Octane economics.

[dpok69]

New York City

18.1 gallons= full tank

87 octane ----1.56 per gal ---> full tank $28.236
89 octane ----1.70 per gal ---> full tank $30.77
93 octane ----1.74 per gal ---> full tank $31.494

price difference between full tank of 87 and 93=$3.35
price difference between full tank of 89 and 93=$.724

Can I run alchy with 87 oct to save a liitle money without goiing under boost to often? Or will 1/2 gallon of alchy only last one tank full of gas? I heard the propeane system last a long time without a refill. If this was the case, the saving would pay for the propane kit.

If i was to fill up my tank 6 times a month with 87 oct it would save me $19.5 which over the year comes to $234.

Damn gas is so expensive for my daily driver GN. Also is there any other gas saving tips?

 

[FJM568]

Better get ready, the replies are gonna come!!!

 

[TURBOV6]

Dam your gas prices are as high as ours in Hawaii. 93 is hard to come by here only 92 and its around $1.83/gal.

Many guys ask about gas for our cars, I allways tell them 92 is the minium used in our cars (insturment cluster says premium unleaded "ONLY") if you go less you're looking/asking for trouble, and are you going to use the Alky every time it see boost? I'm sorry to say it but its going to cost you $234/yr more to use 93 octane or its going to cost you $1000 to change a blown head gasket.

 

[TurboDave]

93 octane gas, although expensive, is pretty much fool proof for normal driving and boost levels.

An alky kit might do what you want, but is not 100% fool proof. Run 87 octane, and alky, and have even a single failure of any kind, and you're in for a head gasket repair bill, minumum. Far too risky.
Forget to fill the alky tank only one time, and your in doodoo up to your eyeballs.

For safety's sake, stick with the good gas and moderate boost levels.

 

[Black Car]

Here is another way to save money and have your Boost too.
Convert the engine over to run on propane. Forget about gasoline. Cheaper per gal (forget about btu/gal being less on propane) than gas. Higher octane, near race gas level octane, which means you could run higher BOOST all the time.
Wouldn't need a front mount or bigger injectors either.
If you have a big propane tank at home you can fill your peopane car tank from it.
Don't worry about the federal guys coming after you for road & fed taxes evasion.
All kidding to the side, propane fueled turbo Buick engine would work.

Gary

 

[salvageV6]

No.

Find some 94.

 

[PsychoBuickBoy]

All we have here in AZ is 91 octane . I mix it with Trick 101 unleaded and yes that gets very costly at 3.99 per gallon. My alky pump is burnt up but it still was hard to tune with straight 91 and the alky. I had to have the turn-on point real low and my big turbo didn't like that at all.

 

[turbo]

I know in my car I can pull 22 lbs. of boost (that's the max on my BstC-only have one solenoid not duals) in 3rd and 4th on 94 without KR. At 93 I start getting a bit of KR, not over 2 KR's though.
That's with a PTE TA 49 ...John Craig rebuild...and Bluetops, RJ Power Plate. HTH

 

[dpok69]

Hmmm, i gues im gonna have to live with it, and drive like a granny.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

Just think of that $230 as motor insurance. Thats not bad coverage for a $4000 motor rebuild.

As daddy always said "if your gonna play, your gonna have to pay"

 

[rob nolan]

I guess you are going to have to cut back on going to Mcdonalds to eat.

 

[Sinful6]

Propane Kit = ~$550
Gas savings from 93-87 = $3.35/Tank
# of tanks to "pay" for propane kit = 162
# of gallons of gas in required # of tanks(18.1gal/tank) = 2932.2
And if you get 20mpg that equates to about 58,644mi.

So you would have to drive roughly 60,000mi. to "pay" for the propane kit with savings from using 87octane.

 

[dpok69]

heh...That was very insightful!