101 Octane!

My wife and I were out enjoying a Saturday afternoon and we pulled into a Shell station for a beverage. The station was closed. They're only open half days on Saturday. But, I glanced over at the pumps and they had 101 octain! Holy Hell! I've never seen that before in my life. Question: Will it mess with the PCM to run 101 every once in a while? Will it mess with KR when I go back to 91? This station is across town, so I couldn't use it all the time. Sorry, I didn't get the price per gallon. I was so shocked, I guess I figured it didn't matter. If you want it, you'll pay for it.

What other kinds did they have? That wierd that they had 101. Is it anywhere near a track?

Read the label on the pump. It it's leaded gas, it may (probably will) do damage to your cat and O2 sensor.

Not even close to the track. It in an upper class part of town. It was at the pump with all the other grades. It was their premium grade gas. Really threw me off gaurd.

They sell it in the pumps at a few stations in Phoenix. Just mix a little bit to raise your octane. It is probably Trick 101 unleaded. Use this excel spreadsheet.
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/Octanemix.html

Leaded gas is an easy way to "add" octane. It doesnt add octane I don't think but it helps with precombustion I think. I didnt think leaded gas was legal anymore.

WTF? Lead has nothing to do with octane. Only thing lead does is lubricate the valve seats on older cars, it doesn't lower knock.

Why sure it is Aaron. Its the primary reason it was put in gas in the US. lubrication is maybe a secondary reason. Look it up, you can't miss it.

Actually I have never heard it lubricates anything but I won't doubt you (like you did me)

"In the U.S. ... lead was blended with gasoline (primarily to boost octane levels) since the early 1920s, standards to phase out leaded gasoline were first implemented in 1973."

Huh.. I never knew that, but a quick search proves you are right. As well as acting as a lubricant, lead is an octane enhancer. One source I found:

"As well as boosting fuel octane, lead acts as a lubricant between the contact surfaces of the exhaust valves and the valve seats in the cylinder head. Certain older vehicle engines (pre mid-eighties) were made with soft metal valve seats as they were protected by the lead in the petrol. If all metal additives are removed from petrol, the soft metal valve seats may become worn and valve seat recession (VSR) may result in loss of compression and power. The most critical operating conditions for VSR are high speed and/or high load and these lead to high valve temperatures and hence greater wear rates."

Sorry for doubtage.

Its ok. I learned that it is a lubricant too, never knew that.

Ha, to think, lead a lubricant... lol

you'll just waste your money if you use 101 octane on a stockish riviera.

Ditto. You have to tune your engine to be able to use that level of octane. It's like putting 93 in a Tercel.

AA wrote:

Ditto. You have to tune your engine to be able to use that level of octane. It's like putting 93 in a Tercel.

And thats where a Tuner comes in

Jack's got a '95...

AA wrote:

Ditto. You have to tune your engine to be able to use that level of octane. It's like putting 93 in a Tercel.

When the put the stickers on it adds all that hp so they need the extra octane.


If you need to tune your engine to use that what would be the point of using race gas at a track? Or do you mean just for daily driving?

AA wrote:

Jack's got a '95...

Soo...you can't tune a '95? I have to have a Series II in order to tune?

quote: "If you need to tune your engine to use that what would be the point of using race gas at a track? Or do you mean just for daily driving?"

Some just want to go faster at the track, not on the street. I'm not one of those people (I run the same gas at the track and on my daily commute).

quote: "Soo...you can't tune a '95? I have to have a Series II in order to tune?"

Last I checked, Tuners are made for OBDII vehicles only, but I could be wrong. You should research this... maybe there's something out there for you!

You could always do MAFF tuning with an AFC box, that works with any car using a MAF.

Im not sure but i think the obd1 ecus have e-prom chips...if so you can get a hold of an e-prom burner..an do it that way.. thats what the GN guys do...but no sure about that particular ecu!