Octane

[sydeem]

Earlier read something on regular vs premium gas. Can't find the discussion now but I thought one only needed to use an octain level that didn't "ping." All sorts of arguments both ways. I have been using regular in both my D2 and RRC since prices went out of sight. Someone said warranty would be voided if regular used. How would dealer know if I had used regular gas instead of premium?

What might go wrong using regular?

Suppose I fill with premium before taking it in?

 

[discomike]

The main problem with using regular all the time in a Rover is the carbon build up problem, and it is bad on regular. Yes I have used it when I just had to with no short term problems, but it is the longer term ones that concern me.
No the dealer can't void your warranty, he might suggest you not use it. Foe the loss of power and MPG, I still think you should stay with the good stuff as much as you can.
Mike J.

 

[sydeem]

Thanks Mike - where is the cabon build up? injectors? valves?

Can one use an occasional additive to clean up the problems?

I note that the dealer uses an additive at 30,000 miles.

 

[Monty]

LR recommends that you add their fuel stabilizer every 15k miles, I think, so yeah, it will help keep things nice and clean in there. Trick is to get it clean in the first place.

 

[discomike]

Carbon build up starts up at the valves, taking away compresson, power and causing rough running.
Mike J.

 

[sydeem]

Thanks again Mike - I wonder if the various gasoline manufactures might have as much effect on cabon build up as octain has. They all profess to have different additives in their mix - ie. Techron? Is there a better gas for the LR species.

 

[discomike]

No even the better top grades can't do what these additives will do.
Mike J.

 

[Sergei]

Also remember that lots of those additives got pending lawsuits on false advertisement. STP, Marvel, Shell, Valvoline are amongst them. I cant remember link to full list right away

B&G, 3M, Seafoam, Lucas, Techron are about only ones that arent on list of being snake oil.

 

[ayavner]

Sergei, thats good to know. I would like to see that list if you do find it. I have always wondered about some of that stuff

 

[Sergei]

I cant find link - i seen good page with full list like month ago, but i totally eludes me right now.
Only thing i manages is to just go and search on ftc.gov and even there (I mean FTC is like last possible resort of that kind of information) http://search.ftc.gov/query.html?qt=fuel+additive&col=hsr&col=news&col=full
You can see cases against zMax, Duralube, Shell, Castrol & etc.

I'll try to find better list. But this one is kind of enough to freak one out, on how brainwashing goes about all those cool petrol additives