (KR?) and the car feels as if it bogs down at that point. I have not yet checked fuel pressure vs. boost (1lb. fp to 1lb. boost) as I do not have a fp gauge.

I'm in California and I can only buy 91 octane gas from regular stations. I have been told that (auto part store) octane boosters do not really boost octane, only prevent the pinging a little. Is this true?

I know I should replace the fuel pump and get an adjustable fpr, but I'm wondering if I can buy aviation fuel from the local airport.

Any suggestions as to an alternative to this? Is buying fuel at an airport something that a lot of people do? Any TRUE octane boosters available? I've heard TORCO makes one or Xylene can be used.

Any ideas as to where I should start? I'm not looking to make a 12 second car, I'd just like to maybe have a 13 second car that runs smoothly without doing any damage. Can't afford a scantool right now.

Also, if anyone in OC/LA/I.E. area of SoCal knows of a good tuner... I know of Lou in Lake Forest but any others closer to North OC?

Thanks for any help, sorry about the rambling...

Bob

 

[carrddine]

more octane.and possible you need a different chip.is the chip cut for 91?

 

[r_beaudette]

Thanks for your response.

The chip is for 93 octane I believe, he probably assumed that 93 was available in my area. Is the 2 octane that much of a difference maker?

Does anyone know if 93 is available anywhere in SoCal? All I've seen is 91. What doo most of you SoCAl TR owners do for fuel?

 

[87GNSteve]

Do the Xylene/91 octane mix.
1 gal xylene..... $9.00
+
3 gal 91.............$2.80
= 4 gal 97-98 octane.$17.40...or 4.35 per gal.

I get the Xylene in 5 gal pails from the Sherwin Williams make sure you get the commercial price.
I do understand gas is crap out there; I was in Hawaii and we get the same 91 octane junk as CA.
You might also want to look into getting an alcohol injection kit.
I have one on my TTA clone from Alkycontrol.com always an option and will pay for itself over time of buying race fuel and/or Xylene.

 

[Ormand]

You can get more octane, and it will help. But before you do ANYTHING, you need to upgrade the fuel system, and get a scantool, or at least a knock guage. Trying to run more boost than the fuel supply will support can cause some expensive failures. Blown head gasket would be about the cheapest. If you can't afford a scan tool, unhook the waste gate, so you don't run ANY boost- you sure can't afford to break something. Read the recipes at GnTType.org, to see what you need- really not much, if all you want is to get into the 13s.

 

[TurboDave]

Thanks for your response.

The chip is for 93 octane I believe, he probably assumed that 93 was available in my area. Is the 2 octane that much of a difference maker?

Does anyone know if 93 is available anywhere in SoCal? All I've seen is 91. What doo most of you SoCAl TR owners do for fuel?

In CA, yes it makes a huge difference. You're trying to run too much boost and timing for the fuel you have available (been there). The 91 ya'll have really isn't all that good even for 91. You'll have to get a 91 chip just to be able to run 15# of boost out there. With the chip you have, you're not save even at 15#!!!
Pull the boost back, NOW! or risk damage!!!!

 

[ledzeppac]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190193

 

[TurboDave]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190193

 

[r_beaudette]

I would love to make it there Sunday and meet some of the regulars. New here, would love to pick some of your brains as I am REALLY new to turbo cars....

Hope to meet you all next weekend!

Bob

 

[tom h]

aviation fuel is formulated very different than auto gas and isnt suitable for long term use ... i wouldn't recommend it.

certain Union76 in SoCal stations sell 100 octane unleaded, but costs over $5/gal. Doesn't seem so expensive anymore The Union 76 website should list the locations .

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Thanks for your response.

The chip is for 93 octane I believe, he probably assumed that 93 was available in my area. Is the 2 octane that much of a difference maker?

Does anyone know if 93 is available anywhere in SoCal? All I've seen is 91. What doo most of you SoCAl TR owners do for fuel?

You probably ought to buy another computer chip because its not the 2 octane point rating 91 vs. 93 octane, its the timing built into the chip that will make it knock and ping with the boost level your running.

I believe that you would be better off getting a 91 chip with 18-19-20° so you can dont have to worry about turning down the boost.

BW

 

[Gary Wells]

Thanks for your response. The chip is for 93 octane I believe, he probably assumed that 93 was available in my area. Is the 2 octane that much of a difference maker? Does anyone know if 93 is available anywhere in SoCal? All I've seen is 91. What doo most of you SoCAl TR owners do for fuel?

----------------------------------
I am not disagreeing with anything entered above regarding scanmaster, different chip, or anything else, and not for a permanent fix, but for a temporary bandaid for detonation:
I certainly can't speak for everybody, but I use 100 octane V.P. unleaded racing gas available here:
18971 Beach Blvd., Hunting Beach, 92648, (714) 847-4924. Unfortunately, $ 5.79 a gal.
Works wonders for me. HTH

 

[r_beaudette]

Thanks to everyone for info and suggestions. I found a list on another website of 76 stations that have 100 octane fuel. I just bought some from the station on La Habra Blvd. and it was 4.99 a gallon.

Here's the list for anyone in SoCal that is looking:

Here is a list of 100+ octane gas stations I got about a year ago. It is somewhat out of date, I can't promise it is right.

Kern County
Fastrip Gas
8001 White Lane
Bakersfield 661.835.1490
100 Octane

Mesa Marin Raceway
SR 178 at SR 184
Bakersfield 661.366.5711
110 Octane

Willow Springs Motorsports Park
3500 75th Street West
Rosamond 661.256.2471
100, 110 Octane

Los Angeles County
Irwindale Speedway
1330 E. Liveoak Ave
Irwindale 626.358.1100
100, 110 Octane

Brentwood 76 Service
12037 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles 310.476.9496
100 Octane

Pico Ave. 76 Service
11675 Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles 310.479.9496
100 Octane

Arroyo Parkway 76
155 E. Glenarm
Pasadena 626.441.3392
100 Octane

Phillips Ranch 76
16 Village Loop Rd
Pomona 909.623.2429
100 Octane

Cosby Oil Co.
12902 E. Park St
Santa Fe Springs 562.946.4404
100, 110, 114, 118 Octane

South hills 76 Service
150 S. Citrus
West Covina 626.339.8018
100 Octane

Orange County
Mark's 76 Service
2043 Commonwealth
Fullerton 714.278.0986
100 Octane

Laguna Hills Auto Spa
25172 Cabot Road
Laguna Hills 949.770.8300
100, 110 Octane

Dave's 76 Service
619 E. La Habra Blvd.
La Habra 714.801.3918
100 Octane

Graham 76 Service
2690 San Miguel Blvd
Newport Beach 949.644.7151
100 Octane


San Diego County
Cosby Oil Co.
6220 Fairmount Ave.
San Diego 619.280.6884
100, 110, 114, 118 Octane


San Gabriel County
San Marino 76
2390 Huntington Drive
San Marino 626.286.6030
100 Octane


Riverside County
Mike's 76 Service
2807 Hamner Ave
Norco 909.734.2962
100 Octane

Ventura County
Agoura 76
28203 Dorothy Drive
Agoura Hills 818.991.6241
100 Octane
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Hacksaw]

Also, you don't have to fill it with 100 octane. Running 50/50 with 91 octane will get you about 95 octane.

Trick Gas is also based in that region (San Diego?). They have a 100 octane street unleaded.

Mike Doyle in Rancho Cucamonga has done some TR work. You could also call up Kenne Bell there for who they recommend.

 

[SouthernCal GN]

Kenne Bell got out of the TR game years ago, as did Turbo City on Katella. Best bet for a tuner in SoCal would be Lou Czarnota, or Eric @ B&E Customs (Taffy on the other board).

Don Wang in San Diego is another great resource.

A scanmaster runs $200, and is cheap insurance.
A headgasket replacement (possible bearings change, too, if you use coolant), is much, much more.

 

[Hacksaw]

You can reach Trick Gas at:

1-800-444-1449

Rockett Brand Racing Fuel:

Rockett Brand Racing Fuels
22349 La Palma Av. #104
Yorba Linda CA 92887
800-345-0076

They both have uleaded 100 octane fuel.